Venue: All England Club, Wimbledon Dates: 2-15 July
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button, Connected TVs and the BBC Sport website and app; Live Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra commentary; Text commentary online.
Britain’s Alfie Hewett has reached the semi-finals of the men’s wheelchair singles at Wimbledon for the second successive year.
Second seed Hewett, 20, beat 47-year-old Frenchman Stephane Houdet 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to match his 2017 performance.
Hewett will meet Sweden’s defending champion Stefan Olsson, 31, next.
The Briton is aiming for his third Grand Slam final after winning the French Open in 2017 and then losing in the US Open final later that same year.
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But there was disappointment for 2016 champion Gordon Reid, 26, as he fell to a 6-3 6-3 loss to Belgium’s Joachim Gerard, 29, in their quarter-final.
In the women’s competition, Britain’s Lucy Shuker, 38, was comfortably beaten 6-2 6-2 by 27-year-old Aniek van Koot of the Netherlands.
Venue: All England Club, Wimbledon Dates: 2-15 July
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button, Connected TVs and the BBC Sport website and app; Live Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra commentary; Text commentary online.
There are unfamiliar names in the Wimbledon men’s semi-final line-up, but there remains a familiar theme – an absence of young players.
The wait for a Grand Slam winner born in the 1990s goes on, with Rafael Nadal, 32, Novak Djokovic, 31, Kevin Anderson, 32 and John Isner, 33 flying the flag for the old brigade on Friday.
Looking at the record books, Swiss player Stan Wawrinka is the only player since 2001 who was older than 25 when he won his first Grand Slam. Roger Federer, Nadal and Djokovic were under 22 when they won their first majors. World number seven Dominic Thiem, 24, came close in May when he lost to ‘King of Clay’ Nadal in the French Open final.
Kyrgios got all the talent in the world, but has to improve the other things
So why have the next generation not broken through? Do they apply themselves like the more experienced players? Are we experiencing a freak period in men’s tennis?
Richard Krajicek was a promising young talent who did realise his potential, winning Wimbledon in 1996 at the age of 24.
The 6ft 5in Dutchman, who fired down serves over 120mph, told BBC Sport that top 20 players like German Alexander Zverev, Austrian Thiem and Australian Nick Kyrgios might have to wait until the dominant pack lay down their racquets.
“The top dogs still play great tennis,” said the 46-year-old, who won 17 ATP titles during a 14-year career.
“I hope for the sake of Zverev and Kyrgios that they give up – the old guys are playing amazing tennis, especially in the Slams.
“After he reached this year’s Rome Masters final, I thought that Zverev could do it at the French Open, but sadly three five-set matches took it out of him at Roland Garros.
“That experience will help him in the future though. Zverev could win a Slam, but in the near future it’s the current three or four regular winners who will continue to rule.”
‘Kyrgios has to step up’
ATP’s 2015 Star of Tomorrow, Zverev, is its big young star of today, now third in the world rankings. Aside from Krajicek, former players Mark Philippoussis and Fabrice Santoro also told BBC Sport that they think the German is the most likely to break past the old guard.
Australian Philippoussis was less sanguine about the prospects of his compatriot Kyrgios.
The 23-year-old world number 18 was recently labelled as “pathetic” by former Wimbledon women’s singles champion Marion Bartoli, who added that he had not grown up. In response, Kyrgios told the Frenchwoman to “stop assuming”.
Kyrgios has won four senior titles, but also has a catalogue of misdemeanours – last month he was fined 15,000 euros (£13,278) for making a lewd gesture while sat courtside at the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s Club. He was knocked out at the last-32 stage at Wimbledon, and has yet to go further than the last eight at a Grand Slam.
Philippoussis, 41, said: “He’s part of the next generation, but he’ll have to step up.
“He’s got all the talent in the world, but has to improve the other things. Someone like Zverev has the whole package.
“The mind is very important – he has to be strong mentally and physically and then get on the pathway.”
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‘The level above is just a lot better’
Could it be the case that the next generation do not apply themselves in the same way as the multiple Grand Slam winners?
“The youngsters are coming but it’ll take a while,” said former top-20 player Santoro, who has coached two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Richard Gasquet.
“We have some good young players – but they are yet to win a big title. There is no specific explanation, it’s just that the best four or five players are too good.
“Players like Thiem and Zverev, they want to win Slams. It’s not a question of their mentality and ambition, it’s just the level above is a lot better.”
Delpo: ‘Rafa Always Has A Little More Than The Rest’
Jul122018
Argentine reflects following his five-set battle against Rafael Nadal
Juan Martin del Potro had the perfect response when asked following his five-set quarter-final defeat to Rafael Nadal whether he’d come back to win the Wimbledon title in 2019.
