Wear any colour you want, as long as it’s predominantly white

[Janik]

Brilliant pass by Sousa gives him a mp. Which Evans scuffs into the net trying for a delicate drop shot! Well played Sousa. Excellent match, which explored every corner of Court 1.

[Janik]

What do I mean by exploring all areas of the court. This:-

https://twitter.com/bbctennis/status/1147592886667530240

[Jimski]

Oh, and Fabio Fognini is in trouble again. He could see his two-Slam ban go from suspended to enforced.

Yeah, Fognini's plainly an arse - often good to watch though.

[Janik]

And on the seventh day, the grass rested. Blessed be the name of the grass.

[Sporting]

Why don't they have the rest day, if one is really needed, on the Monday?

[ursus arctos]

Tradition

But also because bunking off work is an important draw for corporate hospitality, especially when the target market tends to have country houses.

[Satchmo Distel]

The grass excuse seems lame given technology and the fact that they could just limit the show courts to singles.

Amazing to think that the last 16 was played on Saturdays up to the late 70s or maybe even later. Now the corporates get that whole round to themselves and it seems a waste.

[Janik]

Why don't they have the rest day, if one is really needed, on the Monday?

Actually, Tuesday would work better. That way they could play up to R4 with split draws, rattle through all 8 QFs on the Wednesday (achievable with the new roofs) before going Women/Men/Women/Men over the next four days.

That it's a Sunday is a hangover from the days when nothing happened in Britain on a Sunday. Recall rest days at Cricket Tests. I forget when the finals were moved back, but it was still Friday for the Women and Saturday for the Men at some point in the 1980s.

[Walt Flanagans Dog]

Actually, Tuesday would work better. That way they could play up to R4 with split draws, rattle through all 8 QFs on the Wednesday (achievable with the new roofs) before going Women/Men/Women/Men over the next four days.

That it's a Sunday is a hangover from the days when nothing happened in Britain on a Sunday. Recall rest days at Cricket Tests. I forget when the finals were moved back, but it was still Friday for the Women and Saturday for the Men at some point in the 1980s.

The switch came in 1982 - as mentioned previously on another thread (probably years ago, it all blurs) it caused a bit of a row in our house because it overlapped with France v Nothern Ireland in the World Cup (think I misremembered this initially as England vs Czechoslovakia in the group stages).

The League Cup final followed suit two years later, by which time live football on a Sunday had become established.

[Gangster Octopus]

I think that there had been a men's singles final on a Sunday in the early seventies. I'm sure that I remember hearing Nastase lose when I was on the way back from some Scout thing. I'd wanted him to win.

[Sporting]

Rain-delayed.

[Janik]

Rather than doing picks, I’m going to give a quick thought or two about all 16 R4 matches. Partly because I would do that at all the other Slams as those spread them over two days. Wimbledon, however, takes the middle Sunday off (probably rather to the frustration of broadcasters, weekends being when they can get daytime viewers), but uses that to manage the change over from the two halves on consecutive days to Women’s one day and Men’s the next. It makes for fewer problems like were created in Paris by the weather.

Men’s

Novak Djokovic Srb [1] vs Ugo Humbert Fra
Ugo Humbert was close to defeat in R1 when countryman Gael Monfils led him by two sets. However La Monf then picked up an injury and finally called it quits after Humbert had clawed back the deficit and led 3-0 in the fifth. That was just his second ever Slam victory in what is only the fourth major of the young Frenchman’s career. He has backed it up with two handy wins, against doubles specialist Marcel Granollers and an impressive one over Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last round. Which denied us the hoped for clash between Djokovic and the impressive Canadian. We will just have to do with the 21 year-old instead. What does he have going for him to pull off a seismic shock? Err, youth? And some game, a big serve and a go forward attitude that works decently on grass. Nole will take the guy seriously after dropping a set in a similar encounter in R3 vs Hurkacz, but this would be up there with Nadal-Rosol or Federer-Stakhovskiy in all-time Wimbledon shocks if it’s anything other than a Djoker win.

