The fact that Wimbledon has changed to being a Exhibition Tournament this year caused havoc in the rankings of players.

The present rankings are as follows:-

1     Danill Medvedev

2     Alexander Zvverev

3     Novak Djokovic

4     Rafael Nadal

5     Casper Ruud

6     Stefanos Tsitsipas

7     Carls Alcaraz

8     Andre Rublev.

9     Fexlix Auger-Aliassime

10   Matteo Berrettini.   

In the race to Turin Tournament - the EOY Championship the situation iro of the top 8 Candidates are as follows:-

1     Rafael Nadal

2     Carlos Alcaraz

3     Stefanos Tsitsipas

4     Casper Ruud

5     Alexander Zverev

6     Andrey Rublev

7     Felix Auger-Aliassime

8     Danill Medevedev

Djokovic is not on the qualification list yet - but that could change with the upcoming hard court tournaments in the USA.   Djokovic will however have to do a lot better than he did last year after Wimbledon to qualify for the said tournament this year.    Again Wimbledon counts for nothing this year anyway.  .       

Wimbledon is Wimbledon….and it will be counted in the Grand Slam records of the players. If Nadal plays, which seems doubtful and wins …he would be playing for the Grand Slam at the US Open. This little excerpt echoes the sentiments of real tennis fans:

‘ In a technical sense, this renders the event an exhibition, because there are no ranking points at stake. Still, it remains Wimbledon, with its traditions and prestige, from the grass underfoot to the all-white clothing, from the Royal Box to the strawberries and cream, not to mention millions of dollars in prize money, and so the expectation is that everyone eligible to enter will do so.’

The Russians are not there because they have invaded a neighbor and killed many people. I don’t agree with punishing individuals….teams are a different matter. A Russian team should not be allowed to play in a world sporting event while this invasion goes on…..because that would represent the country. I think the Russians should have been allowed to play, but it won’t negate the joy of Wimbledon.

No Mozart it is NOT counted in  the Grand Slam record as they do not allow Russian or r byele-Russian players to play and there ill be zero ranking  points allocated to players.  The Russian players said they want peace not war - but that was not enough for the English  organizers.    The players have no say in the war situation and their banning is BS.

You may find it joyful and the whole scene will be an ordinary one like is normal with Wimbledon - but the issue is that it will not be a Grand Slam tournament..  Nobody knows who is going to turn to play yet.

Nadal claim he has  an injury but he says he will try and play - not an indication of anything - there sis no news yet about whether Djokovic will actually play - he is linked to the Orthodox Church - whose main branch is in Russia and that makes him playing uncertain,  H must be pissed off too because his ranking point for Wimbledon last year has been scrapped and he is now the no 3 ranked player in the world.   Wimbledon will not help him to recover from the number 3 ranking.   Zverev is out with an injury as well.     Alcaraz is unlikely to play at all.

Most players will go to the USA quickly to play in the hard Court events - but very few has entered for the grass curt tournaments that was already played.   or being played this week.         .   . 

Nope…it may not have ranking points, but if Nadal or Djokovic win it will be counted to their Grand Slam totals. Only Medvedev is a serious title contender, but not on grass,  last year he never made it past the fourth round. There may be an asterisk in the records but the winner will have won a grand slam. I’m getting bored with your Russian groveling. What did Russia ever do for South Africa except send the Cubans over to kill out kids. Have some pride man.

Mozart 

We would know by Thursday who will turn up to play    All that is known at present is there are 16 qualifiers in each of the men and women that will go the the main field.

There is another obvious withdrawal and that is Alejandro Davodovich Fokina who broke a finger yesterday okaying in Eastbourne.    He will probably be replaced by a lucky loser in the qualifier group.

As to the farce the English organizers made the case of Bublik is an example.   Bublik is a Russian who was borne in Russia from a Russian father and Kazackhstan mother.   Because he could not get the support of the Russian tennis federation on the same basis as Medvedev,  Rublev and Khashanov did, he applied for Khazakhstan citizenship based on his mother and became part of the Khazakhstan Tennis Federation.   Earlier this year there were political unrest in Nur Sultan - the Kazakhstan capital - and the Khazakhstan Government  asked for Russian troop assistance to stem the unrest.     So Khazakhstan is not included in the ban - other allies of Russia is.   A lot of banned country tennis players have dual citizenship anyway and they are free to participate in Wimbledon and other English tournaments.     .    .                .       

