...............for Federer, Nadal is eliminated and for Nadal, Federer is eliminated?
Djokovic is then 'free to', heck should lose @ the very next round.
For body scratchers, what it means is freaking this:
Djokovic is the ONLY hope for Federer and Nadal to stop 21 or 19 from happening - with higher degree of certainty.
So for Federer, if Nadal keeps winning, Federer still has hope that Nadal 'will' be stopped in the final by Djokovic - thereby preventing 19.
So for Nadal, If Federer keeps winning, Nadal still has hope that Federer will be stopped in the final by Djokovic - thereby preventing 21.
However - for Federer - once Nadal is eliminated before meeting Federer in the semifinal, Djokovic is no longer needed because then he will become a hurdle for Federer to win No. 21.
However - for Nadal - once..........................
Deduction:
Both Federer and Nadal WANT Djokovic to win if they themselves can't.
Heck, for Nadal, he prefers Djokovic loses too - as long as Federer is not in the final.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 30: Rod Laver is seen on the grounds ahead of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 30: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a shot during a practice session ahead of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 30: Roger Federer of Switzerland during a practice session ahead of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 30: (L-R) Marian Vajda, Goran Ivanisevic and Novak Djokovic of Serbia look on during a practice session ahead of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 30: Former player, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland looks on during a practice session ahead of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 30: Tennis player Martina Navratilova arrives at BBC Broadcasting House on June 30, 2019 in London, England.(Photo by Ollie Millington/Getty Images)
With Wimbledon 2019 beginning on Monday in London, we gathered our ESPN tennis experts to glean their knowledge and get their picks for this year's tournament.
Patrick McEnroe: Djokovic. Too solid in every area on the grass.
Chris Evert: Djokovic is due for a big-tourney win.
Brad Gilbert: One of the Big Three; they've won 10 straight Slams, and I would be shocked if it's not 11 after Wimbledon. I'm leaning Djoker, but Fed has to like his draw a lot, especially getting bumped to the No. 2 seed. Federer is my second favorite.
Mary Joe Fernandez: Djokovic, the defending champ. He's best returner, he moves so well on grass and he will be motivated to win even more after losing in Paris.
Cliff Drysdale: This golden era of men's tennis really only features three players for a generation? Really? And it continues. I'm picking Djokovic to repeat, with Federer and Rafael Nadal in the other side of the draw.
Pam Shriver: Nadal. His chance of passing Federer for GOAT consideration is at its peak, and he can only win non-hardcourt majors now given his continued issues with knee injuries.
Rennae Stubbs: Federer. I think after the French he has to feel really good about how he played on clay. And now after winning Halle, he is very confident and healthy going into Wimbledon.
Peter Bodo: Djokovic has proved he is the player to beat in this current era at Wimbledon. He recovered from a mediocre North American swing earlier this spring to log an excellent season on clay, which is now just his third-best surface. He is simply a beast on grass or hard court.
Alyssa Roenigk: Djokovic. With eight-time Wimbledon champ Federer, and not Nadal, the No. 2 seed at All England, Federer won't meet defending champ Djokovic until the final. That's also good for the Djoker, who wins in a memorable final, taking his second Slam of the calendar year.
D'Arcy Maine: Federer. Sure, Djokovic is the reigning Wimbledon champion, has won three of the past four Grand Slams and is the top-ranked player in the world, but Federer has momentum on his side. The ageless wonder (and eight-time Wimbledon champ) just won at the Halle Open, proving he still very much has it on grass, and he seems healthy and ready to avenge his disappointing quarterfinal exit from last year's tournament.
Tom Hamilton: The men's championship is Djokovic's to lose. He flew under the radar to take the title last year, but he will be the man to beat in SW19 in 2019. He will be in the mix among the usual suspects and the new batch coming through, but Djokovic should reign supreme again.
Jerry Bembry: Djokovic. With three wins in his past four majors, he appears to be in peak form. And Djokovic is in the side of the bracket opposite Federer and Nadal, meaning a seemingly easier path to the final.
Simon Cambers: Djokovic. Though Philipp Kohlschreiber is a tough opener, Djokovic has a great draw. And having missed out on the French Open, he will be smarting and extra determined to win here again. Djokovic is motivated and fully fit, and the chance to win a fifth Wimbledon title should keep his mind focused throughout.
Who will win the Wimbledon women's title?
McEnroe: Barty. She has a great, pure grass-court game, now with confidence as the French Open champ.
Evert: Serena. She's the best and most experienced grass-court player. I think she's worked hard getting ready for grass season.
Gilbert: I thought there might be 15 who could win Paris, and maybe there are 10 who can do it at Wimbledon. Barty is on a tremendous roll, even though she is in a group of death quarter of the draw. I think she can make it two Slams in a row.
Fernandez: Serena. Even though she hasn't played much this year, this is her best surface. If she's 100% healthy, she will be very tough to beat with her weapons on serve and return.