“If I recover myself after this match, yes,” he said, with a smile.
The 6’6” Argentine slipped at match point down and laid with his face in the Centre Court grass after four hours and 48 minutes of high-quality tennis Wednesday, rising after the World No. 1 climbed over the net to greet him at the baseline. “I wanted to stay there for all night long,” said Del Potro, “but Rafa came to me and we made a big hug, and it was kind of him.”
Last month when they met in the Roland Garros semi-finals, Nadal had dropped a total of seven games. At the All England Club, Del Potro had led two sets to one, and held chances to get back on serve in a fifth set lauded by Andy Murray on BBC TV as “one of the best sets I’ve ever seen”.
“I’m glad to play in this level against the No. 1 in the world. For me it’s so good, looking forward to the future,” said Del Potro. “I was close to beat him and I couldn’t because Rafa always has a little bit more than the rest of the players on tour. I think I have to keep working hard to see if in my next opportunity I can beat him.”
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Should the two players face off again this season, the rematch will likely come on hard courts. While Nadal leads their overall FedEx ATP Head2Head series 11-5, on hard courts they are even, 5-5. Del Potro’s lone victory over the Spaniard at a major came in the 2009 US Open semi-finals, en route to his first Grand Slam title.
Del Potro took satisfaction from his ability to shine on different surfaces this season, with his recent runs at Wimbledon and Roland Garros complementing an excellent hard-court campaign. He enjoyed a 15-match winning streak earlier this year, clinching titles in Acapulco and Indian Wells – his first ATP World Masters 1000 crown (d. Federer) – before his run came to an end in the Miami semi-finals (l. to Isner).
“I’m playing good tournaments on different surface[s],” he said. “Now I’m looking forward to keep playing in this level at the US Open, which is one of my favourite tournaments to play. I will try to improve a little bit more. If I have chances to play Rafa or the top guys, I would like to be in that level to do a better match than today.”
Del Potro will have a chance to hone his game when he makes his return on hard courts in three weeks at the Abierto Mexicano de Tenis Mifel presentado por Cinemex. It’s a welcome destination for the man who played for nearly five hours Wednesday.
“I play Los Cabos in Mexico, the beach (smiling),” he said.
Agony & Ecstasy: Federer’s 10 Most Dramatic Wimbledon Five Setters
Jul112018
ATPWorldTour.com remembers Fed’s most epic Wimbledon encounters
Five-set thrillers are as much a part of Roger Federer’s Wimbledon folklore as his record eight titles. They have delivered some of his greatest moments in the sport, but have also inflicted some of his deepest pain.
Another five-set epic was added to Federer’s remarkable collection at SW19 Wednesday when, after failing to convert a match point in the third set, he lost 13-11 in the fifth to Kevin Anderson.
Federer has played 13 five-setters at SW19 (7-6; 30-21 overall). Below is a look at Federer’s most dramatic five-setters he has played at Wimbledon in his 20 consecutive appearances:
10. 2016 Semi-final, Raonic d. Federer 6-3, 6-7(3), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 After Federer saved three match points against Marin Cilic in the quarter-finals, the Swiss great had an aura of destiny around him at SW19. This was his time, again, or so it seemed. But Milos Raonic had the same feeling, and the Canadian showed his best grass-court tennis for the biggest win of his career.
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9. 2012 Third Round, Federer d. Benneteau 4-6, 6-7(3), 6-2, 7-6(6), 6-1 For two sets, Federer seemed destined to head the way that Rafael Nadal had gone one day earlier: home. The Spaniard had fallen to Czech Lukas Rosol, and the upset bug seemed like it was spreading, quickly. But Federer recovered in time against Julien Benneteau and would go on to beat Andy Murray in the final for his first Grand Slam title since the 2010 Australian Open. The Grand Slam triumph was Federer’s only one from 2010 Roland Garros through the 2016 US Open, a stretch of 27 Grand Slams.
8. 2014 Final, Djokovic d. Federer 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4 Novak Djokovic had come too far for it happen again, hadn’t he? The Serbian had lost five of his past six Grand Slam finals before meeting Federer in the 2014 final. Djokovic led Federer, who hadn’t won a Grand Slam title in two years, two sets to one and had a match point in the ninth game of the fourth set. But Federer saved it with an ace and gave his fans hope by finishing off the fourth set. Djokovic, however, rallied for his second Wimbledon title.
7. 2011 Quarter-final, Tsonga d. Federer 3-6, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 Before facing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the 2011 quarter-final, Federer had been 178-0 after winning the first two sets of a Grand Slam match. Then he played the red-hot and big-hitting Frenchman, who broke in each of the final three sets to stun the Swiss. It marked the second consecutive Wimbledon in which Federer was knocked out in the quarter-finals.
