Wimbledon 2020

[Damian]

Tenis. Piękny gest organizatorów Wimbledonu. 10 mln funtów dla tenisistów

Spoiler:

Organizatorzy wielkoszlemowego Wimbledonu starają się pomóc wszelkim osobom, poszkodowanym przez pandemię COVID-19. W piątek władze All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) poinformowały o przekazaniu 10 mln funtów na rzecz tenisistów.
Rafał Smoliński
Rafał Smoliński
10 Lipca 2020, 15:48

Hubert Hurkacz
PAP/EPA / FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA / Na zdjęciu: Hubert Hurkacz


Tenis. WTA wprowadza zmiany w rankingu. Są też nowe turnieje
Już po ogłoszeniu decyzji o odwołaniu Wimbledonu 2020 władze AELTC przyjęły plan wsparcia dla osób, które ucierpiały z powodu koronawirusa SARS-CoV-2. W pierwszej kolejności działania dotyczyły lokalnej społeczności. Anulowanie zawodów oznaczało bowiem spore straty finansowe dla branży gastronomicznej, turystycznej, hotelarskiej czy rynku nieruchomości (domki wynajmowane na czas turnieju).
Organizatorzy Wimbledonu wpłacili również pieniądze na fundusz wsparcia dla niżej notowanych graczy. Natomiast w piątek ogłoszono, że z puli nagród przeznaczonej na odwołany turniej przygotowano 10 mln funtów jednorazowej rekompensaty dla zawodniczek i zawodników, którzy w pierwszej połowie lipca stawiliby się na londyńskich trawnikach.



- Zdajemy sobie sprawę, że te miesiące niepewności były bardzo niepokojące. Wielu tenisistów spotkało się w tym czasie z trudnościami finansowymi i słusznie oczekiwali oni na możliwość zarabiania pieniędzy na podstawie ich miejsca w światowym rankingu - powiedział dyrektor generalny AELTC, Richard Lewis. Władze Wimbledonu ubezpieczyły się na wypadek epidemii, dlatego za odwołanie turnieju otrzymały odszkodowanie.

AELTC przeznaczy 10 mln funtów na pomoc dla 620 tenisistów. Po 25 tys. funtów otrzymają tenisistki i tenisiści, którzy zagraliby w głównej drabince. Połowę z tej kwoty przypadnie uczestniczkom i uczestnikom eliminacji. Jednorazowe wsparcie otrzymają również debliści, tenisiści na wózkach oraz sędziowie.

Wsparcie dla tenisistów, którzy mogli zagrać w Wimbledonie 2020:
256 uczestników turnieju głównego - po 25 tys. funtów
224 uczestników turnieju eliminacji - po 12,5 tys. funtów
120 uczestników turnieju debla - po 6250 funtów
16 uczestników turnieju na wózkach - po 6000 funtów
4 uczestników turnieju na wózkach quad - po 5000 funtów

https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/tenis/89000 ... tenisistow

[Damian]

Why A Millennial Says Borg-McEnroe Final Remains The Greatest

Spoiler:

Brilliance of 1980 Wimbledon final holds its own against more recent epic championship matches at SW19

In July 1980, Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe met at Wimbledon for the first time. Any and all who were lucky enough to watch the encounter live will swear the match was and continues to be the greatest that tennis has ever seen. Being 27, I was one with the misfortune of never having seen it. I thought it time that changed.

My own fandom has involved as much a fascination with tennis history as it has with what is happening in the present. But it was not until I sat down on a drizzly June afternoon at my flat in London to watch in its entirety the 1980 Wimbledon final - which celebrates its 40th anniversary this month - that I realised in reality I knew little, if anything, of substance about it.

Of course I was aware of the match and of Borg's eventual victory, but in reality for people of my age it has been reduced to something of a reference point in debates about whether Nadal and Federer's titanic Wimbledon final in 2008 topped it.

For me, McEnroe was more familiar as one of tennis's finest talking heads, a voice of authority to guide me through the game's nuances and subtleties, while Borg was someone I associated with looking effortlessly cool in Centre Court's Royal Box. I was aware of their exploits, of their famous matches and even of their diametrically opposed styles on court, but awareness was all it amounted to.

I figured that I knew what I needed to know about them and the 1980 final but 18 points into their legendary 22 minute fourth-set tiebreak, won 18-16 by McEnroe to draw himself level with Borg at two sets apiece, I realised my previous appreciation for the match had come up woefully short.

What became apparent at that most dramatic of moments was a sudden realisation that at no point in the previous two hours and 52 minutes had I even considered the action anything other than utterly compelling, fiercely competitive and, while undeniably less brutish than the modern power game, exquisitely skillful.

A reductive notion often levelled at sports from a bygone era is that they are boring, slow and simply not as exciting as the offerings of the present day. As a millennial myself, I humbly present this Borg-McEnroe final as an example proving this to be a falsehood. If you gave this one a five-star review, you'd be doing it a serious disservice.

I was having reactions akin to those that come with the most dramatic live sport. I experienced sweating palms, an elevated heart rate and audible cries of amazement as I sat alone in my house on what was ironically one of this summer's wettest days so far.

Throughout, I found myself drawn to both. McEnroe, his heart as clearly visible on his sleeve as the headband penning in his mane of curly locks, married looks of anguish after a backhand slice into the net with shrieks of joy after a cross-court winner.

In contrast Borg, who at the time already boasted four Wimbledon titles to supplement his astonishing five Roland Garros crowns, seemed utterly unfazed, outwardly at least, by any occurrence. Not a bead of sweat apparent on his unquestionably stylish Fila get-up as he metronomically met every McEnroe challenge with one of his own.