The Top 10 seedings are as follows with the world  rankings indicated behind the players names:-

1     Nova Djokovic               - ranking 3

2    Rafael Nadal                    - ranking 4

3    Casper Ruud                    - ranking 5

4    Stefanos Tsitsipas            - ranking 6

5    Carlos Alcaraz                 -  ranking 7

6    Felix Auger-Aliassime    -   ranking  9

7     Huvbert Hurkacz             -  ranking 10

8     Matteo Berrettini             -  ranking  11

9     Cameron Norrie              -  ranking  12 

10   Jannik Sinner                   -  ranking 13 

11    Taylor Fritz                     -  ranking  14

12    Diego Schwartzman       -  ranking  15

13    Denis Shapovalov          -   ranking  16

14     Marin Cilic                    -   ranking   17

15    Reilly Opelka                 -   ranking   18

16     Pablo Carrero-Busta      -   ranking   19

17     Roberto Bautista-Agut   -   ranking   20

18     Grigor Dimitrov              -   ranking  21

19     Alex de Minaur               -   ranking   24

20    John Isner                          -   ranking  25

21     Botic van de Zandschulp  -   ranking  26

22     Nikoloz Basilashvili         -   ranking   27

23     Frances Tiafoe                  -   ranking   28

24     Holger Rune                      -   ranking  29

25     Miomir Kecmanovic         -    ranking  30

26     Filip Krajinovic                 -    ranking  31

27     Lorenzo Sonego                -    ranking   32

28      Daniel Evans                    -    ranking   33

29     Jenson Brooksby               -     ranking  34

30    Tommy Paul                       -     ranking  35

31    Sebastian Baez                  -      ranking   36

32    Oscar Otte                         -      ranking   37

Not really impressive.   Nadal is complaining about an injury and Djokovic  is not really in great form.    The interesting player amongst the top ten seeds is Carlos Alcaraz.   He can gain experience on grass in that tournament - the rest is getting no ranking points and play for the exhibition prize money only.         

The draw for Wimbledon was initially set for yesterday - but suddenly changed to today.  Why would that have happened?        

It is basically a waste of time aince this is an exhibition tournament - but some people on site may be interested so I will give the Round 2 Matches  and try and keep interested in updating the progress subsequent to Round 2

ROUND 2

Top Half of the Draw

1    Novak Djokovic                            vs      Thanaisi Kokkinakis

25  Miomir Kecmanovic                      vs      Alejandro Tabilo

22  Nikoloz Basilashvili                       vs     Quinten Halys

15   Reilly Opelka                                vs     Tim van Rijthoven

10   Jannik Sinner                                vs      Mikhail Ymer

20   John Isner                                     vs      Andy Murray

32  Oscar Otte                                      vs      Christian Harrison

5    Carlos Alcaraz                               vs      Tallon Griekspoor

3    Casper Ruud                                   vs     Ugu Humbert

31   Sebastian Baez                              vs      David Goffin

23   Frances Tiafoe                                vs      Macimilian Marterer

Dusan Lajovic                                       vs     Alexander Bublik

  9    Cameron Norrie                            vs      Jaume Munar

Steve Johnson                                        vs      Ryan Peniston

30    Tommy Paul                                  vs     Adrian Mannarino

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina              vs      Jiri Vesely

Bottom Half of the Draw

Christian Garin                                      vs      Hugo Gerenier

29  Jenson Brooksby                             vs      Benjamin Bonzi

19   Alex de Minaur                              vs       Jack Draper

12   Diego Schwartzman                       vs       Liam Broady

13   Denis Shapovalov                           vs      Brandon Nakashima

17   Roberto Bautista-Agut                   vs       Daniel Galan Riveros

26  Filip  Krajinovic                              vs        Nic Kyrgios

4  Stefanos Tsitsipas                             vs      /Jordan Thompson

Maxime Cressy                                     vs        Jack Sock

Jason Kubler                                         vs         Dennis Novak

Marcos Giron                                        vs         Alex Molcan

11   Taylor Fritz                                    vs         Alastair Gray

Makenzie McDonald                            vs         Richard Gasquet

21   Botic van de Zandschilp                vs         Emil Ruusuvuori 

27   Lorenzo Sonego                            vs         Hugo Gaston

2    Rafael Nadal/                                 vs          Ricardos Berankis   

ROUND 3

Top Half of the Draw

1    Novak Djokovic                                      vs    25   Miomir Kecmanovic

22   Nikoloz Basilashvili                               vs     Tim van Rijthoven  

10   Jannik Sinner                                           vs    20   John Isner

5    Carlos Alcaraz                                          vs    32  Oscar Otte

Ugu Humbert                                                   vs    David Goffin

23   Frances Tiafoe                                          vs    Alexander Bublik

  9    Cameron Norrie                                       vs    Steve Johnson

30    Tommy Paul/                                            vs    Jiri Vesely

Bottom Half of the Draw

29  Jenson Brooksby                                        vs     Christian Garin 

19   Alex de Minaur                                          vs     Liam Broady     

Brandon Nakashima                                         vs       Daniel M Galan Riveros

4  Stefanos Tsitsipas                                          vs       Nic Kyrgios

Jack Sock                                                           vs        Jason Kubler

 11   Taylor Fritz                                                vs         Alex Molcan

  21   Botic van de Zandschulp                         vs        Richard Gasquet/      

2    Rafael Nadal                                                vs      27   Lorenzo Sonego

WIMBLEDON, England — Wimbledon resumed unmitigated life Monday for the first time since 2019 and the last echoes of “Roger, Roger!” ricocheting around Centre Court from a soaring men’s final way back then. The doors of the Tube opened at Southfields station, the droves streamed out of the trains and up the stairs and down the sidewalks on Church Road, and even the hydrangeas at the All England Club seemed happier.

Then it rained, which was perfect.