6. 2007 Final, Federer d. Nadal 7-6(7), 4-6, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-2 Federer, the reigning four-time champion, was ready to continue his attack on history. Yet here was Rafael Nadal once more making the Swiss aware of his presence on all surfaces. The Swiss would hold off the Spaniard for now, but it wouldn’t be long before Nadal would be hoisting the Gentlemen’s Singles Trophy for the first time.
5. 2016 Quarter-final, Federer d. Cilic 6-7(4), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(9), 6-3 This was Cilic’s turn to extend Federer’s dry spell at Grand Slams. The Croatian was blasting aces and forehands past Federer. But the seven-time champion roared back, saving three match points for one of his greatest escape acts yet. His 18th Grand Slam title had to wait, however, as he fell in the semi-finals to Raonic.
4. 2018 Quarter-final, Anderson d. Federer 2-6, 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4, 13-11 After Federer went up two sets to zero against Anderson, his 13th Wimbledon quarter-final looked like a lock, and that was especially the case after the 36-year-old Swiss saw a match point in the ninth game of the third set. But Anderson, who reached his maiden Grand Slam final last year at the US Open, outplayed Federer and took the quarter-final from the eight-time champion to advance to his first Wimbledon semi-final.
3. 2009 Final, Federer d. Roddick 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 3-6, 16-14 Just one year on from his 9-7 fifth-set loss to Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final, Federer found himself locked in another Wimbledon final for the ages against Andy Roddick. The Swiss was forced to fire a career-high 50 aces to hold out the American 16-14 in the fifth to claim his sixth Wimbledon crown.
2. 2001 Fourth Round, Federer d. Sampras 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4 Pete Sampras was the King of Wimbledon. The American had won seven of the past eight SW19 titles (1993-95, ’97-2000), and looked well on his way to an eighth celebration. But Federer, then an up-and-coming youngster, prevailed past Sampras in a match that dripped with symbolism. The two never played again, and Sampras played his last match one year later, at the 2002 US Open, winning his 14th Grand Slam title.
1. 2008 Final, Nadal d. Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7 “The Greatest Match Ever Played,” as it’s now commonly known, had as many twists and turns as a best-selling Dan Brown novel, with Nadal, who had lost the 2006 and 2007 final to Federer, taking a two-sets lead and appearing close to a straight-sets dethroning of Federer, who was going for his sixth consecutive Wimbledon title. The Spaniard eventually celebrated his maiden Wimbledon crown, but only after rain delayed the match, light faded and 16 games were played in the memorable fifth set.
Venue: All England Club, Wimbledon Dates: 2-15 July
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button, Connected TVs and the BBC Sport website and app; Live Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra commentary; Text commentary online.
Rafael Nadal reached the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time since 2011 with a five-set victory over Juan Martin del Potro on Centre Court.
The two-time champion won 7-5 6-7 (7-9) 4-6 6-4 6-4 hours after Roger Federer lost to Kevin Anderson.
Nadal was forced to come back from a set down before breaking in a thrilling fifth set to win in almost five hours.
The Spanish second seed will play 12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
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Nadal is bidding to win his third Wimbledon title and his second Grand Slam of the year, having secured the French Open in June.
And the 17-time Grand Slam champion is a strong favourite to win the tournament following Federer’s shock exit.
Del Potro has only reached the Wimbledon semi-finals on one occasion – in 2013, when he lost to Djokovic in a record-breaking five-set thriller.
The fifth seed, who also lost to Nadal in the semi-finals of the French Open, bounced back from a set down to claim a closely-contested tie-break in the second.
Del Potro was on top for much of the third set before finally forcing a late break of serve to take the lead at two sets to one.
But Nadal broke midway through the fourth to put the pressure back on the former US Open champion and force a fifth set.
It was evenly balanced and full of drama until near the end – Nadal even jumped into the crowd at one point during a rally, and saved five break points in the final set.
But the Spaniard broke midway through the final set and held his nerve from there to set up his sixth Wimbledon semi-final – and a third meeting with Djokovic at SW19.
‘One of the best sets ever’ – analysis
Former British number one Tim Henman
It was such a great effort from Del Potro. After losing the first set we thought he would be up against it but he did well to get on level terms and then get his nose in front.
It was Rafa’s resilience, his intensity to find a way to come out on top [that made the difference].
Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray
It was a great match that got better and better. That fifth set is one of the best sets I have ever seen.
Both played at such a high level, huge hitting and we saw great touch too. It was a great match and I felt very lucky to have watched that.
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