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View this email in your browser. WIMBLEDON DAY 4 - RESULTS 🎾 Featured Matches:



Nadal d Kukushkin 6-4, 6-3, 6-4



In previous years Rafa could easily have dropped a set in this kind of match. Kuksuhkin, who hits the ball flatter than a pancake, was playing very well for periods of the match. Rafa's 1st serve needs to improve (he only won 64% of 1st serve points today), but he made up for that by returning aggressively and successfully (winning 43% of return points overall). His crosscourt, backhand return in particular did a lot of damage. His slice backhand however is still giving opponents far too much time on the ball (see GIF in "Extras" section below), but he'll be very pleased to win today in straights.



Djokovic d Zeballos 6-1, 6-2, 6-3



Regardless of the fact that facing Horacio Zeballos on grass is about as threatening as a teacup pig, Djokovic put in a very impressive performance. Serving 15 aces and putting in 75% of his 1st serves (winning 89%), made Novak's life very easy in his own service games. Djokovic winning 49% (39/80) of return points made life very difficult for Zeballos in his, who didn't look comfortable on serve throughout. Nole finished with an astonishing 4(!) unforced errors. The only concern is that the Serb had a MTO for a left thigh issue late in the 3rd set. Looked fine afterwards.



Pella d Cilic 3-6, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-5 ‼️



Completely confusing match. Yesterday, before the rain delay/suspension, Cilic was dominating Pella and sitting comfortably 2 sets up. He had faced 0 break points and was holding serve (and creating chances on Pella's serve) with ease. But when play resumed today, it was as if Cilic's evil twin had shown up to ruin his Wimbledon chances. Marin was spraying errors all over the place (63 unforced errors for the match, most coming in the final 3 sets), and never got anywhere near some impressive Pella serving. A HUGE upset given Cilic was realistically the only threat standing between Federer and another final.



Also:

(‼️ = upset)



Edmund d Klahn: 6-4, 7-6(0), 6-2

Del Potro d F. Lopez: 6-4, 6-1, 6-2

Anderson d Seppi: 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4

Nishikori d Tomic: 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(7), 7-5

Kyrgios d Haase: 6-3, 6-4, 7-5

Paire d Shapovalov: 0-6, 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(3)

Fabbiano d Wawrinka: 7-6(7), 6-3, 7-6(6)

Kohlschreiber d Muller: 7-6(6), 7-6(4), 7-6(3)

Vesely d Schwarztman: 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3)

Gulbis d Dzumhur: 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3

De Minaur d Herbert: 6-2, 6-7(8), 7-5, 6-3

Tiafoe d Benneteau: 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2

Fognini d Bolelli: 6-3, 6-4, 6-1

Khachanov d Baghdatis: 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(4), 7-5



To be continued tomorrow:



Fritz leading A. Zverev: 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(0)... All Results INTERVIEW/PRESS TL;DR 🗣 Nadal after beating Kukushkin:



- "I think I played much better than the 1st rd, against an opponent who is very good on this surface."

Source



- "I've always liked to play on grass, but for most people it's the most difficult surface, because it is the surface we play the least.

Source



(Matt): *cough* ATP needs more grass tournaments *cough*



- "I'm not a player who's gonna win a point with one shot, so I need to find the right timing on grass, find the right balance between winners and unforced error."

Source



- "I cannot refuse an umpire, I can ask not to have someone if possible. What happened 3 years ago is because the umpire was disrespectful. He made me change my shorts in front of everyone".

Source



(Matt): Context = Rafa clearing up why, 3 years ago, he asked for Bernades (umpire) to be removed from his matches for a while. Nadal felt it was disrespectful to make him change on court (100% humidity in Rio), rather than let him go to the bathroom. Today Bernades gave Rafa 2 time violations, one before the match had even started and one between sets.

Djokovic post-win:



- "The injury was a bad move during the point, that affected my knee a little bit, seems nothing major, it should be fine".

Source



- "What do I watch closely when I see Roger play? The footwork, definitely I observe his footwork."

Source

Pella after beating Cilic:



- "I never expect to win here in Wimbledon against Cilic... This is the 3rd time I come here, the 1st time I win a single match in the main draw, and it was a big surprise."

Source



Pella on Cilic:



- "I think when he has time on his forehand, he starts to think too much."

Source

Kyrgios post-win:



- "I was very impressed by how I played in the first two sets, it got rocky in the third, I could have won faster than I did."

Source



Nick on his next opponent:



I've never beaten Kei, but grass is his least favorite surface."

Source



Talking about his young compatriot De Minaur:



- "[Alex] is going to have a great career, just don't compare him to Nadal or something."

Source

Wawrinka after losing to Fabbiano:



- "I wasn't aggressive enough, but he played very well, I missed a lot of setpoints. I'm happy with my fitness level, I've been pushing my body a lot, now it's a matter of regaining confidence"

Source

Shapovalov after his loss to Paire:



- "I need to figure out why it's always the same story. Like at the French Open I had the momentum and I let it go."

