Flurry of action on Manic Monday
WIMBLEDON ENGLAND, When play gets underway at Wimbledon just after 6:30 a.m. ET Monday, Angela Altimari, a Long Island resident, will be fully prepared for a full-force day, one like no other in Grand Slam tennis.
“I’ll be at my desk with TV, laptop and my iPad,” said Altimari, 27. “And I’ll have a second laptop at the ready if needed.”
It’s Manic Monday at Wimbledon, the day after this tournament’s traditional Middle Sunday, which gives the courts — and The Championships — a day of rest before entering Week 2.
It should be one of the most interesting days of tournament tennis this year: all 16 fourth-round matches, eight on the men’s side and eight on the women’s side. The other three Grand Slam tournaments split their fourth-round matches over two days.
Monday is headlined by Venus vs. Serena Williams first up on Centre Court.
“Manic Monday for me is akin to election night,” said Chris McKendry, a host on ESPN’s broadcast. “I have a producer yelling match scores out to me, and we have to digest a lot of numbers. It’s crazy, but it’s fun.”
The marquee day, in which all 16 matches include at least one seed, is spread out among six courts, meaning quick-twitch viewing for fans at home and careful plotting by those with onsite grounds passes.
“I think it’s going to be a great day for the fans,” said Caroline Wozniacki, the No. 5 seed who faces Garbine Muguruza, an upand-coming Spaniard. “It’s unique because you get the top players playing tough matches ... some of them are going to be on outside courts. I think also for people who come here and watch live, they’ll have a field day.”
But simultaneous top-tier matches create a headache for some.
“It’s a bit too much on the one day,” said Todd Woodbridge, the former doubles No. 1 who is a commentator on Channel 7 in Australia. “As a broadcaster, there’s too much to cover, too many things to focus on.”
ESPN doubles up on coverage, using ESPN as a Centre Court hub and ESPN2 to focus on the other matches, most notably those on No. 1 Court. ESPN3, the digital platform, has matches from each of the six courts.
All four of the top men’s seeds — Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka — play on Centre Court and No. 1.
It’s a buzz felt around the grounds, in the TV studio and, for fans, at home, too.
“It’s like Thursday or Friday to start off March Madness,” McKendry said. “I think it’s one of my favorite days in sports.”