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Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic screamed out his frustrations at times before overcoming a surprisingly tough challenge from 132nd-ranked qualifier Roman Safiullin on Sunday to break one of Roger Federer's Wimbledon records. Djokovic had to save two set points when trailing 5-2 in the first set and was warned for apparently screaming out an obscenity in Serbian on Centre Court when he was broken early in the third. But the seven-time Wimbledon champion went on to win 7-6 (6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 for his 106th match victory at the All England Club. That puts him one ahead of Federer atop the all-time list for men, although he still trails Martina Navratilova's 120 match wins. It also puts him into the quarterfinals for the 17th time - one behind Federer's record - and three matches away from joining his former rival on eight Wimbledon titles. But the Serb acknowledged that he will have to raise his game in order to get there. "Survive to thrive, that's how I feel," Djokovic said when asked to sum up his .
In Arthur Fery's boyhood neighborhood, they could probably hear the cheers from a raucous Court 18. Fery grew up just five minutes from Wimbledon. On Saturday, the British wild card extended his improbable run into the fourth round at the All England Club with a 2-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) victory over Zizou Bergs of Belgium. Wimbledon itself calls it a " Ferytale " - after all, Fery did play in front of Princess Kate earlier in the week on the same court. The 23-year-old Fery, who is ranked No. 114, has never been this far before at a Grand Slam tournament, and he's the only British player remaining in either men's or women's singles. "A lot of first times today for me. Just so proud of how I handled everything. First five-setter (win), longest match that I've ever played, first time breaking into the top 100, first second week in a slam, all at home, five minutes from where I grew up," Fery said. "It's a great story for me." For Britain, too. Especially after the country's
Clay, grass, hard court - or even snow. The surface underfoot doesn't seem to make any difference for Jannik Sinner. The top-ranked player - who is currently attempting to defend his title at Wimbledon - was one of Italy's top junior skiers before he turned his attention full time to tennis. Now Sinner excels on every type of court and his background as a skier might have helped his tennis game. Just like an elite slalom skier perfectly shifting their weight back and forth from one gate to the next, Sinner hardly ever seems off balance as he rushes back and forth across the baseline - despite his tall and lanky 6-foot-3 (1.91-meter) frame. Fellow tennis player Casper Ruud agreed that the most impressive thing about Sinner is his movement. "He's strong also in balance and flexible to get to certain positions," Ruud said. "He has good hip movement and knows how to slide (into) both corners." Skiing standout Lindsey Vonn also pointed to Sinner's ability to stay in balance. "He has
Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin wiped away tears after beating Brazilian rising star Joao Fonseca 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon on Friday. Safiullin, ranked No. 132, dealt with a knee injury last year but this week has eliminated two seeded opponents at the All England Club. He surprised 12th-seeded Andrey Rublev in the first round. Fonseca was seeded No. 24. The 28-year-old Safiullin, a Wimbledon quarterfinalist in 2023, became emotional when he described his journey back. "After the U.S. Open, I had to stop - for treating my injury," he said in an on-court interview. "That time was super tough. Even let's say half a year ago I didn't know if I will be able to be back." Safiullin then paused and used his shirt to wipe away tears as fans applauded on No. 2 Court. "I'm super happy to be back here," he added. Safiullin will face either Novak Djokovic or Arthur Rinderknech for a spot in the quarterfinals. Djokovic and Rinderknech were playing on Centre Cour
Anticipation is building at Wimbledon for Serena Williams' first singles match in nearly four years. The 44-year-old Williams is scheduled to play an opponent less than half her age, 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia, in the third match Tuesday on Centre Court - the patch of grass where the American standout won seven of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles. "I think everyone's feeling the same way: Cannot wait to be watching Serena back on Centre Court again," Sally Bolton, the chief executive of the All England Club, said Monday. Wimbledon organizers took the unusual step of holding up an eighth and final wild card spot for Williams until she accepted the invitation at almost the last possible moment the weekend before qualifying began. "We were all sitting there sort of quietly keeping our fingers crossed that that's what would happen," Bolton said when asked by The Associated Press how anxious the club was while Williams pondered her decision. "She is such an icon of the sport a
It's been talked about ever since Serena Williams announced nearly three weeks ago that she was returning to professional tennis after almost four years away from the sport. Still, seeing the single-sentence announcement from The All England Club that the 23-time Grand Slam champion will play singles at Wimbledon was stunning nonetheless. "Serena Williams (USA) receives the final ladies' singles wild card," read the key line in Sunday's announcement, which was issued eight days before the grass-court Grand Slam begins. At 44, Williams will actually play both singles and doubles at Wimbledon after already accepting a wild card for the doubles competition with older sister Venus. "This is not a drill," Wimbledon said on its social media accounts Sunday. Commented the WTA Tour, "Name a more iconic returnwe'll wait." Wimbledon held open the eighth and final women's singles wild card spot until Williams made up her mind. As recently as earlier this week after losing a doubles match in
Wimbledon will use video review technology for the first time at this year's tournament, the All England Club announced Saturday. The oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament will have the technology available on Centre Court, No. 1 Court - the club's second-biggest stadium - plus four other show courts. Players will be allowed to review specific calls made by the chair umpire - such as double bounces. Video review made its Grand Slam tennis debut at the 2023 U.S. Open. The Australian Open also uses the technology. Centre Court and No. 1 Court will have video review available throughout the tournament, which starts on June 29, and the technology will be used on No. 2 Court, No. 3 Court, Court 12 and Court 18 for singles matches. Players will not be limited in the number of reviews they can request. Video review is separate from the electronic line-calling used for ruling balls in or out. Last year, Wimbledon replaced line judges with electronic line-calling, though it wasn't without
Jannik Sinner needed this victory. He wanted to win Wimbledon, of course, and it would have meant a lot to him no matter who the opponent was in the final. That this championship, his fourth at a Grand Slam tournament, came via a win over Carlos Alcaraz made it all the more significant to Sinner and to the future of their burgeoning rivalry, the best men's tennis has to offer these days and, perhaps, for many years to come. It is important, for sure, the No. 1-ranked Sinner said Sunday night after prevailing 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 against No. 2 Alcaraz, because when you lose several times against someone, it's not easy. Sinner had lost five matches in a row against Alcaraz, none more disheartening than the one they played last month in the French Open final. Sinner grabbed a two-set lead in that one, then held a trio of championship points, before losing in five sets after 5 hours, 29 minutes. I keep looking up to Carlos, because even today, I felt like he was doing couple of things