Could Britain claim both singles titles this year? The coaches of Andy Murray and Johanna Konta certainly seem to think so.
“He's in the second week so he is in with a chance, same as 15 other guys,” Ivan Lendl, Andy Murray’s coach, tells the Daily Mail: “By the end of tomorrow, if there is no bad weather there will be only seven and hopefully Andy.”
Although Murray had to fight hard against Italy’s Fabio Fognini, the Scot is improving with every round. “You can see Andy is hitting it better and cleaner every practice, getting his timing back and rhythm back,” Lendl said.
Wim Fissette, Jo Konta’s coach, tells the Daily Telegraph his protege has what it takes to win the women’s title.
“How many players come to Wimbledon with the idea ‘I might win this one?’” said Fissette, who used to coach former world No.1 players Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka.
“I don’t think there will be 10 players. There are few with the champion mentality who believe in themselves, that they are the ones. Is Johanna one? She will not express it but, for sure, she is confident in her game and she is confident about herself. So, yeah, I think so,” said the Belgian.
“She seems a great girl and I think she is ready,” Virginia Wade, the last British woman to win the title, in 1977, tells the Daily Mail. “I would be thrilled for her to win. She is such a hard worker so she would deserve it in that sense. She is playing with conviction and that is key in this situation.”
There are few with the champion mentality who believe in themselves, that they are the ones
Murray and Konta both advancing to the second week could be helpful to them both, according to the website of US sports broadcaster ESPN. “We are now potentially a week away from what would have once been unimaginable, even to the most committed of British racket-heads, but which the public is now discussing as a real possibility: the home double,” ESPN wrote.
“In this most excitable of atmospheres - in modern times, this is new for British tennis - Murray and Konta could help each other by sharing the attention and the spotlights in the business-end of The Championships.”
The New York Times focuses on 'Manic Monday' at Wimbledon, the only Grand Slam event where both the men’s and women’s fourth rounds are played on the same day. “Truly ‘Manic Monday’ awaits mad scramble for the women’s title,” is the headline in the American newspaper.
With six Grand Slam winners, one former world No.1 and a former No.2 into the last 16, the women’s draw is wide open. “I’ve honestly never seen anything like this,” Eric van Harpen, a 73-old coach, told the paper.
Dominic Thiem tells Austria’s Spox he is very proud of having reached the second week of every Grand Slam, despite a bad preparation on grass. Had he lost his third round match, he would have been in Austria today, watching 'Manic Monday' on television, he said.
“It’s great to be a part of it. Although it doesn’t really matter so much for us players, it is cool for spectators and television viewers.”
