Djokovic Launches Grand Slam History Bid At Wimbledon
Top men's seed Jannik Sinner makes his bow against fellow Italian Luca Nardi on Court One, eager to put the pain of his French Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz behind him.
The All England Club experienced record temperatures for an opening day on Monday of over 32 degrees Celsius and they are expected to climb even higher on Tuesday.
Krejcikova opens the action on Centre Court, with seven-time champion Djokovic playing later against France's Alexandre Muller, ranked 41st in the world.
The sixth-seeded Serb, who has been in every Wimbledon final since 2018, has only played Muller once, dropping just five games during his march to the 2023 US Open title.
But at 38 he knows time is running out as Alcaraz and Sinner establish a stranglehold at the top of the men's game.
Djokovic has been tied with long-retired Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam singles titles since 2023 but he believes his most realistic hope of a historic 25th win lies at the All England Club.
"I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance because of the results I had, because of how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon, just getting that extra push mentally and motivation to perform the best tennis at the highest level," he said.
The veteran, who has lost the past two Wimbledon finals to Alcaraz, has the added incentive of pulling level with the retired Roger Federer, who won a record eight men's titles at the All England Club.
Defending women's champion Krejcikova is feeling her way back to fitness after pulling out of the Eastbourne Open with a thigh problem.
The world number 16 has endured a difficult time since defeating Italy's Jasmine Paolini in the Wimbledon final last year, playing just six matches in 2025.
She was out of action until May after suffering a back injury and lost in the second round of the recent French Open.
"I had to have couple days off where I didn't really play any tennis, but I did some off-court stuff," said the 29-year-old Czech.
"I've been feeling every day a little bit better, so I'm really happy with that."
Alexandra Eala, ranked 56th in the world, could be a dangerous opponent after becoming the first Filipina to reach a WTA final with her run to the Eastbourne title match last week.
Women's second seed Coco Gauff, fresh from her French Open triumph, takes on Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska while five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek is in action against Russia's Polina Kudermetova.
In early action on Tuesday, third seed Jessica Pegula suffered a shock defeat by Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto, losing 6-2, 6-3 in just 58 minutes.
Sinner will be desperate to state his credentials at Wimbledon with his great rival Alcaraz gunning for a third straight title.
The 23-year-old has impressed since returning from a three-month doping ban, reaching the finals of the Italian Open and the French Open, both of which he lost to his Spanish rival.
Sinner, who has never gone beyond the Wimbledon semi-finals, said: "I feel like that I'm playing great, great tennis on grass.
"Hopefully I can show this also in the match court."
British hope Jack Draper, the fourth seed, takes on Argentina's Sebastian Baez.
The matches between third seed Alexander Zverev and Arthur Rinderknech and fifth seed Taylor Fritz and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard will resume after they were suspended on Monday due to Wimbledon's curfew of 2300 local time. Barbora Krejcikova celebrates her 2024 Wimbledon triumph AFP
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Int'l Business Times
15 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Alcaraz Seeks Top Gear At Wimbledon As Sabalenka Stays Calm
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DW
a day ago
- DW
Germany updates: 1,000 firefighters tackle wildfires in east – DW – 07/05/2025
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Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- Int'l Business Times
Sinner Powers Into Wimbledon Last 16 As Djokovic Eyes Century
Wimbledon top seed Jannik Sinner crushed Pedro Martinez to reach the last 16 without losing a set on Saturday while title rival Novak Djokovic targets his 100th victory at the tournament. Sinner took just one hour and 55 minutes to demolish 52nd-ranked Martinez 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 in a Centre Court masterclass, though the Spaniard was struggling with a shoulder issue. The 23-year-old will face Bulgarian 19th seed Grigor Dimitrov or Austria's Sebastian Ofner in the fourth round at the All England Club. Sinner has lost just 17 games across his first three matches at this year's tournament, in contrast to defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who has shown patchy form on route to the last 16. The Italian returned from a doping ban in May, losing the Italian Open final to Alcaraz and squandering three championship points against the Spaniard in the French Open final last month. His best performance at Wimbledon was a run to the semi-finals in 2023 and he reached the quarter-finals last year. "Every time you reach the second week of a Grand Slam it's a very special occasion," said Sinner, who acknowledged Martinez's discomfort with his shoulder. "Even more special here in Wimbledon, so I'm very happy to be in the second week." Later on Centre Court, Djokovic will resume his bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam crown. The seven-time champion, locked with the long-retired Margaret Court on 24 majors, is aiming to reach the fourth round for the 17th time in his 20th appearance at Wimbledon. A third-round clash against Serbian Davis Cup teammate Miomir Kecmanovic will hold few fears for the sixth seed, who has not lost against his 49th-ranked compatriot in three previous meetings. If Djokovic beats Kecmanovic he will reach a century of victories at the All England Club, a feat only surpassed by eight-time champion Roger Federer, who won 105 times on the lawns of southwest London, and Martina Navratilova, who chalked up 120 victories. "If I play like this, I feel like I have a very good chance against anybody, really, on the Centre Court of Wimbledon, a place where I maybe feel the most comfortable on any court," Djokovic said after beating Britain's Dan Evans in the second round. Djokovic's first Wimbledon win came against Argentine Juan Monaco 20 years ago, when Kecmanovic was aged just five. Former champion Elena Rybakina became the latest star to suffer a shock exit, losing to Denmark's Clara Tauson 7-6 (8/6), 6-3. Rybakina, the Kazakh 11th seed, won her maiden Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2022 and reached the semi-finals last year. But the 26-year-old's hopes of another strong run were ended by 23rd-seeded Tauson in a third-round tie on Court Two. Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva thrashed American world number 55 Hailey Baptiste 6-1, 6-3 in just 78 minutes on Court One. The 18-year-old, seeded seventh, is one of the few leading players left in the women's draw. World number one Aryna Sabalenka is the only player remaining from among the top six seeds. Iga Swiatek has quietly gone about her business at this year's Wimbledon but will have watched the mass exodus of her top rivals with interest. The five-time Grand Slam champion is seeded eighth at the All England club after slipping down the rankings, though she is now back in the world's top four after reaching the Bad Homburg final last week. The Pole, who faces American Danielle Collins in the third round, has never been beyond the quarter-finals at the All England Club. Swiatek, who has won four titles on the French Open clay, was beaten by former Australian Open finalist Collins at the Italian Open in May. Defending women's champion Barbora Krejcikova is also in action on Saturday against American 10th seed Emma Navarro. Poland's Iga Swiatek has never been beyond the quarter-finals at Wimbledon AFP Italy's Jannik Sinner has reached the Wimbledon fourth round without dropping a set AFP
