Amritraj’s perspective on Serena Williams’ return
Indian tennis icon Vijay Amritraj has shared his insights on Serena Williams’ return to tennis. Amritraj, who reached the quarterfinals of the grass-court major twice in 1973 and 1981, believes that while Williams’ motivation might stem from the joy of playing and wanting her daughters to see her compete, a major win at her age is improbable.
He drew an analogy to Muhammad Ali’s boxing comeback, suggesting that time does not wait for anyone, even a player of Williams’ calibre. Amritraj noted that Williams has achieved more than any other female tennis player in modern history, making her return against younger opponents a significant challenge. He thinks she would be content playing doubles, but winning a major with family commitments is a long shot.
Challenges in women’s tennis and Djokovic’s enduring strength
Amritraj also commented on the competitive landscape of women’s tennis, highlighting that no female player has won Wimbledon consecutively since 2016. He attributes this to the current field having a similar standard in performance and temperament, unlike the men’s game where players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have distinguished themselves. While Aryna Sabalenka has shown dominance, other players have identified weaknesses in her game, making the women’s draw quite open.
Regarding the men’s competition, Amritraj expressed confidence in Novak Djokovic’s enduring capabilities. Despite younger players becoming Grand Slam winners, Amritraj believes Djokovic’s mental fortitude and temperament set him apart. He noted that Djokovic has consistently been present in the game, adapting to the rise of younger talent. Amritraj considers Djokovic’s ability to recover after demanding five-set matches as his biggest challenge, but still views him as a strong contender.
Djokovic, at 39 years old, arrived at the All England Club to prepare for Wimbledon, aiming for a 25th Grand Slam title. His season has demonstrated his high level of play, including a strong performance at the Australian Open where he defeated Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals. However, his subsequent five months have highlighted the difficulty of maintaining peak physical condition throughout the season.
Wimbledon is seen as a particularly suitable venue for Djokovic to potentially secure another major title due to the nature of grass courts. The shorter points on grass allow him to leverage his precise serve, net play, and aggressive first-strike tennis, which is less physically demanding. He has won the tournament seven times previously.
Sinner’s title defence and the impact of injuries
With Carlos Alcaraz absent from this year’s tournament due to a right-wrist injury, there is speculation about whether this eases the path for Jannik Sinner to defend his Wimbledon title. Amritraj emphasised that winning seven matches against top-quality opponents is always a challenge, regardless of who is missing. He also pointed out that players need time to adjust to the grass surface, which can lead to upsets in the early stages of the tournament.
Sinner, the defending champion, is looking to bounce back from a tough loss at Roland Garros, where he led by two sets and 5-1 in the third before collapsing. He has been working to understand his physical frailties since that defeat. Djokovic and Sinner are drawn into the same half of the bracket, potentially setting up a semi-final encounter. Other players like Matteo Berrettini, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Alex de Minaur are also expected to contend in the men’s draw.
Amritraj also touched upon concerns regarding the tour’s scheduling, noting that top players, as independent contractors, have the flexibility to manage their schedules. They are committed to playing the nine Masters 1000 tournaments on the ATP Tour and the four Grand Slams, totaling 13 tournaments, and can plan their rest accordingly.
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Source: sportstar.thehindu.com