Drysdale: There are several "ifs" in the women's draw. The No. 1 if: If Petra Kvitova is playing injury-free, she is even in the winner's stakes with Serena Williams.
Shriver: Barty. Her athleticism and game style are perfect for grass. On the heels of Naomi Osaka's surprising back-to-back majors at the US Open and Australian Open, Barty will keep the pattern going during the most unpredictable and balanced 1 through 15 seeds in WTA history at Wimbledon.
Cahill: Serena. We will see the best of Serena this year at The Championships. She is in a brutal quarter of the draw, but that's just how she likes it. Grand Slam title No. 24 is waiting, and Serena will bring it from the opening round to send a message to the field.
Stubbs: I have no idea, but I am going to go with Serena. I think it might be her last stand to break the record for all-time slams. (Williams has 23, one behind Margaret Court.)
Bodo: It's a big ask of Barty, who has played an awful lot of tennis lately, but she is a tough young player, and she has a refreshing, no-nonsense, old-school Aussie way about her. No drama, no complications, no overthinking any aspect of it. Just what the WTA tour needs at this moment.
Roenigk: Barty stands up to the pressure of her first Grand Slam as the No. 1 seed (and No. 1 player in the world) and delivers.
Maine: Barty. Aside from that whole winning her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros just a few short weeks ago and becoming the new world No. 1, the 23-year-old Australian just won a grass title at Birmingham and believes herself to be stronger and more dangerous on the surface than she is on clay. She looks virtually unstoppable right now, so I'm banking on the Barty Party continuing at Wimbledon and into the hard-court season.
Hamilton: Barty has had a nagging arm injury, but she is best placed to make it two Slams in a row to continue her remarkable run of form after winning the French Open. With injury doubts clouding Serena Williams and Kvitova, Barty could dominate the women's draw.
Bembry: With nine different winners in the past 10 Grand Slam events, the question among the women is less "Who will win?" and more "Who's next?" I'll go with the woman who has had the most success at Wimbledon: Serena Williams, even with the tough draw.
Cambers: Barty. Her win at the French Open was a joy to see, a player with real variety able to blunt the power games of some of the big hitters to win her first Grand Slam. A former junior champion at Wimbledon, Barty's game is even more suited to grass. If she can handle the pressure, she is the woman to beat.
Who is your men's dark horse contender?
McEnroe: Auger-Aliassime is the real deal on every surface. He will be first to break through in a major.
Gilbert: Once again hoping for someone 21-and-under to make a deep run -- FAA or an American, or maybe even Matteo Berrettini -- but going with Milos Raonic for some reason.
Fernandez: Berrettini. He has had a great grass-court season, winning Stuttgart and making the semis in Halle. He moves well and is very solid.
Drysdale: Tsitsipas has the game, the personality and the pride to make a dent in the Big Three domination. The potential Djokovic-Tsitsipas battle in the fourth round will have Brad Gilbert handing out the popcorn.
Shriver: Tsitsipas. He will play calmer at Wimbledon, and his serve and forehand can dominate one- to three-shot rallies.
Cahill: Wawrinka. He is in a great section of the draw where he can go deep. He continues to look a little better every time we've seen him this year, and he is not far away from his best. Second-week Stan sees him walking taller and ripping groundies, but a lot rests with his first serve. Get that firing, and he is a threat to anyone.
Stubbs: Tsitsipas. He has a big game and loves coming into the net when he has an opportunity.
Bodo: I'd love to go with Auger-Aliassime because he is part of such a wonderful story, but he's probably a year away. The other guy who interests me is Karen Khachanov, whose huge serve and punishing forehand can punch through anyone's defenses.
Roenigk: Outside of the Big Three, everyone feels like a long shot. But Kevin Anderson, seeded No. 4 (four spots above his world ranking) and in possession of a whomping serve that makes him tough on grass, is primed to improve upon last year's runner-up performance.
Maine: Auger-Aliassime. The 18-year-old Canadian has had an impressive grass season entering Wimbledon, with a final appearance at Stuttgart and a semifinal bid at Queen's Club that included victories over Tsitsipas and Grigor Dimitrov. While Auger-Aliassime has yet to win a title on any surface so far in his young career, and will be making his senior debut at the All England Club, he has proved he can play beyond his years and live up to the big moments as of late. A teenage man hasn't won a major since Nadal in 2005, but if anyone has a chance, it's Auger-Aliassime. (And if all of this doesn't make you feel old yet, please note he is just three years removed from losing in the junior doubles championship match at Wimbledon in 2016.)
Hamilton:Alexander Zverev already has shown his boundless potential with last year's ATP Finals win, but he still needs that Slam alongside his name. If he makes a storming early start to Wimbledon, then expect to see him in the final matchups. And from there, if he can harness that mental strength, he could win his maiden Wimbledon title.
Bembry: Tsitsipas. You just feel he is going to break through sooner or later. Why not now?
Cambers: I'm going for a real long shot and picking Berrettini. The Italian has been making big moves on the tour this year, and unlike most of his compatriots, he seems to really enjoy playing on grass. Winning Stuttgart put him on the map, then he reached the semis at Halle. Confident and young, Berrettini could give a few people a scare.
