TUESDAY’S TENNIS IS DONE: DAY 2 WIMBLEDON COMES AND GOES IN A FLASH, AS DJOKOVIC, FEDERER, DONALDSON GET RETIREMENTS

Written by: Staff on 5th July 2017

TUESDAY'S TENNIS IS DONE: DAY 2 WIMBLEDON COMES AND GOES IN A FLASH, AS DJOKOVIC, FEDERER, DONALDSON GET RETIREMENTS

epa06065891 Alexander Zverev (front) of Germany in action against Evgeny Donskoy of Russia during their first round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 04 July 2017. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO COMMERCIAL SALES |

Tuesday’s gone: Day 2 on Centre comes and goes in a flash, as Djokovic and Federer get retirements

By Ricky Dimon

A Wimbledon Centre Court ticket on Tuesday seemed like a hot one. After all, it included both Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

But that ticket went from hero to zero in a hurry.

The two men’s matches on the All-England Club’s main court lasted a total of one hour and 23 minutes. Yes, that is combined. Djokovic got a retirement from Martin Klizan while cruising 6-3, 2-0 and Federer advanced in almost identical fashion when Alexandr Dolgopolov pulled the ripcord with the 18-time Grand Slam champion out in front 6-3, 3-0. Federer and Dolgopolov were on court for all of 43 minutes–three more than Djokovic and Klizan.

Klizan waved the white flag due to a calf issue, while an ankle injury did in Dolgopolov.

“It’s really odd that Roger’s result and my result more or less was the same,” Djokovic noted. “We had a little joke about it in the locker room, saying we should maybe play a practice set on Centre Court; have the crowd stay. But they had another match.

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns to Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine in their first round match during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 04 July 2017. EPA/NIC BOTHMA

“This tournament has a special place in players’ careers. In this sport, there’s so much weight behind it and significance about it. The aura of Wimbledon has probably always been the strongest of any other tournament. I’m sure that most of the players on the tour, if not all, feel that. Especially if you walk out on Centre Court, there is a responsibility. I’m sure they tried their best, but it is what it is.”

“I felt like there was a bit of a letdown from the crowd,” Federer said of when Dolgopolov called it quits. “They couldn’t believe that it happened again–exactly the same situation. I feel for the crowd. They’re there to watch good tennis; proper tennis. At least they see the two of us who gave it all they had. They saw other players that tried at least. It’s unfortunate that it happened today like this.

“I found [Djokovic] in the locker room. I told him, ‘Maybe we should go out and play another set.'”

John Isner got in a full three sets in his Wimbledon opener, but even he also appeared to come close to getting a retirement. Fellow American Taylor Fritz called for a trainer in the second set to get his right groin checked out, but he managed to finish the match. Isner had little trouble getting the job done 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-3.

“I think you get a situation where, especially when you’re playing a guy like Novak or Roger, you have to be 100 percent fit if you want to have any chance to beat them,” Isner concluded. “If you’re not feeling fit–if something’s bothering you–then you really have zero chance to win. Those guys are going to pull the plug.

“It never happens to me. I have played over 550 matches or something (and) I have had one retirement (against me).”