AROUND THE TOUR

A week out from Wimbledon, Berrettini conquers Queen's while Jabeur grabs first title

By Stephen Higgins | 21 June 2021

Roland Garros signs

A week out from Wimbledon, I can’t see any real obstacle to Novak Djokovic lifting a sixth title there, and 20th grand slam overall.

In a surprise move, the defending champion has entered the doubles at Mallorca this week though I’m not sure he really needs confidence on the surface.

The world no.1 has reached the last four of Wimbledon on nine occasions, made it to six finals, and lost only once on the last day (2013 to Andy Murray). He is an expert on the turf and given the scarcity of grass court tournaments, there are few specialists.

Apart from the big four, Kevin Anderson, Marin Cilic and Milos Raonic are the only active players who have made it to a Wimbledon final. Of all the active former champions/finalists, only Djokovic can boast of being both fit enough to play and in the form needed to lift the trophy.

With Nadal absent and Federer/Murray struggling, the most realistic challenge will come from a new force on Centre Court.

Could it be Queen’s champion Matteo Berrettini? Roland Garros finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas? Or maybe Daniil Medvedev or Dominic Thiem?

However it falls, the world no.1 will be overwhelming favourite.

Since 2014, only two men have beaten Djokovic in a grand slam final.

Neither of them will be in London.

QUEEN'S | ATP 500

Matteo Berrettini further enhanced his excellent 2021 campaign with a maiden grass court title. The Italian used his overpowering serve - 19 aces in the final - as he overcame Cam Norrie 6-4 6-7 6-3.

It has been a brilliant year for the 25-year-old with two titles (Belgrade, Queen’s) and deep runs at the ATP Cup, Madrid and Roland Garros.

An outside shot at Wimbledon, Berrettini stays at no.9 in the world while Norrie has leaps to a career high of no.34.

BERLIN | WTA 500

The biggest shock of the week occurred in the German capital as qualifier Liudmila Samsonova capped an extraordinary run with a three-set victory over Belinda Bencic in the final.

The heavy hitting 22-year-old made her way through a difficult draw with the likes of Ana Konjuh, Marketa Vondrousova, Madison Keys, Victoria Azarenka among her victims.

Unsurprisingly, the Russian’s ranking has exploded with a 43-place surge to no.63. Bencic remains just beneath the summit at no.11.

HALLE | ATP 500

After a disastrous Roland Garros for French players, hope may have arrived in the shape of Ugo Humbert. The 22-year-old from Metz capped off a great week in Halle with a maiden ATP 500 title.

Humbert got the better of both Alexander Zverev and Roger Federer’s conqueror, Felix Auger-Aliassime, en route to the final where he beat world no.7 Andrey Rublev 6-3 7-6.

Another interesting proposition for SW19, Humbert moves to a career high of no.25 in the ATP rankings while Rublev remains at no.7.

BIRMINGHAM | WTA 250

It’s been a hard slog but finally, after two previous attempts, Ons Jabeur is a WTA champion.

The Tunisian defeated Crosscourt View favourite Daria Kasatkina 7-5 6-4 in the final, making her the first Arab woman to lift a top level title.

It was only a matter of time for this outrageously talented 26-year-old who sits at a career high of no.24. It’s good news as well for Kasatkina who returns to the WTA’s top 35.