For years no tennis was played in Wimbledon on the middle tournament Sunday. Only last year did the organizers break with tradition.
A decision that paid off this year. Because Sunday had spectacular matches to offer – especially for women.
There, the world number one, Iga Swiatek, was only able to avert an end in the round of 16 with a lot of effort. The 22-year-old Pole prevailed in London after a hard fight against the Swiss Belinda Benic with 6: 7 (4: 7), 7: 6 (7: 2), 6: 3. The otherwise sovereign French Open winner even had to fend off two match balls from the Olympic champion in the second set. Swiatek converted her first match point after 3:02 hours. The four-time Grand Slam tournament winner is thus in Wimbledon for the first time in the quarterfinals.
“Needed this win”
“I don’t know if I’ve ever fended off a match point and then won in my career,” said Swiatek. “I think I needed this win to feel a little more comfortable on this surface.”
Swiatek will face Jelina Switolina in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. The Ukrainian defeated Viktoria Azarenka from Belarus in a high-class match 2:6, 6:4, 7:6 (11:9). After 2:46 hours, Switolina converted her second match point to the cheers of the spectators. The 28-year-old then gave up the handshake that is obligatory in tennis. Because of the Russian war of aggression against her homeland, Switolina refuses to shake hands with players from Russia and Belarus.
“After the birth of my child, this is the happiest moment of my life,” said Switolina. The Ukrainian is married to French professional Gael Monfils. The couple has a daughter. “I know what this moment means for my people in Ukraine. These are difficult times in Ukraine and I get to play here. It’s indescribable.”
16-year-old Andreeva in the round of 16
Previously, a Russian had made positive headlines. The only 16-year-old Mirra Andreyeva beat her compatriot Anastasia Potapova, who was number 22, 6: 2, 7: 5 in the grass classic and is thus straight away in the round of 16 at her premiere in London. There she meets the American Madison Keys this Monday.
“It feels incredible,” said Andreyeva. She played her first Grand Slam tournament a few weeks ago at the French Open in Paris, where she had reached the third round. In the second set, she made up for a deficit of 1:4 against Potapova and even saved two set points when the score was 4:5. “I couldn’t show any emotions on the pitch. I was out of breath after every rally,” said Andreyeva.
In the men’s category, Andrei Rublev made it to the quarter-finals for the first time at Wimbledon. The 25-year-old defeated Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan in a gripping match 7:5, 6:3, 6:7 (6:8), 6:7 (5:7), 6:4. When the score was 5: 4 in the fourth set, he had already given away two match points. Most recently, Rublev and Bublik faced each other in the final in Halle two weeks ago. Since Bublik had won in three sets.