David Goffin Bel [21] vs Fernando Verdasco Esp
This is a tasty looking match up for those who enjoy variety in their Tennis. Goffin is a talented all-court player and a shot maker, as he demonstrated again with his narrow and extremely hard fought win over Medvedev in the last round. Verdasco is more one-dimensional, but that is a big dimension. He gives the ball an absolute wallop on serve and particularly off his forehand. That five setter will have taken something out of the Belgian, but Verdasco has also gone the distance this tournament in recover from two sets and a break down to beat Edmund in R2. Fernando is playing with the houses money after that, which makes him an extreme danger. A big hitter with nothing to lose... Goffin will have to defend superbly and undermine the Spaniard confidence if he is to win. He is capable of that, but this one looks close. It’s a big opportunity for both to make a first Slam QF in a few years (2017 for Goffin, 2013 for Verdasco). Yeah, that will almost certainly be against Djokovic but that is an issue for another day. A toss-up for me who wins this.

Guido Pella Arg [26] vs Milos Raonic Can [15]
Guido Pella is not going to beat a 6-foot plus big server on a grass court, is he? I mean, he is a clay courter. All five of his ATP Tour finals have been on dirt. Well let’s ask Kevin Anderson (Pella’s opponent in R3) about that. Or Marin Cilic, who ran into the Argentine in R2 last year and was also beaten. Pella only has four top ten wins against his career, in fact and two of them have come at Wimbledon and taken down the previous year’s runner-up. Sadly for Guido, there is only one such scalp available every tournament, and he has taken his one this time. And also Raonic will be on high alert, given that previous. Pella has a decent serve and excellent speed in defence. That is how he turned over the previous players. Milos needs to be ready for balls to come back and stay relaxed and hit through his shots. He also needs to come forward wherever possible to shorten points. As for Pella, back up the big win this time (he lost in the next round after toppling Cilic last year). A repeat of that letdown is the most likely.

Roberto Bautista Agut Esp [23] vs Benoit Paire Fra [28]
This should be an entertaining all-court encounter, which, given the relative anonymity of the players to British eyes will be stuck on one of the outside courts. It will be a treat for those who are arriving at the break of dawn tomorrow for the crowd passes queue. Both have got past tricky opponents in he last round to be here, Bautista Agut upending Khachanov in three Paire ending the run of Zverev’s conqueror Vesely. Of the two, the Spaniard is steadier and the Frenchman the more mercurial. In many ways that makes it depend on Benoit. If he is ‘on’ his talent and shot making can take him through. If he is not, Bautista Agut has the experience, solid game and a reasonable feel for grass (regular in rounds 3 & 4, former Rosmalen champion) to succeed. There is also something else in Roberto’s favour. An 8-0 h2h record. That includes here four years ago where he recovered from two sets down to win. Given the baggage, one has to favour him again.

Sam Querrey USA vs Tennys Sandgren USA
What is this MAGA scumbag doing in the second week of Wimbledon? FFS Gilles Simon and Fabio Fognini. And save us from this getting any worse please, Sam Querrey. Hopes are obviously high after Querrey’s QF and SF runs in 2016 and 2017. Those were based heavily on his huge serve. That was good enough to do for Dominic Thiem in R1 and Sandgren is not a patch of a player compared to the Austrian. Fingers crossed that the acceptable American is the one who heads to familiar territory of the Quarters.

Joao Sousa Por vs Rafael Nadal Esp [3]
Joao Sousa reportedly became the first Portugese player, male or female, to make the second week of the Wimbledon singles when he edged out Dan Evans late on Saturday evening. He did so playing some excellent and entertaining Tennis, moving the ball around and, yes, even occasionally coming forward. But not often as Sousa really is more at home on the baseline and on clay courts. Can he beat Nadal from back there? Err, next question. Can he win coming forward, instead? Err, next question. What can he do to win this, then? Err, next question. The rallies should be entertaining while it lasts, mind. And given the likely length of them, the Centre Court crowd should get to see Rafa for pushing two hours. Which will be nice for them.