What they both possessed was an easy grace of play almost absent from the modern men's game, where a premium on heavy hitting often trumps all else. Lithe and fleet of foot, McEnroe and Borg hailed from another era of tennis which, at Wimbledon at least, involved endless attacking forays to net and shots demanding delicacy over destruction.

Perhaps the most prominent parallel to be drawn from that famous afternoon to the modern day is the undeniably unique atmosphere produced by Centre Court. Very few sports venues can lay claim to matching it during moments of pure sporting theatre, silence followed by eruptions of noise. There really is nowhere quite like it.

One sad reality of passing time is its tendency to sentence great moments of sporting history to nostalgia. In the moments before, during and after seismic clashes, it is easy to think that the significance of what has occurred will continue to be felt for lifetimes, weaving itself into the fabric of the sporting consciousness.

The 1980 Wimbledon final will forever be the standard of excellence in tennis and remain entrenched as one of the finest athletic achievements of all time. And so, on its 40th birthday, put down your strawberries and cream, raise your Pimms and pay homage to greatness.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/borg-mc ... al-feature

[Damian]

Agassi & Rafter's Hat-Trick Of Wimbledon Magic

Spoiler:

Duo contested three consecutive semi-final showdowns
The Wimbledon battles between Andre Agassi and Patrick Rafter were a contrast in playing styles that perfectly suited grass-court tennis. Rafter’s relentless serve-and-volleying and Agassi’s blistering returns produced high-octane rallies that frequently left the Centre Court crowd gasping in their seats.

Rafter and Agassi faced off in three consecutive Wimbledon semi-finals from 1999-2001, with the Aussie prevailing in two of them. ATPTour.com looks at their epic clashes at the All England Club.

2000

Rafter’s had slipped to No. 21 in the FedEx ATP Rankings after undergoing shoulder surgery the previous October, but he once again found his top form in time for Wimbledon. Leaping around the net to block Agassi’s powerful returns with acrobatic volley winners, the 27-year-old withstood Agassi’s baseline power to prevail 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
“Today was a match that I couldn't have played any better under the circumstances, on a big court against one of the best players ever,'' Rafter said. ''I think it was probably very satisfying to have actually done it on these grounds.”

Although Agassi couldn’t have performed any better off the ground, his serve let him down in crucial moments. He was broken to love at 3-4 in the third set and managed to get the break back in the next game, but hit a pair of costly double faults at 5-6 to aid Rafter in taking a commanding lead.

Another double fault at 2-3 in the final set gifted Rafter a break point that he converted with a timely trip to the net. The slight advantage was all he needed. Landing 80 per cent of his first serves in the decider, Rafter held the momentum to become the first Australian to reach a Wimbledon singles final since Pat Cash (1987).

”I wasn’t satisfied with the semi-finals. I got to the semis last year and wanted to go one step further now,” Rafter said. “You never count your chances as great when you’re playing against Andre, but I played very well today.”

Rafter fell to Pete Sampras in the championship match, enabling the American to surpass Roy Emerson as the overall leader for most Grand Slam singles titles with his 13th crown. It was a loss which ate at Rafter until the following year at Wimbledon.

Rafter <a href='/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'>Wimbledon</a> 2000 SF

2001

Agassi and Rafter’s 2001 semi-final drew plenty of buzz after their thrilling clash the previous year and the high-quality match lived up to expectations. The American served for the match and came within two points of victory, but Rafter, who trailed throughout most of the final set, clawed back to score a 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 8-6 win.
“When it's best-of-five, I know there's time to work things out and to try different things,” Rafter said. “I was still aggressive, like last year. I had to be. I had to take my chances and give myself opportunities, hopefully get the right bounce of the ball. And it worked the same way.”

Rafter saved four break points at 0-2 in the deciding set, then erased another in his next service game. Agassi continued to hold serve comfortably until he had a chance to wrap up the match. Serving at 5-4, 30/30, a wild baseline error set up break point for Rafter and the Aussie made good on it with a volley winner.

You May Also Like: Andre Agassi: From Rebel To Philosopher
Drama outside of the rallies also played a critical role. Agassi shouted at himself after losing a deuce point at 6-6 and a lineswoman raced to the umpire to report his language, causing the American to receive a code violation. He later admitted that the incident rattled him as a string of wild unforced errors caused him to fall behind 0/40 in the next game. Rafter cracked a backhand passing shot winner on his third match point and raised his arms in delight at reaching another Wimbledon final.

“The closer you get to winning, the harder it is to accept. He won the fifth set decisively last year. This year, I had a lot of chances. It's more disappointing,” Agassi said. “You’ve got to just shake it off, try to move forward. What else can you do?”

Rafter would come within two points of the title, but fell to Goran Ivanisevic in a match that is still considered to be one of the best finals in tournament history.

Rafter 2001 <a href='/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'>Wimbledon</a> SF

1999

The first Wimbledon semi-final between Agassi and Rafter provided little of the theatrics that their future encounters would have. Agassi never gave the match a chance to heat up as he produced a flawless performance on Centre Court, cracking 48 winners to only 10 errors in his 7-5, 7-6(5), 6-2 win.
Rafter had a slight opening at 4/2 in the second-set tie-break, but Agassi responded by hitting four winners, including a backhand return on set point, to grab a two-sets lead. The 29-year-old poured it on in the final set and didn’t hit a single unforced error, breaking Rafter twice to reach his first Wimbledon final in seven years.

