July 06, (THEWILL) – Wimbledon’s “Manic Monday” lived up to its billing with a slew of matches that were thrilling to watch and left the fans on their feet in applauses. There were records created in both the men’s and women’s matches for Roger Federer and Ons respectively.
Here is THEWILL’s roundup of Manic Monday.
World’s best tennis player at the moment, Novak Djokovic continued his serene progress at Wimbledon 2021. He went through the day’s match against Cristian Garin with comfortable straight-sets, 6-2 6-4 6-2 in just one hour and 49 minutes.
Ranked 20th in the world, Garin stood no chance against the premium tennis that Djokovic has been playing on clay and now on Wimbledon’s grass courts. The Chilean, who was seeded 17th for the year’s SW19 could only do his best as Djokovic cruised with a fairly straightforward victory.
The Serb conceded just eight games throughout in a show of the control he wielded over the outcome. It took the highest ranked player’s wins in the defense of his major to 12 while it entered in as his 50th last-eight match at a Grand Slam so far.
Up next to feel the weight of Djokovic’s groundstrokes will be Marton Fucsovics, who upset fifth seed Andrey Rublev 6-3 4-6 4-6 6-0 6-3 to book his fate with Djokovic.
The possibility of a Djokovic versus Federer decider in the 2021 Wimbledon, which will pitch together two of the three greatest players in the sport for a generation, with one at the height of his powers and the other on his last legs, will be a thing to relish. They have a good record at Wimbledon, with this being Federer’s stomping grounds and Djokovic as the defending champion.
On Monday, Federer kept that possibility going as the Swiss continued a dream Wimbledon comeback with a straight-sets, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2, victory over the Italian qualifier Lorenzo Sonego. Federer sailed through to the quarter-finals to become the oldest man to reach this stage of Wimbledon in the Open era.
The 39-year-old showed very impressive footwork and all-round efficient controlled performance to overcome the Italian to the pleasure of his fans in the stands, who have always loved to welcome the Swiss to Centre Court, a love he has repaid with victories and eight Grand Slam titles.
Federer’s fantastic match was made even more so as the eight-time champion at SW19 came through without losing a single set. Sonego made sure it was not an easy victory, however. He gave the fans a delightful experience with his unpredictable brand of tennis and with his attacking gameplay.
But, 39-year-old Federer was scarcely frazzled. In his typical controller and composed manner, the Swiss icon did enough to secure his place in the last eight and kept his pursuit of a ninth Wimbledon title on course.
It was Federer’s 18th progression beyond the fourth round at the grass courts of Wimbledon and nothing Sonego could do about it. Tried as the 26-year-old could, throwing everything he possibly could at his more illustrious opponent, there was no dent he mustered big enough to matter.
Djokovic’s eyes are laser focused on matching the tally of 20 Grand Slam singles titles that Federer shares with fellow legend Rafael Nadal after clinching his own 19th in the recently concluded French Open in France. Federer’s victory raises the stakes exponentially.
Federer will wait for the match between second seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia or Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in the last eight as he continues his tilt for a ninth Wimbledon title at the year’s grass major in SW19.
In the women’s game, second seed Aryna Sabalenka won to go through to Wimbledon’s quarter-finals but not before a big controversy over a call which left her opponent, Elena Rybakina, absolutely livid against the umpire.
The controversy in the game left Rybakina feeling very hard done by and ranting at the umpire in disgust that was clear for all to see. It happened that during Rybakina’s first service game of the decisive final set, at 30-30, she fired down a huge ace, but was suddenly denied the point by a call of “out” from a linesperson.
Rybakina believed it was a wrong call and the 18th seed duly challenged it. To her pleasure, the Hawkeye technology sided with her, demonstrably showing that the ball was, in fact, in just as the Kazakhstani player believes it was.
Controversially, the umpire proceeded to rule that the point should be replayed, rather than awarding Rybakina the proven ace, even with the evidence of Hawkeye. This was because the official deemed that Sabalenka hit the ball, which would have made the call correct, only for the second seed to sportingly admit that she did not hit the ball.
Yet, the umpire still did not overturn the final decision and it all left Rybakina understandably steaming. She could be heard yelling in her rage: “You’re joking! You’re taking the point away from me! You’re taking the point away from me for no reason!
If I break the racquet I’m going to get fined. And you? Are you getting fined for this?”
In the end, Sabalenka, ranked number four, came through in one hour and 49 minutes, beating Rybakina 6-3 4-6 6-3 to set up a clash with record-setting Tunisian Ons Jabeur. As THEWILL reported earlier on Monday, Jabeur made history with a stunning comeback win over Iga Swiatek to become the first Arabic woman in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon.
Jabeur will have another opportunity to continue to rewrite the history of tennis for herself, her country and the region with wide implications for female participation in sports with her example and victories.
For the home fans, their brilliant young teenage sensation, Britain’s rising star, Emma Raducanu saw her incredible run at Wimbledon 2021 come to an emotional end in the fourth round. She had to retire hurt against Croatian-Australian Ajla Tomljanovic.
Raducanu, who is only 18-year-old, demonstrated the depth of her potential earlier in beating the 2020 French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova in the second round. She continued with a win over world number 45 Sorana Cirstea in the third.
However, after waiting all day for her match to finally get underway on Court One in the late evening, she ended up giving up due to stomach cramps despite giving absolutely everything she could to continue.
Raducanu had to take a medical timeout in the second set while trailing Tomljanovic, who won the first set in spite the ferocious fight Raducanu put up in that opening set. The Croatian-American was holding a 3-love lead when the teenager had to exit the court as she retired, to the obvious shock of Tomljanovic.
Ranked 338 in the world, Raducanu delighted the British fans over the course of the past week. Unfortunately, she was clearly unable to demonstrate her best in the match. Tomljanovic, who coincidentally challenged her previous opponent’s pain claim as THEWILL reported, was magnanimous this time.
She voiced the general concern of fans by wishing her teenage opponent well with the hope that she was okay going forward. The sight of the Londoner, who battled valiantly, frequently crouching down in pain due to apparent stomach cramps and clearly unable to play her best tennis despite her courageous efforts, was touching.
In another match for world number one Ashleigh Barty, the Australian, like her fellow number one Djokovic, cruised to the Wimbledon quarters in straight sets as she defeated recently-crowned French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova 7-5, 6-3.
However, unlike Djokovic, it is Barty’s debut Wimbledon quarter-finals and she qualified for it in style with the way she abruptly ended Krejcikova’s 15-match unbeaten streak with her victory on Wimbledon’s Manic Monday.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
