The prize money distributed by the organization is 11.1% higher than the amounts distributed in last year’s edition, and 48.1% compared to the last time Wimbledon was played in full conditions, in 2019.
Despite the havoc caused by the pandemic at Wimbledon (forcing the event to be canceled in 2020) and reducing the capacity to 50% of the total in the previous edition, the Aeltc managed to finish the last two years with benefits, specifically 3.8 million pounds (4.4 million euros) in 2020 and 5.5 million pounds (6.5 million euros) the previous year.
Although this season will not award world ranking points and will be deprived of some top players, Wimbledon remains the most prestigious tournament of the year.
The tennis festival will begin today with seven Argentine players and an interest focused on the eventual Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal duel and the return of Serena Williams, although it will also be played immersed in the debate over the prohibition of Russian and Belarusian players from participating.
The British open on grass was installed in the media discussion two months ago when its authorities, pressured by the government of Boris Johnson, imposed this sanction as an effect of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The measure, questioned by most of the players, represents a huge loss in sports, to the point that it will prevent the presence of the number 1 in the men’s ranking, Daniil Medvedev.
Nor will they be able to play, among others, Andrey Rublev, eighth of that ranking, nor the sixth player in the WTA classification, the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, semifinalist last year.
“It’s crazy,” questioned Djokovic, a six-time champion in London and winner of the last three editions. The Serbian was not the only one to raise his voice, so did other consecrated players on the English turf such as Nadal and Andy Murray.
In protest at the decision, the Association of Professional Tennis Players (ATP) announced that this edition of Wimbledon will not award points for the ranking, which especially harms the Serbian, who, unable to defend the 2,000 added in 2021, will fall from second to seventh Market Stall.
“Now I don’t chase the ranking like before, when I wanted to break Federer’s record. It’s not that important, my priorities are other”, clarified the Balkan player, who today will appear before the Korean Soonwoo Kwon in the central court of the All England Club, at 9:30 in Argentina.
Djokovic will try to win his first Grand Slam of the year, which may be the last he will play if the United States government does not lift its restriction on the entry of the unvaccinated into the country before the end of August.
In the event that he manages to repeat at Wimbledon, “Nole” will cut the distance to a tournament to match the historical record of “majors”, which Nadal has with 22 titles after being crowned this season in Australia and Roland Garros.
favorites
The Serbian and the Spanish, the two top favorites, will only be able to meet in the final, something that never happened on the London lawn despite the prolific record of 59 clashes. On that surface, they are even with two wins each.
Nadal, champion in 2008 and 2010, will only debut tomorrow against Francisco Cerúndolo, one of the three Argentine debutants at the Cathedral along with Sebastián Báez and Tomás Martín Etcheverry, who will be the first to play today.
The 22-year-old from La Plata (79th), will appear at 7:00 before the Frenchman Ugo Humbert (103) in the first turn of court No. 6, the same scenario where Báez (36th) will play against the Japanese Taro Daniel (123) in the fourth and last scheduled meeting.
Rosario’s Federico Coria (70), who assumes his second consecutive participation, will face the Czech Jiri Vesely (66) in the second match on court 9 and the Azuleño Federico Delbonis (85) will play with the Dutch Tim Van Rijthoven (105) – third inning, court 11- in search of his first victory at Wimbledon, where he was eliminated in his six previous debuts.
For tomorrow there will be the participation of Cerúndolo against Nadal, Rosario’s Facundo Bagnis (110) against the Austrian Dennis Novak (155) and Argentina’s greatest hope, Diego Schwartzman.
Elusive
The “Peque”, 15th in the world ranking and 12th seeded, will make his presentation against the Croatian Borna Coric (203) and will seek this year to advance to the second week for the first time, an uncommon achievement for the “albiceleste” players. The last to reach it was Guido Pella in 2019 (quarterfinals).
In his six previous appearances, the Buenos Aires native said goodbye three times in R1 (2015, 2016 and 2017), once in R2 (2018) and twice in R3 (2019 and 2021).
Wimbledon is the only elusive Grand Slam for Argentine tennis. The best performances were carried out by Gabriela Sabatini and David Nalbandian, finalists in 1991 and 2002 respectively.
The women’s draw of the 2022 edition will have as a great attraction the return of the American Serena Williams, 40, former number one in the world, who left the circuit almost a year ago due to injury.
Serena won 23 major titles, 7 of them in the All England, and this was invited because she did not have the necessary ranking to qualify, since she is ranked 1,204 in the WTA.
The American, scheduled for tomorrow against the French Harmony Tan, returned to play last Tuesday in the doubles of the Eastbourne 250 tournament together with the Tunisian Ons Jabeur.
Source: Ambito
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