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A s grbad rested on a murderously hot Sunday, many of the 16 contenders remained standing after a week of minor carnage prepared for a charge at the final weekend suspecting – but never admitting – that the name of the winner is likely to be one that has already been engraved eight times on the trophy
Roger Federer, the reigning champion of 36 years, knows that it's his Wimbledon to lose. He was gifted for a week-long ride as enjoyable as a walk on Wimbledon Common and begins the fourth round on center court at 1 pm against Adrian Mannarino. The 22nd seeded took a single set against Switzerland in five games, and Federer gave the Frenchman aged 30 only seven matches when they met here in the second round seven years ago; There is no reason to believe that it will be very different Monday
Sometimes, the evidence is invisible to the non-critical or dreamy eye. Yet, during three rounds where bright young things fell like flying ants, it was the proven champions of their time who survived the most convincing. Federer spent the first week as he was leading a clinic, and is on a run of 67 undefeated service matches that go back to the eighth game of the first set of his semifinal against Tomas Berdych a year ago. Rafael Nadal, too, was impressive from the other side of the table.
If Federer wins a ninth title, it is likely that he will celebrate Sunday night at the ball of champions, alongside his girlfriend and contemporary Serena Williams. 36 – and with three majors more than him at 23 years old. They joked all week long about the fact that they will probably retire at the same time, which could lead them to the 2020 Olympics.
Back to Wimbledon a three-match race at Roland Garros – its return tournament after giving birth for the first time in September – the 2016 champion beat her opposition for the cost of 24 games. She will follow Federer and Mannarino on the venerated patch of the game against Evgeniya Rodina, and there will be a rare mix of respect and ambition on the other side of the net.
The Russian qualifier and Williams are the last of six mothers who started this tournament, and she told the WTA website: "I know how difficult it is to come back to tennis after having your first child." She also revealed that she has never spoken to Williams, whom she has long admired. Her own daughter, Anna, is six years old and travels with her on the Tour – just like little Olympia with Williams, although the heat can keep her from leaving the Court Center on Monday.
The heat will be elsewhere in the heat of the competition. In the women's draw, it is generated by a mixture of young and old aspiring after the threading of the top 10 that left only the seventh seed Karolina Pliskova standing after six days. She plays Kiki Bertens in first place on No 2 Court, the winner qualifying for the quarterfinals against Julia Görges or Donna Vekic. Williams meets the winner of Camila Giorgi and the eternal giant Ekaterina Makarova, who eliminated second seed Caroline Wozniacki in the second round.
On the men's side, the losses were largely among the so-called Next Generation. Finished two glamorous prodigies, Denis Shapovalov and Alexander Zverev, as well as the riddled Nick Kyrgios riddle, giving way to figures as familiar as your grandfather to fight for the prize.
On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of Andy Murray's breakthrough on Central Court, the player he dominated in three sets of almost unbearable tension, that sunny Sunday, Novak Djokovic, beat the Scottish substitute as the flag-bearer of the hosts, Kyle Edmund, in four looser sets on Saturday. He demonstrated two truths: Djokovic, beatable on Murray's best day, was still too good for Edmund in one of his less dominant moods.
But is the Serbian replaying game already strong enough or his elbow strong enough to continue these aces, to intimidate a player made in Edmund's power play mode, Karen Khachanov, in the third match on Court No 1 Monday? Probably, although the Russian with the gold arm makes him work for him.
If Federer beats Mannarino (and what a shock it would be if he does not do it), he will have his first very hard test against Gael Monfils, who The US Open 2017 finalist, Kevin Anderson, who plays his eighth ranking, has regained his first form in an entertaining series.
These are all over 30 and seasoned – just like Gilles Simon and the world. 1, Nadal. The Spaniard appeared excellent in three quick wins and should be equally impressive against Jiri Vesely, 24, who eliminated Fabio Fognini
. who looks like he had to get off the Highlands but is in fact a 23 year old Californian with a strong pedigree and little to lose. His former coach, Wayne Ferreira, said at the start of the tournament, "He's one to watch" – and he's not wrong.
McDonald started the year earning $ 780 for losing to the world 145 Uladzimir Ignatik A third minor tournament round in Playford, South Australia. Three weeks later, Grigor Dimitrov, world number three, won five sets in the second round of the Australian Open. If he beats Milos Raonic, 13, he will play either with his compatriot John Isner – 10 years older than him but still thirsty for success – or the youngest player on the board, 19-year-old Stefanos Tstitsipas.
There are uncertainties in this formation – but the story at the end of the drama will probably be the same as that of the last seven Grand Slam tournaments: the win for Federer or Nadal.
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