The Championships are just a weekend away and the immaculate grounds of The All England Club are packed with the world’s best players. Seeing Andy Murray back at SW19 was a welcome sight and the two-time champion arrived in a buoyant mood, having the chance to chat to 2020 Roland-Garros champion Iga Swiatek (the Scot tweeting earlier this month he loves watching the Polish youngster play).
On court, the British talisman booked a vintage reunion with Roger Federer. Obviously, there wasn’t a big crowd, in the current circumstances, but from pretty much any vantage point (the roof of the broadcast compound was pretty special), ground staff and media attempted to gain the best view in the house.
Reigning champion Novak Djokovic made sure he surveyed the competition from the players’ balcony for a few points, as a legion of players popped by, too -Jack Draper, Marta Kostyuk and Belinda Bencic to name a few.
As expected, the quality of the striking was sensational, Federer’s volleys with extra fizz, Murray looping over his trademark lobs. It wasn’t too intense, both players figuring out elements of their game with their teams, but Murray prevailed 6-5 against the eight-time champion prior to calling it a day.
“It’s coming home, isn’t it?” joked Federer as the conversation turned to the Euro 2020 football. Murray, ardently supporting Scotland at Wembley last week, wasn’t having any of it. “They’ve had every game at home, at Wembley.” Don’t overreact England fans, I’m sure the 34-year-old was just teasing his English coaches, Jamie Delgado and Mark Petchey.
Laser-like Novak
Meanwhile Djokovic, the very spiritual world No.1 who likes to connect with nature, went barefoot for a warm-up on The Hill.
The 19-time Grand Slam winner, fresh from triumphing in Paris, had a quick chat with Sofia Kenin and gelato was the topic with Johanna Konta, prior to his knock with Italian sensation Jannik Sinner. Djokovic was simply in the zone, laser-beaming shots on to the lines at will. There was one moment of concern, when the top seed attempted a Boris Becker-style dive and took a tumble, but luckily manged to roll out of trouble.
The 2016 Olympic champion, Monica Puig, remains on the sidelines but is a keen observer of the Wimbledon social media channels, retweeting our first-round picks earlier on Friday.
The Puerto Rican posted; “Hate that I won’t be competing in Wimbledon this year but can’t wait for these first round matches! Tough first round for Carla Suarez Navarro but hard to count her out in her last Wimbledon before retiring.”
The Spaniard begins her Wimbledon farewell with the ultimate task, facing the world No.1 Ashleigh Barty.
Straight talking
You should know by now that Nick Kyrgios is great value on social media.
“Sheeeshhhh, Ugo not again mannnnnnn,” tweeted the mercurial Australian having touched down in London, referring to his first-round clash with Ugo Humbert.
Kyrgios prevailed in a five-set thriller with the French youngster in February at the Australian Open. Humbert lifted the (very heavy) Halle trophy on grass last week, so watch out for an absolute cracker.
A 2014 quarter-finalist, Kyrgios has two adorable pooches of his own and was besotted by the security dogs strutting around SW19, prompting the 26-year-old to stop and say “hello” on his way back from practice.
The legends were out and about too. Three-time Wimbledon champion Chris Evert and five-time doubles winner Pam Shriver made sure they caught Serena Williams in action with Jessica Pegula. “How did you like my slice?” asked Williams. Ever the perfectionist.
And 2002 finalist David Nalbandian is back on court in the whites, but no, the Argentine isn’t competing, he’s coach to Serbian youngster Miomir Kecmanovic.
Phenomenal Zhang
Zhizhen Zhang (affectionately known as ‘triple z’) was spotted having a tour of the grounds. The 24-year-old from Shanghai made history over at Qualifying in Roehampton, becoming the first Chinese man in the Open era to play in the main draw.
The world No.178 caught the eye of Wimbledon Channel pundit Andrew Castle. “He never gets off balance, he’s phenomenal,” said the former British No.1. “If I had a ticket for Monday, that’s who I would go and watch.”
