Final Wimbledon ‘Manic Monday’ Begins Memorably

Ons Jabeur Wimbledon
Ons Jabeur (photo: @Wimbledon/Twitter)

LONDON/WASHINGTON, July 5, 2021 (by Michael Dickens)

The final edition of the “Greatest Day in Tennis” – Manic Monday at the Wimbledon Championships – took place at the All England Club on Monday. It’s a tradition unlike any other at the Grand Slams, in which all of the men’s and women’s round of 16 matches are all played on the same day. Next year, matches will be scheduled on Middle Sunday as the fourth round will be spread over two days.

“We want more of this wonderful event to be available to more people around the world to share in the joy of The Championships,” said Sally Bolton, the All England Club’s chief executive, as quoted on the tournament’s website.

“Including Middle Sunday permanently in our schedule will allow us to do just that and begin a new tradition which we hope we can become immensely proud of. It enables us to do more wit the second Monday, which is know as ‘manic’ for good reason.”

While Monday was a day for nostalgia, it also decided who would advance to the quarterfinal round commencing on Tuesday.

Jabeur is“Ons-stopable”

Tunisia’s trailblazing Ons Jabeur continues to re-write the tennis history books, it seems, with each Grand Slam. In an exciting match to commence play on No. 2 Court, the No. 21 seed Jabeur upset No. 7 seed Iga Swiatek, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 to become the first Arab or North African – man or woman – to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals since 1974. The last to do it was Egypt’s Ismail El Shafei 47 years ago.

Jabeur’s triumph was her sixth Top 10 win of her career and it advanced her into the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the second time – and first at Wimbledon. She’s coming off of winning her first WTA title at Birmingham, which put her in the right frame of mind for Wimbledon. Now, she’s 10-1 on grass this season.

A key statistic in Jabeur’s favor was she was 7-for-7 in break points won against Swiatek. After dropping the first set, Jabeur lost just two games during the rest of the one hour and 41-minute match. She also won 28 of 31 first-serve points in the final two sets. Jabeur hit 30 winners to 23 unforced errors, while Swiatek mustered just 20 winners while committing 27 unforced errors. Jabeur outpointed Swiatek 92-65. The Tunisian has shown throughout the fortnight – especially with her wins over five-time Wimbledon singles champion Venus Williams, No. 11 seed and 2017 Wimbledon champion Garbiñe Muguruza and now Swiatek – that her game is well-suited for grass.

“It was a great match,” Jabeur said during a courtside interview after her victory. “I lost the 5-3 lead at the end of the first set, I had to close it but then I stayed calm. I didn’t think getting angry would be the answer for me. So, I just stepped in, point by point, and played my game.

“You have to change it up a little bit, everybody knows I’m doing drop shops now. But honestly, I didn’t feel the need to do any drop shots today, just a few times. Being aggressive was the key today and that’s what I did.”

Later, during her post-match press conference, Jabeur said she’s received support from 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.

“Actually, I got congratulated by Roger after my match, which was amazing. I think now I’m good in my tennis career,” Jabeur said, flashing a smile as she spoke. “He was very nice. He took the time to say congrats. That inspires me a lot and gives me the hunger to win more.”

Next, Jabeur will face No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, where she will be looking to become the first Arab in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam semifinal.

Sabalenka reached her first major quarterfinal with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over No. 18 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan. Sabalenka won with power and commitment. From 3-all in the final set, Sabalenka took control of the one hour and 49-minute match on No. 3 Court and won the final three games. She finished with 10 aces and hit 33 winners in outpointing Rybakina 94-81.

Djokovic moves round closer to 20th major title

Top seed Novak Djokovic moved a step closer to successfully defending his 2019 Wimbledon men’s singles title. The reigning Australian Open and Roland Garros champion also kept his chances of winning his 20th major title and achieving a calendar Grand Slam alive with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over No. 17 seed Cristian Garin of Chile in one hour and 49 minutes on Centre Court. Djokovic kept his calm on what he calls “the most sacred court” in tennis.

Djokovic has now reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon for the 12th time. “I am delighted with this win,” Djokovic said after achieving his 75th victory at the All England Club and it advanced him to his 50th major quarterfinal.

