England's WIMBLEDON (AP) — Before a tennis ball is hit, at least initially, in this episode of
Who and what is absent from Wimbledon is just as important as what is present.
It is no little thing that the grass-court Grand Slam competition signals the beginning of the
Serena Williams's return to singles tennis after a year away.
Daniil Medvedev, the top-ranked athlete, was
Along with every other player from Russia and Belarus who was prohibited from competing by the All England Club, due to the conflict in Ukraine.
The punishment was referred to as "a mistake" by International Tennis Hall of Fame member Martina Navratilova. "What should they do, leave the country? On my greatest enemy, I wouldn't want that."
They were removing their ranking points from Wimbledon, a move that had never been done in a sport so heavily reliant on rankings. In response, some competitors chose not to participate, including four-time major champion and runner-up Eugenie Bouchard in 2014.
No Russians, no rankings, but Serena is back at Wimbledon in 2022
Others, though, decided to attend without a second thought. After all, this is Wimbledon, with its distinctive court and illustrious history, enormous prestige, and millions of dollars in prize money.
The absence of points is undoubtedly challenging to accept. I won't pretend to be pleased about it when I'm just sitting here. However, the hand is dealt. My mother would ask, "Are you crazy?!" if I told her I wasn't playing Wimbledon. I will go, without a doubt, "American Frances Tiafoe, the 24th seed in the men's field, made a statement. "Everyone has no control over it. It's a challenging and chaotic period. It's not just about you, either. The issue is not one of "Why me?"
to jokingly say that he'd be grateful for that since he'd head to an island for some vacation time with his wife, 2015 U.S. Open champion Flavia Pennetta, and their young children without any ranking point available and with less money on offer.
The All England Club eventually announced it would offer a record sum of almost 40 million pounds ($50 million) in player compensation, but it turned out that was all it was—a rumor.
Other notable names are also absent for various reasons.
Ash Barty, the current women's champion, announced her retirement in March. male eight-time champion
Since last year's Wimbledon, Roger Federer has not competed in any tournaments after undergoing the most recent in a string of knee surgeries. Alexander Zverev rated No. 2, is out after rupturing ligaments in his right ankle during the French Open.
(so what had been a 13-day tournament becomes an entire two-week event).
Ah, but who's back now? Indeed, Williams.
Having received a wild-card invitation, she is bringing with her enough star power to keep the spotlight on her for the duration of her tournament run.
The All England Club champion, who holds a record for the professional era with 23 victories from all major tournaments, retired from singles play in June 2021 after slipping on the slippery Centre Court grass and breaking her right leg. She had been playing in the first round of her match.
Williams, 40, unexpectedly played in a doubles match on grass in Eastbound this week with Ons Jabeur, but he won't play a singles match until the following week.
Who knows what Williams will be able to accomplish if she can turn up her best-in-game serve and move well enough to stay in points until she can end them with her lethal groundstrokes. She also has a pattern of winning matches immediately after returning from extended absences.
Rafael Nadal, who won the Australian Open in January and the French Open this month, is halfway to completing a calendar-year Grand Slam for the first time. The last victory, his 14th in Paris and men's-best 22nd at a major, came despite the 36-year-old Spaniard's left foot's persistent agony, making him wonder whether he could even continue.
There won't be a shortage of storylines this week, for sure. Iga Swiatek, the top-ranked player and winner of the French Open, enters, having won 35 straight games. Knowing that, as things stand, he won't be able to travel to the U.S. Open in August because he is not immunized against COVID-19, Novak Djokovic makes a bid for a fourth consecutive victory at Wimbledon and his 21st Grand Slam trophy overall. Additionally, the current Centre Court, which made its debut in 1922, is celebrating its 100th year.
"If my body is prepared to participate at Wimbledon, I'll be there. All done. I don't want to miss Wimbledon, said Nadal, who won in 2008 and 2010 but missed the competition last year due to a foot injury. No one desires not to attend Wimbledon.
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