Cilic paves the way for Nadal… and endangers Djokovic’s

“I am sad to have to share with you that I have tested positive for COVID. I have been self-isolating and was hoping to be prepared, but unfortunately I am still not feeling well. I’m heartbroken to miss Wimbledon and for ending my weed season like that. Looking forward to competing next year! ”, Marin Cilic shared this afternoon on his social networks. The Croatian player, 17th in the ATP ranking, thus announced his departure from the Grand Slam before making his debut. A very hard blow for his interests, because he arrived in a great state of form, and that, in addition, can have multiple consequences.

The first, sure, is the entrance to the lucky loser Nuno Borges, 123rd in the world, in the final frame of the major londoner The Portuguese will face the American Mackenzie McDonald (55th) and, on the horizon, he glimpses the name of Rafa Nadal. The Spaniard, then, would have been Cilic’s rival, by ranking, in a hypothetical quarter-final. A very tough confrontation for the Spaniard, since the Croatian was going through a splendid moment. He was a semi-finalist at Roland Garros, where he lost to Casper Ruud, and repeated the phase at Queen’sshowing that he was also prepared to perform at the highest level on grass.

One less stone in Nadal’s path… which, somehow, may end up in Novak Djokovic’s. The Serbian player, shaping the historical change of the tournament, which previously did not allow it, trained with Cilic on the center court of Wimbledon last Thursday, June 23. A video to remember, given the context, which now reveals a danger: direct contact between Nole and Cilic, the latter having tested positive for COVID. For now, Djokovic has started his journey in London triumphing in his debut, against the South Korean Soon Woo Kwon, becoming the first player to achieve 80 wins at all Grand Slams. In the coming days, it will become clear whether the coronavirus, even if in another way, is once again intruding on their goals.