Evert: Aryna Sabalenka. Her power is a plus on grass, and she's looking more comfortable on grass and playing a little more consistent.
Gilbert: After the success of the young Americans in Paris, why not go the same route? Hoping for Amanda Anisimova, but thinking Sofia Kenin.
Fernandez: Madison Keys. She played well in Paris and has the weapons with her serve and ground strokes on grass.
Drysdale: The second "if" on the women's side: If Sloane Stephens is in a good mental frame of mind, she has the movement and game to go undefeated. (P.S. Stephens and Kvitova, my women's title pick, are seeded to meet in the fourth round.)
Shriver: Serena, only because she is in the draw. Clearly her movement, fitness and match toughness is not there now, but no one -- especially on grass -- can get match tough quicker than Serena. It also wouldn't surprise me if she withdrew or retired injured early.
Cahill:Anastasija Sevastova. She is a great artistic player on all surfaces and always around the mark. Sevastova made the semifinals in Mallorca on grass and is in a good section of the Wimbledon draw. She has a game good enough to go all the way, but she ends up playing against herself as well as her opponent at times. She's always dangerous against the best players.
Stubbs:Angelique Kerber. How can you not pick the defending champ, who loves grass as much as any player in the draw?
Bodo: Given that you have a Williams here, a Garbine Muguruza and a Maria Sharapova there, I am assuming it's OK to pick Kiki Bertens. She is ranked and seeded No. 4, sure, but a lot of people have not heard much -- if anything at all -- about her. Look for her to ride that big serve to the title.
Roenigk: The women's field feels as wide open as ever, opening the door for a first-time winner at Wimbledon. Stephens has a new coach, is coming off a good run at Roland Garros and extends her success at All England.
Maine: It feels weird to call Serena Williams -- a 23-time Grand Slam champion -- a "dark horse contender," but here we are. Yes, 2019 hasn't exactly been kind to her, and she has struggled with injuries and only advanced past the third round at any tournament once this season (a quarterfinal run at the Australian Open). But it's Serena Williams at Wimbledon. With seven singles titles at the All England Club, and a finals appearance last year, she is always a contender.
Hamilton: With Andy Murray sidelined in the men's singles draw, Johanna Konta will wear the home expectation and also harness the Wimbledon support. She is playing some brilliant tennis, having made the semifinals at Roland Garros. And if you're looking for an outside shot for the title, then group Konta alongside Bertens and Caroline Wozniacki.
Bembry: I'll stick with my dark horse from the French, Garbine Muguruza, just because she has won here recently (2017).
Cambers: It has been 15 years since a 17-year-old Maria Sharapova won the title, and it could be time for another 17-year-old to make a big name for herself at Wimbledon. Anisimova reached the semis in Paris, and there is no reason she can't do well at Wimbledon. The American is groomed for stardom and backs it up with a smart, all-court game. Sharapova was Anisimova's hero, so it would be fun if she emulates the Russian's stunning win.
The last man from Wimbledon to win Wimbledon Should Novak Djokovic win a fifth Wimbledon title this summer, he would put himself level with Bjorn Borg, the champion from 1976-80. He would also go level with Laurie Doherty, the champion from 1902-06, who was born in Wimbledon. Djokovic, who was born in Belgrade, opens the Centre Court programme against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber.
The Williams century-makers Among active players, no one has played more main draw singles matches at Wimbledon than Venus, who will be making her 106th appearance on Monday. Next on that list is her younger sister Serena, who on Tuesday will be playing her 104th singles match at Wimbledon. The sisters are a long way ahead of the third-placed player, Maria Sharapova, who will bring up 60 matches on Tuesday.
Venus eclipsed on the age stakes Father Time, once the most feared adversary in tennis, appears to have taken the summer off. At the age of 39, Venus Williams is the oldest competitor in the ladies' singles, and will play an opponent almost a quarter of a century younger than her, in 15-year-old qualifier Cori Gauff.
But at least her number begins with a three, unlike Croatia's Ivo Karlovic, who at 40 years old is both a cult figure and an elder statesman of these lawns. Karlovic, who starts against Italian Andrea Arnaboldi, is the oldest man to play in the singles event since Ken Rosewall in 1975. Standing just an inch under seven feet tall, Karlovic plays grass court tennis at the extremes - there's also no one taller on the grass.
The first married ladies' champion of Wozniacki's lifetime? Here on her honeymoon - well, sort of, after marrying former basketball player David Lee in Tuscany just a few days ago - Caroline Wozniacki has the opportunity to achieve some history at Wimbledon this Fortnight. With a quick costume change from bridal white to Wimbledon whites, the Dane could become the first married woman to take the singles title in her lifetime, since Chris Evert Lloyd, then married to British tennis player John Lloyd, was the champion in the summer of 1981.
