Wimbledon: Novak can sleep walk into the final, and Gauff fights hard to extend her dream-run into the second week!
Novak Djokovic had an easy draw to start, but with the exit of Felix Auger Aliassime, Novak can sleep-walk into the finals of Wimbledon 2019.
Cori Gauff, meanwhile, fought hard to extend her dream run into the second week by dispatching Polona Hercog 3-6, 7-6 (9), 7-5.
Novak can sleep walk into the final.
With Rafa and Roger placed in the lower half of the draw, Novak had an easy road, to the final, which became even easier with the fall of Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Karen Khachanov, and Felix Augar Aliassime. Only Benoit Paire, of the ones remaining in the top half of the draw, enjoys an even 1-1 record, and the other six are a combined 33-8, against the human backboard – Novak Djokovic.
Men’s final is a foregone conclusion with either Rafa Nadal or Roger Federer slated to meet Novak Djokovic in it. There is an abject paucity of talent and desire in the men’s tour to unseat the three veterans from their high-seats. And, for some strange and senseless reason, the fans continue to pay top-dollars to see the same movie again and again.
Cori Gauff fought tooth and nail to make the second week, and 4th round, of Wimbledon.
Cori Gauff, the winner of the Junior French Open in 2018, should be half, if not all the, way across the Atlantic by now, instead she will play the second week at Wimbledon.
Polona Hercog was the better player in the first and, for most part of, second set. In the third too, Polona was as good as Cori but couldn’t find a way to close the match. She became too nervous, tight, and, therefore, defensive, every time she approached the finish line. There’s is a reason why the 28 years old Slovenian has never made past the third round of the slams in 36 appearances. The fifteen years old Cori Gauff, because of Hercog’s inability to step up and make good on the opportunities to close, made the fourth round in her slam debut.
Our take on Cori Gauff’s game and the next round against Halep.
Cori Gauff is a talented kid with an all round game but has some way to go before becoming a slam winner. We don’t expect her to mature into either the most powerful or versatile player, but, like Djokovic, her game and technique is solid and movement good enough to allow her a chance to win a few slams, down the road. Cori’s court sense and tennis IQ, like Djokovic’s, are her biggest assets and will serve her well in her tennis journey.
In the next round against Simona Halep, however, we expect Gauff’s dream run to end. We had predicted a similar outcome against Hercog, and would love to be proven wrong again.