Canadian hot-shot Felix Auger Aliassime was a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 2021 – and he is still showing plenty of promise. There’s no reason why Felix can’t be a strong contender for Wimbledon 2025. He’s a top 20 star and a class act by common consent. Still only 24, Auger Aliassime will be one to watch at the All England Club next time around.
Meanwhile Denis Shapovalov made the semi-finals of Wimbledon 2021 – and he loves playing on grass. Even though he was injured in 2023, Denis still made the fourth round of Wimbledon that year. By reaching the quarter-finals of the 2024 Citi DC Open in Washington, Shapovalov showed that a sudden return to his finest form is always possible. He is capable of a deep run at Wimbledon 2025 because he already has so much experience for his age.
FINALISTS
A Canadian is going to win Wimbledon some time soon. They have come close on several occasions. Big-serving Milos Raonic reached the Wimbledon final in 2016 – and Eugenie Bouchard had done the same in 2014.
In the women’s doubles, Gabriela Dabrowski reached the final at Wimbledon 2024, just as she had done in 2019. Gabriela and Kiwi partner Erin Routliffe were eventually edged out by fourth seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova on tie-breaks. But it was great to see a Canadian back in the mix.
LEYLAH and BIANCA
Leylah Fernandez is a fearsome Grand Slam contender on her day. She reached the US Open final in 2021 and came so close to taking the title. Only Toronto-born Emma Raducanu pipped her at the post. And Leylah reached the 2023 French Open final in the women’s doubles alongside Taylor Townsend. It feels like glory is just around the corner. Leylah has the talent to achieve great things at Wimbledon if the puts her mind to it. And she isn’t the only one.
Bianca Andreescu already knows what it’s like to win a Grand Slam title after her extraordinary success in the US Open final of 2019 against the great Serena Williams. Andreescu will always be able to say she was the first Canadian to win a major – but she wants more silverware. In 2023 Bianca reached the finals of the mixed doubles at the French Open with Michael Venus. And she showed great promise by reaching the third round of the singles at Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024.
Canadians will see 2025 as a year of opportunity for their stars at Wimbledon – and with good reason!
Comments Off on Wimbledon results weren’t everything. Meeting the Princess of Wales again meant so much.
I was determined to enjoy every second of Wimbledon this year, going into the tournament I knew any draw was going to be incredibly tough. You have to make the most of each moment as a player and even though the playing side was over for me much more quickly than I would have liked, Wimbledon is my home Grand Slam and there is nothing quite like the All England Club. I’m not going to say grass is the easiest of surfaces for someone with my level of disability but I can still enjoy the matches I play, and enjoy the challenge of competing. A score line can be what it is, it doesn’t always tell the full story and a win or a loss doesn’t define you as a tennis player or as a person.
In the singles, I was drawn to play Kgothatso Montjane. KG is a strong player and she served incredibly well in our match. She varied her serve out wide, even on the deuce side, you could really see how much she has been working on that. It made it really tough to make any inroads on her service games. I felt that I served pretty well at times too. And made good choices throughout the match, so as much as I was disappointed with the result, I wasn’t disappointed with my performance. That can be hard to get your head around sometimes as we are all competitors but you have to work really hard on seeing progress in a process.
The Doubles draw was equally tough. Partnering with Colombian, Angelica Bernal again after a strong performance at Roland Garros we were eager to get a result. But the Chinese pairing of Zhenzhen Zhu and Xiaohui Li have been really strong this year. Zhu plays a really tricky game and Li can hit the ball so hard. We knew we both had games to make an impression on the pair though, Angelica hits a really good strong heavy ball which can push our opponents back, and then I have the hands to hit some drop shots and angles and finish short balls. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be, and after a good patch in the first set where we clawed back three games, the Chinese were just too strong and didn’t allow us to play our game. Of course I was disappointed, but with other Brits still in action there was an opportunity to follow their campaigns and enjoy the Championships in all its glory.