Although he suffered a convincing loss to Pete Sampras in the championship match, Agassi’s run to the final enabled him to unseat Sampras as World No. 1 on the following Monday.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/flashba ... on-rivalry

[Damian]

Wimbledon Pledges £10 Million To Players

Spoiler:

The grass-court Grand Slam is allocating funds to 620 players from all disciplines
Wimbledon pledged on Friday £10 million to the men and women who would have competed at The Championships in 2020 had the COVID-19 pandemic not forced the cancellation of the event. The grass-court Grand Slam is allocating funds to 620 players from all disciplines whose world ranking would have enabled them to gain entry into the tournament.

The 256 players who would have competed in gentlemen’s and ladies’ singles draws will each receive £25,000; 224 players who would have competed in the genlemen’s and ladies’ qualifying events will each receive £12,500; 120 players who would have competed in Main Draw Doubles will each receive £6,250.

In addition, Wimbledon announced that the grass-court seeding formula it has used for the gentlemen’s singles draw since 2002 will be discontinued beginning in 2021. The seeding will be based solely on the FedEx ATP Rankings.

The All England Club has focussed Wimbledon’s efforts on supporting those most affected by the pandemic at a local, national and international level. These efforts have included the Wimbledon Foundation’s £1.2 million COVID-19 fund to support charities tackling the crisis response and recovery, the donations of strawberries, towels and balls intended for The Championships 2020, the distribution of daily hot meals to those in need in the local community.

ATP Coach Programme

Wimbledon has also contributed to the Player Relief Programme and wheelchair tennis fund established by the governing bodies of world tennis, as well as an auction in support of members of the ATP Coach programme most in need due to the pandemic. Andy Murray will hit with the winning bidder and a guest at The Championships in 2021, and they will follow that session with a private lunch in the All England Club's members' enclosure. The winning bidder will also receive two tickets to the gentlemen's singles final.

The chief executive of the All England Club, Richard Lewis , said: “Immediately following the cancellation of The Championships, we turned our attention to how we could assist those who help make Wimbledon happen. We know these months of uncertainty have been very worrying for these groups, including the players, many of whom have faced financial difficulty during this period and who would have quite rightly anticipated the opportunity to earn prize money at Wimbledon based on their world ranking. We are pleased that our insurance policy has allowed us to recognise the impact of the cancellation on the players and that we are now in a position to offer this payment as a reward for the hard work they have invested in building their ranking to a point where they would have gained direct entry into The Championships 2020.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/wimbled ... -july-2020

[Damian]

[DUN I LOVE]

In addition, Wimbledon announced that the grass-court seeding formula it has used for the gentlemen’s singles draw since 2002 will be discontinued beginning in 2021. The seeding will be based solely on the FedEx ATP Rankings.

Takie buty.

[Damian]

[Damian]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Federer's 100: 10 Memorable Match Wins At Wimbledon

Spoiler:

ATPTour.com looks back on 10 memorable match wins for the Swiss at the All England Club

Editor's Note: But for the COVID-19 pandemic, Wimbledon would now be underway. During the next two weeks ATPTour.com will look back on memorable matches and happenings at the grass-court Grand Slam. This story was originally published on 10 July 2019.

Roger Federer in 2019 became the first singles player in Grand Slam championship history to record 100 match wins at a single major. The Swiss superstar, a winner of a record eight titles at The Championships, hit the milestone after he beat Japan’s Kei Nishikori on Centre Court in the Wimbledon quarter-finals. He is now 101-13 lifetime at the grass-court major.

ATPTour.com takes a looks at 10 of his memorable match wins at Wimbledon.

Win No. 1: 2001 first round, d. Christophe Rochus (BEL) 62 63 62
Three years on from winning the junior singles and doubles titles at the All England Club, Federer finally broke his two-match losing streak in first-round matches at Wimbledon, beating the older of the two Rochus brothers, Christophe, in 66 minutes. Losing just 14 service points, World No. 15 Federer hit 18 aces. He’d previously fallen to Jiri Novak in 1999 and Yevgeny Kafelnikov in 2000.

Win No. 4: 2001 fourth round, d. Pete Sampras (USA) 76(7) 57 64 67(2) 75
Federer’s life changed on 3 July 2001 at 6:20pm, when, after almost eight years of dominance on the manicured lawns, seven-time champion Sampras left Centre Court, denied the 100th grass-court match win of his illustrious career. "I think Roger is something extra-special," said Sampras, afterwards. Federer broke Sampras’ 29-match winning streak at Wimbledon, dating back to the 1996 quarter-final loss to Richard Krajicek, admitting, "A lot of friends had told me, 'This year I think you can beat him.' I'd played a great year [and]… I knew I had a chance. But it was not like 100 per cent. I mean, he's the man on grass." Federer, playing his ninth major championship, dropped to his knees in celebration, but would lose in four sets to Tim Henman in the quarter-finals, two days later.

Win No. 11: 2003 final, d. Mark Philippoussis (AUS) 76(5) 62 76(3)
Federer held his nerve until breaking down in tears as he captured his first major championship crown with a 7-6(5), 6-2, 7-6(3) victory over Philippoussis, who had been told two years earlier he may never play again when a serious knee injury left him in a wheelchair. "I proved it to everybody and it was a big relief because there was pressure from all sides, especially from myself, to do better in Slams," said Federer, who had needed treatment for a back injury against Feliciano Lopez in the fourth round. "There is no guarantee of anything, but I knew I had the game and I have always believed in myself. I kept my level up here in the semi-finals [against Andy Roddick] and the final and to lift the trophy is an absolute dream."