Kei Nishikori Jpn [8] vs Mikhail Kukushkin Kaz
Mikhail Kukushkin can be proud of his efforts this Wimbledon. R4 is the furthest he has ever got in SW19 and matches his best ever showing in a Slam in nearly a decade of trying, a result he achieved in Australia in 2012 in what was just his sixth Slam attempt. He probably looks back at that run with Mixed feelings as he wasn’t able to perform at his best in the last match as a hip injury handed Andy Murray an easy win (little did he know...). Kukushkin’s hopes of better here will rest on being in the form of his life (inside the top 50 for the first time as a 31 year-old) and picking up great wins over Isner in R2 and Struff in R3. He won’t be happy with the opponent he faces, though. And that is because Kei Nishikori holds an 8-0 record against the Russian. The last 12 sets they have played have all finished 6-4 or better to the Japanese player. Kei is better than Mikahil at just about everything they both do on the court. Nishikori is a very strong favourite for this one.

Matteo Berrettini Ita [17] vs Roger Federer Sui [2]
Berrettini has been making impressive waves on the ATP Tour this year with two titles and one runner-up spot, and the two wins coming the two extreme surfaces, clay and grass. He looks like a ‘keeper for the top 20, probably someone headed rapidly for the top 10. As a youngish player (23), he may even be heading for Slam titles once this generation has moved aside... Playing Federer at Wimbledon though? That is a massive step up. Roger did look scratchy for a while early on in all three of his previous matches, but he found overdrive against Pouille from 5-5 break point down. If Berrettini wants to win he needs confidence. He will come on court with that intact from his season and run here, but must take advantage of any set one openings allowed. The other question is how recovered Berrettini’s is from the 4+ hour clash with Schwartzman in R3 two days ago.

[Janik]

Women’s

Ashleigh Barty Aus [1] vs Alison Riske USA
I’m delighted to see Alison Riske finally in the second week of Wimbledon. Her game style of short, punchy back swings, groundstrokes hit flat over the net with tiny amounts of clearance and willingness to come forward and volley makes her a very unusual specimen on the WTA Tour – a grass court specialist. The path hasn’t been easy, either. Both Donna Vekic and Belinda Bencic are very good scalps to take on a grass court. It gets rather tougher against Ash Barty, though. Not only is the Aussie the World No.1, the French Open champion, on a 16-match winning streak and yet to drop a set in this tournament; she is also a player whose preferred surface is turf! She will know how to impose her own somewhat similar but rather more powerful style on Riske. Serve is a key differentiator. Barty’s delivery is powerful, not in context of her height but as an absolute. Against her 1.66m stature, it is thunderous. Riske’s delivery is much subtler. She is very accurate, hits her spots as well as nearly anyone, but it’s not overwhelming strong. If Barty, who must be seeing it like a Football at the moment, reads them, Riske becomes a sitting duck. This, sadly, looks like one-way traffic to me. Barty to cruise it.

Serena Williams USA [11] vs Carla Suarez Navarro Esp [30]
Well done for reaching R4 of Wimbledon for the third time, Carla. Enjoy the success of getting that far. Because this is an absolutely horrid match-up from the Spaniard’s perspective. Just about everything she does plays straight into Serena’s hands. Slow starter? Williams is a front runner whose confidence builds and builds. Weak serve? Williams is a beast on the return. Margin over the net on groundies? Williams is perfectly comfortable coming into the net to finish points off. They have played six times previously. Suarez Navarro has never managed to accumulate six games in total in any of those encounters. Nearly half the sets (5/12) have ended 6-0. The nadir was the double bagel dished out in the 2013 US Open QFs. This is their first meeting on grass. *gulp*