This included being invited to welcome the Princess of Wales to the Championships on the final day, just before the men’s final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. These are always pinch me moments. The Princess looked very radiant and vibrant in her purple dress despite her recent health issues and she strikes me as such a strong person.
It wasn’t the first time I had met her or other royalty. Earlier in the summer I had been to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party in relation to my British Empire Medal award.
But I think Wimbledon was only her second public appearance since the cancer diagnosis, so I felt very honoured to be part of that and to also share a special moment with Princess Charlotte.
So, all attention now turns to the Paralympics in Paris at the end of August. I will get my head down again with my team, look at where small adjustments and improvements can be made and work hard on those so that I head into the Paralympics in the best possible position to maximise my place there. And of course, I’ll let you know how it all goes out there.
Comments Off on The Excitement of The First Week at Wimbledon
What’s so special about buying tickets for the first week of Wimbledon? Many people think it’s the best week of all!
On the first day of Wimbledon, everything is so fresh and exciting. We have waited all year for this. At last the gates open. We can walk into the beautiful All England Club. We know it is ours to enjoy again in all its magnificence. The highlight of the glorious British summer!
We feel history in the air. And we wonder what fresh history will be created over the next fortnight. The sense of anticipation is unbeatable in world sport.
The buzz and the sheer joy of the first and second days are unsurpassed by anything that follows, however dramatic.
We rub shoulders with celebrities and old friends. We know the tennis entertainment will last long into the sultry English summer evenings.
All the top stars will play, win or lose, in the first week.
If you want to guarantee seeing your favourite player, you have to buy tickets for the first week. Why? A living legend or current superstar might not make it past the first few days. Grand Slam winners can suffer the same unfortunate fate in the early intensity of gladiatorial battle as relative unknowns. Just ask Coco Gauff!
Let’s take a look at what happened in the first few dramatic days at Wimbledon 2025. A record total of eight top-ten seeded men and women were knocked out in the very first round – not just poor Coco! And by the start of the first Friday, 36 seeded players had been eliminated in all.
Want to guarantee seeing your personal favourite? Be at Wimbledon 2026 from the start!
Regardless of entertaining surprises, Week One of Wimbledon always has so much to offer. Don’t underestimate the intensity of the pleasure during this amazing journey. It comes from the very first minutes of the tournament and the tingle of anticipation they bring, to the sheer volume of incredible action that follows everywhere you look. The relentless euphoria is something everyone should experience at least once.
Enjoy this glorious rollercoaster ride, right through to the first weekend. You will already have made memories to last a lifetime.
In 2025, first Friday evening match on Centre Court between Emma Raducanu and Aryna Sabalenka – under the roof and bright lights – provided arguably the best atmosphere and some of the most magical moments of the entire women’s tournament.
There’s barely time to take a breath during Week One, or reflect upon all the sporting riches already witnessed. And this gripping tennis drama is all set against a magical backdrop that provides a unique fusion of history and glamour. It’s evident everywhere you look. And it’s waiting for you at Wimbledon 2026.
Why wait until the second week to taste this all? Why miss out on the earlier action?
For those of us who know and love Wimbledon and have been going there for decades, the first week is every bit as enticing as the second week. That’s the simple truth.
We’d strongly advise that you try to experience both weeks if you can. Then you will know the true charm of Wimbledon in all its glory. You will feel the tension building and the mood changing from one week to the next. Book your Wimbledon Debenture Tickets with us today and don’t miss out on a single special moment of Grand Slam action!
Comments Off on A Different Tension to The Second Week at Wimbledon
Remember, this is the most prestigious tournament in world tennis. The players have spent years dreaming of the chance to win Wimbledon. For the lucky few, there is the opportunity to make that dream a reality – or even taste the ultimate sporting glory yet again.
But can they deliver when it matters, at the business end of the fortnight? Can they make a name for themselves? Have the established stars found the consistent mental strength to live up to the burden of expectation created by their already-huge reputations?
