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MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2015 SPORTS Djokovic eyes Wimbledon healing after Paris misery LONDON: Novak Djokovic insists his heart- breaking French Open final defeat has been consigned to history as he begins his Wimbledon title defence today. The world number one had stayed resolutely out of the spotlight since his Roland Garros upset by Stan Wawrinka ended his latest bid to complete the career Grand Slam. But the Serb says he is fired up to defend his Wimbledon crown just as he was in 2011 when he captured his maiden title in London. “I needed some time off, more mentally rather than physically,” said eight-time major winner Djokovic who faces world number 33 German Philipp Kohlschreiber in a tough Monday opener. “I know it could have been useful to play a couple of official matches on grass, but it’s not the first time I’m coming straight into Wimbledon.” Djokovic’s loss to Wawrinka in Paris was just his third defeat in 44 matches this year. With the Australian Open already under his belt, the shattering loss ended his chances of going on to become just the third man in history-and first since 1969 — to clinch a calendar Grand Slam. But such Paris disappointments have previ- ously worked in his favor. His 2011 semi-final loss to Roger Federer at Roland Garros ended a 41-match win streak that year. However, just four weeks later, he defeated Rafael Nadal to secure a first Wimbledon title and then went on to his maiden US Open tri- umph. Djokovic is also the most consistent of the top players at the majors-the last time he failed to make at least the quarter-finals of a Grand WIMBLEDON: US player Serena Williams is seen at the practice court at The All Slam was at Roland Garros in 2009. England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. —AFP World number two and seven-time Wimbledon champion Federer, who won the last of his 17 majors at the All England Club in Plaudits pour in for Serena 2012, is seeded to meet Djokovic in the July 12 final. LONDON: Serena Williams arrives at very difficult to beat her. She won in Roland He will be 34 in August-the oldest man to Wimbledon for the latest stage of her bid Garros, that probably was the most difficult win Wimbledon in the modern era was Arthur for an historic calendar Grand Slam with one for her. She has the right game to play Ashe who was 31 years and 11 months when he the praise of her peers ringing in her ears. well in Wimbledon. If she really does it, it triumphed at the All England Club in 1975. Williams has swept to victory at the will be amazing,” Nadal said. Federer fervently believes that another Australian and French Opens over the last “My feeling is she has much more pow- Wimbledon is not beyond him and he was six months and a sixth Wimbledon crown er than the others. That’s a big advantage buoyed by his eighth Halle title last weekend. would leave the world number one within in the women’s game. Her shots are hit a lot LONDON: Current Wimbledon men’s singles champion Serbia’s Novak Djokovic gestures dur- “If I look at last year, I see more the positives touching distance of becoming the first differently than the other women.” ing a press conference at the Wimbledon Championships. —AP than actually the heart-breaking loss in the woman since Steffi Graf in 1988 to win all No-one has had a more up-close look at final,” said Federer, defeated in five sets by better,” said Murray, who begins his campaign Despite Wawrinka’s second major title at the four majors in the same year. Serena’s ability to blast her way to victory Djokovic in 2014. against Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan. French Open, the dominance of the sport’s four The 33-year-old American’s march to a than Maria Sharapova, the five-time Grand “I didn’t expect myself to right away make Two-time champion Rafael Nadal is seeded heavyweights is unlikely to be seriously threat- memorable milestone has reached the All Slam champion who has now lost 17 of the final. It goes to show that last year, I wasn’t 10 — his lowest position for a decade. The nine- ened at Wimbledon where Lleyton Hewitt, in England Club, where she opens against their 19 career meetings, including this playing great and I made the finals.” Federer time French Open champion was beaten for 2002, was the last champion from outside the Russian qualifier Margarita Gasparyan. year’s Australian Open final. starts his campaign against Bosnia’s Damir only the second time in his Paris career by “Big Four”. And