Fearnley targets Djokovic meeting fresh from college
Jacob Fearnley is just weeks out of college tennis but after taking a first ATP Challenge title, is one win from facing Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.
Jacob Fearnley is just weeks out of college tennis but after taking a first ATP Challenge title, is one win from facing Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.
Carlos Alcaraz proved a quick study on grass courts last season, when he won both Queen’s Club and Wimbledon. As he was learning to adapt his game to the lawns, he watched videos of Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal to analyse their play on the surface.
The 21-year-old is still watching footage of those legends this year, but he now has another player to learn from: himself.
“I put in videos of myself last year, I’m not going to lie,” he said with a smile. “Just to see what I did or how I did it. Just moving, hitting shots, to do the same as I did last year.”
[ATP APP]In terms of success on grass courts and in Grand Slams, there are few players in the history of the game who can match or exceed Alcaraz’s early return of three major titles. Fewer still have been able to complete the rare Roland Garros-Wimbledon double in the same season, a feat Alcaraz can accomplish this fortnight.
“Winning Grand Slams is difficult. Obviously changing from clay to a grass court, totally different surfaces, totally different game of play,” he said when asked about his opportunity. “Let’s say I’m going to try. Obviously I want to put my name on that short list to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year. I know that’s going to be a really difficult and big challenge for me, but I think I’m ready to do it.
“I’m doing a great work these last weeks just to get ready, just to feel comfortable to play Wimbledon here in my 100 per cent.”
❤️🌱 <a href=”https://twitter.com/Wimbledon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Wimbledon
📸 Getty pic.twitter.com/4ZdGAMcpkU
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) June 27, 2024
Alcaraz entered Wimbledon with more momentum last year after winning the Queen’s title. He said his grass-court game began to click in the later rounds of the ATP 500, but he could not progress beyond the second round this year. An early defeat to Jack Draper meant Alcaraz would have only two grass matches under his belt before Wimbledon. Still, his confidence is unwavering.
“I’m feeling great. Honestly, after Queen’s, I had a lot of days to adapt my game, to practise, to get better,” he explained. “I remember after losing in Queen’s, the next day I started practising my movement, my shots, just to be more comfortable moving on grass, playing on grass this year.
“Right now I had great practices with great players just to see how is my level. Right now I think I’m ready to start the tournament.”
Alcaraz will face Mark Lajal on Monday in the traditional opening day match for the defending champion on Centre Court.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Taylor Fritz wins his third Eastbourne International title with victory over outsider Max Purcell.
Taylor Fritz completed his Eastbourne hat-trick Saturday at the Rothesay International, where the American became the first three-time champion in tournament history.
The 26-year-old did not lose a set en route to his eighth tour-level title, defeating Australian Max Purcell 6-4, 6-3 in the final. Fritz dropped just four points behind his first serve in the title match, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
[ATP APP]“I’m pumped. I always feel like I play well here,” said Fritz, who won Eastbourne in 2019 and 2022. “I kind of just had that feeling coming into the week as well. I did a great job.”
Fritz relied on his booming serve and aggressive play to twice dig out of a 0/30 hole in the opening set. The top seed earned a decisive break at 5-4, with Purcell double faulting down set point. Fritz struck the ball cleanly and remained the more consistent player in baseline rallies, winning 12 consecutive points from 2-2 in the second set.
The first-ever 3x CHAMPION in Eastbourne 🙌
2019 🏆
2022 🏆
2024 🏆@Taylor_Fritz97 | @the_LTA | #RothesayInternational pic.twitter.com/AGglUx0JqI— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 29, 2024
The California native closed the one-hour, 10-minute final on his fourth match point and improved to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with the qualifier Purcell, who was competing in his first tour-level final. Fritz was unbroken all week at the ATP 250, saving all five break points he faced.
Fritz, who also won Delray Beach in February, has earned multiple titles in a single season for the third consecutive year. He is up one spot to No. 12 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, reclaiming American No. 1 honours.
