Wimbledon diary – Sunday Serve serves up a daily dose of tennis snippets throughout the All England Championships.
DAY ONE
STEFANOS Tsitsipas was ‘devastated’ and ‘p**sed off’.
Those were the headlines after a string of shock results on Day One of Wimbledon.
The 20-year-old Greek – an Australian Open semi-finalist I January – was sensationally beaten in five sets by Italian world No. 89 Thomas Fabbiano.
Tsitsipas let it be known he was unhappy with his inconsistency over the past few months; he was beaten by Stan Wawrinka at the French Open.
Others felt the same …Alexander Zverev also crashed out. The new breed of young guns are still failing to make their mark, as the big three – Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – roll on.
‘I am disappointed now. People expected things from me. I didn’t deliver. When you get so much support, so much energy, so much positivity from everyone, just ruin everything by yourself, it’s devastating, the young Greek said.
Well, you still have time on your side Stefanos.
UPSETS came no bigger than Cori Gauff’s win over Venus Williams. But remember, we did tip this young lady some months ago as a star of the future.
Gauff has some impressive support as well, she is managed by Roger Federer’s and Tony Godsick’s management company Team8.
Gauff has since told of a meeting with the Swiss superstar after she lost in the first round of the Australian Open juniors. “We talked after, and he just told me to keep going, to keep working hard, and he shared some of his stories back when he was a junior.
Move on six months and wow – this young lady is definitely one for the future.
And in a constantly changing women’s tennis circuit, where there is no real contender to take the mantle from Serena, yet, Gauff might just be the one.
YES, we know it’s 2019, but dress code at Wimbledon is still as big thing.
And Elina Svitolina came on for criticism on Day One after she beat Aussie Daria Gavrilova.
Responding to a tweet suggesting Nike put in “minimum effort” for her “basic” dress, Svitolina set the record straight …
“minimum effort”
… ‘completely disagree!!! Take a close look at all there details the dress has!!” She wrote on Twitter.
And at the press conference after her win: “I love my dress,” I think it was not fair. It’s not fair for designers, because they put so much work into our kit. They put so much effort in it, and then to say something that it was, that there was no effort, I think it was not fair for them.”
One suspects this story will keep on giving.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Can I leave?” Naomi Osaka asked the news conference moderator to her left. “I feel like I’m about to cry.”
And Osaka walked out. No. 2 Osaka was the highest-seeded player to leave the scene, beaten 7-6 (4), 6-2 by Yulia Putinseva.
DAY TWO
HE can’t help himself … Nick Kyrgios just loves to tease the press – and probably everyone else.
After an up-and-down five-set win against Jordan Thompson out on Court 3, Kyrgios seemed to delight at taking a swipe at anyone who dared ask a question at the post-match press conference.
Kyrgios suggested his on-court antics were good for the game.
“I think everyone just goes about their business the way they are,” he said. “I think that the sport has a serious problem with that. I mean, just because I’m different, I go about it a different way, it causes a stir.
“I understand that people are different and people are going to play different. If everyone was the same, it would be very boring, no? I mean, I don’t think there’s a shortage of entertainers. I just think people go about it differently. Different perspectives. I don’t understand why it’s so hard for people to understand that.”
Next up a more serious challenge.
AUSTRALIANS were left wondering why they had to watch Kyrgios and not their new darling Ash Barty as TV station C7, who bought the rights to the event, before giving up rights to their own Melbourne Slam last year, centred on bad boy rather than golden girt.
Ratings, ratings, ratings perhaps … but their own breakfast Sunrise host David Koch said the decision to largely ignore Barty was like ‘leaving Mother Teresa out in the cold.’
Seven is only allowed to air Wimbledon matches on one channel – effectively barring it from showing two matches simultaneously.
An average of 451,000 turned in to watch the Brat play.
THE secret is out … Andy Murray and Serena Williams will link up to play mixed doubles at Wimbledon.
The partnership was announced after Williams safely came through her first-round singles test.
The pair were due to sign ahead of the deadline at 11am local time on Wednesday. A big, big attraction that will certainly draw the crowds.
BRITISH tennis youngster Paul Jubb battled bravely through his first ever Wimbledon match, but the 19-year-old slipped to defeat after his proud gran Valerie had left.
The 77-year-old had to leave when Paul was two sets down to catch a train with other family members home to their government housing in Hull, in Yorkshire.
“They told me they had to go back at some point. I was more happy for them, getting to watch me play at Wimbledon,” he said.
Jubb won the third set before losing 6-0 6-3 6-7 6-1 to Portuguese Joao Sousa.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The legs weren’t moving and things were not happening. I just felt like it was slow. I couldn’t really have any impact,” Roger Federer after his sluggish start to Wimbledon with a laboured 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win over South African Lloyd Harris.
DAY THREE
MARIA Sharapova took to social media with some choice words after her opponent sparked anger with her post-match celebrations.