Wozniacki, who starts against Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo, will also be trying for another first: the only Wimbledon champion to have had Serena Williams as a bridesmaid. Williams herself came close to winning the title as a married woman last summer, finishing as the runner-up to Germany's Angelique Kerber.
Grass suits teenage debutant Auger-Aliassime It takes most young players a while to adjust to the strategies and subtleties of lawn tennis. But not Felix Auger-Aliassime, an 18-year-old Canadian who is the first player born in the year 2000 or later to feature in the men's singles. On grass, and indeed on all surfaces, he is a faster learner than most.
In early June in Stuttgart, Auger-Aliassime played his very first tour-level event on grass, and made the final. Then in London, he defeated Grigor Dimitrov, Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas on the way to the semi-finals at Queen's Club. After starting the year with a three-digit ranking, he is now almost in the top 20; the debutant could shake things up on these lawns. Should Auger-Aliassime win his all-Canadian first-round match with Vasek Pospisil, it would be quite a moment for the teenager: that would give him his first victory in the main draw of a Grand Slam.
Airbnb (n) – A hotel company that figured out how to avoid the expense of owning hotels or employing hotel workers. See unicorn. (v) – To illegally convert an apartment into a vacation rental in a city with an affordable housing crisis.
Artificial intelligence (ph) – Computers so smart that their behavior is indistinguishable from that of humans. Often achieved by secretly paying real humans to pretend they’re robots.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Rafael Nadal of Spain during a training session ahead of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Rafael Nadal of Spain during a training session ahead of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Andre Agassi during a practice session ahead of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Roger Federer of Switzerland and trainer, Severin Luthi during a practice session ahead of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Rafael Nadal of Spain is interviewed ahead of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Petra Kvitova of The Czech Republic is interviewed ahead of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Rafael Nadal of Spain during a training session ahead of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Julia Gorges of Germany in a practice session ahead of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Venus Williams of The United States during a practice session ahead of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Agnieszka Radwanska, the retired Polish tennis player watches Roger Federer of Switzerland practicing before the start of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
29th June 2019, The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon, London, England; Wimbledon Tennis tournament preview day; Novak Djokovic (SRB) smiles wearing a Lacoste hat (photo by Shaun Brooks/Action Plus via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Kei Nishikori of Japan receives medical attention duding a practice session before the start of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
Think you need the oxygen tank - from the looks of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29:Maria Sharapova of Russia practices before the start of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
Nice try but Radwanska is still the Queen of this!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus waits to go on court for a practice session before the start of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
Looks like all is going into the head. Hands are not getting any!!!!!!!!!! Wonder else is starving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
29th June 2019, The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon, London, England; Wimbledon Tennis tournament preview day; Andre Agassi arrives with Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) (photo by Shaun Brooks/Action Plus via Getty Images)
EASTBOURNE, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic celebrates with the cup after winning the women's singles final against Angelique Kerber of Germany during day six of the Nature Valley International at Devonshire Park on June 29, 2019 in Eastbourne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images for LTA)
EASTBOURNE, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Tournament winner Taylor Fritz (USA) celebrates after winning the men's singles final against Sam Querrey at the Nature Valley International at Devonshire Park on June 29, 2019 in Eastbourne, United Kingdom. (Photo by David Horton - CameraSport/Getty Images)
EASTBOURNE, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Tournament winner Karolína Pliskova (left) with runner-up Angelique Kerber (right) during the women's singles final at the Nature Valley International at Devonshire Park on June 29, 2019 in Eastbourne, United Kingdom. (Photo by David Horton - CameraSport/Getty Images)
29th June 2019, Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, England; Nature Valley International Tennis Tournament; Taylor Fritz (USA) with his winners trophy and his family after winning the mens singles final (photo by Hongbo Chen/Action Plus via Getty Images)
Roger Federer admitted Saturday that his epic Grand Slam rivalry with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic has helped propel him to his status as one of the greatest players of all time.
Federer is about to embark on his bid to lift a ninth Wimbledon title and record-extending 21st major.
Nadal has 18 Grand Slams while Djokovic lays claim to 15.
Between them, the trio have captured 53 of the last 64 majors, stretching back to Federer's 2003 Wimbledon breakthrough.
"I think these things don't come around so often," said Federer.
"It shows that side-by-side we can have incredible careers. Funny enough, you always think somebody takes away something from the other. Probably we have.
"At the same time, we also pushed each other to greater heights, to improve maybe Rafa's grass, Novak's whatever, hard courts, my clay.
"I think we definitely became better because of one another."
Federer will become the oldest Grand Slam champion of all time if he lifts another Wimbledon title in two weeks' time.
A month short of his 38th birthday, the Swiss will overtake Ken Rosewall who had just turned 37 when he lifted the 1972 Australian Open title.
In another indication of his All England Club dominance, Federer needs only five more wins to reach the 100-victory mark at the tournament.
He has been seeded second for Wimbledon which starts on Monday ahead of Nadal despite lagging a place behind the Spaniard in the world rankings.
Nadal says the system is unfair but Federer insists the seedings will have little effect on the outcome.
