Bill Simons
NICK KYRGIOS – STRAWBERRIES AND CHILL: En route to the 1980 Wimbledon semis, Jimmy Connors said, “I’m just a guy on a vacation in London, playing a little tennis.” Before this year’s Wimbledon, the previously self-isolated Nick Kyrgios said he’d come to town for “some strawberries and to chill…It didn’t take much to get me off the couch in Canberra.”
Some dismissed his chances. Nick confided, “It was [Brad] Gilbert telling me, ‘There’s no chance you can come off the couch and compete at this level against players.’ [But] I’m like, dude, I know my game, I know how to play on grass. I’m not scared of anyone in the draw.”
He added that he wanted to learn some calm from his new mixed doubles partner, Venus Williams. But it was hardly calm during his two-day 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 win over Frenchman Ugo Humbert. Kyrgios blasted a ball out of Court One, berated a fan and took a wretched fall late in his marathon match. He later said, “I was always going to get up and play. With one leg, I was going to finish the match. Resilient, man.” Over two days the Aussie’s genius was on full display. In one game he blasted four aces and won the game in 43 seconds. His whippy forehands are a marvel, his touch is deft. He creates severe angles and spontaneously gives us tweeners and trick shots – never mind that it’s set point. “I just couldn’t take my eyes off him. Every point was fascinating,” said broadcaster Claire Curran. Yes, the ATP field has many charismatic players – Gael Monfils, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Frances Tiafoe, and Fabio Fognini, among others – but Nick is a player apart.
His two-day match reminded us how much we missed him. The Aussie admitted he was surprised how well he played, and added, “These young guys are just fearless. I’m like, dude, I’m getting old, body-wise. I feel old…[But that was] not bad for a part-time player…I tried to go out and give them a show.” And the Kyrgios show is one of the best we have.
SPILLS, SLIPS AND STUMBLES: Never before has a tournament been plagued by more falls than this year’s Wimbledon.
OLD SOUL VENUS: In a certain way, Venus Williams has long been in the shadow of Serena. It seemed that she might make headlines Tuesday morning when she scored a great win. But after Serena’s devastating injury, that was not to be.
The old soul of tennis had lost six matches in a row. She hadn’t won a match since the Australian Open, her ranking had plummeted to No. 111 and she needed to get a wildcard just to play in Wimbledon. And BTW, she’s 41. But as Venus said a few seasons ago, “This old cat still has some tricks up her sleeve.” And Tuesday, after dropping the second set to the Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu, she held on to prevail 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, in what was her 107th Wimbledon match and 90th Grand Slam event.
But she’s weary of all the questions about why she continues playing. She told ESPN, “I’ve done a thousand interviews, and now only the truth comes out.”
Actually, in press conferences, she has a protocol to deflect the drumbeat of similar questions. “I’m good at what I do,” she says again and again. “You can’t win them all…Each point is a challenge,” and “I don’t look back,” are frequent clipped answers to sprint through her pressers. But sometimes she lets her guard down and offers deeper insights.
When Chris McKendry asked her, “What’s the key to your longevity?” Venus replied, “I’m tired of talking about it.” So Chris Evert jumped in and joked, “How’s your love life?” “I’m very single,” said Venus. “I might be available, actually.” Evert then quipped, “You and me both.”
Venus creates buzz. The other day from across a Wimbledon room the ever spontaneous and playful Nick Kyrgios whispered to Venus, “Mixed?” and so the most interesting tandem in the mixed doubles draw was born. What’s also interesting is that Williams will face one of her favorites, Tunisian Ons Jabeur, in the second round of the singles draw. The match is a fascinating marker in the ongoing role of tennis and international sport. In 2009, Venus was a key force in the effort to allow Israeli Shahar Peer to play in the Dubai championship. Now she’ll be playing Jabeur, who just two weeks ago became the first Arab woman to win a WTA tournament. Venus said Ons “is one of my favorite people on tour. Honestly, she’s just breaking down barriers. The first woman from her country to do anything that she’s doing. She just won her first tournament, so she’s got to be feeling great.
“You’re going to see a whole other generation of women from North Africa or wherever coming into tennis. It’s going to be all owed to her. She’s inspiring so many people, including me…She holds herself in a way that…people can respect…You can’t limit her to just inspiring women in the Arab region. She’s inspiring all kinds of women. When I see her winning, I’m very happy for her. I’m proud also…There are only great things ahead of her.”
There’s a rule: these days there can’t be a press session with Venus without her being asked why she plays on. Sounding like many a 41-year-old careerist, Venus spoke to ESPN about her work: “It’s a great job – there really are great benefits. The insurance is amazing, since I get MRIs every month – those get expensive. I may as well keep getting these benefits. You get to travel – it’s really cool.”
