London (AFP)
Star Cori Gauff and the "Big Three" Nadal-Djokovic-Federer will illuminate the knockout stages of Wimbledon Monday at the traditional "Manic Monday" (crazy Monday).
Sod health requires, Sunday is a day off at Wimbledon: everyone is jostling the following Monday to compete in the knockout stages, men and women alike.
One day, sixteen clashes and show everywhere, the public loves it. This year, he will have his eyes turned to "Coco" Gauff.
The young American (15) surprised everyone by reaching the second week for the first time in her young career. She also showed signs of exceptional maturity including eliminating Venus Williams on the Court N.1 and leaving Polona Hercog on the Central Court, after losing the first set.
But the qualifying teenager will face her first seed, the seventh player in the world, Simona Halep.
- "Confidence in myself" -
"I think I always had confidence in myself, I think I realized that I could do a lot of things," said Gauff, not destabilized at the prospect of facing the Romanian, still N.1 world there is little. "She's different from the ones I've faced so far, but they're all different in their own way."
A little in the shadow of his early fellow, Serena Williams will try to continue his journey to a 24th Grand Slam title. She will be opposed to Carla Suarez Navarro.
At 37, the former N.1 world can also advance with confidence: the seven-time winner of Wimbledon has won six confrontations against the Spanish, without ever conceding a set.
The current World No.1, Ashleigh Barty, who has quietly marked the road until the second week, expects this time to a much stronger eighth. The Australian will play against the American Alison Riske, only 55th in the world ... but tough, according to her.
"She is ready to fight and she makes you work for every point," assured the recent champion at Roland Garros, who hopes to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2015 to double the Paris-London.
Serious things start nicely for the "Big Three", which has not really forced to reach the second week. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were sometimes blamed (they all lost a single set), but they never trembled.
Djokovic was probably the most serene of the trio. The Serb easily defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber and Denis Kudla, before losing a small set against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz. The world No.1 has faltered, but not long, not enough to ease the impression of serenity since the beginning of the fortnight.
- Federer suspicious -
The 2018 laureate will face for the first time the young French Ugo Humbert in the round of 16. Winner of Gael Monfils (abandonment), Marcel Granollers then the nugget Felix Auger-Aliassime, the Messin realizes a superb course. Can he pose problems to the "Djoker"?
In the wake of his triumph at Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal also had a good first week without a hitch. However, if the Spaniard had to raise his game to beat Nick Kyrgios in the second round, he showed a good dose of cold blood not to give in to the provocations of the boiling Australian. He will face Portuguese Joao Sousa on Monday, only 69th in the world.
For his part, Roger Federer has gradually raised his game to have Lucas Pouille in the third round and see the second week in London for the 17th time of his career.
At 37, the eight-time winner of Wimbledon was spared before facing Matteo Berrettini, 20th world. However, be careful with the Italian, who won the grass tournament in Stuttgart before reaching the final square in Halle, where Federer then triumphed for the tenth time!
The Swiss has been very suspicious of an opponent he has never faced before: "It makes things a little more difficult, I saw him play a bit in Halle. he's here in Stuttgart, now he's here. "
"I hope he is emptied," smiled the "Master".
? 2019 AFP