By Tony Fairbairn at Wimbledon
- Tim Van Rijthoven spoke about how he overcame surgeries to achieve his Wimbledon dream as he faces Novak Djokovic in the second week.
- Maria Sakkari and Angelique Kerber both exited the tournament against Tatjana Maria and Elise Mertens respectively.
- Ons Jabeur spoke about her representing Africa as she reached the last 16
LONDON, ENGLAND – Tim Van Rijthoven spoke about overcoming surgeries to achieve his Wimbledon dream as Maria Sakkari and Angelique Kerber were shock exits in the Women’s draw.
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Van Rijthoven overcomes surgeries to achieve Wimbledon dream
Our day five talking points starts with the incredible story of Dutch wildcard Tim Van Rijthoven who is into the second week of Wimbledon. The Dutchman defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili in straight sets in a stunning display to reach the last 16 at SW19. Six weeks ago not many had heard of Van Rijthoven’s craft but since then the Dutchman won an ATP 250 event in his home country beating Felix Auger-Aliassime and Daniil Medvedev along the way.
That earned him a wildcard into the main draw of Wimbledon where he has now reached the last 16. After the match in his press conference Van Rijthoven explained the journey he had been on and the surgeries he had to overcome to get to this point:
“It’s been a long one. I’ve had my ups and downs, injuries here and there. Also struggled mentally,” Van Rijthoven admitted.
“I’m just happy to be in the place I am right now. I hope to be there for a couple more years, or a lot more years actually. hey took about three years. There were three major injuries. I had a wrist surgery. I had an artery surgery, I think you call it. The other one wasn’t a surgery, but it just took nine months to heal. That was an elbow. They call it a golfer’s elbow. I got it while playing tennis.”
Van Rijthoven’s story is an incredible and one of determination as well as never giving up to achieve your dreams. His story is also showing how valuable the challenger tour as he joins countryman Botic Van De Zandschulp as a breakout star from the circuit.
Next for the Dutchman will be world number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic who thrashed Miomir Kecmanovic on Centre Court today. Van Rijthoven described the match as a dream:
“Before the tournament started, it was a dream for me to play him basically,” he explained.
“So to be able to have that chance and to maybe even play on Centre Court or Court 1 is beautiful and magical. Yeah, I go into every match thinking I can win the match. Also against Djokovic I’ll go into that match thinking I can win that match, yeah.”
Djokovic also commented on Van Rijthoven’s run and is fully aware of the challenge that faces him on Sunday:
“His game, from what I’ve seen, is quite suitable to this surface. His big serve, one-handed backhand, uses the slice well. He’s an all-around player. He can play fast, he can also stay in the rally and come to the net,” Djokovic analysed.
“’I’m sure he’s excited to play on a big stage. He doesn’t have much to lose. He’s on his dream run. He’s a young player that is just starting so I’m sure his career will be very good. Generally on the grass court season he still hasn’t lost a match. It’s quite impressive for somebody that hasn’t been ranked that high, hasn’t won an ATP match before that ‘s-Hertogenbosch tournament.
“It’s quite impressive the way he has won. Also against Medvedev in the finals quite comfortably. As I said, I’ve watched him play last few weeks. I’ll do my analysis of him, and hopefully I can kind of start off the way I did in last few matches.”
Sakkari and Kerber Exit, Jabeur talks representation after victory
On the women’s side today, there was a couple of big shocks as Maria Sakkari and Angelique Kerber exited the tournament. Starting with Sakkari she was defeated by Tatjana Maria in straight sets. The veteran German produced a stunning performance as Sakkari couldn’t take advantage of an open bottom half of the draw. Speaking after the match Sakkari was disappointed with today’s result:
“I think it was a very bad performance from myself,” Sakkari admitted.
“Very disappointing. I mean, credit to Tatjana. She played very good. She played her game. I just messed up with my game plan and everything.”
Sakkari wasn’t the only one left downbeat as former champion Kerber couldn’t capitalise either as she was beaten comfortably by Elise Mertens. Mertens put in a great all-court display to beat the German who wasn’t at the races today. After the match Kerber gave credit to her opponent and admitted it was a battle:
“Yeah, it was a tough battle, and I gave everything I could today,” Kerber said.
“You know, it was just two, three balls which decide the match. I was close to it in the second set, but she played, yeah, two lucky shots as well and she was going for it. Yeah, of course I’m disappointed, but I gave everything I could today.”
Meanwhile Mertens was delighted with the victory and admitted that energy was what got her through the match today:
“I felt like, Okay, let’s get some energy, some rallies, some matches in,” Mertens told the press.
“I think that really helped me for today, too, to know that even when you’re down that you can come back, mentally being tough. I think my level was way better today than the last couple days. It’s a good sign that it keep coming up hopefully. But I’m definitely going to try.”
Mertens will now play third seed Ons Jabeur in the fourth round after Jabeur dominated Diane Parry in a complete performance on Centre Court. Jabeur is arguably the favourite to reach the final from the bottom half of the draw and would become the first African to reach the win Wimbledon if she did go all the way. Jabeur after the match spoke about representing Africa and the expectation that is on her shoulders:
“Yeah, everybody is following me, expecting me to do better and better,” Jabeur said in her press conference.
“I hope I continue being that person that gives them what they’re expecting for. I’m just trying my best to break records, to really open the path for the next generation. It would mean a lot for me, for my family, for my country, just to keep proving what I want to prove since ever, that nothing is impossible and if you put something in your mind, you can achieve it.”
Jabeur and Mertens will meet for the second time with the Belgian winning their only previous meeting at the US Open last year.
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