GIVE US A TWIRL, GAEL
Gael Monfils is the first to admit grass is not his favourite surface – when asked what he planned to do when the extra week between Roland Garros and The Championships was introduced a few years ago, the Frenchman said: “Take a holiday.”
La Monf bowed out in the third round at The Championships for the sixth time in his career, falling in five sets to compatriot Adrian Mannarino – but not before producing this moment of magic, a pirouette pass down the line. You may not like the turf, Gael, but we love watching you …
MURRAY ON CLIJSTERS’ SIDE
Judy Murray has taken to Twitter to back Kim Clijsters’ opposition to expanding on-court coaching during matches. It comes after the USTA announced the US Open would allow players to speak to their coaches in the stands between points in qualifying, juniors, legends and wheelchair events. The WTA tour already allows on-court coaching, but Clijsters and Murray are opposed to it.
“Players need to think,” Clijsters said, before Murray reiterated her views.
“Totally agree,” Murray said. “Coaches need to produce ‘thinking’ players who can solve their own problems on court,” Murray tweeted.
PETRA MARTIC
Five years ago 21-year-old Petra Martic stood on the cusp of the top 40. Now the Croatian is thankful to just be back on court playing the game she loves injury-free. Martic spent 10 months out due to a debilitating back injury prior to this year’s French Open, after her ranking plummeted to No.662 in April. What a remarkable comeback. With her straight-sets dismissal of Zarina Diyas on Saturday, Martic has equalled her previous best run at a Grand Slam with back-to-back fourth-round showings. What makes it more impressive is that both times she has had to do it as a qualifier. Her ranking will surge to at least world No.88 ahead of her clash with fellow comeback queen Magdalena Rybarikova – that’s three years since she was last in the top 100.
RANKING WATCH
When Anqelique Kerber was trailing a set and a break against Shelby Rogers on Saturday, her place atop the rankings was on the line. Fortunately for the German No.1 seed she kept her hopes alive. But she still needs to reach the final to hold on to it. Despite her second-round defeat Karolina Pliskova is still best placed to ascend to top spot should Kerber stumble early. Elina Svitolina and Caroline Wozniacki both stood a chance at stealing No.1 but Pliskova’s triumph in Eastbourne ensured that would not happen at Wimbledon. No.2 seed Simona Halep is defending quarter-final points and would have to reach the semi-finals if she was to assume the top ranking. It’s all on Kerber’s and Halep’s rackets now.
There's only 1 Roger Federer as you were LG x
— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) July 8, 2017
MILOS
With so much talk of the Big Four – aka Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray – needing to fall to open the door for a new wave of players, Milos Raonic would prefer to take matters into his hands. The big Canadian is considered the best placed to break the Grand Slam domination of the aforementioned four and Stan Wawrinka. Patience may be a virtue but waiting for the guys at the top to fall is not in Raonic’s psyche.
“I think it's the pursuit of excellence each and every day. I think that's what those four guys have done better than everybody, ever in tennis,” Raonic said. “Despite how it could have been very discouraging for Novak being behind Roger and Rafa for so many years, then Andy the same thing, being behind a bunch, they just pursued excellence each and every day.
“I'm not here waiting for anybody to play badly or not be who they once were. I'm just trying to be the best I can. Hopefully that can lead to bigger things.”