"We knew that the system was in place. I guess it rewards you for playing well on grass," said Federer.
"Just happens that this year I get bumped up. Kevin Anderson got bumped up. Back in the day, it was tougher. Guys who were seeded became unseeded. So that was a bigger storyline I think than this one.
"Just happens that Rafa obviously went down, so I think that makes the news."
The draw left two-time champion Nadal potentially facing Federer in the semi-finals -- if he gets that far.
The 33-year-old could meet Nick Kyrgios in the second round, five years after the then unknown Australian knocked him out in one of the tournament's biggest ever shocks.
However, Federer cannot be too complacent with a possible semi-final against Anderson.
Last year, he lost in the quarter-finals to the giant South African despite having a match point.
This is a story about grief and trauma. It is about the eternal, ripple-like influence of a great teacher or coach. And it is about the origins of the most wondrous sight in sport: Roger Federer’s one-handed backhand.
Search for the words “Peter Carter” and “tennis” on YouTube and many of the clues soon appear. There is the grainy footage of Carter announcing himself in senior tennis with a rasping, Fed-esque, cross-court backhand winner to defeat John Alexander in the South Australian Open.
There is then the testimony of Federer’s parents, Robert and Lynette, about how their “restless” child learned to control his once volatile on-court behaviour. There is the footage of Federer winning his 20th and most recent Grand Slam title – the 2018 Australian Open – in front of Carter’s parents, Bob and Diana, inside the Rod Laver Arena.
“Peter was an incredibly inspirational and important person in my life,” says Federer. “He taught me respect for each person. I can never thank him enough.”
It is at the Peter Smith Tennis Academy in Adelaide where the story really begins.
Smith has been one of the world’s leading tennis coaches for more than three decades and, as he talks while watching a new generation of players, his voice frequently wavers. “It’s an emotional subject,” he says.
Carter saw something in the nine-year-old Federer that made him believe the Swiss would one day be world No 1
Carter was living in Nuriootpa, a town of 6,000 around 50 miles north of Adelaide, when he began weekly training at Smith’s academy. Darren Cahill, Mark Woodforde and John Fitzgerald were also in the same cohort and, as Carter progressed, the decision was made that he should move in with the Smith family. He was just 15 and the underlying ethos was clear.
“I try to teach health and family first … daylight … and then tennis,” says Smith. “The idea is to see people grow into meaningful human beings and use tennis as a medium. Peter was small, skinny but significantly talented. A lovely kid. We had three younger sons and he became like a big brother to them.” Although Carter would break into the world’s top 200 and won a doubles title with Cahill, his progress was curtailed by injuries. He suffered one fracture while skiing in Europe and an initial three-month stint coaching in Switzerland to finance his playing soon turned into a permanent arrangement at the Old Boys’ Club in Basel.
It was here that he first met a nine-year-old Federer and the course of tennis history would change. “We spoke regularly,” says Smith. “I would tell him about this brother and sister we had – which was Jaslyn and Lleyton Hewitt. He was telling me about these talented kids but he realised quite early that there was an exceptional one. He felt in his heart that Roger would not just be number one but the best player anyone had ever seen. It wasn’t like Peter to talk like that but it was how he felt.”
These conversations continued for years before their two young players finally met. Hewitt had travelled to Switzerland for a tournament and Federer can still vividly recall how, at match-point down, he was the beneficiary of a poor line-call and an ultimately fortuitous win. “Then of course we played each other our whole career,” said Federer. “Who knew we would both become Wimbledon champions, world number ones? I think if I can say thank-you for my technique today it is to Peter.”
Smith says that there is a very legitimate comparison between their elegant styles. “Peter might not have been as big or as strong – and he may not have been as talented – but in an ideal world he could have been just about anything,” he says. “A lot of people around here in the know, who saw Peter grow up, believe that is where Roger got his beautiful game. Peter had a cult following among adults. They loved the way he played. You teach what you know. I have an artistic and creative background. A lot of coaches try to eliminate variation. Peter knew Roger had the talent – he wouldn’t have tried to make him conform with second rate boundaries.”
Smith was then fascinated to finally see a teenage Federer up close when Carter began bringing him out to tournaments in Australia. “He was so richly talented but he had these periods when he just seemed like he wasn’t really involved,” he says. “I sat with Carts through many of Roger’s matches. Unbeknown to us, he was telling Roger, ‘You need to be more competitive like Lleyton’. He was gradually getting over that but it was Lleyton who, in 2001, won a Grand Slam.”
Peter Lundgren had taken over as Federer’s principal coach by 2002 but his player still personally campaigned for Carter to become Switzerland’s Davis Cup captain. It was soon after his appointment that Carter went on a belated honeymoon to Kruger National Park in South Africa with his wife Sylvia, who had been recovering from Hodgkin’s disease.
The horrific details of what followed were recorded in The Australian newspaper. Carter was in a vehicle which swerved off the road to avoid a head-on collision with a minivan and went through the railing of a bridge and landed in a river bed. He died instantly.
