END FOR EM TOUGH TO STOMACH Nothing manic about ice-cool Federer
Teenage sensation Raducanu’s sickness KO
AFTER her week in the sun, Emma Raducanu’s Wimbledon debut came to an abrupt end under the Court 1 roof last night with the rain hammering down.
The teenage wildcard was made to wait all day for the biggest match of her career by the five-set men’s match and then a rain delay.
The 18-year-old did not walk out to huge applause until 8pm. And then 75 minutes later, when she was trailing 6-4 3-0 in a bruising baseline battle with Ajla Tomljanovic, her Grand Slam debut was over.
The youngest British player to reach the last 16 in the Open era had been under obvious physical distress on court and did not return after a medical timeout (right). The weather matched the mood of the stunned home crowd.
BBC analyst Annabel
Croft said: “Perhaps everything has taken its toll on her,” while John Mcenroe added: “Maybe it’s not a shame this has happened when she is 18. Allow her to take some deep breaths and maybe get some wildcards.”
Raducanu got off to a nervous start as she double faulted twice in her opening service game and saved a break point before holding.
But the 18-year-old slowly found her way into the match and sent down a 110mph ace to draw the scores level at 4-4.
Raducanu forced a second break point in the next game – and when her mishit forehand return was initially called in she started to giggle to the crowd before a video challenge ruled the ball was out.
But in the next game, she gave the first obvious signs she was struggling physically after she put her hands on her knees at the end of a long rally. After the huge hold, Tomljanovic showed her experience by saving three game points before Raducanu hit a forehand long to lose the crucial first set in 50 minutes.
The world No.338 told the umpire she was struggling with her stomach at the start of the second set. At 0-3 down, Raducanu received on-court medical attention with the trainer telling her: “Take deep breaths, you can do it, you will be OK.”
She went off the court and the crowd and Tomljanovic were stunned by the tannoy announcement that Raducanu would not be returning.
Tomljanovic will now face Ash Barty in an all-aussie quarter-final after the world No.1 beat Barbora Krejcikova 7-5 6-3.
FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME caused a major shocks as he beat fourth seed Alexander Zverev to reach his first ever Grand Slam quarter-final, calling it: “The best victory of my life.”
Auger-aliassime (right) was in total control of and then almost threw it away, before eventually winning under the No1 Court roof 6-4 7-6 3-6 3-6 6-4.
The 20-year-old said: “That is the best victory of my life. I have never beaten
Alex. The fans helped me, without them it would have been way tougher.”
Ranked 19th in the world, he now faces Italian Mateo Berrettini, ranked No.9.
ROGER FEDERER signed off the last ‘Manic Monday’ in Wimbledon history with a farewell Sunday stroll.
The Swiss legend, bidding for a ninth Wimbledon title with his 40th birthday looming next month, eased his way to an 18th All England Club quarter-final as he outplayed exciting Italian Lorenzo Sonego 7-5 6-4 6-2.
An hour earlier, before the rains fell and the roofs closed, Novak Djokovic, looking to equal Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam wins, came through his fourth-round clash with
Chilean Cristian Garin with few problems, winning 6-2
6-4 6-2.
Federer (top) had more worries against the rangy
Sonego, who grew up idolising the man he was facing across the net. But with his form gradually improving as this tournament goes on, the No.6 seed in the end had too much class.
On social media Federer showed pictures of he and his team having a stroll around the All England Club grounds on Sunday, the last time that will be possible, with matches from next year onwards being played on the middle Sunday, spreading the fourthround matches over two days and ending the tradition of ‘Manic Monday’.
He said: “It is very special and that’s why we went for a quick walk and enjoyed Sunday. There are lots of traditions at the All England Club and for all us players over the last 144 years.
“We will look back in 20-50 years from now and this was it, the last Sunday and last Manic Monday. I’m happy I played in an era where there was still a Middle Sunday, even though we have to go with the times.
“There will be more tennis here at Wimbledon, more people can come and hopefully it gives us more flexibility in case of the rain.
“I am extremely happy. Lorenzo is always dangerous, but after that first set I was able to control things. I couldn’t be more excited to be in the quarters.”
Federer will face the winner of the match between Hubert Hurkacz and Daniil Medvedev, called off last night because of rain with Medvedev two sets to one up.
Djokovic (above) reached a 50th Grand Slam quarter-final, moving ahead of Boris Becker, but then insisted that while records motivate him, he prefers to concentrate on his game.
The No.1 seed, who has dropped just one set so far in getting to the last eight, said: “Records are a motivating factor but they are not consuming my life. It’s not a secret that I am trying to win as many slams as possible.”
Djokovic was never in trouble against the overawed Chilean, who did not win a point until the third game, and never recovered.