Sunday, June 30, 2013

Strawberries and Cream from Wimbledon: With so many top seeds eliminated in early rounds, what next?



The first week of Wimbledon 2013 has seen so many top seeds eliminated.

Defending champion Roger Federer was eliminated in the second round by 116th ranked Sergiy  Stakhovsky; Federer had not lost this early since Wimbledon 2002.

Rafael Nadal was soundly discharged in the first round by 135th ranked Steve Darcis in three sets.

On Wednesday of the first week other seeds who lost included Jo-Wilfrid Tsonga, Maria Sharapova,  Jelena Jankovic, Victoria Azarenka, Ana Ivanovic and Caroline Wozniacki.

What does their departure signify for the future of tennis?

A USA Today article asks what we learned in week 1 of Wimbledon? And then lists 10 new names you might not know.

One of these "unknown players" is Britisher Laura Robson aged 19. She has won her first three matches and plays 46th ranked Kaia Kanepi tomorrow

In the 2010, I saw 16 year- old Laura play in the US Open Junior tournament and was very impressed with her southpaw game as she bested her opponent.

Last year I blogged a farewell salute to Kim Clijsters as she exited her playing career at the US Open. She was beaten by Laura Robson in the second round.

 So the tennis world was shaken up by the exits of so many tennis stars
so that the tennis world could make room for the new generation of up and coming players.

Good luck, Laura, and all the rest of the unknowns in the round of 32 which begins tomorrow.








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