Sharapova was forced to retire hurt while trailing 5-0 in the third set against Pauline Parmentier citing a recurrence of a tendon injury in her left forearm.
General custom states you don’t go over the top celebrating after your opponents retires hurt, but Parmentier appeared to cross the line with a little dance at the net.
Sharapova didn’t see it at the time, but didn’t react well when alerted to it on social media.
“I thought about an afternoon nap,” she tweeted on Wednesday. “But that didn’t last too long after being sent this.”
Bad sportsmanship or sore loser? The jury is still out.
ASH Barty is Australia’s big hope at Wimbledon and crowd favourite Nick Kyrgios has given her his backing.
“Ash, what she’s doing on the tennis court now is pretty special,” he said.
“I actually told a lot of people that I thought she was going to win Wimbledon as well as the French.”
RAFA Nadal reignited the ear of words with Kyrgios, when asked about how he feels about the underarm serves.
The Spaniard said he thinks the same way as when in Acapulco earlier this year he said Kyrgios was disrespectful.
“For me, it doesn’t make any difference. I gave my opinion and I will give it again. It has not changed. It doesn’t make any difference to me. He can do whatever he wants with his life. I am not upset by anything he does or wants to do. I go out to play my match. I am a professional and I go out to play my match.”
SHOCK of the day and a tall order, was possibly the defeat of three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka, in five sets to 6ft 11in (2.1m) Reilly Opelka.
Wawrinka, 34, was beaten 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 8-6 by his American opponent, the tallest man in the sport and 13 years his junior. Opelka fired 23 aces and 59 winners in the match.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I think I can beat anyone. If I don’t think I can win the match then I won’t even step on the court.” New teen sensation Coco Gauff.
DAY FOUR
THE Duchess of Sussex made a surprise appearance at Wimbledon, cheering on friend Serena Williams.
Meghan is a longtime fan of tennis and has been spotted at the Wimbledon championships several times before.
And she took a casual approach to the 2019 event, in a pinstripe L’Agence blazer, slim-fit jeans and what the fashionistas mango us would call a pair of classic courts. She accessorised with a straw hat and sunglasses – and there was one new addition to her outfit, a n A-styled necklace, a nod to her newborn son.
AND … Williams has laughed off rumours that Meghan and Prince Harry have asked her to be Archie’s godmother and revealed she will miss the christening because she’ll be playing tennis. “I’m working Saturday,” she joked.
ROGER Federer’s favourite Indian restaurant in London? Try the Kutir in Chelsea. Federer was spotted there last weekend dining with friends. Bad boy Nick Kyrgios was seen at The Dog & Fox pub in Wimbledon on Wednesday night.
MELBOURNE’S The Age newspaper succinctly put it thus: He shouts, spits and swears, but Nick Kyrgios is proper box office. And he was.
To watch the Australian at close quarters is conflicting on the eye and the mind. one hand, you might think this is a disgrace and on on the other, you just cannot take your eyes off him. Like we said, box office.
Twice, on game points, he came up with his trademark underarm serve – to the delight of the big crowd – and when a tweener hit tape – the gasps could be heard halfway to Wimbledon tube station.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Why would I apologise? I mean, the dude has got how many so many slams, how much money in the bank account? – Kyrgios on admitting he fired a shot directly at Nada’s chest.
DAY FIVE
IT didn’t take long for Rafael Nadal to hit back at at Nick Kyrgios after the Australian deliberately hit a ball at his body during their match.
Kyrgios admitted it was done on purpose, saying he was trying to ‘hit him square in the chest.’ and that has understandably not gone down very well with Nadal.
“Honestly, is not about what I feel or what I don’t feel,” the Spaniard said.
“Honestly it is about we are in a game that the history of this sport is about respect and is about playing fair during the whole time.
“I don’t say Nick does this stuff to bother the opponent, but is true that sometimes he’s dangerous. When he hit the ball like this, is dangerous.
NOVAK Djokovic came under fire from press in his own country – Serbia – because he invited Goran Ivanisevic to join his coaching team at Wimbledon.
Croatia fought a bloody war for independence from Serb-led Yugoslavia in the 1990s and nationalist sentiments still run high in both countries.
“Goran comes from Croatia, I’m from Serbia. We both come from the country that was once called Yugoslavia,” Djokovic said, explaining his decision to recruit Ivanisevic.
“When I was small and started watching tennis, I watched his match against (Pete) Sampras. Everyone in the region supported him (Ivanisevic).”
JOHANNA Konta’s decision to appoint her third coach in the space of a year, maybe playing off.
After spells with Michael Joyce and previously Wim Fisette, her latest partnership with Dimitri Zavialoff has already yielded a Grand Slam semi-final at the French Open.
The Swiss-based Frenchman was suggested to the British No.1 by her agent Lawrence Frankopan and they were put together for a trial at the Kremlin Cup in October. Konta reached the semi-finals, and rest is history.
