Wimbledon Takeaways: Djokovic still the man to beat, Swiatek eyes fifth major

We are halfway through the fortnight of the most iconic tournament in tennis.

Through seven days of action, Wimbledon has lived up to the hype, with spellbinding tennis from great champions like Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek, storybook runs from new faces, and memorable matches from Canadians.

Here are six takeaways from our first week of play at the All England Club:

Djokovic unrelenting on grass

The grass court dominance continues from the 23-time major champion.

Novak Djokovic is into the second week of Wimbledon unscathed, and looking sharp as ever on the natural, low-bouncing surface.

The tennis giant has not lost at the All England Club since 2017, and is undefeated on its prestigious Centre Court in over a decade.

So far, he’s made routine work of Pedro Chacin, Jordan Thompson, and three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka.

Djokovic can only add more accolades to his storied and historic career with a title here:

Another Wimbledon Championship would tie Roger Federer’s all-time men’s record of eight and put Djokovic in prime position to complete a calendar slam.

He remains the heavy favourite heading into the second week of play.

Alcaraz rising, Rublev produces magic

The current world number one has acclimated himself to every surface incredibly quickly.

Carlos Alcaraz, who had only played 11 career matches on grass courts coming into Wimbledon, already looks like a force on the surface with his lethal and penetrative groundstrokes, great skills at net and vastly improved serve.

He’s also adapted his movement to the surface and as one of the fastest players on tour, it bodes well for his chances at a title run.

Alcaraz has three victories already, dropping just one set in the tournament to big-hitting Chilean Nicolas Jarry.

Next up is a blockbuster clash with 2021 Wimbledon finalist, Matteo Berrettini.

The Italian has a booming serve and forehand combination that makes him a nightmare matchup for anybody on the fast surface.

Meantime, world number seven Andrey Rublev booked his place into the quarterfinals of a major for the eighth time in his career, surviving Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik 7-5, 6-3, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4 in one of the matches of the tournament.

Not only was it a spectacular match, but it may also have produced the shot of the year, as an outstretched and sprawling Rublev retrieved a blistering backhand strike from Bublik with a diving forehand winner to set up match point:

Rublev’s charismatic and self-deprecating personality make him one of the more lovable figures on tour.

Getting past the quarterfinal stage of a major has been a mental and physical hurdle the Russian is yet to overcome.

He’ll get an opportunity to do so Tuesday.

Iga pushes on, Andreeva has fairy tale run

She was two points away from defeat.

She did not flinch.

Iga Swiatek’s quest for a maiden Wimbledon title is intact, as she turned aside two match points against Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic and rallied for a dramatic 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 victory to move into the quarterfinals.

The world number one is on an impressive 14-match winning streak, dating back to the Rome Open in May, and her transition from the soft, thick clay courts of Roland Garros to the firm and neatly cut grass of Wimbledon has looked seamless.

With her toughest test now in the rearview mirror, it would hardly be a surprise if Swiatek now beams with confidence at the prospect of a fifth career major.

Only five women in the history of the event have won the singles tournament after saving a match point, with Serena Williams in 2009 the most recent.

Iga is three wins away.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Mirra Andreeva is becoming the Cinderella story of the tournament.

The teenage sensation, who turned 16 years old just over two months ago, came through qualifying with three straight wins before toppling Wang Xiyu of China, former French Open winner Barbora Krejcikova, and fellow compatriot and top 25 player Anastasia Potapova.

It’s been reminiscent of Coco Gauff’s run at the All England Club four years ago, when she reached the round of 16 at just 15 years of age.

Andreeva has athleticism, poise, touch and plays with a purpose and maturity that is rarely seen at such a young age:

She faces American Madison Keys next.

Two Elenas fight on

The defending champion of the tournament is into the second week of Wimbledon.

Perhaps you didn’t take notice because of how quiet and business like Elena Rybakina often is with her tennis.

She’s an unassuming killer, with deadly and powerful groundstrokes and currently the best serve in the women’s game.

Rybakina has fired 23 aces through three match wins to storm into the second week, her most recent victory a 6-1, 6-1 demolition of Britain’s Katie Boulter.