Then it stopped, which was perfect.

Then it rained again, which was perfect.

That allowed for words as familiar here as any words have ever been at any venue: “Play is suspended.”

Two Ukrainians at Wimbledon describe the horrors of war

It came back in the late afternoon, and Wimbledon had a first day unlike any since 2019, what with the pandemic nixing 2020 and forcing 50 percent capacity for the opening of 2021. Wimbledon had its “full fans, no bubble, back how I remember it,” as Coco Gauff had said Saturday.

Mozart

Lets confine it to tennis and Wimbledon.   You would notice that some seeded players did not even bother to  turn up to play and the string of losses of seeded players in Round 1 - making up nearly 25%   - indicates that the players are  not taking the  exhibition tournament seriously.

Even Nadal and Djokovic played 4 setters to win playing unknown qualifiers in Round 1.   Others of the seeded players had to play 5 setters to survive Round 1 and that against extremely weak players.   Sorry - but the facts speak  for itself.   I think by the end of Round 2 another circa  25% of the 32 seeded players will be gone since they will meet stronger opposition.     

Nobody is unaware of the results of what is happening in Ukraine .-  War is terrible and has terrible consequences for mostly innocent people.    Wimbledon was the only Grand Slam tournament cancelled in 2020 - the other three such tournaments did take place albeit on different dates to what was originally planned for 2020.                    .          

ROUND 4

Top Half of the Draw

1    Novak Djokovic                                  vs     Tim van Rijthoven  

5    Carlos Alcaraz                                    vs     10   Jannik Sinner

23   Frances Tiafoe                                    vs     David Goffin

  9    Cameron Norrie                                 vs    30    Tommy Paul

Bottom Half of the Draw

 19   Alex de Minaur                                 vs      Christian Garin    

Nic Kyrgios                                               vs      Brandon Nakashima

QUARTERFINALS

Top  Half of the Draw

1    Novak Djokovic                                  vs      10     Jannik Sinner

9    Cameron Norrie                                  vs       David Goffin 

Bottom Half of the Draw

 Christian Garin                                         vs       Nic Kyrgios

The quarterfinals will e interesting.   Djokovic should easily beat Van Rijthoven = whohad some decent performances this year - but not on the level he is playing in Round 4 of the Wimbledon exhibition series.    Alcaraz played Sinner twice and beat him both times.  So a quarterfinal between Djokovic and Alcaraz may be on the cards.

As to Nadal his opponent in the round is another Dutch player that he should not have trouble  with in winning  the Round 4 match,    Then he is likely going to run into Fritz  who easily beat him in the Indian Wells tournament a few months ago.     .     .       

SEMIFINALS

1    Novak Djokovic/                                 vs      9    Cameron Norrie 

2    Rafael Nadal                                        vs      Nic Kyrgios     

Hahaha Tokkie droning on, understanding nothing…dumb ass.

Dumb ass is being wise after the fact and then claim otherwise and that description face you to the tee.   .  I made quite a lot of  money through betting on tennis player results.   For instance I have one bet outstanding for backing Norrie, Djokovic  and  Fritz - who plays today.   I made a bet on Sinner beating Alcaraz and Djokovic winning making a profit of more than R250 

After this I would not touch Djokovic and Nadal to bet on.   So my money is where my mouth is anyway.       The situation i really pathetic at present.  After partial completion of Round 4 there are only 8 seeded players still in the competition.  It shows a lack of interest in playing in the Exhib ition tournament.    

FINAL

1    Novak Djokovic/9    Cameron Norrie   vs     Nic  Kyrgios

Nadal withdrew from Wimbledon due to injury and Kyrgios got a walkover to the final.   It is very hard for 36 year-olds to get through a series where they may  have to play 5 setters.    

Well given there is a 34 year old and a 27 year old in the final, I would say it’s damn hard for players under 27 to get to the final. Barring Nadal’s stomach tear which can happen to anyone, the combined age of the finalists would be over 70.

Now it is bar the stomach tear of Nadal being sued as an excuse - which was not the case in the French Open when Zverev was forced to retire from a very serious injury - one has to accept that what Mozart comes up is BS.

What is not BS is the fact that I live in the world of reality.   I took a lovely double with Rybakina winning and either Djokovic or Kyrgios winning.    Kyrgios is the bookmakers favorite and I would actually prefer Djokovic to win since the pay-out would be much higher.   However, I think that the five and four setters Djokovic had to play in the quarter and semi finals may have a detrimental affect and he may lose.   

The fact is that with Wimbledon being a exhibition tournament  the players are less interested in playing.   Players marketing value is higher as a result of their ranking and this one is not helping them at all.    In fact it had the opposite effect since it took players down  badly in the rankings,    

Here you are betting on  Djokovic losing yet again. Tedious  and so is your stance that Wimbledon 2022 isn’t a Major….when every single tennis source has lifted him to 21 Majors

I made money betting on Djokovic - so tht is really funny from an obvious idiot speaker. .

Show me one tennis source that doesn’t have Djokovic at 21 Majors.

Not necessary - it is in terms of the rules applicable an Exhibition Tournament and that is what it will be counted as.   Nothing else.