WIMBLEDON 2022

I've posted about this before, but the most extraordinary (and, for me, distressing) aspect of Djokovic's career is his third-act near-invincibility when it matters. His first 16 Slam finals, up to age 28 (when he'd been #1 or #2 for four years, generally considered peak or near-peak Novak): 8-8. His last 16 Slam finals: 13-3. This includes a two-year period when he was injured / refusing surgery / off-form and not winning anything. Everything since summer 2018 has been a nightmare!

Keep hearing how he's not quite the player he was, and how much more vulnerable he is in early rounds, but I can't remember the last time he faced a real threat in the first week (Tiafoe, Melbourne 2021?). If Kyrgios had been in his segment of the draw, might have been a different story. Doesn't matter how wretched his form might be for an hour, he'll find a way back in, and it's over. As soon as he broke Sinner early in the third set on Tuesday - that was it. From my perspective, it's the equivalent of the Liverpool injury-time winner. You know it's coming. Never in Djoubt.

Nostalgic for the days when players you didn't like just faded away in their 30s. Imagining a timeline where a newly-focused Becker beat Sampras, Hewitt and Federer to collect early-'00s majors. Ugh. Might have kept him out of trouble.

Older players in tennis (men and women's), men's golf are doing better and winning big things later. Look at Ronnie in the snooker as well, who is much more solid now than when he was younger.

The work that has been done on fitness, diet, sports psychology, surgeries (the work on Andy's hope, or Nadal at the French). Throw in the vast experience you accrue at that age, which is the usual plus people used to talk about. That can be an explosive combination.

*Andy's hip

Someone like Nick is an old style sportsman. No coaches, berating the umpire for old style disruption, not much work with a psychologist(?)

Not playing a full schedule and talking about his mental health aside is at least some evidence of self-care. But would anyone be surprised if he never made another slam final again?

Borg quit at 26, Carousel for everyone. (Kidding, Federer exempt anyway).

On the bright side, Novak now down to #7 in the rankings and, for as long as he's barred from entering Aus/N America, that's not going to improve.
(If Wimbledon had been carrying points, I think he'd be #4 (Rafa up to #2), with Norrie at #8 and Kyrgios up to #16. As it is, Nicky K stays in the 40s. Federer now has no ranking for the first time since Sept 1997).

Older players in tennis (men and women's), men's golf are doing better and winning big things later. Look at Ronnie in the snooker as well, who is much more solid now than when he was younger.

... and football.

Ugh, 2023 doesn't start until the 3rd of July, I'm itching already.

I thought it started January 1st

Lol, I need previews, run ups, I want to get into it.