Another USA title on grass 👑🌱@Taylor_Fritz97 with a high Serve #ShotQuality to help create a high #InAttack score 👇#ShotQuality is calculated in real-time by analysing each shot’s speed, spin, depth, width, and the impact it has on the opponent#TennisInsights | @atptour… pic.twitter.com/KwzhRGFIwf
— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) June 29, 2024
Entering Roland Garros, there were questions regarding Jannik Sinner’s hip injury. The Italian made clear Saturday ahead of Wimbledon that there are no such doubts entering the grass-court major.
“After Paris I took some days off and then back to work. I mean, there are no secrets. I feel physically much better than in the beginning of Roland Garros because there I arrived with some doubts,” Sinner said. “Here I have no doubts about my body. We have been working a lot in the last days.
“I’m not concerned about my body shape. I’m just happy to be here and hopefully ready to compete.”
The 22-year-old, the first player from his country to reach No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, is the top seed at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. He carries plenty of confidence into London after claiming his maiden grass-court title at the ATP 500 event in Halle.
“Obviously last week for me was an important week. Last year I played semis here, so in my mind I know that I can play also some good tennis on this surface. Obviously every year is a bit different. In Halle the conditions are different than here,” Sinner said. “I’m just trying to get used to it, building my confidence here on this court. That’s it. Thinking about seeding or all the rest, it doesn’t make any sense. Everyone wants to win and show their best here.”
There was plenty of chatter when Sinner <a rel=”noopener noreferrer” href=”https://x.com/Wimbledon/status/1806635761564828009″ target=”_blank”>took to Centre Court for practice with seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic, who underwent knee surgery after Roland Garros.
“We hit only 45 minutes there playing points. It’s also tough to understand what level he is,” Sinner said. “But for sure he is one of the greatest to play on this court. So for me [it] was a huge privilege and honour to practise with him.”
[ATP APP]Djokovic was part of a documentary on the end of Roger Federer’s career, FEDERER: Twelve Final Days, which was just released. Sinner took note of how Federer, Djokovic and Rafael Nadal pushed each other by competing against one another. Sinner’s Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz has become one of the most interesting matchups in the sport.
“At some point Rafa arrived, then Roger was struggling. After he tried to find a way how to beat him, then Novak arrived,” Sinner said. “I think that’s something that evolves the player and also increases the level of each of them. They have reached their 100 per cent of everything. This would be also my dream, to arrive at the point at the end of the career where I reached 100 per cent of my physical ability in the tennis and also [the] mental [side].
“I think that was the most impressive thing that they have done.”
Now Sinner is fully focused on Wimbledon, where he will try to claim his second major title after his triumph at the Australian Open earlier in the season. Last year, the Italian reached the semi-finals at SW19.
“Very happy to be back here. It’s a very, very special tournament coming up,” Sinner said. “Obviously I’m happy how I played last week. I’m trying to find a good form here on these courts, hopefully being ready for this tournament.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Watch the best shots as Daria Kasatkina beats Leylah Fernandez 6-3 6-4 to win the Eastbourne International final.
Alejandro Tabilo became the first Chilean man to win a grass-court title in the Open Era with his Saturday victory at the Mallorca Championships presented by Waterdrop. The 27-year-old defeated Sebastian Ofner 6-3, 6-4 to win the second title of both the 2024 season and his career.
“It’s been an unbelievable year,” the fourth seed said post-match. “All the support of all the Chileans at home, my team, my girlfriend. It’s been a crazy year. It’s been very nice, this whole level I’ve been playing. Hopefully I can keep it up and just keep showing what I can do.”
🏆 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐍 🏆
Alejandro Tabilo gets past Ofner 6-3 6-4 and becomes the first Chilean man in the Open Era to win a tour-level title on grass!@MallorcaChamps | #MallorcaChampionships pic.twitter.com/0x63vO3zNK
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 29, 2024
Tabilo will rise five places to a career-high PIF ATP Ranking of No. 19 behind the result, moving one place ahead of countryman Nicolas Jarry on Monday. It will mark the first time since 2005 that two Chileans are inside the Top 20 (Fernando Gonzalez, Nicolas Massu).
