Will history repeat itself? Wimbledon 2014 sure has a few surprises!
A lot is riding on this year’s Wimbledon Championships that will take place at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. In its 128th edition, Wimbledon 2014 marks the third Grand Slam event of this year. Along with hours of adrenaline-filled matches and the constant rush of excitement, this series brings with it many hidden surprises that will only add to fans’ craze for the game and fuel their hopes to bet high on every player’s performance.
Wondering what I am talking about? I will let you in on that but in a minute. First let us hop back to last year’s Championship highlights to give you an idea of what to expect.
Reigning as the defending champion, Roger Federer was the front running player to jumpstart the championship with a peaked performance against Victor Hănescu. Not soon after overpowering his first opponent, the world’s third highest ranked player Federer succumbed to a fatal blow from world number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky from Romania. This marked his first loss in a Grand Slam before the Quarterfinals since 2004, a streak spanning 36 majors.
World’s top ranked player in 2013 and the undisputed French Open champion Rafael Nadal saw his first ever first round defeat at a Grand Slam tournament after losing to Steve Darcis. This tournament marked the worst collective performance by Federer and Nadal at a Grand Slam event.
Emerging victorious from a gut-wrenching match that turned out to be the longest semi-final in the history of Wimbledon Championships stretching across 5 sets and clocking at an enduring 4 hours 44 minutes, World’s No 1 Novak Djokovic claimed his position against Juan Martín del Potro to face an unexpected force in the finals match.
Performing consistently against his opponents with his quickfire shots that paved his way through to the semi-finals, the hope of England in Wimbledon 2013 lived upto everyone’s expectations after breaking a few Grand Slam records in the event. He was up and against Djokovic’s slick shots and tapered skills which when combined with his nifty movements, earned him a World Champion title earlier.
It was a sight to behold seeing the two giant showcases their best to climb the last step of the ladder in the Wimbledon 2013 finals. But the game took a turn for the unthinkable with Murray defeating Djokovic with straight sets, becoming the Men’s Singles Champion of Wimbledon 2013.
With the first match scheduled to take place today, I am as excited as you to see the champions battle it out for the honourable title. And what better way to commence the series with last year’s beacon of glory that shocked the world with his unrelenting thirst to bring back what originally belonged to England – Andy Murray winning the Wimbledon 2013 Championship and becoming the first British to win the title after 77 years.
Will he do it again?