Federer, who was only 20, was playing in Toronto when he heard the news and is said to have immediately left his hotel and simply ran through the streets in tears. The impact was profound.
“I guess it was something of a wake up call,” he says. “I really started to train hard.” It is certainly instructive in this context to consider an evolving but growing body of research which has found correlations between many of sport’s most exceptional achievers and some form of trauma during their formative years.
David Law, the former ATP communications manager, saw at first hand how Federer changed. “Roger was overly emotional on court in terms of anger,” he says. “He couldn’t handle imperfection. Peter was a big part in helping him to mature when he was alive in Roger’s formative years, and in his death in that Roger was forced to face something that he had not faced before.
“Roger was devastated. I don’t think he’d ever had to think about mortality before. It stopped him in his tracks. This is someone he knew well, who he saw every day, who he travelled everywhere with. Peter was a great guy.” Just under a year after Carter’s death, and Federer would be lying in tears on Centre Court after winning his first Wimbledon title. “Nobody knew at the time what the tears were about,” says Smith. “I have a nice email from Roger straight after which I have thought about a million times. It says, ‘Every time I play a good shot or every time I win a great match, I think of Peter. I am sure he will be looking down on me and he would be proud’. The choice of words resonates with me. ‘I am sure he would be proud’. I think that was what he wanted all along.”
A tearful Federer said during a television interview that he hoped Carter would have been proud of him Credit: CNN
Federer has of course since spent almost two decades rewriting every tennis record but perhaps the most touching aspect of all is his ongoing relationship with Carter’s parents.
Every year, he arranges for their travel, accommodation and place in the players’ box with his wider team at the Australian Open. “I speak to Peter’s parents three times a week and they just love Roger,” says Smith.
“The one massive regret that I have – and I think Roger feels the same way – is that Carts didn’t get to see the fruits of his labour. Roger now seems more in love with tennis I think than anyone I have ever seen. He transcends the game. He is the most popular athlete on the planet.”
And what would Carter have thought of seeing Federer to fulfil his potential and win 20 Grand Slam titles? It was the specific question that promoted Federer’s tears earlier this year but the eventual response only confirmed his mentor’s everlasting influence: “He didn’t want me to be a wasted talent … I hope that he would be proud,” he said.
Novak Djokovic warmed up for the defense of his Wimbledon title not on the practice courts, but locked away for seven hours in a stuffy meeting room discussing the politics of tennis.
As well as being the world number one and the holder of 15 Grand Slam titles, the 32-year-old is president of the ATP Player Council.
It's a powerful representative body which also occasionally pits player against player.
"I think in any industry, having seven-hour meetings regularly is unacceptable because it's not efficient," said Djokovic on Saturday.
"There was one that happened last night, which went on post-midnight and started 5:00pm."
Djokovic has been at odds with fellow stars such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on the future direction of the sport.
Disagreements have recently centred on the decision to dispense with the services of the ATP's chief executive Chris Kermode, a popular figure in tennis.
"I've obviously considered various options. I did consider also stepping down. I think my team wants me to step down, honestly. It's obvious," added Djokovic.
His mood was not improved on Saturday when players Jamie Murray and Robin Haase as well as coach Dani Vallverdu stepped down from the body.
He may be frustrated with the politics, but Djokovic arrives at Wimbledon this year in a better frame of mind than 12 months ago.
Ranked outside the top 20 for the first time in a decade and struggling with the aftermath of elbow surgery, few gave him any realistic chance of lifting a fourth Wimbledon trophy.
However, he blitzed through the field, defeating Nadal in a five-hour 16-minute semi-final before easing past Kevin Anderson in the championship match.
"There is quite a difference. Obviously I'm approaching this year's Wimbledon as defending champion, No. 1 of the world," he said.
"Last year I did drop out of top 20 after French Open. Coming off from the surgery, being unable to have a consistency with the results, this was a huge springboard for me, the win at Wimbledon last year.
"That's what kind of gave me that push. After that, it was all upwards, winning Cincinnati for first time, US Open. One Grand Slam can definitely change anyone's career in a few weeks."
For rock people, trainers are known to twist your shoulder the 'right' way to ensure what they are paid for 'happens'. Geeeezzzzz!!!!!
Translation: Nadal better not get injured @ Wimbledon - EVER.
AND never have Hawk Eye decide if you won the match because that's 'doctored' too!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Rafael Nadal said Saturday that the ATP should have more say over the seedings at Wimbledon with the two-time champion, who was relegated a spot for this year's tournament, describing the system as "unfair."
The 33-year-old, who moved to within two of Roger Federer's record 20 Grand Slam triumphs with his 12th French Open earlier this month, said his qualms over Wimbledon organisers modifying the seedings according to grass court form rather than adhering to the world rankings, were valid as it is the only Grand Slam event to do so.
Nadal has been leap-frogged by eight-time champion Roger Federer in the seedings with the Spaniard seeded three, one below his ranking of second in the world.
