The Holy Grail of tennis tournaments, the atmosphere surrounding Wimbledon is always electric. Every year fans, part-time fans and curious channel hoppers alike are enthralled by the relentless back and forth of its baseline rallies, and yanked forward by its at-the-net acrobatics. As you would expect, 2017 was no different; centre court was jam-packed with everything you could possibly hope for: comebacks, upsets, drama, glory – it was all there, and this article will highlight all the key stories.
Kvitova’s comeback
In December 2016, Petra Kvitova was stabbed by an intruder in her home in the Czech Republic – a tragic incident requiring four hours of surgery to her playing hand. Nevertheless, the two-times Wimbledon champ was ready and raring to play less than seven months after the attack. Unfortunately, though, Kvitova was bested in the second round by the unseeded Madison Bengle after visibly struggling throughout the contest. “No one knows how hard I had to work to be back,” said Kvitova, obviously upset. However, there’s no doubt this will fire her up for next year!
No luck for the Williams sisters
Before the tournament had started, we received some big news: Serena Williams, the most accomplished female tennis player of all time, would be absent whilst awaiting the birth of her first child. This left a window of opportunity open for Venus who, despite lacking competition from her sister, was defeated by Garbine Muguruza in the final after failing to convert two set points. At 37, Venus Williams is the oldest player left in women’s singles, and Wimbledon may have marked her last chance to grab another title.However, on a more positive note, it was Garbine’s first title and, perhaps more importantly, the 23-year-old became the first woman to beat both Williams sisters in Grand Slam finals!
Murray injured and out
During a heated quarter-final battle, Andy Murray’s hip pain manifested just at the wrong time. Facing off against Sam Querrey, the defending champion put on a brave face whilst attempting to deflect the American’s monster serve, but sadly it was not to be. There was a tinge of sadness to Murray’s defeat, as many fans wondered just how problematic this injury would be, and just how much he might have aggravated it during the tournament. There is no doubt he’ll be back, though, it is simply a question of when.
Federer triumphs for an eighth time
It seems as though, after yet another victory, that Roger Federer can truly be called the greatest tennis player of all time – if there was even any doubt before, that is. After a convincing win over Marin Cilic on Sunday, Federer’s robotic display earned him his eighth title and his nineteenth Grand Slam victory. Also, Federer became the first man to win Wimbledon without dropping a set since Bjorn Borg in 1976.“It is very special to win eight titles,” admitted Federer, his trademark modesty keeping his post-match musings on an even-keel. We can’t wait to see what more surprises he might have left!Charles Lawrence constructs the finest tennis, netball and basketball courts in the UK, putting 30 years of experience to use each time a playing surface is laid. We take pride in our courts, understanding that, whether they’re school children or Olympic athletes, our clients deserve the best in the business. We also design and build multi-use games areas, so if it’s versatility that you’re looking for, contact our friendly team today.
