IMPRESSED MUCH? SHANIA PROUD OF RAONIC
The weather felt decidedly Canadian on Tuesday, which was fine with Milos Raonic – he faces Roger Federer in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. But there was a Canadian No.1 under the roof on Centre Court in his stead: Ontario’s finest, Shania Twain.
"I more play with tennis than play tennis," said the singer-songwriter, who plays for fun and fitness in her spare time. "My husband is my partner – and the guy that I enjoy beating the most."
Twain had also been around the grounds on Monday, and got the chance to meet Raonic after his five-set win over Alexander Zverev in the fourth round.
“It was a great match,” she said. “I got my picture taken with him and told him I was very proud of him. I’m sure it means more to him, of course, but as a proud Canadian I’m really honoured to watch him play. These guys work so hard, and he’s young and obviously putting his heart and soul into it.
“He’s such a calm character on the court,” she added. “Calm and cool.”
FIFTEEN-LOVE FOR LLEYTON
Has it really been 15 years since Lleyton Hewitt claimed the men's singles title? Thankfully for those Wimbledon fans of a certain vintage, you wouldn’t know it to see him today. The hair is a little shorter and the C’mons a little milder, now that they come from the stands and not the baseline. But the Australian Davis Cup captain still looks in fine trim as he enters the gentlemen’s invitational doubles event with compatriot Mark Philippoussis.
“It’s been a while,” said the 36-year-old with a grin when reminded of his 2002 triumph. “The history and tradition of this tournament, especially for an Australian – we’ve had so many great Australians win back in the earlier eras – it’s always a special place to come back to. I just really enjoy watching grass court tennis.”
As for the gentlemen’s singles draw, Hewitt has been particularly impressed by Roger Federer, who like the Australian was born in 1981.
“He’s been pretty impressive so far, not dropping a set,” Hewitt said. “He’s playing some unbelievable tennis, especially at his age and his stage in his career.
“Andy [Murray]’s doing all the right things. His section of the draw possibly opens up a bit with Rafa going out. And Novak’s sliding through the bottom of the draw – nobody’s really talking about him. You can’t write off those champions – they’re probably the three favourites.”
EIGHT CHAMPIONS - IF ONLY FOR A DAY
Venus Williams’ victory over Jelena Ostapenko not only made her the oldest Wimbledon semi-finalist since Martina Navratilova in 1994 – it also ensured a little bit of tennis history will be made on Saturday.
When the ladies’ singles champion is crowned in five days’ time, eight different players will be in possession of the men’s and women’s Grand Slam singles trophies – something that hasn’t happened this century.
You have to go back to September 12 1999, the day of the US Open men’s singles final, for the last time all eight titles were held by different players. Pat Rafter was still the US Open champion that morning, while Yevgeny Kafelnikov was the Australian Open champ, Andre Agassi winner of the French Open and Pete Sampras fresh from claiming his sixth Wimbledon title.
Martina Hingis and Steffi Graf claimed the final singles majors of their careers in Melbourne and Paris respectively, while Americans Lindsay Davenport and Serena Williams lifted the Wimbledon and US Open trophies.
Remarkably, Serena Williams appears on the current list as well, as the reigning Australian Open champion. Angelique Kerber is the reigning US Open champ, while Ostapenko won the French Open. On the men’s side, the last four majors have been won by Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Of course, as in 1999, the spread of winners may only last a day. Andre Agassi won the US Open title that evening, his second major of the season. And if Murray or Federer emerge victorious, the fleeting moment will have passed after just 24 hours once more…
WEAKNESSES? NOT FOR NAVRATILOVA
Speaking of Navratilova, the 60-year-old is back at Wimbledon with a racket in hand for the ladies’ invitational doubles, 44 years after her Championships debut.
“My strength is that I have no weaknesses,” said the nine-time Wimbledon ladies’ singles champion, “other than I’m very slow, and I can’t jump as high. It really shows up on the serve – it can’t crack an egg – and on the overhead. But it’s fun. I’m still playing the way I used to play, I just don’t hit it as hard or move as well."
All told, Navratilova has 20 Wimbledon titles, with seven doubles titles and four mixed doubles crowns – the last of which came in 2003 – that comprise over a third of her 59 Grand Slam trophies.
“Wimbledon makes you feel like a former champion more than any other tournament,” said Navratilova, who will partner former doubles world No.1 Cara Black. “It’s always very nice coming back here, but it’s all about being in the moment."
WADE OF A TIME FOR KONTA
Virginia Wade is a name Johanna Konta will have had plenty of time getting used to hearing since her break-out run at the US Open two years ago.
Soon after that maiden fourth round appearance at a Grand Slam Konta became the top-ranked Brit and the pressure to become the next slam champion from Great Britain began to mount. Now she stands just two wins from becoming the first British woman to win a Slam since Wade’s triumph at the All England Club in 1977. Wade was as impressed as any at Konta’s come-from-behind upset of Simona Halep on Tuesday.
“I was so happy for her. I know how much pressure there is. It’s wonderful to be in an atmosphere like that,” Wade said, before she admitted to being surprised it had taken so long for the next Brit to reach the semi-finals.
“It’s fine to be the last British women’s winner to win Wimbledon, but it’s better to have plenty of British players to win. It’s a win-win situation frankly and I’m thrilled for her … I haven’t seen a player really with the same sort of dedication and determination for a long time.”
