Wimbledon one day, that happened in 2004.
Wimbledon had always been a dream for me since I was 13 years old. I remember watching
the Singles Women’s finals of Wimbledon in 1992 and telling my dad that I want to play at
Wimbledon when I grew up. Who would know back then that I would be the first Turkish
tennis player to ever play in Wimbledon one day. That happened in 2004. I have played at
many Grand Slams after that, but none took the place of the first one, Wimbledon!
Therefore, every year it’s given that I watch the last rounds of Wimbledon even if not all of
the matches and flashback to good old memories I had there. However, this year at Men’s
Singles Semi Finals, I was too excited to look back at my own career as a new star was to be
born so I only focused on the match. Many commented that after his lost to Djokovic at
Roland Garros, Alcaraz wasn’t ready just yet to win it at Wimby, but I didn’t agree. I had
been following this young Spanish bull if you will for a few years now and seen how he
became worlds number 1 step by step. But to win Wimbledon against a name and form like
Djokovic, holding a lot of records in men’s tennis especially after the loss in the previous
Grand Slam- Roland Garros, was commentated by many ‘impossible’.
We had seen many ‘impossible’ commentated wins in tennis history in the last twenty years
as we witnessed the battles of Nadal and Federer enriched by Djokovic as a perfect addition
to the kingdom so why not see another one! Alcaraz proved many wrong and won his first
Wimbledon title against the favorite delaying Djokovic’s record of 23 Grand Slams in men’s
singles to reach to a new level. With Federer retired, Nadal going through a long injury
period, and the others not being at this level mentally and physically, it looks like it will be a
period of two riding on a horse. We are left with a joyful US OPEN to watch who will just ride
a bit behind. My heart wants Djokovic to carry his grand slam winning record further but my
brain and eyes also see this Spanish bull full of speed, agility and youth. I feel Alcaraz will
dominate men’s tennis for a while if he keeps out of injury! I just wish Nadal will be able to
win one more grand slam among these superstars and retire on the top where he deserves!
Unfortunately, that for now seems impossible. Fingers crossed!