YOU have to love the down-to-earth approach of Coco Gauff. She has made it through to week two but nothin g seems to faze her.
“I’m excited to play in the second week, but now I’ve got Saturday mixed doubles to think about,” was her comment after the win over Polona Herzog.
The heavily tattooed Herzog will have certainly raised eyebrows among the Wimbledon ‘elite’ with her colourful body art. Roses, in red and white, the main art covering the Slovenian’s arms.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Is not dangerous for me, is dangerous for a line referee, dangerous for a crowd. When you hit the ball like this, you don’t know where the ball goes.” Rafa Nadal
DAY SIX
HE got knocked out days ago but the Nick Krygios circus just keeps giving.
Kyrgios was shot down by Wimbledon mixed doubles team-mate Desirae Krawczyk after they lost 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 7-5 to Marcus Daniell and Jennifer Brady.
Apparently it was a joke… the Australian claimed he would be having a night off the booze after crashing out of both draws.
But Krawczyk was having none of it. “Yeah, good. I had about eight-and-a-half hours of match play in three days just from singles, so my body is actually feeling okay,” Kyrgios said.
“I’m going to get a good rest tonight.”
To which Krawczyk replied: “Are you? Full of s***. Full of s***. Sorry for my language (smiling).”
There was great chemistry between the pair as Kyrgios revealed he was planning to hand around Wimbledon in week two to “cheer on friends”.
ABOUT 4½ hours after edging past Julia Goerges on No. 1 Court, Serena Williams headed out to Centre Court for the much-hyped debut with Andy Murray in mixed doubles.
There was a slip near the net when she lost her footing in the first set, but Serena looked good during the 6-4, 6-1 win against Andreas Mies and Alexa Guarachi.
She even hit one serve at 122 mph, equaling the fastest hit in singles by any woman in a tournament!
“Andy and I both love the competition. I know we both want to do well,” she said. “We’re not here just for show.” As one writer put it: She rarely is.
SHE may be the current Queen of the court, but three years ago Ash Barty had to battle to het a game at pre-tournament venue Eastbourne.
Official records list Barty as the world No.9999 when she arrived there in 2016 hoping to make up the numbers.
“Yeah, the draw wasn’t full. It was a little bit of a gamble on our part to go there,” Barty said ahead of her third-round Wimbledon match.
GOING loco with Coco – that was one British newspaper’s take on Cori Gauff’s amazing run at Wimbledon.
And the teenager told a press conference she even got a congrats message from Beyonce’s mum – on instagram!
‘The most unexpected message I received – well, it wasn’t really a message. Miss Tina Knowles, Beyonce’s mom, posted me on Instagram,’ she explained.
“I was, like, screaming. I don’t know, like I hope Beyonce saw that. I hope she told her daughter about me because I would love to go to a concert.”
The key for her management and parents right now is to keep this talented youngster’s feet on the ground.
Talk is already of $100m commercial deals – and all too often we have seen talented kids peak too soon. Naomi Osaka is one such case, perhaps.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I can’t buy a car because I can’t drive. I don’t know. I hate spending money, to be honest.’ Cori Gauff when asked what she would be spending her price money from Wimbledon on.
PIC OF THE WEEK: We always read about the $$ in the game and rarely do we see two human beings enjoying their tennis. This great shot of Rafa Nadal and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Saturday captures what sport is all. about.
A fan at Wimbledon has complained about the ‘rip-off’ food prices and small number of fries that accompany a burger in the complex restaurant after paying $US30 for a burger and ‘chips’.
Staff told the customer that was all he could have – 20 in a bucket serve.
The complaint initially fell on deaf ears, but by Friday, it had all changed, with a dish of Smoked Haddock Arancini Scotch Egg – £17.50 – being served up with 42 fries and a side salad.
It clearly pays to complain.
And a Wimbledon umpire had to temporarily halt a third-round match after a spectator’s champagne cork popped onto the grass court!
WHAT is it with the latest trend in doubled for partners to cover their mouths when talking on court?
Andy and Serena were at it on centre court. One can understand if your opponent – can any sport – can watch on a TV screen perhaps – and work out your tactics. But in tennis?
Do your opponents the other side of the net have big screen to watch between games?
AND finally… Fabio Fognini is facing the prospect of being banned from the US and Australian Opens after claiming he wished a bomb would drop on Wimbledon.
Yes, you read the right.
Fognini was banned from Flushing Meadows 2 years ago after calling a female umpire a ‘whore’.
Thi time he was caught making his latest remarks during yesterday’s third-round loss to Tennys Sandgren.
Upset about playing his match on Court 14, Fognini said during the match in Italian: “Is it fair to play here?
“Damned English damned really. Wish a bomb would explode on this club – a bomb should explode here.”
Bye bye Fabio.
