by Marco Calabresi
The two most fascinating weeks of the tennis season begin on Monday, those on grass at Wimbledon, with a record prize pool. Almost 45 million pounds, more than 52 million euros
Novak Djokovic’s assault on Roger Federer’s record, the Russians back on the field after a year’s ban, the hope of Jannik Sinner and the hope of seeing Matteo Berrettini smile again. Tomorrow the two most fascinating weeks of the tennis season begin, those on grass at Wimbledon, with a record prize pool (HERE the scoreboard). Almost 45 million pounds, over 52 million euros: a growth of more than 11% compared to last year, even 17% compared to the last pre-covid tournament.
Not only for the two million and 750 thousand euros reserved for the winner that Novak Djokovic arrives fiercely at the All England Club: the Serbian has won the Championships seven times, only one less than King Roger, the man who has triumphed several times at Wimbledon (among women Martina Navratilova with nine) and from tomorrow to July 16 she has seven games to win for the engagement. Djokovic hasn’t played training tournaments on grass, but it’s never been a problem: the problems, if anything, are for the others. If in Rome, and before that in Montecarlo, the best version of Nole had not been seen, the cannibalistic one returned to Roland Garros. The first seed for Carlos Alcaraz, who played and won a running-in tournament on the lawns at Queen’s. For the Spanish phenomenon it will be the third appearance at Wimbledon: if two years ago he was still a child (not that today, at 20, he is elderly) and lost in the second round, racking up only seven games against Daniil Medvedev, in 2022 it was Jannik Sinner show him the paddle in the eighth notes. First two rounds in French style: debut with Chardy, then one between Muller and Rinderknech. Compared to last year, in addition to the money, there are also ATP and WTA points up for grabs, given that last year the ranking was neutralized by decision of the players’ associations as a reaction to the organizers’ decision to deny Russians access to the draw and Belarusians. There will therefore also be Medvedev and Rublev among the favourites, as well as the Belarusian Sabalenka in a women’s draw obviously led by the Polish Swiatek and in which the reigning champion will be the Kazakh Rybakina.
And then there are the Italians. Jannik Sinner arrives at Wimbledon after two quarterfinals on grass, in Hertogenbosch and Halle, the latter tournament from which Jannik withdrew against Bublik by ringing the alarm bell. It was the South Tyrolean himself who reassured him about his physical conditions: he will make his debut on Monday at the Central against the Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo, brother of that Francisco who made him leave the Foro Italico with his head bowed. Also tomorrow it’s Lorenzo Musetti’s turn against the Peruvian Varillas; Tuesday will instead be the turn of the derby between Matteo Berrettini and Lorenzo Sonego, who returns three weeks after the one dominated by the Turinese in Stuttgart, complete with tears from the Roman as he leaves the field. It was the last match Berrettini played before the new stop that prevented him from taking the field at Queen’s: not 100%, Matteo, who missed the tournament last year as vice-champion due to covid. Who knows if the memory of the final two years ago will be enough to change things. Cecchinato, Arnaldi and, among the women, Giorgi, Cocciaretto, Trevisan, Paolini, Errani, Bronzetti and Stefanini the other Italians on the field. From Monday 3 to Sunday 16, 14 days of tennis including Middle Sunday, until 2021 sacred day of rest. The tournament will be broadcast on Sky Sports, on Sky Go for mobile devices and streamed on NOW. On the Central court it starts at 2.30 pm Italian time (Djokovic-Cachin opens), on court number 1 at 2 pm, on the other courts at 12.
July 2, 2023 (change July 2, 2023 | 2:25 pm)
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2023-07-02 12:26:43
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