While she’s already established herself as a world-class player, it’s particularly on the grass that her game becomes most potent, with few opponents being able to withstand her combination of power and precision.

Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia will be the next challenger in line.

Meantime, former world number three Elina Svitolina has delivered an unbelievable resurgence in form, only months after returning to the tour from a pregnancy.

The gifted Ukrainian is through to the final eight of the tournament and has now achieved the quarterfinals or better at nine majors in her storied career.

This fortnight, she was spurred on by upsets of Elise Mertens and Victoria Azarenka; Svitolina would call the latter victory one of the best moments in her career.

Svitolina has done a lot of winning over the years with 17 WTA titles – her biggest challenge yet lies ahead when she faces Iga Swiatek on Tuesday.

In defeat, Bianca takes step forward
Mississauga’s Bianca Andreescu produced her deepest ever run at the All England Club, reaching the third round before succumbing to last year’s runner-up Ons Jabeur in a thrilling contest 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

There were some theatrics along the way in her first two matches which both went the distance.

Andreescu opened with a tough 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 win over Hungarian Anna Bondar, winning 83 of 165 points in a match of the slimmest of margins.

She then looked to have full control over Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina, leading 6-2, 4-2, only to drop 9 of the next 11 games.

From 5-2 down in the third set, Andreescu dug in and pushed the match to a super tiebreak, and closing out a 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (10-7) win in 2 hours, 46 minutes.

Against Jabeur’s craft and versatile game, Andreescu looked in control, confidently winning the opening set.

She even led 3-2 in the decider before a rain delay seemed to alter the momentum of the match. Jabeur secured a pivotal break of serve at 4-4 before closing out the match on Centre Court.

Despite a difficult loss, the Canadian was upbeat and positive.

“To be able to have an opportunity to play again against a top player on Centre Court, it’s a dream come true,” said Andreescu.

“Maybe this is a turning point for me.”

Meantime, Montreal’s Leylah Fernandez lost in the second round to France’s Caroline Garcia, who has now twice beaten her in majors in 2023.

Rebecca Marino and Carol Zhao both lost their opening-round clashes, while Ottawa’s Gaby Dabrowski fell in both women’s and mixed doubles.

Shapovalov reaches final 16, Milos has his swan song

For all his talent on the court, Denis Shapovalov remains one of the most unpredictable of players on the tennis circuit.

He has incredible raw abilities, highlight reel shot making, a beautiful lefty serve, soft hands at net and a flair for the dramatic that often attracts a packed house to his matches.

For the first week in London, we saw all the elements that make Shapovalov a special player.

He worked around a rain delay to defeat Moldovan Radu Albot in four sets to open his campaign, overwhelmed France’s Gregoire Barrere in straightforward fashion to charge into the third round and overcame a crowd heavily backing their British compatriot Liam Broady to advance to the round of 16.

Facing Russian Roman Safiullin, a player ranked over 60 spots below him, it looked like a prime opportunity to earn a place in the quarterfinals.

Unfortunately, a bum knee noticeably hampered the Canadian’s chances, as he exited 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 and lacked the fitness and movement required in the latter stages of the match to stay competitive.

It’s a step in the right direction for Shapovalov, who reached the second week of a major for the first time since the 2022 Australian Open.

Still, given his high octane and at times brilliant tennis, many will be wanting much more.

It was one last hurrah for Milos Raonic at his favourite tournament.

The 32-year-old Canadian made his return to the circuit just a few weeks ago after a two-year absence that cast doubt on a possible looming retirement.

Raonic has earned achievements many only dream of in tennis – possessing one of the tour’s best serves of all time, he reached the Wimbledon final in 2016, the semifinals of Australia that same year, won eight singles titles, pushed to a career high ranking of number three and tallied notable wins over legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

However, beyond the surface, it feels Raonic was not truly satisfied.

A constant myriad of injuries led to multiple setbacks throughout his time on tour.

The list is lengthy.

Problems seemed to strike every part of his body including his Achilles heel, toe, foot, right shoulder, back, lower right leg, hamstring, adductor and hip.

While the end is likely near, Raonic plans to play the National Bank Open in Toronto in August and should get a fantastic send-off from his large legion of Canadian fans.