11th Wimbledon semi-final target ni Djokovic
Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts to breaking Netherlands' Tim van Rijthoven's serve during their round of 16 men's singles tennis match on the seventh day of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 3, 2022. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE
Target ng six-time champion na si Novak Djokovic ang 11th Wimbledon semi-final ngayong Martes, habang nais naman ni Ons Jabeur, na makagawa ng isang Arab landmark performance.
Sakaling matalo niya si Jannik Sinner, ito na ang magiging ika-43 Slam semi-final ng Top seed na si Djokovic.
Pabor kay Djokovic ang pagkakataon, dahil ang 20-anyos na Italyanong si Sinner ay hindi pa nagagawang lumampas sa quarter-finals ng isang major title.
Ayon kay Djokovic . . . “I kind of see a little bit of myself in his game from the back of the court, playing flat backhand, constantly staying on the back of the line, trying to put pressure on opponents.”
Gayunman, impresibo ang naging laban ni Sinner kung saan tinalo nito ang Spanish na si Carlos Alcaraz noong Linggo.
Samantala, ang world number two na si Jabeur na lamang ang tanging naiwan sa top 15 women’s seeds sa torneo.
Nalampasan niya ang last-eight noong 2021 at ngayon ay target niyang marating ang una niyang Grand Slam semi-final.
Dinaig ng 27-anyos si Elise Mertens. Umaasa si Jabeur na ang kaniyang progreso sa All England Club ay magbibigay inspirasyon sa iba pang Arab at African players.
Aniya . . . “I want them to believe more in themselves and believe they can be here. I don’t come from a rich family so you have to stop finding excuses and just go for it, enjoy it.”
© Agence France-Presse