This is where it gets really interesting. This is where Wimbledon turns into a psychological thriller.
For all the joys and shocks of the first week, Wimbledon becomes truly serious from the second Monday onwards, This is the week where the in-form players clash, resulting in the most astounding and sustained brilliance likely to be seen anywhere on the sporting globe.
Sure, big names will fall in the first week and underdogs will hit the headlines. These twists are all part of the Wimbledon drama we love so much.
For the purist, however, for the true connoisseur of the game, the quality of the contest is everything. Those discerning fans come to watch outstanding match-ups at close quarters – and expect to be treated to mind-blowing quality from both sides of the net. Wimbledon is all about the second week on the show courts for those with an eye for technical excellence and steely nerve – for those who wish to be amazed by players at their very peak.
The final stages of Wimbledon 2026 will bring out the very best in the true greats. We are starting to see this regularly from the stratospheric stroke play of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. It’s now one of the great rivalries in world sport. And at Wimbledon, they’re never likely to meet until the final itself now.
The most spectacular show comes on the second Sunday. Others would dearly love to be part of it. American star Taylor Fritz is often involved in some of the very best matches at the business end of any Wimbledon. Can he now fight for the title?
Meanwhile Amanda Anisimova was triumphant in the match of the women’s tournament at Wimbledon 2025 – her glittering semi-final against Aryna Sabalenka.
The supporting cast to Sinner and Alcaraz at Wimbledon 2026 will be colourful and impressive. And let’s recognise that not even Sinner produced quite such a flawless final display as Iga Swiatek did in the women’s showpiece last time.
You’ll witness performances of superhuman strength and sporting bravery when you book your seats for Wimbledon 2026. You can do so by clicking on Wimbledon Debenture Tickets today. Don’t miss a second of the action!
Comments Off on I’m no Billie Jean King but we’re making progress – Lucy Shuker BEM.
I’m currently Chair of the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Player Council, so I thought it might be interesting to give you a bit of insight.
I’m really enjoying my role. It has been an interesting experience engaging in conversations with the ITF about the future of our sport. Of course, there have been challenges. But I’m extremely passionate about leaving the sport in a better place than it was when I started playing.
Billie Jean King is a huge inspiration to many of us. She has been a pioneer for change within tennis for so many decades. In fact Billie is a huge supporter of wheelchair tennis – and can often be seen supporting players at the Grand Slams.
I’d like to think I’m doing my bit in my own way, along with a lot of other people who understand the issues we face in wheelchair tennis and the improvements that could and are being made.
One great recent development is that the size of the draws at Grand Slams has doubled from eight to sixteen for the men’s and women’s draws. This comprises of the top fourteen wheelchair tennis players who gain direct entry – plus two wild cards. The Quad division has also seen advancements with 16 draws at both the Australian and US Open. All of these changes are really positive and reflective of the increased depth and talent in wheelchair tennis.
This is something I’m extremely passionate about. Larger draw sizes at major events reflect the talent in our sport and give more players the opportunity to compete at the highest level.
The Grand Slams are hugely influential to wheelchair tennis. They have been very supportive in putting more money into the sport. Increasing prize money is a massive help. Hopefully that will have the added effect of attracting even more players into our sport.
On a basic level, that extra money can go towards players’ travel costs and helps their coaches or physios to attend tournaments abroad with them. It’s an expensive business.
Another big topic of conversation in many disability sports is classification. We have seen some recent changes in how players are classified. Now the International Tennis Federation have designated staff working on classification and gathering evidence to make good long-term decisions in that important area.
There are many opinions about classification in wheelchair tennis. There’s an ongoing debate about whether we make changes to the existing divisions. This could have the potential to grow the sport. At the moment, there’s a population of wheelchair users who have a disability similar to mine and don’t choose to pursue wheelchair tennis – because of the perceived difficulty competing against players that are much more able than them.
