Thetennisreview selects its top fives of Wimbledon 2013. This being the 21st century, all men and women are judged equally. Did someone say Long live Virginia?
Top five matches:
1) Del Potro versus Djokovic. Men’s Semi-final.
Us Del potro fans are a little bit biased yes, but anyone who liked a good comeback story was going to like this one. You had the comeback of Del Potro from being down and out in the fourth to take maybe the best set of the Championships and force the match into a fifth and you had the comeback story of Del Potro himself, now well and truly back in the last four of Majors where he belongs after wrist surgery. The match had it all: the world number One and favorite versus a former US Open champion; a clash of styles in the Serbian’s solidity and intensity and the the Argentine’s big hitting and laid-back style; the highest quality tennis and a topsy turvy nature that could not fail to beguile even the most casual of fans.
2) Lisicki versus S. Williams. Women’s fourth round.
The idea Lisicki might fulfill her potential this year at SW19 started in this last sixteen encounter. The German’s comeback from 0-3 down against a woman compiling a resume to challenge the GOATS told us something new about the 23 year old 23rd seed: She not only had the game, she had the mind as well. It was the most exciting match of the women’s tournament and a big shock, too. Drama and quality, tennis fans could not have asked for more.
3)Radwanska versus Lisicki. Women’s semi-finals.
The ultimate clash in styles. Radwanska’s consistency, touch and smarts versus Lisicki’s explosive movement, explosive game and grass court wiles. The two battled in the third all the way to 7-7 before the game that should win did, the naturally aggressive one of Lisicki’s breaking Radwanska and then the big serve delivering the goods and the win, proving that while it may take perfect execution against the best defense in the game, offense still trumps defense on grass.
4) Knapp versus Kerber. Women’s second round.
Another clash of styles, an early round upset but only on paper. Knapp’s huge game should win out against Kerber on grass and it did but not before both women played the match of the first week, going at it until 9-7 in the fifth and proving the depth in the women’s game makes the equal prize money debate pretty one-sided in favor of the women.
5) Murray versus Verdasco. Men’s quarter-final.
However much Murray’s passivity infuriated you, the big serve and style of his opponent Verdasco helped ease the pain. Once Murray came back from two sets down to tie it for two sets all the result was never in doubt but watching the two play out the fifth to the backdrop of a crazed Center court crowd was nothing less than fascinating and inspirational stuff for a sociology thesis best kept for another blog.
Top five performances.
1) Darcis defeated Nadal. Men’s first round.
Steve Darcis’ defeat of the former Champ set the whole ball rolling for the first week massacre. It was the performance of a lifetime from a man who had played five grass court matches to his opponent’s zero. The practice had clearly done him good. Attacking from the get go, the Belgian did not let up on his struggling opponent to put him away in straights.
2) Stakhovsky defeated Federer. Men’s second round.
Defeating Federer in the second round of a Major when he has not lost before the last eight in 36 Majors was always going to take a great performance. When Stakhovsky won the second set of this contest, the crowd sensed an upset might be on the cards and the Ukrainian served and volleyed his way to proving their senses right.
3) Larcher de Brito beat Sharapova. Women’s second round.
Side to side de Brito moved Sharapova, grunting on every ball, it was like a visit from Christmas past for Maria. She had done the same to Serena Williams back in 2004 though in very different circumstances. This match proved as much a coming out party for de Brito as that day had done for Maria. de Brito took Maria’s weaknesses and pounded them into submission with her own strengths in a performance that promised much and we hope on which will be delivered.
4) Marion Bartoli defeated Lisicki. Women’s final.
Fear is not a word Bartoli knows. For many women the prospect of a Major title without a top player standing in their way reduces them to wrecks; Marion Bartoli came out swinging all the way to a 1 and 4 win. The Frenchwoman could not have performed better in the biggest match of her life.
5) Murray defeated Djokovic. Men’s final.
A straight sets win in an event not won by a male home player for 77 years was something few thought Murray would pull off. But he did. He played the match of his life, his running forehand, serve and defense at their optimum. His opponent Novak Djokovic may not have gotten out of his shell for the first two and a half sets but he was kind of jammed in by the Scot. And once Novak did fight back, the Scot did not fall off but just sat even tougher to take the Wimbledon trophy.
Top five players.
1) Juan Martin Del Potro.
His tennis is beautiful to watch on grass. The nonchalent way this 6’6” man strides into those ground-strokes and pounds them down the lines for winners is something I could sit and admire all day. Few men can hit through these slower-than-ever courts but Del Potro has the balls and timing to do it, and it is a praise-worthy spectacle indeed. His comeback against a better grass court player in Djokovic in the last four was the most captivating moment of the tournament and so he gets the best player prize.
2)Marion Bartoli.
Coming out of the wreckage that was the lower half of the women’s draw and winning the title without dropping a set, this run had destiny written all over it.
3) Andy Murray
Putting aside the hype, the publicity, the crowd support, Murray achieved his second Major in the last year against a sensational backdrop which must have been hell to put to one side. But he did it and for that he should be, whatever you think of him and his game, applauded.
4) Sabine Lisicki
Two come backs from breaks down in the third against last year’s finalists swept the crowd off their feet. Lisicki proved she was quite the personality as well as one of the fiercest strikers of the ball in women’s tennis.
5) Jerzy Janowicz
Armed with a game to get the grass court purist’s hearts pounding, the giant Pole was a pleasure to watch. As much as I hoped he would make the final, Janowicz could not survive Andy Murray, which is no shame as few can, but the way he led 4-1 in the third at a set all before he wobbled suggests that once also armed with experience he will be able to soldier on from such a privileged position and win himself some silverware.
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