Barbora Strycova Cze vs Elise Mertens Bel [21]
Booo, Barbora. Boooo! You have denied us Bertens vs Mertens AGAIN. How could you?!? Without even a flicker of concern of course, as the Czech’s grass court skills did for Kiki in R3. Can she do a similar job on Elise Mertens? Yes, she probably can. Mertens is a bit more of an all-court player than her near namesake, but she is still prefers the baseline. The Belgian’s preference is to power from there, though she will come forward and volley if the situation offers it, i.e. if her opponent has floated a ball up that she can put away. She is a decent doubles player after all. But Strycova is going to yank her around the court and keep her from a rhythm and comfort. Barbora may even bring Elise in deliberately to make her a target for passes. Basically its grass court Tennis vs power Tennis, and I favour the grass court nous to win out and take Strycova back to the QFs again (also reached in 2014).

Johanna Konta GBr [19] vs Petra Kvitova Cze [6]
Some players and some stages are bigger than others. Centre Court is one of the biggest houses there can possibly be, and these two are star turns on a starry day. Their warm-up act is Rafa Nadal, and the encore will be performed by Roger Federer. And, you know what, Konta and Kvitova are not unworthy of a spot in the middle of that billing. Neither has won anywhere near as much as either of those two blokes or is ever going to, but in terms of interest, likely intensity, crowd involvement and unpredictable result this is one of the most intriguing matches tomorrow has to offer. It will be their fifth meeting, and third on grass. Kvitova leads the overall series 3-1, but the grass matches are split 1-1, Konta taking the glory in Eastbourne ‘16 and Petra getting revenge at Birmingham ‘18.
In terms of game play, one has to favour the Czech. She is the two-time Wimbledon champion after all. Her serve is better (Jo’s is very good, don’t get me wrong, but Petra’s is better) and she has more power off the ground. Konta’s area of advantage is a shade more variety and arguably more reliability. If she starts to miss, she has more chance of resetting the sights than Kvitova. The other aspect in Konta’s favour is form and match fitness. Petra looked good so far but this is her first tournament back after two months away. If she runs out of gas, then Konta could take a major victory that would open up the path to another Slam Semi. Hoping the other players condition won’t hold is a bit much however, so I tip Kvitova. But definitely in three sets. These two are three-set addicts.

Elina Svitolina Ukr [8] vs Petra Martic Cro [24]
Neither Elina Svitolina nor Petra Martic have ever been in a Wimbledon QF before. New ground is about to open up for one of them, then. And given that neither has ever been beyond the QFs anywhere else either, that new ground is going to feel particularly major. Which brings with it questions of tension. Down the years both have been more successful on dirt than turf, but both have games that can work on the quicker surface. Svitolina is an excellent defensive counterpuncher when she is on her game, whilst Martic is more creative player with a very handy drop shot. Of the two, Martic is in the better recent form with a good run to the Semis of Birmingham to back up her Roland Garros showing. However, Svitolina leads the h2h comfortably, 3-1. Swings and roundabouts. Their last meeting in a Slam (R4 in 2017 French) was 7-5 in the third to Svitolina. Same again, with same result? That is where my money would go, but with low confidence and a limited amount!

Karolina Muchova Cze vs Karolina Pliskova Cze [3]
Some wag in the court 2 crowd is going to shout out “Come on, Carolina!” aren’t they? It’s Karoleena, people. The accent on the ‘i’ makes it a longer sound. Anyway, it’s good to see the Czech tradition of doing well in the Ladies Singles is being maintained. At least one Quarter-Finalist guaranteed, three possible.
Of the four, Pliskova feels like the most currently likely to lift the dish this coming Saturday. If she can control her nerves at thinking she might do it, that is. Remember that Pliskova has never been beyond R4 at Wimbledon, and given her clear pedigree on grass (3 titles and 2 runner-up at other WTA tournaments) that has to be a mental block. There issue at the other end of the court is not previous losses, this is Muchova’s first senior Wimbledon, but toppling her national no.1. That often proves rather tricky, as these are usually highly admired players. She can’t be in awe of Pliskova and win. Even if she isn’t, the match will be taken off her racquet if Pliskova serves well. I think this time, this time, Karolina P will get it together and make her first QF.

