Wimbledon: The hallowed fortnight

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 25: Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a forehand during his Gentlemen

It is that time of the year again. The time when all focus shifts to a small district in south-west London. The time when strawberries and cream are the flavour of the season. The time when the colours green and purple come into their own. The time when all colours of clothing give in to white. It is Wimbledon time!

For two weeks, the focus of the sporting world turns to the lush green lawns of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. There is something about these lawns that makes Wimbledon one of the most unique and most coveted tournaments in tennis, and sports.

The magic of Wimbledon is beautifully expressed by Rafael Nadal (winner in 2008 and 2010) in his autobiography Rafa: My Story: “The silence, that’s what strikes you when you play on Wimbledon’s Centre Court. You bounce the ball soundlessly up and down on the soft turf; you toss it up to serve; you hit it and you hear the echo of your own shot. And of every shot after that. Clack, clack; clack, clack. The trimmed grass, the rich history, the ancient stadium, the players dressed in white, the respectful crowds, the venerable tradition all combine to enclose and cushion you from the outside world.”

Nadal has already bowed out of the tournament, that too in the first round – the earliest that the 12-time Grand Slam winner has lost in the 35 majors that he has played till date. It goes to show how great a leveller Wimbledon is, and indeed sport is. It is what gives the event that majestic edge, that hallowed feeling. It can elevate you to greatness and immortality, but it can also bring you down to your knees. It can give you moments of intense joy and also reduce you to grimace and tears. That’s Wimbledon!

Nadal, who had scripted an epic and historic win back in 2008 in one of the most dramatic finals, had come into this tournament on a hot streak since coming back after a seven-month layoff, making the finals of all 9 tournaments that he played, winning seven of them. These seven included an historic eighth Roland Garros triumph, putting him up there as one of the greatest players of all time. He came to the courts of SW19 as perhaps the second or third favourite to win the event, and lost in straight sets to a player ranked 135, Steve Darcis, who had won just two ATP matches all year. It is interesting to note that Darcis is nicknamed “Shark” in tennis circles, a name he seems to have justified now.

Where does that leave us in Wimbledon now?

Seven-time champion Roger Federer was scheduled to meet Rafael Nadal in the quarters and the winner would have had a meeting with either Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Andy Murray in the semis, assuming no upsets. The road now seems clear for Federer to go through to the semis and meet Murray.

Unless Frenchman Tsonga decided to give one of his inspired performances that he conjures on and off. He made an astonishing comeback in the quarters of Wimbledon 2011 to beat Federer from two sets to love down, the first time in his glittering career that the Swiss maestro had lost after winning the first two sets.

Federer is chasing history, and so is Murray. Federer, who first won on the venerable lawns in 2003, looks to become only the second man in history after Rafael Nadal to have won a Major eight times, taking his claim to being the best ever to stratospheric heights. And needless to say, a victory here would give him his 18th Major title, putting him way ahead of his peers.

Murray chases the dream of winning his first Grand Slam and becoming the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to win the gentleman’s singles title. And to use the clichéd media term, he “carries the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders.”

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is placed in a much easier half of the draw. His biggest challenge would be Richard Gasquet or Tomas Berdych in the quarters, and David Ferrer or Juan Martin del Potro in the semis. Djokovic, winner in 2011, can be forgiven for thinking that he has almost got a walkover through to the final. If Djokovic plays with focus and maintains his tempo, given the kind of form he is in, and his prowess on grass, he should easily make it to the big match on next Sunday.

So it looks like Djokovic will face off against Federer on the big Sunday on July 7th. Or will Britain’s No.1 decide to change the script and make this tournament his own?

Murray had reached three Grand Slam finals before his final appearance here in 2012, but hadn’t won a set until that match. In his own words, “I’ve done a good job of putting myself in that position the last couple of years. I’ve always been there or thereabouts in the Slams. I just need to make that final jump.”

Well, we shall wait and watch. May the best man win!