As for her supportive mother Oracene, Venus noted, “She’s just tireless. I don’t know how she watches all the matches. It’s emotionally exhausting – ups and downs and the whole thing. The serves and the injuries…Our whole family, they are bigger troopers than us…I get so nervous [watching Serena]. As great as she is, it’s easier to play [than watch Serena]. Not many people have had a sister playing the same sport. Nobody really understands that experience, but it is nerve racking.” As for Mr. Federer, she said, “I love Roger, and he’s really funny. He’s a great player and can get a good laugh. He’s a winner.” And so is Venus. Well, except for today. She fell 7-5, 6-0 in her second-round match to Jabeur.
AMERICAN SEED BUSTERS: When the draw came out, American fans sighed with the realization that a lot of our stars would be facing top-ranked players in the first round. But fearless Frances Tiafoe scored the win of his life when he downed No. 3 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. Sloane Stephens dismissed the two-time Wimbledon champ and No. 10 seed Petra Kvitova, and Seb Korda scored a stunning win over the swift Aussie, Alex de Minaur, who was just coming off a win at Eastbourne.
It’s been quite a few days for the Korda family. On Sunday, Seb’s older sister Nelly won the women’s PGA title in Atlanta. Seb, who has top-20 wins over Fabio Fognini and Diego Schwartzman, who’d reached the Delray final and won in Palma, showed extraordinary power, movement and mental strength as he scored the Grand Slam win of his life, just before the rains stopped play. One thing’s pretty clear: The 20-year, now ranked No. 50, is the real deal. So buckle your seatbelts, America, we could have a future men’s champion in our midst.
Tiafoe, Korda and Stephens are all through to the third round. Here’s a list of Americans still left in the tourney: CoCo Vandeweghe, Coco Gauff, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Madison Brengle, Shelby Rogers, Dennis Kudla, Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Tennys Sandgren, Sam Querrey, Marcos Giron.
QUOTEBOOK
“He has the worst forehand in the top 1,000.” – Brad Gilbert on Benoit Paire [Editor’s Note: a while ago, Brad said that Paire’s forehand was the worst in the top 100.]
“I have pain.” – The ATP’s perpetually tanking Benoit Paire, who was trying to get the ump to allow him to quit two points before the end of his match against Diego Schwartzman
“I’ll do my best for sure, and try to make you happy.” – Russian Aliaksandra Sasnovich to the Centre Court crowd after Serena withdrew due to her fall
“This is all a waste of our time.” – a fan calling out to Paire
“It was almost a flawless performance today.” – Novak Djokovic after he had six unforced errors Wednesday against the dangerous Kevin Anderson
“I am having a nice connection with the grass. I don’t remember falling this often.” – Djokovic
“I’d rather be lucky than good.” – Roger Federer
MEDICAL MIRACLE MAN: At the French Open, after tearing his meniscus, Taylor Fritz was taken off the court in a wheelchair. He could have been out for eight months, but exactly three weeks later, the determined Rancho Santa Fe native moved forward time and again and beat his fellow Southern Californian, Brandan Nakashima, in four sets. He’ll face another Southern Californian, Stevie Johnson, in the second round.
TROUBLE IN AMANDAVILLE: The talented and highly appealing American teen Amanda Anisimova seemed like she was a sure-fire future star when she reached the French Open semi final in 2019. But she’s had poignant struggles, on and off court, and setbacks of all kinds. On the eve of Wimbledon she was struggling with a stomach infection and today she lost her opening match 6-2, 3-6, 1-6 to Magda Linette. Amanda is now ranked No. 81. Then again, she’s only 19, a tremendous talent and wise beyond her years. Former Aussie Open champ Sofia Kenin fell to her fellow American, Madison Brengle.
JOHN FALLS: The 2018 Wimbledon semifinalist, 6’10” John Isner, lost in the first round to 5’ 7” Yoshihito Nishioka. It’s the first time Isner has lost in the first round at Wimbledon since 2012. This year, John had a far better clay than grass season. Another tall American, 6’ 6” Sam Querrey, easily beat Pablo Carreno Busta in straight sets. GO FIGURE: Some players haven’t started their first round matches, while others are comfortably into the third round….Already there’s been a tournament cancellation for 2022. Auckland’s men’s and women’s tourneys have been scratched due to COVID…Benoit Paire said he didn’t care about the people and was merely playing for himself.
SAY IT ISN’T SO: New Zealand’s ASB tourney for men and women has been cancelled due to COVID.
SERENA’S SORROW: After pulling out of her first round match Serena issued this statement. “I was heartbroken to have to withdraw today after injuring my right leg. My love and gratitude are with the fans and the team who make being on Centre Court so meaningful. Feeling the extraordinary warmth and support of the crowd today when I walked on – and off – the court meant the world to me.”
