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De Minaur, the boyfriend of British number one Katie Boulter, sustained the issue at the end of his fourth-round victory over Arthur Fils on Monday.
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The ninth seed played down the scare despite an initial shake of the head in the direction of his box on Court One, but shortly after midday on the day of his scheduled Centre Court clash with Djokovic, De Minaur pulled out of the Championships.
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That women’s tennis is the most unpredictable sport in the world is a truth extolled so often in these pages it has become a truism. But it remains the case, gloriously so, and is encapsulated perfectly by today’s first quarter-final.
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Jelena Ostapenko – Ostapenkz to us – is perhaps the funnest player in the sport, a bouncing bundle of implacable positivity. She fears nothing, ignores consequences, and unloads the suitcase on every shot – a lesson not just for tennis but for life. This philosophy brought her the French Open title in 2017, aged 20 – the first unseeded player to take Roland-Garros since 1933 – and she arrives at this match in similar form but with greater experience, her barrage of blazing winners bringing her to here without having lost a set.
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Her opponent today is the same but different, a surprise French Open champion but in dissimilar vein. Prior to May 2021, Barbora Krejcikova was a doubles specialist – she’s won a career grand slam and three of the four twice – but in recent times, her canny, all-court aggression has made her a very serious singles proposition. Don’t believe anyone who thinks they know who’ll win this one.
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Opening up on Centre, we’ve Elena Rybakina and Elina Svitolina, on the face of things a more predictable encounter. The former won Wimbledon in 2022, has grooved herself over the last week or so, and her opponent’s lack of weapons makes it almost impossible for her to lose if she plays well.
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On the men’s side, meanwhile, Alex De Minaur will see if his relentless scurrying can trouble Novak Djokovic’s relentless everything – and if he objected to Danes supporting their man, wait until the Aussies are in. Other hand, at least Demooooooon doesn’t sound like booooo. Or boo-urns.
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Finally, we also have Lorenzo Musetti v Taylor Fritz, a matchup no one anticipated. Both are yet to advance beyond this stage of a major. But the American has been getting closer in recent years, now much more than a colossal serve and fired with the confidence of beating Alexander Zverev from two sets down. Musetti, though, was an excellent junior and, at 22, is coming into his own. It feels unlikely that, at this stage, he can do enough to negate Fritz’s power and knowhow, but it’s going to be fun finding out.
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Play: 1pm BST No 1 Court, 1.30pm Centre Court
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Important Events
It’s totally odd that the first court isn’t full. There are two matches, one of which will be over in an hour. You paid your money, you came to play… why? For what? Ostapenko is sticking to love and has been serving beautifully lately. But the second throw could still be an issue.
And now we’re off! Ostapenko serves.
Yes, Alona!
Jelena, Jelena, Jelena!!! I am yes and have always been a huge fan!!! 💪🏾💪🏾🙏🏾 Always a joy to watch…every time! pic.twitter.com/Q880UU5zrd
— Lil Wayne Weezy F (@LilTunechi) July 8, 2024
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We’re just a few steps away from the Ostapenko vs. Krejcikova match, but I feel like the matchup is in Krejcikova’s favor. We know Ostapentz can beat anyone in one game, but she plays a very solid player who hits big shots and never runs away.
So how will Svitolina beat Rybakina? Hmmm, I’m not sure. I think she needs to be aggressive, especially when facing second serves, and she also needs to get Rybakina on her bike. If she is allowed to stomp and slam her feet, it will be very difficult to beat the 2022 champion.
on the other hand, this teeth look
“Shal” arrives on the 10th day #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/5oLk8DEJ0X
— Spotted at Wimbledon (@CelebsWimbledon) July 10, 2024
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Well, I’m grateful for that.
Pierre Gasly and Francisca Gomez arrive on Day 10 #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/lR0sgo6jMg
— Spotted at Wimbledon (@CelebsWimbledon) July 10, 2024
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Hey, you, I was upset when I read this.
I want to report a robbery. Leo Woodall pierced the arrow at my bar mitzvah.
“White Lotus” and “One Day” actor Leo Woodall arrives on the 10th #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/iPkpT1kbZz
— Spotted at Wimbledon (@CelebsWimbledon) July 10, 2024
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Not tennis, But 30 years ago today, one of the most iconic goals of the ’90s was scored. I wrote about it here:
Hard to argue with Along with this.
That’s totally ridiculous @Wimbledon If we’re going to play this late, we don’t have floodlights. The center and number one lights are on because it’s too dark to play without them. If the center and number one lights are too dark, it’s too dark to play anywhere.
