Wimbledon Wrap For First 5 Days 0f 2019 • Coco Gauff Reminds Us Of “Little Mo”

Wimbledon Week One: Close to perfect so far

 

By Ricky Dimon

 

Week one isn’t quite complete, but all indications so far are that week two will have some giant shoes to fill. Week two, of course, is famous. And for good reason. It starts with Manic Monday–simply the best day in tennis–and when that ends you still have the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals on the menu.

 

But before know where we’re going, we have to know where we’ve been (I know, that’s deep for a tennis article!). And where we’ve been is a very good place. Week one has delivered the goods in every way.

 

Let’s start with the actual tennis. We’ve had, I would argue, just the right amount of upsets–enough to make headlines and keep things interesting, but not so much that week two will be without the best players in the world. Four of the top eight seeds are out on the men’s side; that list does not include either Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, or Rafael Nadal. On the women’s side, lucky loser Lauren Davis ousted defending champion Angelique Kerber. Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniacki, Garbine Muguruza, and Venus Williams are also out. Venus lost right away to 15-year-old Coco Gauff.

 

And that brings us to the biggest headline of the week. Gauff was already a huge story when she became the youngest player ever to qualify for Wimbledon. We are now three wins beyond that point–including one over her idol, Venus Williams. The hype train is out of control…and for good reason. Quite simply, Gauff in the second week of Wimbledon is must-see television–even for a casual tennis fan and perhaps even for sports fans who don’t particularly follow tennis.

 

Even things beyond tennis have been outstanding. Starting with the weather. You just knew once they put roofs on both of the main courts, it was never going to rain. Court 1 has a roof for the first time this year, and to say it hasn’t been necessary would be a gross understatement. Every day has been sunny with zero chance of rain. It’s been a little bit on the hot side for some Londoners, but in the late afternoon and early evening it’s always ideal. And no wind, either, like their was during the business end of the French Open.

 

There’s been great tennis, great weather, and great food. Just to name some of the selections for media, we have a pasta bar, sushi bar, salad bar, pizza bar, carvery, cafe, plus all of the restaurants that are also available to the public. Most importantly, unlike at Roland Garros we actually get enough money on our credential that we don’t have to either starve or spend out of pocket…or both, as was sometimes the case in Paris.

 

I’ve already been to the pasta bar (where you select your type of noodles, sauce, and whatever you want in it like chicken, some other protein, peppers, onions, etc.) five times…and, yes, it is the fifth day of the tournament!

 

Like Coco Gauff, I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon!

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.