her exploits have captured the Sharapova, who won her 2004 Dzumhur, who he beat in the French Open third Djokovic in a morale-sapping quarter-final loss. Wawrinka has never got beyond the quarter- attention of fellow players in both the Wimbledon title with a famous final upset round. He then clinched the Stuttgart grass-court finals, while fifth-ranked Kei Nishikori can only female and male locker rooms. Asked to of Serena, is regarded as one of the only Andy Murray, the 2013 champion, saw his title which only proved to be a false dawn as boast a fourth-round best. World number six assess Serena’s place in history and her credible challengers to Williams’ bid to 2014 campaign sabotaged by a combination of just days later the 29-year-old was losing to Tomas Berdych was runner-up in 2010 but has chances of achieving the calender Slam, wrestle the trophy from defending champi- back pain and an inspired Grigor Dimitrov in the Alexander Dolgopolov in his Queen’s opener. since only made the quarter-finals on one occa- Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Maria on Petra Kvitova. But, despite a prickly rela- quarter-finals. His recent trips to Wimbledon have also been sion. Among the rest of the top 10, Spain’s Sharapova all offered glowing reviews of tionship with Serena, she admitted the But the 28-year-old world number three, chastening affairs, featuring losses in the sec- David Ferrer was forced to withdraw on the eve the 20-time Grand Slam champion. Few American, a potential semi-final opponent, fresh from a record-equalling fourth Queen’s ond, first and fourth rounds. of the tournament due to an elbow injury. know the pressures of competing for a is the overwhelming favorite. Club title, believes he’s playing better than Nadal joked that he was coming into US Open champion Marin Cilic is expected to place in history more than Federer, who “Yeah, absolutely. She’s certainly the when he secured his historic Wimbledon tri- Wimbledon fully attuned to being on grass. “I mount a strong challenge, while Milos Raonic, will attempt to win a record-breaking player to beat having won the last three umph. “Physically I’m definitely in a better place played golf,” he smiled as he recalled how he who recently underwent foot surgery, was a eighth Wimbledon title-which would take majors. I think those results speak for her- than I was then and I’m using my variety much spent his time at home in Mallorca last week. semi-finalist in 2014. —AFP his all-time best tally of Grand Slam tro- self,” said Sharapova, whose Wimbledon phies to 18. opener is against British wildcard Johanna The Swiss great marvels at Serena’s Konta. longevity and believes the greatest threat “I think it always comes down to consis- Nishikori feels no to her chances is looking ahead to the fin- tency. It’s one thing to do it at one or two ish line at the US Open in August. events, but to have that level to be able to pressure ahead of “When she plays on her terms you do it consistently is pretty incredible.” would think Wimbledon and the US Open After reaching the French Open final first major bid would be the easier ones to win, especially and then the Wimbledon semi-finals last with her serve. But that’s exactly when you year, Romanian third seed Simona Halep LONDON: Kei Nishikori has shrugged off the pressure of have a hiccup,” Federer said. “So it’s all could also fluster Serena, who has failed to being Japan’s highest-seeded player at Wimbledon in the about focus right now, sometimes just make the quarter-finals in her last two Open era and believes he is getting closer to the levels of grinding through some matches. appearances at the All England Club. the world’s top players. “Once she gets to the final, she’s always However, ahead of her first round tie going to be the favorite. “I’m not surprised against Slovakia’s Jana Cepelova, Halep US Open runner-up Nishikori is the fifth seed in the she’s still at the top. To be mentally ready admitted she is in awe of Serena’s achieve- men’s single at the All England Club, surpassing the seed- for the challenge, that’s what’s so ments and expects to see her succeed at ing of compatriot Kimiko Date-Krumm, who was seeded admirable about her.” Wimbledon and US Open over the coming sixth in the women’s draw in 1994 and 1995. Having Nadal has 14 Grand Slam titles to his months. “Serena has two (Grand Slams) this reached the Australian and French Open quarter-finals name, including two at Wimbledon, and, year already, so she can do it.

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