TENNIS

Photo Credit:  Adrian DENNIS 

Novak Djokovic makes a long-awaited return to the US Open next week looking to reclaim the title and world number one ranking from defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.

The 36-year-old Serbian superstar was barred from entry to the United States for much of the past two years after his refusal to comply with a Covid-19 vaccination mandate.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles title winner could only watch from afar last year as Spanish star Alcaraz was crowned as the new King of New York with his maiden triumph at a tennis major.

Photo Credit: Alastair Grant

A poor start left Carlos Alcaraz a single point from a two-set hole against Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.

That sort of deficit is daunting for anyone, let alone a 20-year-old in his second major final, and against anyone, let alone Djokovic, someone who hadn’t lost at Centre Court in a decade, someone seeking a fifth consecutive championship, and record-tying eighth overall, at the All England Club. Someone who won the year’s first two Grand Slam tournaments and 23 over his career.

Photo Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth

Marketa Vondrousova came to the All England Club a year ago unable to play tennis at all. She had a cast on her surgically repaired left wrist, so her visit was limited to sightseeing around London with her sister and cheering for a friend who was competing at Wimbledon.

This trip was a lot more memorable: She is leaving as a Grand Slam champion.

Vondrousova became the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon on Saturday, coming back in each set for a 6-4, 6-4 victory over 2022 runner-up Ons Jabeur in the final.

Photo Credit: Alastair

Chris Eubanks woke up Wednesday morning ahead of playing for a berth in the final four at Wimbledon against 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev and, first thing, like so many of us, reached for his phone to see what the buzz was about on Twitter.

“It was just constant me,” Eubanks said. “I was just like, ‘This is so weird.’ I looked at it. I was like, ‘Man, I’m really about to play a Grand Slam quarterfinal today. This is cool.’”

He took less than 10 minutes to let that sink in, then, as the 27-year-old American who captivated the crowds at the All England Club and many folks back home put it, “was able to lock back in.” And so he pushed Medvedev the distance, taking a two-sets-to-one lead before running out of aces and energy.

Basking in the roars from the stands at No. 1 Court, the unseeded Eubanks came within four points of winning to extend his deepest run, by far, at a major tournament before Medvedev pulled away for a 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1 victory to reach the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time.

Photo Credit:AP

It has been years since the United States of America had a genuine grand slam hopeful, let alone one who could lift the famous Wimbledon trophy at the All-England Club, yet there is a new hope emerging on the American tennis scene as Christopher Eubanks sensationally booked his place in the 2023 Wimbledon quarter-final.

In a sensational five-set thriller, the Atlanta-born tennis star was able to overcome Stefanos Tsitsipas, despite being the clear underdog going into Monday's encounter.