The Women
There is a number and a name that has haunted Serena Williams as she prepared to step onto a Grand Slam court for the past year. This, however, will no longer be the case, having finally equalled the Open era 22 Grand Slam singles title tally of the German living legend Steffi Graf, whose record she has been chasing for the past year.
Williams also ties Graf with 7 Wimbledon singles titles after playing an outstanding tournament. Her only hiccup came in the second round with a tough three-set win over fellow American Christina McHale, but this was more a testament to some great play from the 24-year-old New Jersey native than nerves on the part of Williams. From then on, Williams displayed an air of invincibility, appearing cool, calm and collected with no signs of the yips that plagued her in the last three Grand Slams. No one bore the brunt of this more than Elena Vesnina, her semi-final opponent, who was eviscerated in a mere 48 minutes by a ruthless Williams. For her part, Angelique Kerber came through to her second grand final without dropping a set. She was impressive over Simona Halep in the quarter finals, and even more so against a lacklustre Venus Williams in the semi-finals.
The final was a repeat of the one in Melbourne, where Kerber outdid Williams. This time, Serena seemed more focused and in control. She was able to take advantage of the few break points she received - in fact one break in each set was all that was needed. The players traded blows and Kerber ran everything down, producing the shot of the match, a backhand down the line over the post from well outside the court area. Kerber, however, was exasperated as she saw 13 aces go past her, and could do nothing to prevent Serena from making history. With her friend Beyoncé cheering on from the sidelines and with a 39th winner, Williams dropped to the ground and lay on her back in elation at a 7-5 6-3 victory. After a warm embrace at the net, the smile could not be wiped from Williams’ face, and with every reason. After the match, Kerber hailed Williams as “a great champion and a great person,” while Serena replied praising her opponent and saying that winning in SW19 “makes the victory even sweeter” after having come so close in Australia and France.
The Men
Andy Murray played his eleventh Grand Slam final and his first without either Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic across the net. Not wanting to take anything for granted, Murray came out wary of an improved Milos Raonic. The Canadian upset Federer en route to the final and has grown in leaps and bounds over the last year. Wary too, because Murray was a set and a break down before recovering to beat Raonic in the recent final they played at Queen’s Club and was eager to impose himself early on.
With the likes of British PM David Cameron, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, former champions Bjorn Borg, Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker as well as many other well-known faces in the expectant crowd, all was set to make this a day to remember. Raonic seemed surprisingly calm and free of nerves in his first major final. He began with solid tennis, coming into the net regularly. For a tall, strong man he displayed surprising dexterity, bending and stretching well to reach some volleys. A couple of wayward points here and there were enough to allow Murray a break at 3-3, maintaining his advantage to take the first set 6-4. This was a pattern that was repeated throughout the match as the counterpuncher ran down and returned - often with interest - everything that the attacking Raonic threw at him.
The players went toe to toe in the second and third sets, each of which went to a tiebreaker. Murray’s experience and determination showed, as he won them both in relatively convincing fashion, thanks in great part to his speed and passing shots. His elation could not be hidden, as Raonic’s netted his shot from the backhand corner giving the world #2 a 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(2) win for his second Wimbledon crown and his third Grand Slam title overall. Having delighted his home crowd once again, Murray vowed to take the time to savour his victory, saying, "I feel happier this time. I feel more content. I feel like this was more for myself, and my team. We’ve all worked really hard to help get me in this position. Last time it was just pure relief, and I didn’t really enjoy the moment as much, whereas, I’m going to spend time with my family and closest friends, the people I work with."
The Doubles
More records and accolades for Serena Williams came in the doubles event. This is the fourth time she has won both singles and doubles in the same year at the All England Club. Along with her sister Venus, the pair claimed their 14th Grand Slam doubles title, defeating Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan & Timea Babos of Hungary 6-3 6-4.
The doubles final was all French affair with Pierre-Hugues Herbert & Nicolas Mahut taking on Julien Benneteau & Edouard Roger-Vasselin, with victory going to Huber & Mahut 6-4 7-6(1) 6-3. This is only the second time in the Open Era that Wimbledon has been won by an all-French team, and this is the pair’s second Grand Slam win after their victory in New York last year.