He believes men's tour ruling body the ATP should use their influence that comes with giving Wimbledon 2000 ranking points to affect how they seed the players.
"I respect all the situations," said Nadal at his pre-Wimbledon press conference on Saturday.
"The stuff is about the ATP. We give two thousand points to this event.
"We let them to do whatever they want. That's something that I don't understand, because I can't create an impact, not by myself."
Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 Wimbledon champion, said he was also worried the impact that altered seedings could have on the end of season rankings on players such as Alexander Zverev or Dominic Thiem.
Last year's beaten finalist Kevin Anderson has been seeded fourth even though he has had an injury-affected season and is ranked at eight in the world, below Zverev and French Open finalist Thiem.
"Of course, it can create an impact in the rankings at the end of the year," said Nadal,
"For example for Sascha (Zverev), for Dominic.
"It is not only about grass. The season is not only on grass.
"All the players work so hard to be where they are, then arrive here, they see a possibility to be in a tougher draw because of that."
- 'Their own rules' -
Nadal, who has a tough draw with the possibility of facing Nick Kyrgios in the second round provided the Spaniard beats Yuichi Sugita in the opening match, believes the rules are not fair.
"I respect the Wimbledon rules," he said.
"Another thing is if I believe that is fair or not, that's another story. I really personally believe is not."
Nadal says his criticism does not mean he is lacking in respect for the tournament itself.
"I really respect the tournament so much," he said.
"I respect the history of this event. I really understand that they see the sport from another perspective.
As things lie today - with the draw - Nadal won't be able to make it to the semis to face Federer. And if he does, he will be so exhausted, Federer will be able to use just his nose to nudge him out.
Problem for Federer?
Acclimation?
He will be sailing through sun, beach and Wawrinka for six rounds with MASSIVE rain, snow and rocks in the seventh.
He is not known to handle that with any degree of proficiency.
If Federer doesn't capitalize here, he will regret it for the rest of his life. And that's if Nadal doesn't win this. If he somehow does - with seeds in his path faltering and 'leaving' - Federer HAS to be placed on suicide watch.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Naomi Osaka attends the Dubai Duty Free WTA Summer Party 2019 at Jumeirah Carlton Tower on June 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for WTA)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Current and former players pose for a photo during the Dubai Duty Free WTA Summer Party 2019 at Jumeirah Carlton Tower on June 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for WTA)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Caroline Wozniacki (L) and David Lee attend the Dubai Duty Free WTA Summer Party 2019 at Jumeirah Carlton Tower on June 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for WTA)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: (L-R) Caroline Wozniacki, Johanna Konta and Heather Watson pose for a photo during the Dubai Duty Free WTA Summer Party 2019 at Jumeirah Carlton Tower on June 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images for WTA )
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Eugenie Bouchard (C), sister Charlotte Bouchard (R) and cousin Mimi Bouchard (L) attend the Dubai Duty Free WTA Summer Party 2019 at Jumeirah Carlton Tower on June 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for WTA)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Chris Evert (R) and Martina Navratilova pose for a photo during the Dubai Duty Free WTA Summer Party 2019 at Jumeirah Carlton Tower on June 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images for WTA )
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Garbine Muguruza poses for a photo during the Dubai Duty Free WTA Summer Party 2019 at Jumeirah Carlton Tower on June 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images for WTA )
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Elina Svitolina (R) and Gael Monfils attends the Dubai Duty Free WTA Summer Party 2019 at Jumeirah Carlton Tower on June 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for WTA)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Belinda Bencic attends the Dubai Duty Free WTA Summer Party 2019 at Jumeirah Carlton Tower on June 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for WTA)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Eugenie Bouchard attends the WTA Summer Party 2019 at Jumeirah Carlton Tower on June 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Serena Williams of the United States practices before the start of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Milos Raonic of Canada practices before the start of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Rafael Nadal of Spain practices before the start of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Novak Djokovic of Serbia practices before the start of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
If you do not have cable, all of the major streaming providers — Playstation Vue, Hulu, YouTube TV, DirecTV Now and Sling — carry ESPN. You can check this guide for pricing. You can stream ESPN’s television coverage through the WatchESPN app, though a streaming, cable or satellite subscription is required for authentication.
As usual, ESPN will stream every single match of the tournament, including the qualifying matches on ESPN+ in late June.
...............of the draw -- and face him in the semis -- proved unfounded despite Wimbledon promoting Federer above him in the seedings.
The Spaniard, seeded third behind Federer, had complained earlier this week that Wimbledon's unique formula for seeding that combines ranking points with form in grass-court competitions was disrespectful.
World number one Djokovic will in theory face South African fourth seed and last year's beaten finalist Kevin Anderson -- who was promoted from eighth in the world -- in the last four.
Nadal, who comes in on the back of his 18th Grand Slam singles title after winning his 12th French Open which included beating Federer in the semi-finals, will do well to reach the last four as he has a tough looking draw.
He should have little trouble with his first round opponent, Yuichi Sugita of Japan, but after that things become more perilous.