Win No. 39: 2007 final, d. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 76(7) 46 76(3) 26 62
The World No. 1 emulated Bjorn Borg by winning his fifth straight Wimbledon title, coming through a huge scare against Nadal in their second consecutive final at the All England Club, over three hours and 45 minutes. Nadal broke twice to force a decider, when Federer saved four break points before striking a forehand winner down the line for a 4-2 lead en route to victory. With Borg watching from the Royal Box, Federer said, "Each one is special but to play a champion like Rafa, it means a lot and equalling Bjorn's record as well. He's a fantastic player and he's going to be around so much longer so I'm happy with every one I get before he takes them all! It was such a close match. I told him at the net that he deserved it as well. I'm the lucky one today."

Win No. 50: 2009 quarter-finals, d. Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 63 76(5) 76(3)
Karlovic had held serve 80 times over four matches, but Federer broke the giant Croatian in his second service game and committed only seven unforced errors in one hour and 43 minutes. "I think especially on grass, all my strength becomes even better," said Federer, after his 50th victory at The Championships that propelled him to his 21st straight Grand Slam championship semi-final. "I become so much more dangerous."

Win No. 52: 2009 final, d. Andy Roddick (USA) 57 76(6) 76(5) 36 16-14
Federer bounced back from his 2008 final loss to Nadal by capturing a record-breaking 15th major championship crown 12 months on, in a tense and gruelling 16-14 fifth set victory over Andy Roddick, the player he also beat in the 2004 and 2005 Wimbledon finals. Roddick had secured the only two breaks of serve in the first four sets and the decider went with serve until the 30th game when the American, who had not converted two break point chances at 8-8, began to tire. Sampras flew in from Los Angeles to witness Federer break his major title haul. The Swiss reclaimed No. 1 in the ATP Rankings with his sixth Wimbledon crown over four hours and 15 minutes.

Win No. 53: 2010 first round, d. Alejandro Falla (COL) 57 46 64 76(1) 60
Federer avoided one of the biggest upsets in tennis history, over three hours and 18 minutes on Centre Court, recovering from 4-5 down in the fourth set, when World No. 60 Falla had served for a place in the second round. "I definitely got very lucky out there," said Federer, who had beaten Falla 6-1, 6-2 in Halle, two weeks earlier. "I have lost many matches this year which I should have won, this is one I should have lost but I came through. But that is sometimes how grass court tennis works. It came as a bit of a shock and it's not something I was that prepared for, but you have to draw from experience and physical strength. I live to fight another day." Falla would later admit her got nervous when serving for the match in the fourth set. "I was thinking that I have a big opportunity to beat Federer here," the Colombian said. "I just doubted a little bit at that moment for the first two points, and then he played good points."

Win No. 64: 2012 third round, d. Julien Benneteau (FRA) 46 67(3) 62 76(6) 61
Federer had dropped only nine games in his first two matches, but struggled against the power of Benneteau in the first two sets and was contemplating his first third-round exit at a Grand Slam championship since 2004 Roland Garros. Federer regrouped under the Centre Court roof to force a decider, which saw No. 29 seed Benneteau receive treatment for an injury after the first game. "I did start to play better and better as the match went on, that's kind of what I expected of myself once a set down," said Federer, who came through the 26-minute fifth set. "That I guess comes with experience, but experience alone is not going to win you the match. I had to push deep and extremely hard, and I'm very happy with the way things sort of happened at the end."

Win No. 93: 2017 final, d. Marin Cilic (CRO) 63 61 64
Federer became the first man to capture the Wimbledon title eight times with victory over Cilic, who struggled with a blister on his left foot and broke down in tears in the second set. In sealing his first crown at the All England Club for five years, Federer extended his record to 19 Grand Slam trophies and at 35 years of age became the oldest man in the Open Era to lift the Wimbledon trophy. Watched by his wife, Mirka, and their four children, Federer said, "I think the younger twins think this is a nice view and a nice playground - hopefully one day they'll understand. They come for the finals. It's a wonderful moment for the family and my team. This one is for us. Thank you to Wimbledon, thank you Switzerland."

Win No. 100: 2019 quarter-finals, d. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 46 61 64 64
Closing in on his 38th birthday, evergreen Federer move through to his 13th Wimbledon semi-final, where he'll play his long-time rival Nadal, in his 21st straight visit to the major in south-west London. Nishikori broke Federer in the very first game, and came close to a 4-1 advantage, before the Swiss started his comeback in the second set en route to his 100th match win at Wimbledon. Federer is now the oldest man to reach a Grand Slam championship semi-final since Jimmy Connors, aged 39 years and six days, at the 1991 US Open.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/federer ... 19-feature

[Damian]

From Novice To Centre Court: Nalbandian's Magical Grass-Court Debut

Spoiler:

Argentine looks back on run to 2002 Wimbledon final
David Nalbandian speaks pensively and intensely. Although it’s been 18 years since he reached the Wimbledon final in his first main draw appearance at the event, the Cordoba native knows it was a turning point for him. When the Argentine arrived at the All England Club, he had never played a tour-level match on grass. Despite being inside the Top 40 of the FedEx ATP Rankings, he was still finding his feet.

“I remember that we arrived there without any great expectations. [It was] my first ATP Tour tournament on grass. We had trained for a week in Argentina, in Hurlingham, and it wasn’t going well,” the former World No. 3 told ATPTour.com.

But the Argentine had some prior grass-court success to lean on. He won the Wimbledon boys’ doubles titles three years earlier with Guillermo Coria and was a semi-finalist in the boys’ singles event before losing via walkover after he no-showed due to confusion over the start time of his match.

