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Diasabra 26 Juni 2021

Djokovic, Federer could meet in Wimbledon final; Halep out

Serbia, seeks a 20th major ti- the fourth.
tle, which would tie the men’s
record shared by Federer and If Williams gets to the quar-
Nadal; he can move closer to terfinals, her opponent could
a calendar-year Grand Slam be No. 3 Elina Svitolina, who
after winning the Australian lost to Halep in the semi-
Open in February and the finals two years ago. Other
French Open this month; he potential women’s quarterfi-
will be trying to win his third nals, based on seedings: No.
consecutive trophy, and sixth 1 Ash Barty vs. No. 5 Bianca
overall, at Wimbledon. Andreescu, No. 2 Aryna Sa-
balenka vs. No. 7 Iga Swiatek,
Two years ago at Wimbledon, and No. 4 Sofia Kenin vs.
Djokovic edged Federer in a No. 8 Karolina Pliskova.
fifth-set tiebreaker after sav-
ing two championship points The possible men’s quar-
in the final. terfinals: Djokovic vs No. 5
Andrey Rublev, No. 3 Stefa-
Federer, who turns 40 on nos Tsitsipas vs. No. 8 Ro-
Aug. 8, is coming off a pair of berto Bautista Agut, Federer
operations to his right knee vs. No. 2 Daniil Medvedev,
last year and has played only vs. No. 6 Federer, and No. 4
eight matches in the past 16 Alexander Zverev vs. No. 7
months. Matteo Berrettini.

While Djokovic pursues Slam Among the noteworthy first-
No. 20, Serena Williams will round men’s matchups are
once again take a shot at No. Djokovic against wild-card
24, which would tie her with entry Jack Draper, a 19-year-
Margaret Court for the most old from England who was
major singles titles in ten- the Wimbledon boys’ run-
nis history. As it is, Williams’ ner-up in 2018; two-time
23 — including seven at the champion Andy Murray
All England Club — are the against No. 24 seed Nikoloz
(AP) - Defending cham- two of the top three play- most in the Open era, which Basilashvili; and No. 21 Ugo
pion Novak Djokovic and ers in the WTA rankings are Two of the top five men are began in 1968 when profes- Humbert against Nick Kyr-
eight-time titlist Roger missing from the field; No. 2 out, too: No. 3 Rafael Nad- sionals were allowed to com- gios.
Federer were placed on Naomi Osaka withdrew last al, a two-time champion pete at the majors.
opposite halves of the week. at Wimbledon, and No. 5 Women’s first-rounders of
Wimbledon bracket in Dominic Thiem, the 2020 Williams, seeded No. 6, will particular interest include
Friday’s draw, meaning “I can honestly say that I’m U.S. Open champ. open against 100th-ranked Barty against Carla Suárez
they only could meet in really down and upset about Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Navarro, a 32-year-old Span-
the final — which would having to take this decision. The top-seeded Djokovic who reached Wimbledon’s iard who recently returned to
be a rematch of their epic This period has been difficult will have a lot at stake when fourth round in 2018. The competition after being treat-
2019 title showdown. but to miss the last two Ma- play begins at the All England 39-year-old American could ed for cancer; French Open
jors has made it even more Club on Monday, a year after meet No. 25 Angelique champion Barbora Krejciko-
The reigning women’s cham- challenging mentally and the grass-court tournament Kerber — who beat Wil- va against 18-year-old Clara
pion, No. 3-ranked Simona physically,” Halep wrote in a was canceled because of the liams in the 2018 final — in Tauson; and two-time Wim-
Halep, pulled out of the field posting on social media. “We pandemic. That was the first the third round, and No. 20 bledon champ Petra Kvi-
just before the draw began, will see what the future holds time since World War II that Coco Gauff — a 17-year-old tova against 2017 U.S. Open
citing a torn left calf that but I’m hoping it will make Wimbledon wasn’t contested. American who beat Williams’ champ Sloane Stephens.
also forced her to sit out the me a stronger person and older sister, Venus, at the All
French Open. That means athlete.” Djokovic, a 34-year-old from England Club in 2019 — in