Moody but talented Australian Nick Kyrgios -- who beat Nadal in the last 16 at Wimbledon in 2014 -- is a potential second round opponent and highly-rated Canadian youngster Denis Shapovalov could await in the third round.
If he emerges from those tussles he could face Croatia's 2017 Wimbledon singles finalist Marin Cilic in the last 16.
His great rivals Djokovic and Federer begin their campaigns against 35-year-old German Philipp Kohlschreiber and Lloyd Harris of South Africa respectively.
Kohlschreiber beat Djokovic earlier this year in the third round at Indian Wells.
The women's draw sees Australia's new world number one and French Open champion Ashleigh Barty open against China's Zheng Saisai with a potentially tricky date with Spain's 2017 champion Garbine Muguruza in the third round.
The most intriguing match-up could come in the fourth round with a rematch of last year's final between defending champion Angelique Kerber of Germany and American legend Serena Williams.
There is a first round match of the old and the very new as Williams's 39-year-old sister Venus will play compatriot Cori Gauff, who on Thursday at 15years of age became the youngest woman to qualify for the tournament in the Open era.
Adding extra spice to the encounter is that the Williams sisters are the reason Gauff took up tennis.
"Serena Williams has always been an idol and Venus," she said.
"I mean they're the reason why I wanted to pick up a tennis racket.
"I've met them both and they are super kind people I'm just thankful they took up tennis because I am sure they would dominate any sport."
Japan's Naomi Osaka -- whom Barty replaced as world number one when she won the Birmingham tournament last Sunday -- begins her bid to add Wimbledon to her US and Australian Open titles against Kazakh Yulia Putintseva.
In a neat twist of fate, Cori “Coco” Gauff – who on Friday became the youngest player to qualify for Wimbledon in the Open era – will play Venus Williams, the oldest woman in the draw at 39, in a fascinating first-round match on Monday.
Gauff, who turned 15 in March, was born at a time when Williams – herself a prodigy who played her first pro tournament at 14 – had already been on the circuit for ten years and won four majors. Gauff sees both Williams sisters as role models and was devastated to lose to Daria Kasatkina in Miami this year when she knew that she would have played Venus in the next round. This time, nothing but a last-minute injury can get in her way.
Meanwhile Andy Murray and his doubles partner Pierre-Hugues Herbert landed unseeded opponents in the first round of their event. They will play Marius Copil and Ugo Humbert in the first round, possibly on Wednesday, although this will depend on whether Herbert wins his opening singles match against last year’s runner-up Kevin Anderson on Monday.
Alarmingly for Murray’s mother Judy, he will find himself facing elder brother Jamie – whose partner is Liverpool’s Ken Skupski – if both teams reach the third round. “I’ll go to the pub,” Judy told Lorraine Kelly this week, when asked how she would react to that eventuality.
The mixed-doubles draw is not made until after the players have signed in to the competition on Wednesday, but in any case it now seems that Murray is unlikely to participate for fear that the workload of two different tournaments might prove overwhelming for a man who has only played five competitive matches in as many months.
Whatever happens to the British singles players at Wimbledon this year, they can hardly blame the draw, which has thrown up unseeded opponents in nine out of ten cases. James Ward, who will play 18th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili on Tuesday, breaks the pattern by being the only Briton to land a player ranked inside the world’s top 65 in the first round.
Johanna Konta – who remains our best chance of a deep run despite a couple of disappointing defeats in her build-up – will play Romanian qualifier Anna Bogdan, a player she beat in Morocco in late April, in the first round.
As for our top-ranked male player, 30th seed Kyle Edmund, he can look forward to a first-round meeting with 22-year-old Spaniard Jaume Munar, who has only played twice on grass and lost both times. The level of Edmund’s opponents is likely to ratchet up quickly from there, however. Fernando Verdasco is a possible second-round opponent, and he could be followed by the fast-rising seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.
In the men’s draw, the most talked-about early match may not even happen. Nick Kyrgios could play Rafael Nadal – with whom he shares a testy relationship – in the second round, but only if he beats compatriot Jordan Thompson in the first. Meanwhile, the women’s draw has a ferociously tough top quarter that features world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, defending champion Angelique Kerber and the game’s most famous player Serena Williams.
My favourite 2 weeks are upon us, No housework, just tennis all day. I've been to pick my strawberries, So I'm ready when the umpire says "play "
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Wimbledon. London SW19. A dream for any tennis player to play on those lawns so Englishy green.
Ever since I saw Maria Bueno I've had this impossible wish to stand on the grass at Centre Court and hold the Venus Rosewater dish.
Will Roger get yet one more Major. number 21 is surely his wish Will Shapo or Felix have a break through and hold up that coveted dish
As Canadians we're watching young Felix He has been improving his game But Feliciano is also a contender though winning Queens isn't really the same
so, I will do as the Brits do. as they sit in front of their tellies and hope that for the Wimbledon fortnight the players won't need brollies or wellies
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