Garbine Muguruza looks to continue to build on the success of her first grand slam title on Wednesday when she takes on …
| Wimbledon on the BBC |
|---|
| Venue: All England Club Dates: 27 June-10 July |
| Live: Coverage across BBC TV, BBC Radio and BBC Sport website with further coverage on Red Button, Connected TVs and app. Click for more details |
I think sport can play a role in taking people’s minds off more serious matters and Marcus Willis’ story would make anyone feel good.
For the world number 772 to be playing Roger Federer, arguably the best male player ever, on Centre Court at Wimbledon is amazing.
It’s just a great story that’s happened to a really good fun guy, and it’s nice that the public seem to have taken to him. If he was an absolute prat I’m sure some people would just think, ‘He’s an idiot, I’m not interested’, but he’s definitely the kind of person who deserves this moment.
I haven’t seen Marcus much over the last four or five years but whenever I’ve spent any time with him, he just makes you smile and laugh. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t like him.
So I hope he enjoys the experience on Wednesday but also that he keeps on playing beyond Wimbledon.
He’s proved over the last 10 days that if he can maintain this motivation and concentration over a whole season, there’s no reason he can’t be playing at this level a little bit more often.
There are plenty of stories about Marcus on the tour – he’s quite a character.
My physio told me that a few years ago he was at a tournament where Marcus was playing, and every time Marcus hit a ball, rather than grunting he was shouting “Djokovic!” or “Federer!” or “Nadal!” depending on which shot he was playing. For a whole match!
Another time, my fitness trainer went on a trip to Livorno in Italy when Marcus was 14 and he’d been called for his doubles match, but his partner had no idea where he was.
The place was right next to the sea and Marcus eventually turned up late, and totally drenched.
His partner said, ‘Where have you been?’ and Marcus explained that some of the guys had dared him to swim out to one of the buoys in the sea, so obviously he did it – in his kit – and turned up completely soaked.
I’m sure there are plenty more Marcus stories I don’t know about as well!
It’s great that so many people enjoy Wimbledon, and that the British players are providing a feelgood factor so far, but the way the country is run is more important than any sporting event.
There’s obviously a lot going on right now and I’m checking the news every night before I go to bed, then first thing when I wake up in the morning.
And as well as catching up on the news, I am also still trying to watch the football wherever I can fit it in.
Find out how to get into tennis in our special guide.
The media attention is the thing that I remember most from my first Wimbledon in 2005, because it was full-on and it was so new.
I was getting followed, there were photographers everywhere, at all of my practices, I couldn’t get anywhere without people wanting to talk to me. I was seeing myself on TV or reading about myself in the papers.
That’s hard when you’re very young and not used to it, it can take you a little bit by surprise.
Hopefully Marcus is coping with it all – I get the feeling he’ll deal with that stuff absolutely fine.
I was saying to my wife after he won his first-round match, ‘You’ve got to listen to his interviews because he’s just so funny.’ I heard his press conference was awesome.
I’m practising in the morning, so one thing is for sure, I’ll be heading home to watch the match like everyone else.
Andy Murray was talking to BBC Sport’s Piers Newbery.
Argentine faces Stan Wawrinka in second round
Juan Martin del Potro had to wonder if he’d ever return to Wimbledon. Before Tuesday, the last time his whipping forehand had been seen at the All England Club was 2013, when the Argentine faced Novak Djokovic for a spot in the men’s final.
The two battled for four hours and 43 minutes – the longest semi-final in Wimbledon history – before Djokovic prevailed 6-3 in the fifth. “It was one of the best matches I’ve been a part of,” the Serb said after.
Djokovic has won two Wimbledon titles since then, but del Potro has spent much of the past three years recovering from wrist surgeries. On Tuesday, though, the likable Tower of Tandil was back at Wimbledon and looking like his old self, winning 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 against Frenchman Stephane Robert.
“Great [feelings] after three years,” del Potro said of his return.
The win was the latest encouraging sign of del Potro’s comeback. After the 2013 Wimbledon, the 6’6” right-hander rounded out the year with his third appearance at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London. But in 2014, he played only four tournaments before undergoing surgery on his left wrist in March. The former World No. 4 tried to return in 2015 but ended up playing in as many tournaments, two, as he’d have surgeries on his left wrist.
“I was close to quitting tennis at the end of last year,” del Potro said on Tuesday.