Just over two weeks after his difficult training sessions in Hurlingham, Nalbandian’s negative feelings were long removed after accomplishing a first among Argentine men. He played in the singles final, where he would lose to Australian Lleyton Hewitt 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 56 minutes.

“When I got there, I wasn’t feeling great. I was still returning badly... But as the matches went by, I gradually began to feel more comfortable,” Nalbandian recalled. “I really was surprised with how easily I started to feel better and better.”


He moved past Spaniard David Sanchez and Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in his first two rounds. Nalbandian admitted that he was “lucky to play against opponents who played from the baseline, so I was able to have rallies and find my rhythm.”

Nalbandian’s next match would have been against seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras, but the American surprisingly lost to Swiss lucky loser George Bastl. Emboldened by his kinder draw. he swept past Bastl and shook off the tricky Australian Wayne Arthurs to become the first Argentine Wimbledon quarter-finalist since Guillermo Vilas (1975-1976).

After seeing off Ecuadorian Nicolas Lapentti and Belgian Xavier Malisse, Nalbandian shockingly found himself in the final.

“After the first week, I started to feel that I could win all the matches, even the most difficult ones,” Nalbandian said. “It was a change in mindset. It didn’t matter what their ranking was. I felt that I could be a favourite for the rest of the tournament.

“My route to the final was unusual. I never had to play on Centre Court. It rained a lot the second week and there were rescheduled matches. I was always on the outer courts and I only played on Court 1 in the semi-final.”

You May Also Like: Nadal Dethrones Federer In All-Time Classic
Nalbandian made his Centre Court debut in the final against Hewitt. The atmosphere and the occasion were too much for the Argentine and he never fully relaxed against his in-form opponent.

“It was quite a thing to reach the final without having set foot on Centre Court. I think I was the only one they let warm up there before the match just to see how it was,” Nalbandian said. “Wimbledon’s Centre Court is pure history. It’s incredible for any tennis player. I think not having been on it or played a match there didn’t help me in terms of nerves and facing the situation at such an early age. Hewitt was World No. 1 and an experienced grass player, or at least much more used to it.”

Despite the defeat, Nalbandian burst into the highest echelon of the sport and sent a warning message to the Tour that his journey was just beginning. He would go on to win 11 ATP Tour titles and reach his career-high ranking of No. 3 in 2006.

“It was a change in quality in my game, my ranking, my responsibility as a player and, above all, my confidence. It was knowing that I was ready to square up against the biggest players, even though I was young,” Nalbandian said. “My runner-up trophy is in a room where I have all the other trophies. I also kept the clothes and the racquet. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, so I need to rummage through and see where they are!”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/nalband ... 02-feature

[Damian]

Francis Roig: 'Nadal Holds A Special Place In Wimbledon History'

Spoiler:

Nadal's coach speaks about the Spaniard's grass-court success
When the lights go out at the All England Club and fans stream out of the gates in awe of a day’s play on the pristine lawns, it is likely that Rafael Nadal will be the subject of some of their discussions.

With two titles (2008, 2010) and three runner-up appearances (2006-07, 2011), the Spaniard has left an indelible mark on the grass of Wimbledon, characterised by his hunger for victory and a huge capacity to adapt. It's clear that his grass-court magic isn’t just natural instinct, but rather the fruit of a life of hard work.

Few are more familiar with the work of the Mallorcan than Francis Roig, a permanent member of his coaching staff since 2005. The Mallorcan spoke to ATPTour.com about Nadal adapting his game to grass, which has been an essential component in establishing his legacy.

“The first time I saw Rafa play on grass was around 2002 or 2003,” Roig recalled. “At the time, I was still coaching Feliciano Lopez and I hadn’t started working with Nadal. Rafa came to play in the juniors. He didn’t have anyone to rally with, so I played with him that day.”

The stories of Wimbledon that had been shared by his Uncle Toni were etched into Nadal’s mind and his determination to master the surface was evident in every shot. Inside the walls of the All England Club, steeped in history, was a wide-eyed young man who would do anything to progress.


“From the first moment, I could see that he was very capable of adapting to grass,” Roig said. “A few years had to go by before he would earn confidence and the knack for playing on it. But Rafa has a quality, among many, that I think is incredible and makes him different to the rest. He knows how to overcome adversity like no other.

“Little by little, he started to learn how to play on grass. I think that this is one of the things that sets Rafa apart, that he always finds solutions. These situations are where he has demonstrated that. People who thought he wouldn’t be able to play well on grass have seen that he did.”

As time has gone by, the Spaniard has become a revered player in London. With a 53-12 record at Wimbledon, Nadal has enjoyed a long history of success at the season’s third Grand Slam. From his first final just a few weeks after turning 20, to his assault on the title last year at age 34, he has consistently found a way to contend for the trophy.

“There was a turning point on grass for Rafa. At first, he played with huge intensity that intimidated his opponents. He played at a very fast rhythm and was able to move much better than now, as he was much younger,” Roig said. “Later, he showed such a huge evolution in his game that, to me, he practically played better on grass than on hard courts. I think he produces better tennis. He likes playing on grass when he has time to adapt, although it’s true that the grass and current balls are maybe slower than before.”

Nadal’s most recent showings at Wimbledon will make him one of the favourites to win at next year’s event. Few have doubted his ability to contend for another trophy in London and he’s provided plenty of evidence that he has more outstanding grass-court tennis to give.