I’m really passionate about this. I love tennis, it’s such an amazing sport and has given me so much. I would love to see more spinal cord injured players coming into the sport. And if that means making adjustments, then I can only see that as a positive thing.
Any far-reaching decisions in wheelchair tennis tend to be made at the end of each four-year cycle, marked by the Paralympics. So at the end of this year there may or may not be some changes.
As you can probably tell, I enjoy advocating for change and working with the decision-makers to see those changes come about wherever possible. That way I can help keep things moving in a progressive direction for future generations of players.
I’m coming towards the end of my career. And when I finally stop playing, I’d like to stay involved in tennis in some way. What the sport has given me has been life-changing – and I’d like to be able to continue to give something back.
I’m grateful for all that wheelchair tennis has allowed me to achieve. And that British Empire Medal I mentioned in my last blog – which made me feel so honoured and humbled – will give me a very special day in May. I’ve been invited to Buckingham Palace for a garden party with other recipients. That’s part of the recognition for my services to sport. I can still remember the excitement I felt when I received a letter in the post informing me of the award.
Soon after that garden party, I’ll be in a long string of tournaments that all lead to Paris for the Paralympics if all goes well. What a summer lies ahead! And I’ll try to enjoy every moment and share it all with you.
Comments Off on How to get tickets for Wimbledon 2021
Getting Wimbledon Tickets 2020 is not generally a task for the fainthearted. You have to really want them and to go to serious lengths to secure them. But at Wimbledon Debenture Holders, we can do all the hard work for you.
For most big events including other Grand Slams like the Australian Open or the US Open, it’s generally possible to go online or ring the ticket office – and provided you do so in good time, you should succeed for a sensible price.
But to buy tickets for Wimbledon 2020 can require a combination of research skills, patience, single-minded determination, luck, and of course money. Even then you may not get what you want if you don’t come through us.
A ticket through the gate will only qualify you to watch matches on the outside courts, with no guarantee of a seat on Centre Court, No1 Court or even Court Two – and large queues at every point. You run the risk of seeing the back of a lot of other people’s heads rather than any serious tennis.
You will need to fill in an online ballot application form. This must be done after the end of August and before the end of November.
You will know sometime in February 2020 whether you have successfully secured your chance of tickets. Your chances are around 1 in 10. You may also have to be more flexible with your choice of game and player as your hopes of seeing Andy Murray versus Roger Federer on Centre Court may be fade as you may only get into Court Number 2 on the second Saturday, where the only thing on offer may be an over 45s Mixed Doubles or a Junior boys game.
The ballot tickets are not transferable, if you can’t go, you have to send them back. And if you are caught trying to sell them on eBay, they will void the ticket. Likewise, if you buy a Ballot ticket on eBay, there is a danger that this will be voided.
You can choose to join the Lawn Tennis Association. As a non-affiliated member, which costs £25. Then you can be entered into their ballot and you may get a 1 in 5 chance. UK applicants must request an application form by 15 December 2019. The closing date for receipt of all completed ballot applications is 31 December 2019.
If you play tennis, you should join a tennis club. Many tennis clubs get allocations of tickets and they will also have their own ballots, but each club will only have a handful of tickets.
Become a Player or Umpire or Steward
If you haven’t got what it takes to qualify for Wimbledon, then you might get to know somebody that has, or there are various officials, such Umpires, even Honorary Stewards who have worked their way into the system to get free tickets.
Become a celebrity or know somebody in the Royal Family
Wimbledon has the Royal Box which has 74 seats. President Clinton, Princess Diana, Cliff Richard and Jack Nicholson have been seen there in the past. The Queen herself is not a huge fan, and the last time she appeared was in 2010 after 33 years of absence.
Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge love sport and in particular cheering on Andy Murray from their vantage point in the Royal box. Effortless style often accompanies these outings and no matter the outcome of the tennis, you can be sure the headlines will be littered with the fashion choices of these Royal celebrities for days after.
