Wimbledon 2016 Week 1: Wild Weather, Upsets and Unexpected Glory

We’re a week into the 2016 Wimby tournament and there’s been rain delays galore, a major upset and unexpected glory.

Thanks to my Twitter friends @lozblume and @AMissShellyA on Twitter for sharing their photos for this article.

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Wild Wimby Weather

During the first five days there was rain, rain, patches of blue skies, then rain again. There was so little play on one day that tickets were refunded. Can’t even imagine how soggy the grounds must be where people were camping in the queue.

For further information please consult my article on Rain Readiness Conditions (RAINCON) for Wimbledon (an article inspired by actual events)

Grey Skies

Then rain

With patches of sun

And even some blue

Two good options for passing time during rain delays

Play continues on the Middle Sunday

Having the middle Sunday as a day off is one of the unique things about Wimbledon compared to the other Grand Slam tournaments. Due to the rain delays play will go on during the middle Sunday for only the fourth time in 139 years. In what seems like a sensible way to sell tickets, there were 22,000 sold online with a maximum of two per household. That means no queueing required, although even if you were able to buy a Centre Court or Court 1 ticket, they are unreserved seats so I’m sure there will be queueing early to get good seats, and for getting into the grounds and through the bag inspections. Even I would be willing to queue for such a great opportunity and fun atmosphere amongst fans who didn’t expect to see live tennis today.

Here’s the Middle Sunday Match Preview and Get Warmed Up with this great review of Day 6 by Moo Tennis.

Kyrgios in action

The greenery around the Wimbledon grounds is really beautiful

Unexpected Glory

Marcus Willis

The ‘happy days’ story of the week goes to 25 year old British player Marcus Willis, world number 772 who has won 50 pounds prize-money year to date, who pre-qualified for qualifying and then qualified, won the first round and went on to play Federer on Centre Court. Federer defeated him in straight sets but both he, and his girlfriend, will be remembered. I hope he continues his good form – his smiling happy personality is an asset to tennis.

Here’s a Wimbledon vid of the details

Read a great review of the Marcus Willis fairy tale written by my friends at Happy Slam Tennis.

Juan Martin Del Potro

Although not completely unexpected (or as much a surprise as the Willis story!) I couldn’t be happier that Delpo has made it through to play Pouille today after defeating Wawrinka in Round 2. He says he’s still not 100% but it’s so great to see him back on court and winning again. Although playing three days in a row due to the rain delays can’t be the best way to return from injury.

Read his media QnA after the win against Wawrinka.

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The Upsets

The biggest upset to date is 2015 Champion Novak Djokovic losing to World No.41 Sam Querrey in the third round.

The match was disrupted by rain when Djokovic was 2 sets down but I expected him to come back laser focused on comprehensively winning the next three sets. He got the third set but not the fourth. It was Djokovic’s first grand slam loss since the 2015 French Open and put an end to his calendar year slam which seemed likely after he won the Aus and French Opens.