There was to be more silverware for Britain, as Heather Watson teamed with Henri Kontinen of Finland to claim honours in the mixed doubles. Kontinen is the first Finnish player to ever win a Grand Slam title in any event. Having ended the hopes of defending champions Martina Hingis & Leander Paes in the third round, they went on to defeat Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany and her Colombian partner, Robert Farah, 7-6(5) 6-4 to give the rapturous crowd a second British centre court winner on the final day of the tournament.
Upsets and Fairytales
Winning the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back is one of the sport’s most difficult feats. As it was, the fates of the recently crowned French Open champions, Novak Djokovic and Garbiñe Muguruza, were sealed in the early rounds on the grass of Wimbledon. American Sam Querrey sent the world #1 packing after a four-set rain-interrupted third-round win. Muguruza was sent home even earlier and even faster. She admitted to feeling depleted after her win in Paris, resulting in a second-round straight set loss to Jana Cepelova of Slovakia.
Two sentimental favourites progressed to the semi-finals. Venus Williams was also making history, overcoming illness and bad form to become the oldest semi-finalist since Martina Navratilova in 1994. History also has a strange way of repeating itself, as back in 1999 it was the new, young Venus and the grand dame Steffi Graf who thrilled the crowd with a tough three-set match in the quarter final. This year in the third round, Venus was the grand dame and played an equally enthralling match against up-and-comer Daria Kasatkina. Both matches ended up going the way of the seasoned ladies, while establishing the “here to stay” aura of the youngsters. Former European 16 & Under champion Kasatkina is one to watch out for.
Roger Federer revived hopes of seeing the Swiss master lift a record-breaking eighth trophy. Buoyed by huge support from fans, fellow players and on social media, the Swiss was enjoying what might be his curtain call. The run was ended with a tough loss to Raonic, but another Federer victory down the track can never be ruled out.
The Juniors
The best performing European boy was junior world #1 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, who lost in the semi-final to the eventual winner Denis Shapovalov (CAN). The fifth seed was too strong in the final against the number seven seed, Alex De Minaur from Sydney, Australia and took the title 4-6 6-1 6-3.
In the girls’ event however, it was an all-European affair, with some amazing power hitting on display in the final. The 6-4 6-3 scoreline does not clearly indicate how close the match actually was. Fine hitting and precision shot-making by both players might put some of the seniors to shame. At the end, drama came not once but twice, as Russia’s 2014 Tennis Europe Junior Masters champion Anastasia Potapova was denied victory after two separate challenges, on two different match points, showed her serves to have missed by the tiniest of margins. Ukrainian opponent Dayana Yastremska’s keen eye couldn't deny the world #4 junior her maiden grand slam title with Potapova finally claiming victory on her seventh match point before the two friends – and former Tennis Europe Junior Tour rivals - shared a warm and effusive embrace at the net. A perfect snapshot into the future, hopefully.
Roll of Honour
Men’s Singles
(2) Andy Murray (GBR) d. (6) Milos Raonic (CAN) 64 76(3) 76(2)
Men’s Doubles
(1) Herbert/Mahut (FRA) d. Benneteau/Roger-Vasselin (FRA) 64 76(1) 63
Women’s Singles
(1) Serena Williams (USA) d. (4) Angelique Kerber (GER) 75 63
Women’s Doubles
Williams/Williams (USA) d. (5) Babos (HUN)/Shvedova (KAZ)
Mixed Doubles
Watson (GBR)/Kontinen (FIN) d. (15) Groenefeld (GER)/Farah (COL) 76 64
Boys’ Singles
(5) Denis Shapovalov (CAN) d. (7) Alex de Minaur (AUS) 46 61 63
Boys' Doubles
(2) Raisma (EST)/Tsitsipas (GRE) d. (1) Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 46 64 62
Girls’ Singles
(4) Anastasia Potapova (RUS) d. (7) Dayana Yastremska (UKR) 64 63
Girls’ Doubles
(4) Arconada/Liu (USA) d. Bolkvadze (GEO)/McNally (USA) 62 63
Men’s Wheelchair Singles
Gordon Reid (GBR) d. Stefan Olsson (SWE) 61 64
Women’s Wheelchair Singles
Jiske Griffioen (NED) d. Aniek van Koot (NED) 46 60 64
Men’s Wheelchair Doubles
(2) Hewett/Reid (GBR) d. (1) Houdet/Peifer (FRA) 46 61 76(6)
Women’s Wheelchair Doubles
(1) Kamiji (JPN)/Whiley (GBR) d. (2) Griffioen/Van Koot (NED) 62 62