Simona Halep Rou [7] vs Cory Gauff USA [Q]
Well, this is going to be fascinating. After the sheer joy and jaw-dropping performances of the first two rounds, where Gauff’s play looked unbelievably good, Wimbledon champion standard good, she appeared rather more mortal against Polona Hercog in R3. Indeed, if Hercog hadn’t choked, Gauff would be on her way back home and back to her studying right now. One might argue that players getting tight is something that happens to lesser players and doesn’t to champions. And it’s somewhat true. But that says more about what Hercog isn’t than what CoCo is.
For the first time this tournament, there are doubts around the youngster. Arguably that is helpful. She shouldn’t be going in against a player like Simona Halep, a Slam champion and recent World No.1 as anything other than a significant underdog. If expectations get dialled back down to more realistic levels, so much the better. It might free her up to play. And Halep? Well, she is on a hiding to nothing here. Win, however comfortably, and everyone will say “Yes, well, that is what you should be doing against a 15 year-old”. Struggle or even lose and it will be another shock, the biggest of the lot (Simona is the first seed Gauff will face). I think it will be the former, though. Hercog basically overpowered Gauff with pace and more topspin that Venus or Rybarikova use. That forced Gauff off the baseline and too deep. Simona and team will have studied the game tape carefully and know what they want to do. Simo will also not let up if she gets ahead. Gauff will need to serve bombs, which she is capable of, and be more proactive to win. But Halep defends too well, and is too clutch these days to let it happen. Halep in two, possibly as very comprehensively.

Zhang Shuai Chn vs Dayana Yastremska Ukr
British fans may remember Zhang Shuai’s story with Grand Slams. She first qualified for a main draw back in 2008 at the US Open, but drew Kuznetsova, the #3 seed and a former champion, and lost. That was the start of a run of 14 straight R1 defeats that left Zhang seriously considering retiring from the sport prior to the 2016 Aussie Open. Good job she didn’t as she got through and then shocked Simona Halep in R1. With that the dam burst she made the QFs before losing there to Konta (hence the British reference). Now she finds herself in a winnable R4 match against Dayana Yastremska, who is at the opposite end of her career. This is the 19 year-old’s Wimbledon debut, and she is into R4 with a hugely winnable match for the QFs, having made R3 in Australia on her first appearance there at the start of the year. Zhang must be jealous.
In terms of style both are thoroughly modern players, with solid groundstrokes, and good, if rarely seen volleys. But it’s from the baseline that both will work. Either is capable of leaning on backhands very effectively. However, the Ukrainian is the one with marginally the bigger strike, and relatively more previous success on grass. I go with her.

[Hot Pepsi]

I just Googled “Who belongs to the All-England Club?” It appears that the easiest way to get in is to win the tournament.

[Janik]

Depends how you define 'easy', doesn't it? If you come from the right monied background, then standard membership is an option and probably quite straightforward to arranged. For the 99.9(99)% who don't, then yes, becoming a world class player and winning one of the main titles is your only route. And if you are Tim Herman, falling a little short of that but having a semblance of the background works. He is the right sort of chap.

Basically, think the Augusta National but with British rather than American class context.

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

Why is today called "Manic Monday"? Do the umpires actually make Nadal take less than two minutes per serve or something?

[Janik]

I've only really heard that phrase appear in the last year or two. So it's a bit like Black Wednesday in something you should refuse to use.

The logic behind it is it's the time in any Slam where the whole of both singles draws play on the same day. Given we are now up to a fairly late round, with the potential for all top-ten clashes for the players seeded 9th and 10th, that makes for an unusual concentration of quality.


