What’s a tennis fan to do?
The fan can’t win on a Wimbledon quarterfinal day that features Roger Federer and bright young budding superstar Denis Shapovalov playing at the same time. Not against each other, but on different show courts at Wimbledon.
Shapovalov is in the final game of a five-set victory over Karen Khachanov that sent the blond-haired Canadian into a semifinal showdown with Novak Djokovic. Federer is in the fourth game of one of the most humiliating losses of his storied tennis career.
Even fans in the stadiums watching these two matches couldn’t fully enjoy both of them.
There has to be a better alternative than this.
A GREAT DAY GOES HAYWIRE
Of course, ESPN and ESPN2 had the matches covered. A fan could sit in front of a TV and watch both matches in their entirety with this wonderful modern technology named “record” by DIRECTV and other cable providers.
It’s a great day to watch the whole show, all four quarterfinals. You can go back and forth on the recordings a few times to avoid getting too far behind the other match.
Of course, you want to be sure to keep track of Federer since he is trying to keep his hopes alive for a record 21th Grand Slam title. So, you start out watching Roger and a previously obscure Polish 24-year-old. You think this one won’t take long. Fed’s just too good, you reason.
THERE’S NO SECRET: ESPN BREAKS THE NEWS
So, what happens? The ESPN crew, led by Chris Fowler, alerts viewers: “On the No. 1 court Denis Shapovalov is trying to close out Khachanov, up a break in the fifth . . . two points away from a semifinal date with Djokovic.”
All of your planning is shot. You rush to switch to the live version of the Shapovalov match. And there it is: Shapovalov is up 30-15.
The explosive left-hander goes to 40-15 and a double match point with a forehand winner, followed by another sizzling forehand that forces a netted backhand by Khachanov. That sends Shapovalov on a backward celebrative dive to the turf and a sprawl-out.
He’s there, ready for a shot at Djokovic, who is seeking a tie with Federer and Rafa Nadal at 20 Grand Slam titles.
SHAPOVALOV IS CAPABLE OF TAKING IT ALL
It would be a big upset, but I think Shapovalov has the tools to halt Djokovic’s drive to 20. The Canadian left-hander with the one-hand backhand has some of the biggest ground strokes in pro tennis, a sizzling forehand and a picture-book backhand that he can whip in either direction.
Shapovalov is all power, everything from ground strokes to serve and overheads, along with great volleys due to his quickness and athletic ability. Yes, he can run with Novak. Shapovalov just needs to be a little more deliberate in choosing when to go for his shots.
The net is about the only thing that can prevent Shapovalov’s missiles from hitting his opponent’s grass. He does net a few forehands and backhands when he’s rushing his decision and shots.
But don’t go betting against Novak yet. It might be safe when Shapovalov serves ahead 40-15 and a break in a decisive game in the fifth set.
If not this time, the 22-year-old Tel Aviv native has plenty of time. Tennis fans around the world witnessed the so-often effects of age a little after Shapovalov finished off a 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Khachanov.
WHO IS HUBERT?
It’s a little unfortunate for Federer and his fans that he had to go down so easily in straight sets and a love third.
To Hubert Hurkacz?
Who?
It just happens that the almost awkward-looking and moving 6-4 Polish player has beaten most of the top players in the game this year, with the exception of Djokovic and Nadal and a couple others.
Now that Federer and No. 2 ranked Daniil Medvedev have fallen prey to Hurkacz, he has had a solid year. He also owns wins in 2021 over the likes of hotshots Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, Jannik Sinner and Shapovalov along with Milos Raonic while winning the big Masters Miami Open.
HURKACZ VS. BERRETTINI
Can Hurkacz take out strong-hitting Matteo Berrettini in Friday’s Wimbledon semifinals? Hurkacz defeated Berrettini in 2019 in Miami in their only official tour tournament meeting, but lost to the Italian a year earlier in qualifying for the Australian Open.
Berrettini will come at Hurkacz with power. But Hurkacz is becoming quite the tamer of big hitters such as Medvedev and even silky smooth hitters like Federer.
Hurkacz’ most effective weapon is his serve. It’s among the best in pro tennis. He can hit the outside line like clockwork at a high speed. His backhands and forehands look a little awkward. But they are highly effective, especially when he knows he can back them up with nifty drop shots and amazingly accurate shots at the smallest opening.
A GAME BREAKER
Even though he doesn’t look like he can run, Hurkacz is very quick. He also has long arms that seem to reach halfway across the court, and he can sky straight skyward at the net if an opponent happens to throw up a lob off his drop shots. He used that ability in one key point that appeared to discourage Medvedev late in the fifth set of their round of 16 match.
Hurkacz is also an effective volleyer. He even beat Federer in at least one exchange of multiple volleys at the net.
Wimbledon’s grass suits Hurkacz perfectly.
He practically took the racket out of Medvedev’s and Federer’s hands.
And he does it all with a straight face, or what might be called a “game face”. Even when he is doing serious damage to the image of a legend like Federer.
See James Beck’s Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier columns at postandcourier.com (search on James Beck column). James Beck can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com
