The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just one Grand Slam women’s champ remains in Wimbledon
WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND — Tatjana Maria pulled off another upset at Wimbledon to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the age of 34 on Sunday. She’ll face not another high-seeded opponent but 22-yearold Jule Niemeier, who is making her All England Club debut, in an all-german showdown for a place in the semifinals.
Heading into the second week at Wimbledon, only two of the top 15 seeds remain in the women’s draw, which has just one Grand Slam champion — Simona Halep — left.
Maria eliminated 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 on No. 1 Court in the fourth round after saving two match points in the second set against her 12th-seeded opponent.
“I always believed that at one point I can show what I can do,” said the 103rd-ranked Maria, who ousted fourth-seeded Maria Sakkari in the third round. “I’m happy that today, I mean, I came back when I was down, so I’m proud of myself.”
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek is also out of the picture, the two-time French Open champion having lost to Alize Cornet of France in straight sets Saturday.
Halep is the last Grand Slam champion standing on the women’s side. The 16th-seeded Romanian won at Wimbledon in 2019 and at the French Open the year before that. She faces fourthseeded Paula Badosa in the fourth round today.
The 97th-ranked Niemeier advanced by beating Heather Watson 6-2, 6-4 on Centre Court in just her second Grand Slam tournament. The German had eliminated second-seeded Anett Kontaveit in the second round.
Shortly before Roger Federer and other greats took part in a ceremony marking the centenary of Centre Court, Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal by beating Caroline Garcia of France 7-5, 6-2. Bouzkova will next face third-seeded Ons Jabeur, who beat Elise Mertens 7-6 (9), 6-4 to reach her second straight Wimbledon quarterfinal. “There’s no reason why not to keep this going. Kind of believing in myself right now,” said Bouzkova, who withdrew from the French Open after testing positive for COVID-19.
In the men’s draw, Jannik Sinner beat fifth seed Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-3. The 10th-seeded Italian will play either Novak Djokovic or Tim van Rijthoven for a spot in the semifinals. Two American men were eliminated. David Goffin of Belgium defeated Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (3), 5-7, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 to set up a quarterfinal against Cameron Norrie, who advanced with a 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Tommy Paul.
Maria, the oldest woman left in the singles draw, said she’s been inspired by her two young daughters.
“I’m now in the quarterfinal of Wimbledon, so it’s really amazing,” she said. “This means also that you always have to keep going.
“Doesn’t matter how old you are, doesn’t matter how many kids you have, you just have to keep going and to believe in yourself.”