Source SHOTS OF THE DAY 😮 This was diving volley No. 8 for Tsitsipas in his 5-set win over Donaldson. Shades of Boris Becker.

(BBC) Rafa stepping up on the baseline and crushing returns. Good signs.

(BBC) When Delpo is hitting his backhand like this, you are in for a terrible time.

(Eurosport) Source Great flick from Kukushkin.

(BBC) 🔥 forehand from Fritz

(BBC) Rafa in 2018 vs Kukushkin at Wimbledon.

(BBC) Rafa in 2014 vs Kukushkin at Wimbledon.

As Peter Fleming said at the time: "This guy runs backwards faster than a lot of players run forwards".

(BBC) DAY 5 (FRIDAY) OOP ⏰ Match to watch = 🔥 Centre Court

(1pm Start) Querrey vs Monfils (H2H: 2-0) 🔥

Prediction: Querrey in 5



Federer vs Struff (H2H: 2-0)

Prediction: Federer in 3



Court 1

(1pm Start)



Fritz vs Zverev (to finish) D. Novak vs Raonic (1st Meeting)

Prediction: Raonic in 4



Court 2

(11:30am Start) Kohlschreiber vs Anderson (H2H: 0-3)

Prediction: Anderson in 4



Isner vs Albot (H2H: 2-1)

Prediction: Isner in 4 Court 3

(11:30am Start)



Mannarino vs Medvedev (H2H: 2-0) 🔥

Prediction: Mannarino in 5



Non-Show Courts to Watch

(11:30am Start)



Court 12

Tsitsipas vs Fabbiano (H2H: 1-0)

Prediction: Tsitsipas in 4



Court 18

Pella vs Mcdonald (1st Meeting)

Prediction: Pella in 4 Full Order of Play EXTRAS...🔍🎤📊 One of:



Pella, Raonic, MacDonald, Fabbiano, D. Novak, Isner, Albot, Tsitsipas...



...will make the semi's of this years Wimbledon.

For the first time since 2006, two players under the age of 20 have qualified for the third round of Wimbledon:



2006: Djokovic & Murray

2018: Tsitsipas & De Minaur

Kyrgios complaining about a foot fault to umpire James Keothavong:



Kyrgios: “What! He called it after the serve?!”

Keothavong: “Well, that’s what he has to do. He can’t call it before you serve!"



*everyone LOLS*

Video

Milos Raonic on the trend of taller players moving better and being less one-dimensional:



- "I think the big guys realized, 'Hey, this is what we need to do to get the most out of ourselves.' You see guys moving more efficiently. You have Kyrgios, who's incredibly athletic. You have Del Potro who I would say is one of the better movers, especially laterally."



- "Everybody used to train the way an (average) tennis player should train. People didn't used to make individual training programs (based on height).... You (now) have guys that are getting better because they're looking for programs and techniques that are going to suit them best.”

Source

After his loss today, Marin Cilic will exit the top 5 after Wimbledon.

After his win today, Djokovic becomes the 2nd male player (after Federer) to win at least 60 matches at each slam. 3rd including women (Serena Williams). Demonstrates Novak's incredible consistency on all surfaces.

In the 2nd set of his win today, Delpo won 100% of both 1st and 2nd service points.

20 years ago today, Federer won the Wimbledon juniors in singles and doubles.

The problem with Nadal's slice on grass. It's these slice backhands that are a weakness for Rafa (see how they sit up for Kukushkin to hit an easy winner). There isn't enough forward momentum through contact.

(BBC) He's pulling off the ball and moving backwards post-contact, meaning the ball is getting too much height and not penetrating the court. Ideally need to be stepping forward through contact to hit the slice.

(BBC) Slow-mo gives an idea of how flat Kukushkin's backhand is (his open racquet face vs the more regular closed face, as he makes contact with the ball). He's nearly getting backspin on it 😳. Bit like a Jimmy Connors follow through.

(BBC) LOL 😂 James Keothavong (Umpire) explaining the foot fault rule to Kyrgios:



Nick: "So it can't cross the line at any stage?"

Ump: "Not when the motion starts"

Nick: "Oh okay"

(Source) R.I.P patella tendons 😅

(BBC) An astronaut on the ISS watching some late night Wimbledon 🛰

(Source) Zverev taking a mid-match nap.

(BBC) "At least we still look more normal than Paire".

(BBC)

Evasive action for Rafa.

(BBC)

Source Rafa's got time-violation PTSD. Fritz with an especially hopeful attempt at covering the ball.

(BBC) The chronicles of tennis players keeping their eyes on the ball despite face-planting. Taylor Fritz Edition.

(BBC) Share Tweet Forward GAME, SET & MATCH 👋 The Racquet is created, and written, by Matt. You can find me on twitter by tapping/clicking this. You early subscribers (Beta testers) get access to 'The Racquet' Discord. Tap/click the Discord button below to join (we even have Jerzy Janowicz emojis). If you know anyone who would like 'The Racquet' here is the link to send them so they can sign up: https://theracquet.co See you tomorrow for Day 5 at Wimbledon!