“It’s an unreal feeling,” said Tabilo, who was just inside the Top 150 this time last year. “I can’t believe it. Hopefully I can keep on going up.”
[ATP APP]In the ATP 250 final, Tabilo hit five aces and saved all three break points against him — including one as he served out the match — according to Infosys ATP Stats. The Chilean’s ability to consistently put returns in play kept the pressure on Ofner in their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting, with a single break of serve deciding each set.
Tabilo won his final six sets of the tournament and lost just two sets on the week, to Jaume Munar in the first round and Alex Michelsen in the quarter-finals. Alongside Eastbourne champion Taylor Fritz, Tabilo is one of two men to reach finals on hard, clay and grass courts this season (Auckland, Santiago, Mallorca).
Ofner fell short in his bid for his first ATP Tour title. He was denied the chance to join Dominic Thiem as the only Austrian man to win an ATP Tour title on grass in Open Era.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Daria Kasatkina sees off a spirited effort from Leylah Fernandez to win the Eastbourne International in straight sets.
Ben Shelton is set to make his second appearance at Wimbledon, having experienced his first taste of the grass-court major last summer.
The 21-year-old American, who faces Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci in the first round, caught up with ATPTour.com before this year’s event to discuss his early memories of watching The Championships, Wimbledon traditions, the stories of his dad Bryan Shelton playing at the major and much more…
[ATP APP]What is your first memory of watching Wimbledon?
The memory that’s clearest to me is probably the 2019 final between Novak and Roger. It was probably the first time I had the attention span to watch a five-set match. I’d say when I was younger, I probably wasn’t as interested in watching tennis or watching some tennis matches. But that final really grabbed me.
What are your first memories of playing Wimbledon?
I got an opportunity to practise for a week at Wimbledon before playing Queen’s last year. It was a great experience for me, seeing the site kind of empty. Then when I got back from playing the tournament in Mallorca, the site was full, the tournament was getting started, it was a completely different feel.
What were your early thoughts about the aura of the venue?
I always think it’s cool when you’re able to see two sides of the tournament. The more closed-off side, which feels exclusive, like no one else is there. I quite like that as well, the week before. You can walk around and it is chill and you really get to see the site.
Then when match day is there, you see the sea of people, ready and excited to watch the tennis. I think that is the coolest part for me and the buzz you get at Wimbledon is the best.
What is your favourite Wimbledon tradition and why?
I love the all-white clothing. I think it’s great when tournaments are unique and have their own thing. I think Wimbledon does a great job of that. Obviously, they’re the one Grand Slam that’s still on grass.
Three of the Grand Slams used to be on grass. Now two of them have gone away from it. We still have one Grass-Court major. The all-white makes Wimbledon unique and traditional and really in touch with our tennis ancestors. I really enjoy it.
Your dad, Bryan, reached the fourth round at Wimbledon in 1994. Have you talked to him about that experience and seen any footage of him playing at Wimbledon?
I think it was really cool because there’s not a lot of tape that I’ve seen of my dad playing, but you can find a few of his matches for that year at Wimbledon. They are the matches that I’ve watched. Obviously he was playing at a really, really high level that week, so it was cool to kind of see some of his top-end tennis and speak to him about it after.
What is your favourite thing about playing on grass?
I think there are a lot of things to learn on grass. I didn’t start playing on grass until so late in my tennis development and kind of developing a game style having never played on grass before. There’s a bunch of things to learn and develop that have to do with movement, play style and things that I think that I’m learning and growing every single day. The journey just continues for me after a good start.
I think that it’s a surface where I could do really well and have some great success. But I haven’t done anything yet. I haven’t proved myself on the surface yet.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]BBC Sport takes a look at who might come away from Wimbledon with the women’s singles title.