Become a Member of the AELTC
The things to understand about the All England Lawn Tennis Club that runs the Wimbledon Championships is that it is just that, a Tennis Club, which happens to run a rather successful tournament. So just join the Tennis Club.
There are 375 members in all plus 100 temporary Members elected each year. If you have been good enough to win Wimbledon you can be invited to become a Member. Otherwise, election to Membership appears to be a complex process of receiving lots of nominations and having a great deal of money for your subs. And even then, that just gives you the right to buy two tickets for every day. If you find out how to become a member, please let us know.
It has been said than it’s easier to win Wimbledon that to become a member!
Become a Debenture Holder
If you don’t know the right people to become a member but are prepared to invest some money, become a Wimbledon Debenture Holder. Buying Debentures is like buying shares, except much more difficult. You sign a cheque for about £50,000 for Centre Court Debentures, or £30,000 for Court number 1, send it to Wimbledon and if you are very, very lucky you will make it through that particular ballot and will be entitled to a seat each day for five years of the tournament. Issues of Debentures only happen every 5 years, so you have to be well informed or be prepared to buy them at a substantial premium at other times.
Buy Debenture Tickets
Alternatively, you can buy Wimbledon Debenture tickets from a Debenture Holder. Many of the sites that sell Wimbledon tickets are selling Debenture seats. They are the only ones that can be transferred and sold on.
At Wimbledon Debenture Holders we have created an organisation of Debenture Holders who are selling their tickets via the site to people who want to go, rather than selling them on to agents. You will also have access to the Debenture Lounges where you will have the opportunity to spend even more money on very pleasant food and drink.
Queue up
Queuing is a glorious British tradition. I have friends who enjoy the Wimbledon Queue more than the tennis itself. They do it every single year. They make lifelong friends, share food and drink and war stories, and often spend several days and nights queuing. If you have the time and the inclination, you can get in this way. There are only a handful available each day for the show courts. Be prepared to invest in sleeping bags, camping equipment, sun hats and warm clothes. Enjoy!
Corporate entertainment
Various large companies and tickets agencies have special allocations for corporate hospitality. So if you are for instance an important customer of a corporate giant, make sure you drop some serious hints about how much you would love to go to Wimbledon 2020 and watch the tennis. Not only will you get to go, but you will be wined and dined throughout the day. There is a snag with this. Some of the hospitality tents can be quite far from the action, and if you actually enjoy watching tennis, you may have to watch it on a screen in the hospitality tent. If you have ever wondered when you watch Wimbledon on TV, why there are so many empty seats, their occupants are often to be found drinking champagne a mile or two away.
So there it is. Wimbledon 2021 awaits but cut out all the hard work, headaches and worry. Leave the job of securing your tickets to Wimbledon Debenture Holders. We’ll make sure you get what you want.
Comments Off on Are you looking for the perfect Christmas Gift?
A ticket for Wimbledon 2020, purchased through Wimbledon Debenture Holders, makes the perfect luxury Christmas gift. Here are some of the reasons why:
Quality
This isn’t just any ticket. You get one of the best seats in the house on Centre court or No1 Court – and access to great restaurants and bars too! The views are stunning from these cool hang-outs above the courts. Then, when you want to focus on the main tennis action, it is a short stroll to the show courts, where you’ll be thrilled to discover you are ideally placed to enjoy the most amazing sporting drama.
Unique
There is nothing quite like Wimbledon. The unique fusion of traditional tennis history and modern-day glamour can’t be matched at any other tennis venue in the world. This is the home of tennis and you feel the magic the moment you walk through the gates. The biggest players and celebrities adore it here.
Anticipation
The pleasure of anticipation is huge. Buy someone a ticket as a gift for Christmas and they can savour the prospect for the next six months before their dream comes true when the action starts in July. Half the fun is in knowing what pleasure awaits you come summer. You can bet the recipient of that ticket will be thrilled by going to Wimbledon – and very grateful.
