Federer, Djokovic, Nadal and Murray are still in the running at Wimbledon

Photo: Oli Scarff Agence France-Presse
Roger Federer

As usual, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray are at the top of their art at Wimbledon and will be the headliners of the second week of the tournament.

“This is their territory,” pointed out Ernests Gulbis, who has been unable to offer a very good opposition to Djokovic in the third round.

Since the triumph of Lleyton Hewitt 15 years ago, no person other than Federer (seven titles), Djokovic (three), Nadal (two) or Murray (two) has won the title in men’s singles at Wimbledon. In addition, the members of the famous quartet were also eight times the finalists during this period.

“I was expecting that everyone can find a key this week, especially Andy and Novak, has pointed out Federer. From my side, I was hoping to get over here. And Rafa, and very confident. I’m not surprised to see him still in contention. “

After a period during which Djokovic and Murray, the current no. 1 in the world, beat Federer and Nadal in the standings, and started to snatch the major titles, the two veterans have taken over in 2017.

Federer is back in the game after having missed the end of the season 2016 to allow his left knee to heal after surgery and he has regained his touch of yesteryear. He won a first title of the Grand Slam four and a half years by winning the Australian open, beating Nadal in the final.

It was also the first indication of the return of Nadal to the top, also after to have healed his wounds. The Spaniard then won a 10th title in her career at the Internationaux de France, without missing a single round. Nadal has now won 28 sets in a row in major tournaments, the third best sequence of the story behind the 36 of Federer in 2006-07 and 35 of John McEnroe in 1984.

“Against Rafa, if you give him the chance, he will give you a spray “, said the man he beat in the third round, the 30th-seeded Karen Khachanov.

Energy boost
 

As Federer pointed out, this is Djokovic and Murray who have arrived at the All England Club with the mine’s low.

Djokovic, however, seems to know an energy boost with Andre Agassi and Mario Ancic as coaches. And Murray, the defending champion, is the only member of the quartet to have lost a round since the beginning of the fortnight : against Fabio Fognini in the third round.

During the round of 16, Murray will face Frenchman Benoit Paire, Nadal will be opposed to the Luxembourg and 16th-seeded Gilles Müller, Djokovic will cross the iron with the French Adrian Mannarino and roger Federer will play against the Bulgarian and 13th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov. The Canadian and runners-up in 2016 Milos Raonic is still in contention and he will play against the German and 10th-seeded Alexander Zverev.

In women, the German and favorite Angelique Kerber has an appointment with the Spanish, and 14th-seeded Garbine Muguruza in a duel between the last two finalists. The five-times champion Venus Williams will face the Croatian Ana Konjuh in a duel of generations. The champion surprise at the French open Jelena Ostapenko continues to make a good impression and she will be opposed to the Ukrainian and fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina.

37-year-old, Williams is the player the oldest still in contention in women. 19-year-old Konjuh is the youngest.

The dynamics of ages is also interesting in men, whereas we find seven players aged 30 years or more among the 16 still in contention, the highest total in the modern era at Wimbledon.

Federer will celebrate his 36th birthday next month, Nadal is 31 years of age, while Djokovic and Murray are both 30 years old. Müller (34), Kevin Anderson (31) and Tomas Berdych (31) are the other members of the group.

“I played in the juniors with several of these guys and it is special to see them play again, to see that they still have fun and that they continue to do well despite the new generation that is trying to make its place,” noted Federer.