Djokovic eyes 4th Wimbledon title

London, June 26

Having finally rid himself of his French Open curse, Novak Djokovic is chasing a third successive Wimbledon title to move one step closer to the first calendar Grand Slam in 47 years. The 29-year-old world number one, champion at Wimbledon in 2011, 2014 and 2015, has become the unstoppable Slam machine.

His victory over Andy Murray in Paris gave him a 12th major, taking him to within two of Rafael Nadal’s mark and five behind the record 17 of Roger Federer. But Nadal is missing from this year’s Wimbledon, nursing a wrist injury, while seven-time All England Club champion Federer is without a Major in four years and a shadow of the player he once was.

World No. 2 Murray, the Wimbledon champion in 2013, remains Djokovic’s only serious rival but the British star has a 10-24 career record against the Serb.

Djokovic has won 13 of their last 15 meetings and hasn’t been defeated by Murray at a Slam since the Wimbledon final three years ago.

Djokovic currently holds all four Majors and is targeting becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar Grand Slam, a feat only achieved three times in the sport’s history. “I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I really think everything is achievable in life,” said Djokovic, who appears to be under little pressure heading into Wimbledon where he starts Monday against Britain’s world No. 177 James Ward.

In between practice and this week’s rain, he posed for ‘selfies’ on the London Underground, happily opting for public transport despite becoming the first man to pass the $100 million prize money mark at Roland Garros. “I’m trying to cherish these moments. Whether or not I can reach a calendar slam, that’s still a possibility.”      Djokovic has reached at least the quarterfinals of every Slam since a fourth round exit at the 2009 French Open.

He is the first man since Jim Courier in 1992 to win the Australian and French Opens back-to-back.

Even Federer and Nadal failed to achieve that sequence just as the two greats were also unsuccessful in attempts at a calendar sweep. Federer was undone by the French Open in 2004, 2006 and 2007 while Nadal’s failure to win the 2010 Australian Open was a blip in a year when he romped to victory in Paris, London and New York.

Murray, just a week older than Djokovic, will be looking for his third Major after the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon trophies.

Serena battles rivals, self-doubt

Serena Williams finds herself under siege from revitalised rivals and an army of doubters as the defending champion starts her bid for a seventh title and a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam crown.

Since she walked off Wimbledon’s Centre Court cradling the Venus Rosewater Dish awarded to the women’s champion nearly 12 months ago, Williams has found herself engaged in a losing battle with the history books. That Wimbledon final victory over Garbine Muguruza meant Williams had won all three of the year’s Major titles, putting her within touching distance of becoming the first woman to secure a calendar Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988.

But her historic bid came to stunning end in the US Open semifinals when she was beaten by 300-1 outsider Roberta Vinci.

In the aftermath of that chastening September day in New York, Williams has appeared a more vulnerable figure. For so long, Williams’ power game and competitive instincts intimidated opponents into submission, but this year she has won only one of her five tournaments, in Rome in May. — AFP

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Grass Slam

Oldest

The first Wimbledon championship took place in 1877, making it the oldest tennis tournament in the world. Men’s singles was the only event played that year. Ladies’ singles and men’s doubles events came on the scene in 1884. And in 1913, the ladies’ doubles and mixed doubles events were added to the tournament.

Most Titles

The record for the most Wimbledon titles in ladies’ singles belongs to retired Czech and American player Martina Navratilova with nine victories. In men’s singles, the record for most titles is shared by William Renshaw, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer, who each won the event seven times.

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Know about Wimbledon

Aces (most in an edition) 

All time

Men: 212 by Goran Ivanisevic (CRO)  2001

Ladies: 80 by Serena Williams (USA) 2015

In 2015

Men: 165 by Ivo Karlovic (from four matches)

Ladies: 80 by Serena Williams (from seven matches)

Balls

54,250 used during the Championships. Stored at 20°C. Yellow balls used for first time in 1986. Historically, balls were either black or white in colour.

Capacity

39,000 spectators in the grounds at any one time. 

Clothing 

Predominately in white rule introduced in 1963. ‘Almost entirely in white rule’ introduced in 1995. 

Centre court

14,979 seats

Fastest serve 

In 2015

Men: 147 mph by Sam Groth

Ladies: 123 mph by Lucie Hradecka

Fastest Serve 

All time

Men: 148mph by Taylor Dent (2010)

Women: 129mph by Venus Williams (2008)

Flowers

Over 50,000 plants supplied each year. Ivy on centre court is Boston Ivy, Parthenocissus Tricuspidaca Veitchii.

Grass

Championships playing height 8mm. Court grass composed of 100% rye grass (changed from 70% rye and 30% red fescue in Sept 2000 for better wear and tear properties).

Hawk

Rufus, a Harris hawk, trained by Wayne and Imogen Davis of Avian Control. Visits the club most weeks in the year to provide a deterrent to local pigeons. Flies for one hour (9.00am) most mornings of the Championships before the gates open.

Longest match

The longest match in history was played between American John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010. The match took 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days, lasting so long it was suspended because of darkness two nights in a row. Isner won 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68.

Prize money (2015)

Singles champions:  £1.88m.  

Total:  £26.5m.

Umpires

350 on duty comprising mostly British plus 60 from overseas. 

Weather

Championships recorded as being without rain interruptions since 1922 — 1931, 1976, 1977, 1993, 1995, 2009, 2010