You May Also Like: Nadal Dethrones Federer In All-Time Classic
“He has played stunning tennis in the past three editions. In 2017, he lost in the fourth round to Gilles Muller in a match that could have gone either way. He was playing well enough to do something big that year at Wimbledon. He came close in the past two years,” Roig reflected. “You have to expect anything from Rafa. It wasn’t his favourite surface, but he adapted by searching for solutions and he is great at that. He competes every day. You can never write him off in a match or for things in his career that seem difficult. You always have to expect that he’s capable of the best.”

History can attest to that. Nadal reached the Wimbledon final on five consecutive occasions between 2006-2011 (he withdrew from the 2009 event due to knee tendonitis), an achievement that only three other men (Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Roger Federer) have accomplished in the Open Era.

“Playing five consecutive finals at Wimbledon is quite a feat,” Roig said. “It’s true that a few years have gone by where he didn’t play well and injuries didn’t help him. In addition, he has always had the handicap of arriving on the grass somewhat depleted after Roland Garros. It takes a very big toll and you have to take that into account.

“But it’s not just his five finals. It’s also the semi-finals he has recently played. I would rate him very highly among Wimbledon players. It goes without saying that you’d have to place him among the best players in history on any surface.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/nadal-r ... on-feature

[Damian]

Francis Roig On 2008 Wimbledon Classic: 'One Of The Most Exciting Finals Ever'

Spoiler:

Nadal's coach looks back on Spaniard's epic clash with Federer
What is the greatest match of all time? Every era has enjoyed different milestones, records and unforgettable moments, making it nearly impossible to choose one match above the rest. However, there is no doubt that the final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at 2008 Wimbledon holds a special place in the history of this sport.

“The standard was so high, but it’s difficult to compare different eras,” Francis Roig, Rafael Nadal's coach, told ATPTour.com. “It was so exciting, really wonderful. If it’s not the best match in terms of tennis that you could see, in terms of excitement, it's surely one of the best in history for everything it had: the time it finished, the flashes, the break, the match points."

Any fan who watched this match would agree with Roig's assessment. Everything that happened in the cathedral of tennis on 6 July 2008 is now part of legend.

The Spaniard was facing the No. 1 player in the FedEx ATP Rankings and defending champion for the third consecutive time in a Wimbledon final. The result had come out in favour of the Swiss in the previous two years. But this time it was different. Despite Federer coming close to turning the match around. Nadal won 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7 after four hours and 48 minutes.

“It was clearly a turning point,” Roig said. “Nadal had played in two finals before. He had fewer chances in the first [2006], but I think the second was a lot closer [2007]. They then played a third final and winning it changed things. Beating Federer at Wimbledon, in a final, says it all.”


It's a sentiment that Nadal fully agrees with.

“It's one of the best matches of my career, without a doubt,” Nadal admitted in a recent report shown on #Vamos. “I had lost two finals. It was a big goal and a dream for me to win Wimbledon. I had two match points, one of them on my serve, and with a mid-court forehand that was comfortable enough to be able to do more. I did the minimum I could, safe, but getting the ball back is not enough against Federer. He produced a spectacular pass and we went to the fifth set.”

Roig sees that all-or-nothing fifth set as the key moment of the final. However, Nadal already knew what it was to win a Grand Slam. He had lifted the Coupe des Mousquetaires four times at Roland Garros (2005-08) and Federer was his opponent in the final on three of those occasions. But he had never been so close to winning Wimbledon as he was in the fourth set of the 2008 final.

“When he missed the chance to close out the match and went to the locker room, rather than feeling beaten, he said that he wouldn’t lose the match. Roger would have to win it,” Roig revealed. “Rafa had a winning attitude and that gave the team peace of mind. It was an important moment. In the end, matches are not over until they are over.”

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As night fell in London, a forehand from the Swiss that landed in the net gave Nadal the title. Sprawled out across Centre Court, the Mallorcan was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. The Wimbledon men’s singles trophy was his.

“It was a very important achievement," Roig said. "I think it really helped him believe that he could do the great things at Wimbledon that he has shown.”

Nadal had already beaten Federer on clay and hard courts, but now he had done it on grass. Besides the significance of that victory, Nadal’s coach also believes another match in their ATP Head2Head series was key.

“I think their first match was an important one, when he beat Federer at age 17 in Miami," Roig said. "When you play a player who you theoretically have to beat to become No. 1, and you have a great match and win on the first try, it gives you a lot of confidence so that you believe you can win in the next matches."

This is how Roig remembers one of the greatest stories in the history of tennis, 12 years on from that memorable tie.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/roig-fe ... 08-feature

[Damian]

Flashback: Ivanisevic's Date With Destiny On 'People's Monday'

Spoiler:

Wild card defeats Rafter in 2001 Wimbledon final
Goran Ivanisevic needed a wild card just to get into the main draw of 2001 Wimbledon. Fifteen days after the start of play, the three-time finalist (1992, 1994, 1996) completed the most improbable run to the title in tournament history.

Ivanisevic, No. 125 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, had his final with Patrick Rafter pushed to Monday because of rain. It became known as the “People’s Monday” as it was played in front of 10,000 fans who queued up for unreserved tickets the night before on a first-come, first-served basis. They brought a boisterous level of energy and enthusiasm that included waving handmade signs, singing during changeovers and chanting both player’s names.

In typically demonstrative form, Ivanisevic sat on court, looked up to the sky, screamed and fought back tears — and this was before he won the match. On his fourth championship point, the 29-year-old collapsed to the ground and sobbed after clinching his first Grand Slam title with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7 win.

