Most tennis fans will simply have been happy to see the grass-court slam back in action after a two-year hiatus, but Wimbledon 2021 more than delivered. It turned up some intriguing narratives that will shape the rest of the tennis calendar.
Who is the GOAT?
Although the GOAT debate is frivolous to some, who feel that it undermines the different achievements of the Big Three, it continues to roll on. With Djokovic landing the 20th Slam to draw level with Federer and Nadal, the Serb strengthened his claim to the title. Djokovic has spent the most weeks at world number one, has a commanding record against both Federer and Nadal, and appears to be closing in on a Golden Slam. John McEnroe even ventured as far as suggesting that Djokovic should win 25 Slams, surely laying the debate to rest. Only the truly brave will dare to bet against Djokovic making it 21 at the US Open. For those that don’t want to bet on Djokovic but still want the thrill that gambling brings, look at playing at an online casino like www.luckynuggetcasino.com/ca/ and enjoy the many slots games – perfect for when you want to distract yourself from the tense game!
How will Ash Barty fare at the US Open?
There were narratives galore on the women’s side of the draw. Serena William’s early withdrawal, Angelique Kerber’s resurgence and, of course, the rise and eventual fall of British youngster Emma Redacanu. In the end, though, it was all quite straightforward as the world number 1 walked away with the title. In truth, even when she was down, Ash Barty never really looked like letting Wimbledon slip through her fingers. Her subtle but relentless game makes her well placed for the next Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows and, surely, well beyond.
What about tennis’s “nearly” men?
After his agonizing French Open final defeat, Stefanos Tsitsipas seemed ready to make inroads at Wimbledon. That just made it all the more surprising when he was dispatched in the first round by unseeded Francis Taifoe. Alexander Zverev fared somewhat better but couldn’t make it past the Round of 16. Daniil Medvedev turned out to be the biggest surprise. Seeded second and coming into the tournament amongst much fanfare, he slumped to a disappointing and disgruntled defeat to Hurkacz, also in the final 16. Wimbledon showed, once again, that the up and coming stars still struggle to go deep.
Will Roger Federer ever return to SW19?
Roger Federer’s dismal defeat was strange for lots of reasons. He looked as though he was approaching his best in the previous match against Sonego, and there were similarly encouraging signs earlier in the tournament against Gasquet. Yet when he slumped to defeat against Hurkacz, the Swiss seemed flat and oddly devoid of ideas. It’s since emerged that he suffered a setback with his knee on the grass, ruling him out of the Olympics, and even Federer didn’t sound hugely confident that he’d be gracing center court next year. That standing ovation when he came out to serve at 0-5 down in the third increasingly has the quality of a curtain call.
