Brits land hat-trick as Draper eyes boys’ prize
BRITS Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett made it three successive Wimbledon wins by beating Belgium’s Joachim Gerard and Sweden’s Stefan Olsson in the wheelchair doubles final.
The second seeds cruised NOVAK DJOKOVIC hopes to raise the roof at Wimbledon in this afternoon’s men’s final.
Rafael Nadal would love to rip the thing off completely, after crashing out in a semi-final that was controversially concluded under cover.
Djokovic claimed a thrilling 6-4 3-6 7-6 3-6 10-8 victory over the man he dubbed “probably my biggest rival” in an epic which lasted 5hrs 15mins and rolled over two days.
But Nadal was fuming that the Centre Court roof, having been closed due to the late start of their game on Friday night, was kept shut for yesterday’s final two sets, despite clear blue skies.
It was like a greenhouse inside, and Nadal, sweat-drenched shirt clinging to him throughout, was furious at the decision.
The Spaniard said: “It’s an outdoor tournament. I don’t understand why it had to be closed today.”
BBC expert Tim Henman said both players would have been consulted and had they wanted it open, Wimbledon chiefs would have done so. to a 6-1 6-4 victory to chalk up an eighth Grand Slam doubles title for Reid, 26 (pictured, left) and a fourth for Hewett, 20 (right).
Reid said: “We’ve been playing together about four years now — we keep getting better. We’ve got a strong But Djokovic insisted that was not the case.
Djokovic said: “I was for the roof staying shut.
“I was asked for my opinion but, as I understood, they had already made their decision.
“The tournament organisers and referees said we had to have the roof closed.”
Former world No.1 Djokovic, now ranked 21, has the chance to win his first Grand Slam for two years by claiming what would be his fourth Wimbledon crown.
The man he faces today, Kevin Anderson, had to come through a brutal last-four match of his own and both will need to draw on their energy reserves.
Djokovic said: “Kevin has had a day off. I wish I could have a day off but it is what it is.”
He added: “Kevin has nothing to lose and will come out with his big serves – but I hope to weather the storm.” bond on court and we make ourselves very hard to beat.”
Asked how this win compared to their previous two, Hewett said: “They’re all pretty special. It’s tougher each year. People kind of expect you just to win it.”
Jack Draper could today become the first Brit to win the boys’ title since Stanley Matthews Jnr, son of the football legend, in 1962.
Draper, who faces No.1 seed Chun Hsin Tseng, said: “As a young Brit you dream of being on those courts. It’s going to be very exciting.”