“This is so great, to touch the trophy. I don’t even care if I ever win a match in my life again. If I don't want to play, I don't play again. This is it. This is the end of the world,” Ivanisevic said. “This is what I was waiting for all my life. I was always second. The people respect me, but second place is not good enough.

“Finally, I am a champion of Wimbledon. I won. This is everything for me. My dreams came true. Whatever I do in my life, wherever I go, I’m always going to be a Wimbledon champion.”

<a href='/en/players/goran-ivanisevic/i034/overview'>Goran Ivanisevic</a> at 2001 <a href='/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'>Wimbledon</a>

It appeared that Ivanisevic wouldn’t get another chance to triumph at the All England Club. A right shoulder injury had prompted a ranking spiral and low moments for the former World No. 2 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, including losing in the first round of qualifying that year at the Australian Open.

But while his Wimbledon run initially started as an outer court spectacle, it quickly gained Centre Court momentum. He beat Marat Safin in the quarter-finals and Tim Henman in the semi-finals after coming within two points of defeat against the Brit.

Meanwhile, Rafter sought his own moment of vindication. The Aussie admitted that his loss in the previous year’s final to Pete Sampras had been eating away at him for 12 months. Rafter also came within two points of losing his semi-final against Andre Agassi before clawing back to prevail 8-6 in the fifth set.

After Rafter and Ivanisevic delivered four sets of high-quality tennis, the tension was palpable for both the players and crowd as the match moved deep into the decider. Ivanisevic went down 6-7, 15/30, but found big serves when he needed them to hold. The tension was too much for Rafter in the next game and he spun in a soft second serve on break point that the Croatian smacked for a winner.

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Ivanisevic reached match point at 8-7, but missed a second serve by three feet. His second championship point also sparked a wild double fault and collective groan from the crowd. A third attempt came and went after Rafter produced a perfect lob winner, prompting a wry smile from the Croatian. But on his fourth try, Ivanisevic found a big serve and Rafter hit a return into the middle of the net.

“I don’t know if Wimbledon has seen anything like that. I don’t know if they will again… It was just electric,” Rafter said. “He had a lot of support. The Aussies that were there were great. It's what we play for. This is what it's all about. It was so much fun.”

Rafter only played a handful of tournaments after his heartbreaking loss before retiring at the end of 2001. Meanwhile, Ivanisevic’s shoulder struggles ensured that Wimbledon would remain his final tour-level title. He fittingly retired at the event in 2004, but made it clear that his 2001 triumph erased any chance of regret.

“It’s an unsolved mystery how I won,” Ivanisevic said to CNN. “It was written somewhere that it was my time. Why do it easy if you can do it the hard way?”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/flashba ... edon-final

[Kamileki]

Tenis. Piękny gest organizatorów Wimbledonu. 10 mln funtów dla tenisistów

Spoiler:

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Tenis. Piękny gest organizatorów Wimbledonu. 10 mln funtów dla tenisistów
Organizatorzy wielkoszlemowego Wimbledonu starają się pomóc wszelkim osobom, poszkodowanym przez pandemię COVID-19. W piątek władze All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) poinformowały o przekazaniu 10 mln funtów na rzecz tenisistów.
Rafał Smoliński
Rafał Smoliński
10 Lipca 2020, 15:48
Hubert Hurkacz PAP/EPA / FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA / Na zdjęciu: Hubert Hurkacz

Tenis. WTA wprowadza zmiany w rankingu. Są też nowe turnieje

Już po ogłoszeniu decyzji o odwołaniu Wimbledonu 2020 władze AELTC przyjęły plan wsparcia dla osób, które ucierpiały z powodu koronawirusa SARS-CoV-2. W pierwszej kolejności działania dotyczyły lokalnej społeczności. Anulowanie zawodów oznaczało bowiem spore straty finansowe dla branży gastronomicznej, turystycznej, hotelarskiej czy rynku nieruchomości (domki wynajmowane na czas turnieju).

Organizatorzy Wimbledonu wpłacili również pieniądze na fundusz wsparcia dla niżej notowanych graczy. Natomiast w piątek ogłoszono, że z puli nagród przeznaczonej na odwołany turniej przygotowano 10 mln funtów jednorazowej rekompensaty dla zawodniczek i zawodników, którzy w pierwszej połowie lipca stawiliby się na londyńskich trawnikach.

- Zdajemy sobie sprawę, że te miesiące niepewności były bardzo niepokojące. Wielu tenisistów spotkało się w tym czasie z trudnościami finansowymi i słusznie oczekiwali oni na możliwość zarabiania pieniędzy na podstawie ich miejsca w światowym rankingu - powiedział dyrektor generalny AELTC, Richard Lewis. Władze Wimbledonu ubezpieczyły się na wypadek epidemii, dlatego za odwołanie turnieju otrzymały odszkodowanie.

AELTC przeznaczy 10 mln funtów na pomoc dla 620 tenisistów. Po 25 tys. funtów otrzymają tenisistki i tenisiści, którzy zagraliby w głównej drabince. Połowę z tej kwoty przypadnie uczestniczkom i uczestnikom eliminacji. Jednorazowe wsparcie otrzymają również debliści, tenisiści na wózkach oraz sędziowie.