He didn’t, however, and the tennis world has been the beneficiary. Del Potro returned at Delray Beach in February and has strung together healthy weeks and quality wins. He beat then-World No. 14 Dominic Thiem in Madrid and reached the semi-finals earlier this month on the grass in Stuttgart.
“I’m enjoying tennis again. I’m starting to talk about tennis and no more about my wrist. That’s important,” he said.
In month four of his comeback, the 18-time titlist admits his game could be better. He could have more confidence in his backhand, but that’s OK for now. “This year my biggest challenge could be to finish healthy and be ready to make a good preparation for the next year,” he said.
Del Potro also has a new coach helping him. For the past few weeks, he’s been working with Daniel Vallverdu, who has worked with Tomas Berdych and Andy Murray in the past. “We have a great relationship. We know each other since juniors,” del Potro said.
On Thursday, the 2013 Wimbledon semi-finalist will an opportunity for a big win at SW19. Del Potro faces fifth seed Stan Wawrinka for the sixth time. The Argentine leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry 3-2.
“I am enjoying tennis a lot. Of course, when you win your first round, everything is much better,” del Potro said. “I’m looking forward to playing a great match against Wawrinka.”
© Ray Giubilo Novak Djokovic continues his Wimbledon title defence on Centre Court on Wednesday when he takes on the…
Photo © Ray Giubilo Out of Roger Federer and Marcus Willis, it seems unlikely to think that the player ranked outside…
| Wimbledon on the BBC |
|---|
| Venue: All-England Club Dates: 27 June-10 July |
| Live: Coverage across BBC TV, BBC Radio and BBC Sport website with further coverage on Red Button, Connected TVs and app. Click for more details |
Can British qualifier Marcus Willis achieved the unthinkable? He shared the front pages after his remarkable win on Monday and his reward is a second-round match against seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic and Britons Heather Watson and Johanna Konta are also in action on a packed third day at Wimbledon. Here is what you should not miss on Wednesday at SW19.
When asked for his top tip on how to succeed on your Wimbledon debut, Willis – who beat world number 54 Ricardas Berankis on the opening day – said that it helped to have a banana in the kit bag.
But the world number 772 will need a morph into Bananaman if he is to shock the world and defeat 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer.
They are separated by 769 places in the world rankings and by a few million in prize money. Before Wimbledon, Willis had earned £220 on the court this year, but he is now guaranteed at least £50,000 thanks to his feats in south west London.
Federer? The 34-year-old third seed is aware of the “cool” story which has captured imaginations.
“It’s going to be interesting,” said the Swiss. “Plus, he is serve and volleying, which I love to see. He came up with some great, great shots. To beat a guy of Berankis’ calibre in straight sets shows you how tough he is.”
Willis’ match with Federer is scheduled as the third match on Centre Court. They are expected to play at about 16:30 BST.
| Centre Court order of play |
|---|
| Agnieszka Radwanska (Pol) [3] v Kateryna Kozlova (Ukr) |
| Novak Djokovic (Srb) [1] v Adrian Mannarino (Fra) |
| Roger Federer (Sui) [3] v Marcus Willis (GB) |
Djokovic is the defending champion, the world number one and favourite to progress to the third round at the expense of France’s Adrian Mannarino, the world number 55.
The Serb, who has never played the 27-year-old, is scheduled second on Centre, following Agnieszka Radwanska’s match with Kateryna Kozlova.
| Court One order of play |
|---|
| Johanna Konta (GBR) [16] v Monica Puig (Pur) |
| Grigor Dimitrov (Bul) v Gilles Simon (Fra) [16] |
| Andreas Seppi (Ita) v Milos Raonic (Can) [6] |
Watson and Konta were unable to complete their matches on Tuesday because of the rain so the British pair will try again on Wednesday.
British number one Konta was leading Monica Puig by a set before rain stopped play and will resume on court Court One at 13:00 BST.
Watson’s match with Annika Beck did not even start before the skies opened. The pair will play on court 12 at 11:30 BST.
Dan Evans is the fourth Brit in action, he will play 30th seed Alexandr Dolgopolov on court two following the completion of Fernando Verdasco’s match with Bernard Tomic.
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Watch as World Number 227, Britain’s Tara Moore, beats Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck 6-3 6-2 to progress to the second round at Wimbledon.
Read more here.