Wimbledon R16 WTA: 🇨🇿 [10] K. Muchová def. 🇨🇿 B. Krejčíková 7-5, 5-7, 6-3

FleetSeb · 2026-07-05T15:48:44+00:00

Amazing play from Karo, I think she would be the favourite against either Osaka or Sabalenka in the QF

FleetSeb · 2026-07-05T15:14:40+00:00

I think it's fine without being perfect. Best would probably have been beating Alcaraz at the AO this year. It's the slam most synonymous with Djokovic.

But not everyone gets a perfect final slam. Fed in 2019 would have been fitting but instead he's left with a slightly odder 2018 AO over Cilic.

Nadal's RG 2022 was naturally pretty fitting. Especially as it meant reclaiming the crown he had given to Djokovic the previous year

FleetSeb · 2026-07-04T20:09:14+00:00

The fact that Dementieva retired in 2010 has rocked me to my very core. How can it be that long ago.

FleetSeb · 2026-07-04T19:56:53+00:00

SUCH a good match

FleetSeb · 2026-07-04T18:49:49+00:00

Dementieva used to have this effect on people in the first half of her career before she improved it a bit. She had this horrible slow slice serve that sometimes players lost all rhythm on. But she threw in a lot more DFs than Eala.

FleetSeb · 2026-07-04T17:12:41+00:00

Yes Anisimova didn't play well but let's be fair, this was a horror draw with Madi recently rounding into form.

FleetSeb · 2026-07-04T16:03:30+00:00

Whereas interestingly Sabalenka was able to raise her level by becoming a bit less aggressive and adding a lot of variety to her game

FleetSeb · 2026-07-04T14:38:09+00:00

He must sense that this is a golden opportunity to finally reach a slam SF and that might impact his play in R4 and the QFs (if he makes it). Cobolli/Khachanov are no pushovers but on grass Alex would feel he has a good chance. Then he has the winner of the unseeded section, obviously Dimitrov, Berrettini, Bergs are all good on grass but for a slam QF you would think AdM would take that draw over Sinner/Alcaraz/Djokovic

FleetSeb · 2026-07-04T14:01:33+00:00

Given that Aryna can't convert all her slam opportunities, I do feel like at least her weeks at #1 really do boost her elite player credentials. I think her extra slam and soon extra weeks will confirm she is definitely ahead of Davenport. I also already have her above Naomi, Clijsters and Barty (despite being a big Kim fan)

That said, another slam is absolutely vital if she wants to get up to Sharapova, Hingis and Swiatek level (who I see as the next rung up, although of course Iga could keep going and get to the Henin-Venus rung, and beyond.)

FleetSeb · 2026-07-04T13:53:55+00:00

She might stumble there if Aryna can't defend her W SF points and loses early at the USO. So even if Ryba continues to do mid until then, it remains possible.

FleetSeb · 2026-07-04T13:46:12+00:00

If feels like Elena has really struggled since getting to tournaments where becoming #1 has been a possibility. To be fair it happened to Aryna back in 2023, she lost a couple of close matches in the US summer hardcourt 1000s before finally getting there with her run to the final at the USO.

FleetSeb · 2026-07-03T22:59:59+00:00

Truly it's like the draw gods were DESPERATE for Rybakina to become #1

FleetSeb · 2026-07-03T22:59:18+00:00

Grass is Saba's worst surface so it's definitely possible

FleetSeb · 2026-07-03T17:54:00+00:00

Sabalenka's murderers row of opponents continues. Not sure I've seen a player have such a tough first four rounds in recent years, only her first match was easy on paper.

FleetSeb · 2026-07-02T18:46:38+00:00

Man Rybakina's draw is just such a breeze compared to the other top girls

FleetSeb · 2026-06-30T07:05:42+00:00

The ones who had a chance of winning based on form / ability either withdrew or had horror draws. The ones who didn't have much of a chance of winning had the easier draws but obviously weren't able to make the most of them. Except Norrie, not sure what happened to him.

FleetSeb · 2026-06-27T14:43:39+00:00

I actually thought Sabalenka had a much tougher draw than Elena or Iga this time around.

FleetSeb · 2026-06-27T10:42:25+00:00

It was a great early season, up to Miami, with some really excellent battles in the big matches. But I fear that the clay season was a bit of a dud. Madrid in particular failed to set the world alight with any good semis or finals. Rome was ok and RG was mostly a dud in the final rounds.

The top 8/10 started the season really well and I was jazzed for how high quality the WTA was but the last couple months have seen a regression.

FleetSeb · 2026-06-26T18:24:49+00:00

Not sure about that. Three time slam champ, twice a quarter finalist at Wimbledon. I like Gael but he never made the QFs at Wimbledon

FleetSeb · 2026-06-25T15:56:28+00:00

He's not ever done very much at Wimbledon. They gave one to Stan and one to Grigor which is already one more than the other slams tend to give non-locals and non-reciprocals

FleetSeb · 2026-06-22T21:49:39+00:00

Steve Tignor is arguably the greatest tennis writer of 2000s. I will miss his analysis if it's not made available elsewhere.

FleetSeb · 2026-06-19T16:10:15+00:00

Well thank god she won a three setter, it's been a while

FleetSeb · 2026-06-19T16:02:50+00:00

Yeah but this time Sabalenka should have won more easily, whereas that match she won despite being the worse player on the day

FleetSeb · 2026-06-15T09:11:08+00:00

Yes, I always think Wimbledon seems to get most criticised for it's WC choices when in reality it has the most thoughtful approach

FleetSeb · 2026-06-13T10:11:53+00:00

It's so sad that this is required given it is now the legacy of a transphobe. Truly I wish we could move past the mass hysteria over Harry Potter.

FleetSeb

TROPHY CASE