Wsparcie dla tenisistów, którzy mogli zagrać w Wimbledonie 2020:
256 uczestników turnieju głównego - po 25 tys. funtów
224 uczestników turnieju eliminacji - po 12,5 tys. funtów
120 uczestników turnieju debla - po 6250 funtów
16 uczestników turnieju na wózkach - po 6000 funtów
4 uczestników turnieju na wózkach quad - po 5000 funtów

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kosiarz.trawnikow 10-07 21:19
Jaką kwotę otrzyma Nadludzki Bajeczny Maestro z racji swojej wyjątkowej pozycji w świecie tenisa?
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Wimbledon, Silverstone & Cricket World Cup: 'Afterwards, all you wanted to do was play, watch and talk sport'

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Wimbledon, Silverstone & Cricket World Cup: 'Afterwards, all you wanted to do was play, watch and talk sport'

By Tom Fordyce

Chief sports writer

7 hours ago From the section Sport

Eoin Morgan and England lift the World Cup and Novak Djokovic lifts the Wimbledon trophy
One Day: Sport's Super Sunday
Sunday 12 July, 20:30 BST on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer

There are summer days as a child when all you want to do is play sport and watch sport and talk sport.

Days when the sun shines and feels like it's going to shine forever. Daylight from before you're awake and long after you should be asleep.

And then you grow up, and time shrinks and the opportunities fade. Other things become important. Those days slip away. You still care, but the narratives lose their simplicity. There is too little to watch, or too much.

It barely even felt like summer in the early morning of Sunday 14 July 2019. Rainy in north-west London, where England were meeting New Zealand in the World Cup final, drizzly in south-west London before the Wimbledon men's singles final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

In the Midlands, where Lewis Hamilton was aiming for a record-breaking sixth win at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, the thousands who had camped out overnight were crawling out of tents in anoraks and wellies.

And so you were ready to watch, but to turn over too. To dip in and then go and do something else. Keep an eye on it, have it on in the background.

Except the clouds went and the sun broke through and the golden afternoon began.

You couldn't turn over, except you had to, to be in three places at once. You dipped in and then dived. The background faded away until it was just you and those who think the same way - and the noise and drama and stress.

All three of those great venues felt the same but different. Wimbledon on finals weekend is simultaneously emptier - all those outside courts covered and unused; the spectators quieter, the haves and the have-mores - and more concentrated, all the focus and drama on one small rectangle of grass.
Lewis Hamilton crowd surfs after winning the 2019 British Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton beat team-mate Valtteri Bottas to win the 2019 British Grand Prix

Silverstone, for that weekend, turns into a festival, a gathering, a pilgrimage. Lord's was a favourite old relative in bright new clothes. It was your dad with a hipster beard. It was all the comforting old traditions about to be made inconsequential.

And the narrative, for most people, appeared straightforward once again. Centre Court wanted Federer, mainly. Silverstone wanted Hamilton, completely. Lord's acknowledged its pockets of beige shirts and its natural soft spot for Kiwis and then cracked on with bellowing for England.

Straightforward? Maybe on the surface, for Hamilton, although not if you understood how difficult it is to drive as he does, as relentlessly as he seems to. But never at Wimbledon, and as never before on that great grassy oval, seven miles or so across the capital city.

There are vantage points in Wimbledon where you feel like you can see across the whole of London. From the top of Henman Hill; on your way down Church Road, through the big trees and past the bigger houses. From Lord's you look south beyond the cranes and see landmarks and history.

As mid-afternoon became early evening and Federer and Djokovic swapped sets and England chased down New Zealand and staggered and slowed, you could almost feel the invisible threads connecting the two arenas starting to tighten and pull. The distance shrinking, the pressure taking over.
Novak Djokovic beats Roger Federer to win fifth Wimbledon title

It crept up on you, first slowly and then with a grab on the shoulder: this is not normal. This is like it used to be. This is summer's sporting day of days, and I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen next.

Those other things that mattered more fell away and went forgotten. You couldn't watch and you couldn't look away. You hated it and you loved it and you lost yourself completely to it.

Rallies slowed down and stretched to become epics in their own right. Overs picked you up, dumped you into despair and then dragged you out again.

It was Roger's, it was Novak's, it was Roger's. England were in control, faltering, alive, dead again.

At various points you tried to drag your eyes away, only to see other people who couldn't watch at all. The women in summer dresses burying their faces in their hands as Federer flopped away two championship points. The men with red jeans and redder faces, leaving their seats at Lord's and ploughing lonely laps of the concourse out back, shaking heads, puffing their cheeks, checking their phones and running back in.

Very few of us actually remember enjoying it. Not in the moment, when you were convinced the thing you really didn't want to happen was certain to happen. Not when you felt so powerless to exert any sort of influence over something that mattered to you so much.

The cool assessments were for later, the sober context: a Wimbledon men's final longer than any that has come before, a World Cup final that might just be the greatest game of cricket in history.
How England won an incredible Cricket World Cup final

You just knew it was never going to be easy. Not with Federer raging against the dimming of his light, never with England's cricketers. You just didn't know it was going to be this hard.

There were moments when you were certain it was over. Federer's match points. England needing 21 runs from five balls.

There were points when none of it made sense: Ben Stokes hitting a six which wasn't a six at all, but a two and four; a final over that turned out not even to be the penultimate over; a game that ended in a tie to produce a tie-breaker that also ended in a tie.

And when 7pm came and went and the skies began to grow a little darker once more, it was a very Djokovic way for Djokovic to win Wimbledon, and a very English way to win a World Cup.

Pulling yourself through when all around want the other guy; finding a strength on the points that matter more than all the others. Extra time at Wembley in 1966, extra time in Sydney in 2003, a champagne Super Over in London.

So much happened that one day in July that you struggle to hold on to it all. And afterwards, all you wanted to do was play sport, and watch sport, and talk sport.
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