— Calvin Betton (@Calvbetton) July 6, 2024
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That’s totally ridiculous @Wimbledon If we’re going to play this late, we don’t have floodlights. The center and number one lights are on because it’s too dark to play without them. If the center and number one lights are too dark, it’s too dark to play anywhere.
— Calvin Betton (@Calvbetton) July 6, 2024
It’s 2024, the most prestigious tournament in the world. Huge prize money and ranking points and results that come with ranking points are on the line. And the match will be played in almost complete darkness. It’s incredible.
— Calvin Betton (@Calvbetton) July 6, 2024
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It’s 2024, the most prestigious tournament in the world. Huge prize money and ranking points and results that come with ranking points are on the line. And the match will be played in almost complete darkness. It’s incredible.
— Calvin Betton (@Calvbetton) July 6, 2024
Come on! Yes, reluctantly, “Let’s go.” Heliovaara/Patten won the breaker 7-5 to set up the final. I’m staying impartial of course, but it’s not every day that a friend plays in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
Also in progress:
what a day!
Go back to number 12 and play Breaker Heliovaara/Patten led 3-1 after the mini-break.
Oh, that’s terrible luck. The injury happened on the last point of a great match. He was promising to win the match but unfortunately reality took over. It’s especially unfortunate because Damon has his demons. In 2022, he took a two-set lead in the round of 16 against Cristian Garin, so this first Wimbledon quarterfinal will mean a lot to him. But he’s likely to reach that stage in Paris and establish himself as a staple in the later stages. Today, that will give him no comfort, but the fact remains: Novak Djokovic will face either Fritz or Musetti in the semifinals. Why does the world conspire so much against him?
Alex de Minaur withdraws from Wimbledon due to injury
Alex de Minaur was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon ahead of his quarter-final against Novak Djokovic due to injury.
De Minaur, who is the boyfriend of British number one Katie Boulter, suffered the problem at the end of his fourth-round win against Arthur Fils on Monday.
De Minaur, the ninth seed, initially suppressed his fears despite shaking his head in the direction of his box on Court 1, but then withdrew from the championships just after midday on the day he was scheduled to face Djokovic on Centre Court.
Ah, from 40-0, Heliovaara and Patten lost five straight points before serving again at 5-5 in the second set.
And there you have it. Patten, who was absolutely victorious today, hit a winner and was serving for the second set at 5-3. The level here is excellent.
a Advice to the wise: A great doubles match is underway on Court 12. Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten are down a set to Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, but are giving it their all. Patten’s coach Calvin Bettonand also work as an analyst on the side – get involved if you can.
preamble
That women’s tennis is the most unpredictable sport in the world is a truth that’s been celebrated so many times in this magazine that it’s become a truism, but it remains a fact, a glorious fact, and today’s first quarterfinal match encapsulated it perfectly.
Jelena Ostapenko (or Ostapenks as we call her) is perhaps the most fun player in tennis and a bundle of unwavering positivity. She is fearless, ignores the outcome and gives it her all with every shot. This is a lesson not just for tennis, but for life. This philosophy led her to win the French Open title in 2017 at the age of 20, the first player since 1933 to win the French Open without being seeded. She comes into this match in similar form, but with more experience; she has done so without dropping a set, with a string of fierce winners.
Today’s opponent is the same but different. The unexpected French Open champion but with a different flavor. Before May 2021, Barbora Krejcikova was a doubles specialist, winning one career Grand Slam and two of three out of four. But recently, her savvy, all-court aggressive play has made her a very strong singles contender. Don’t believe anyone who thinks they know who the winner of this match is.
In the center, Elena Rybakina will face Elina Svitolina. On the surface, it’s a more expected matchup. Rybakina won Wimbledon in 2022 and has been in good form over the past week, and her opponent has no weapons, so if she plays well, she’s almost impossible to beat.
Meanwhile, in the men’s singles, Alex de Minaur will test whether his relentless running can thwart Novak Djokovic’s relentless attacks. And if he’s against the Danes cheering for their player, wait until the Aussies are in the field. Meanwhile, at least “Demooon” doesn’t sound like “Boooooo.” Or “Boooon.”
Finally, there’s a matchup nobody saw coming: Lorenzo Musetti vs Taylor Fritz. Neither has yet made it past this stage of a major, but the American has come much closer in recent years and now has more than a great serve and the confidence to come back from two sets down to beat Alexander Zverev. But Musetti is a talented junior who is coming into his own at 22. It’s hard to imagine him being strong enough to counter Fritz’s power and know-how at this stage, but it will be fun to see.
Match times: 1pm BST Court One, 1.30pm Centre Court
