CHARLESTON, S.C. – – How about that! An unusual men’s straight-set Friday at Wimbledon.
Who should you feel sorry for? Barely known, except in England and Stanford University, newcomer
Arthur Fery or maybe the greatest old-timer anywhere in Novak Djokovic?
Actually, Fery and Novak are pretty lucky to be able to win five main-draw matches each this time, although Djokovic likely will see better days if he sticks around awhile longer.
ZVEREV AND SINNER WERE IN CHARGE THIS DAY
Veterans Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner took Fery and Novak to the final points, and then put them away with very little extra effort. You had to keep hoping that Novak would find himself and his game. After all, Djokovic is 39 years old and has won more Grand Slam titles than any man in the history of tennis.
You probably thought that Novak would eventually find the way to slow down Sinner’s fast-ball game. Of course, he didn’t. Novak never even won more than four games in any of his three sets against Sinner. The third set even was a complete wipeout for Novak in his 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 loss to the top-ranked Sinner.
NOVAK COULD NEVER FIND HIS GAME
Novak could never get hold of the match. It flew right back at him and into Sinner’s grasp.
And the smallish Fery, who will be 24 years old on the day of the men’s final;, could have taken the day off after advancing to the Wimbledon quarterfinals. He certainly wasn’t good enough to get on the same court as the three-quarter foot taller Zverev.
Zverev won the French Open a few weeks ago, and he just might do the same on Sunday at Wimbledon.
Zverev is something like Pete Sampras, a tall and talented American who just wouldn’t give the ball to anyone else . . . at least, until Roger Federer arrived.
Zverev is the first German to reach all four Grand Slam finals.
SHORT DAYS FOR ZVEREV AND SINNER
The final score was 7-6 (a zero for Fery in the tiebreaker), 6-2, 6-4 in favor of Zverev.
It isn’t too late for the 29-year-old Zverev to still win his share of Grand Slam titles. No one serves or hits bigger forehands or serves than Zverev.
Friday was something of a short day at Wimbledon for both Zverev and Sinner. Most of the time, Zverev and Djokovic play matches late into the afternoon or night.
The fans really didn’t get their share of thrills on this day. Sunday could present just the opposite thrills.
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James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award for print media. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.