A few other bits and bobs I missed from the previews.

Ash Barty has won 20 consecutive sets now. Her win-loss record for 2019 is 36-5 (or 41-6 if one includes this tournament so far and the Hopman Cup). The only defeat she has suffered to a non-top ten player was vs Mladenovic in Rome. That is the scale of the task that Ali Riske is taking on today.

Jo Konta has five top ten wins so far in 2019. She will be hoping to make Petra Kvitova the third top ten player she has beaten this season when they play today. Eh? Well, four of the wins are against the same player – Sloane Stephens! The other was Kiki Bertens in the Rome Semi, for the record.

Novak Djokovic is going for his 45th Slam QF and 11th at Wimbledon. Roger Federer is aiming for 55/16. Rafa Nadal is trying to hit 39/7. The other 13 players in the Men’s last sixteen have 31/8 to their names between them (Nishikori and Raonic contributing the bulk of these).

Nine of the 16 men in the last sixteen are 30 or over, and only two under 25 (Humbert and Berrettini). 10 years ago these numbers were three 30+ and six u25 respectively. 20 years ago it was 2/4. On the Women’s side this year it’s 3/5, which is a less dramatic but still noticeable change there as well as 2009 was 1/8 and 1999 3/11. It’s eyebrow raising how much older Tennis players have suddenly become.

[Janik]

Ash Barty has won 20 consecutive sets now. Her win-loss record for 2019 is 36-5 (or 41-6 if one includes this tournament so far and the Hopman Cup). The only defeat she has suffered to a non-top ten player was vs Mladenovic in Rome. That is the scale of the task that Ali Riske is taking on today.

Riske is doing well, though...

[Janik]

Now she is serving for the match...

[Janik]

mp

[Janik]

Riske wins! Whoop!

[tee rex]

And at the end she picks up her banana skin and puts it in the bin. Class act.

Barty got out fast, she looked lost.

[Satchmo Distel]

Court 2 curse.

[Janik]

Obviously I'm a biased source as I'm already completely sold, but that is typical of her character. Riske has one of those open, friendly, upbeat, kind, considerate of others personality types that is more common amongst Women than Men, and makes those who are lucky enough to be wired that way seem very approachable and easy for both other Women and Men to interact with. Primarily I like her because of the way she plays Tennis of course, it's not a style you see much of these days. And her moxy, to use a really old fashioned word. Today was her fourth straight three set win this tournament, 7-5 vs Vekic, 9-7 vs Jorovic, 6-4 vs Bencic and now 6-4 vs Barty. But that she is just nice is a significant help as well.
The interview she gave at the end of her R1 match against Vekic was typical. She mentioned to the interviewer (the Scottish woman who is one of the BBC's main people for this job, Lee McKenzie I think) that it was her birthday the following day. McKenzie (assuming it was her) responded "Happy Birthday then", and this was greeted by a beaming smile and a very decisive "Oh, thank you!!". Easy enough to do, but it felt genuine. And not only that, as the interview ended McKenzie made some further passing reference to enjoying her birthday tomorrow, which got another big "thank you" as the camera was cutting away and it seemed clear a continued conversation of a few sentences before Riske headed off. She was treating the interview as interaction with a fellow human being who she wanted to converse with rather than a contractual obligation to be endured, which it is for so many players. Again, just who she is, or appears, to be.


Muchova is out aceing Pliskova at the moment! And not just fractionally. 11-5 up. She has also just broken Pliskova at 5-6 in the second to level the match up at one set all. Another major shock could be on the cards here.

[Janik]

Anyone watching Halep? Also for that matter, has ad hoc been on here recently?

If someone is, can they give an insight to what is going wrong with Simona's second serve? Gauff has taken 13 points against Halep's serve to date, but five of these have been gifts. That is way too high a rate.