Next, Djokovic, who is chasing after his sixth Wimbledon Gentlemen’s singles trophy, will face No. 48 Marton Fucsovics of Hungary, who upset No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev of Russia, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, in two hours and 41 minutes on No. 2 Court. The victory was Fuccosvic’s first against the World No. 7 Rublev in six career head-to-head meetings.

Fucsovics hit 41 winners, converted seven of 17 break points, and won 22 of 27 points at the net against Rublev, who finished with 32 unforced errors. He outpointed the Russian 130-106.

Barty earns first Wimbledon quarterfinal berth

Top seed Ashleigh Barty of Australia ended the 15-match winning streak of French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, 7-5, 6-3, in an hour and 35 minutes on No. 1 Court. The victory, in her first career meeting against Krejcikova, advanced the World No. 1 Barty to her first Wimbledon quarterfinal and fifth major quarterfinal of her career.

“That was a tough match – Barbora has had an incredible year,” said Barty, who will face either fellow Aussie Ajla Tomljanovic or British 18-year-old Emma Raducanu in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round. “I’m just happy to come through in the end. I found some pretty good stuff when I needed it most, which is great.

“I get my confidence from all the work that I do with my team behind the scenes and on the training court. This is the fun part, when I get to come out here and enjoy myself.

“As much as it’s frustrating at times, I love testing myself against the best in the world and there’s certainly no place I’d rather be at the moment.”

Barty wrapped up the fourth-round victory with her seventh ace. She hit 22 winners and 24 unforced errors and converted four of seven break points against Krejcikova, who hit 19 winners and 22 unforced errors. Barty outpointed Krejcikova 81-68.

Khachanov spoils Korda’s 21sth birthday party

No. 25 seed Karen Khachanov persevered through 13 breaks of serve in the final set of a five-set, tension-filled victory over No. 50 Sebastian Korda that spoiled the American’s 21st birthday. The Russian earned a hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 10-8 victory in three hours and 49 minutes, winning on his second match point.

Korda was attempting to become the first player to reach the men’s singles quarterfinals on his first Wimbledon appearance since Nick Kyrgios in 2014.

Instead, Khachanov advanced after firing 19 aces and hitting 45 winners. Korda countered with 56 winners but also made 51 unforced errors. Khachanov converted 10 of 15 break points while Korda was successful in winning nine of 17 break point chances.

Next, Khachanov will play No. 10 seed Denis Shapovalov of Canada, who advanced to his first Wimbledon quarterfinal in two hours and seven minutes over No. 8 seed Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, 6-1, 6-3, 7-5, thanks to serving 15 aces and hitting 52 total winners as well as saving 10 of 12 break points he faced. He outpointed Bautista Agut 107-76.

Monday’s Wimbledon results

Around the All England Club

Men

No. 7 seed Matteo Berrettini of Italy extended his grass-court winning streak to nine with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 win over No. 79 Ilya Ivashka of Belarus in an hour and 47 minutes on Court 12. The World No. 9 wrapped up his 30th victory of the season by winning 32 of 38 first-serve points.

Next, Berrettini will face either No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany or No. 16 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada.

Women

No. 8 seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic reached her first Wimbledon quarterfinal in her ninth try by stopping the 10-match winning streak of wild card Liumila Samsonova of Russia, 6-2, 6-3, in 75 minutes. Pliskova hit 17 winners and has now reached the quarterfinals or better in all four Grand Slam events. Samsonova’s winning streak began with winning the bett1Open in Berlin last month, where she began as a qualifier, and continued through three wins at Wimbledon.

Next, Pliskova will face No. 66 Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland, who upset No. 23 seed Madison Keys of the United States, 7-6 (3), 6-3, in one hour and 39 minutes to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, backed by 28 winners against just nine unforced errors. She celebrated her feat by blowing kisses to the crown, then knelt down to kiss the grass. It was Golubic’s third consecutive straight-set victory during the fortnight – she’s 8-1 on grass this season – and her 43rd win in all competitions this season.

“Quotable …”

“I had a great week last week. Right now, it’s pretty hard to actually see that because I just lost, but it’s tennis. You’re badly always going to lose the last match.

“You kind of have to get used to it a little bit, because tennis is a bit frustrating. You can have [a] great week, but then, you know, just lose and you forget that you had a nice tournament.”

– Iga Swiatek, women’s No. 7 seed, who was eliminated in the fourth round by No. 21 seed Ons Jabeur

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