Relax
With Wimbledon Debenture Holders, you know there will be no problem with your ticket(s), we always come through for our clients and can advise on the best day(s) of Wimbledon fortnight to suit your needs or those of your loved one or client. You are going to impress the lucky person who opens that gift on Christmas Day.
Treat
Why not treat yourself to a ticket for Wimbledon while you’re at it? If a visit to Wimbledon isn’t already on your bucket list, it should be. No one who goes to Wimbledon ever forgets it. The smell of the newly-mown grass, the temptation of the strawberries and cream, the intensity of the gladiatorial contests on the show courts…all savoured for hours and hours, until the beautiful light of a late English summer’s evening begins to fade. What a gift!
We had the pleasure of having a catch up with Lucy Shuker. She filled us in on all the action this year’s US Open Grand Slam in
New York.
Read Lucy’s update below
Us Open
This year was my fourth appearance at the US Open and another opportunity to try and get my first win in New York City.
For Men’s and Women’s Wheelchair Tennis players, it’s only the top 7 in the world that earn direct qualification into the event. With the 8th place being awarded to a tournament wildcard. Grand Slam events are effectively Masters competitions for wheelchair tennis players and you have to remind yourself that simply qualifying is a great achievement.
The Result
As a competitor, we are all there for the same thing – to win. With no easy draws and just the top players in the world you know you have to bring your A game to get anywhere. This year I drew current World No.5 KG Montjane from South Africa. I have had mixed results with her over the last 12 months or so. I knew I had the game to beat her, but I also knew that KG was a strong player and it would be a close fight and that it was. Unfortunately, it ended with a 6-4 6-4 defeat for me.
It was difficult and disappointing three weeks of competition with some tough losses in both singles and doubles events. Tennis is undoubtedly a sport which has many ups and downs and I’ve definitely encountered my fair share of these throughout my career. I love tennis and this in a way is what I love most about the game. The problem solving, the continual challenge of the game, of my disability and of my opponents.
Reflection
I have a great team behind me and I know I can put these weeks to the back of my mind and move on. They don’t define me as a tennis player and I will always keep fighting and working hard to create new opportunities for myself.
The US Open was a fantastic event to be part of. The USTA did a great job at increasing exposure of wheelchair tennis and of individual players. Several matches were scheduled on Arthur Ashe, Louis Armstrong and other show courts with international TV coverage and live streaming.
They also produced a fantastic series of videos in partnership with Deloitt. You can check out the feature about me including why you should watch wheelchair tennis here– https://youtu.be/jmwmzgNkVBM
Comments Off on Cilic Ends Edmund Dream, Halep Wins Classic And Meets Wozniacki In Final
Marin Cilic ended Kyle Edmund’s Aussie Open dream, with a little help from the Brit’s aching body, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.
Edmund limped at times and struggled for the kind of consistently agile movement that helped him get this far. Maybe Marin would have beaten him anyway.
Cilic paid tribute to Kyle like this: ‘He is playing great tennis and he has improved a lot in the last couple of years. The five-set matches this tournament definitely left a few scars on his body.’
There was no shame in the way it unfolded for the underdog. And Edmund can reflect upon his amazing run and the way it finished with his head held high.
Cilic, you will recall, made the Wimbledon final only last year. He was US Open champion in 2014. The man is class.
ARGUING
Edmund is still learning his craft as he joins the elite. The 23-year-old Yorkshireman tried everything. He even emulated Roger Federer by arguing with the umpire to get himself fired up.
Edmund remonstrated and even demanded to see the referee when Cilic was awarded one point by Hawkeye. The scores were level in the fifth game of the second set.
The ball was originally called out, distracting Edmund from his return, the Brit argued. Then, when Hawkeye ruled the serve in, Cilic was given the point.
ETERNITY
‘Get the referee, I’m not having it,’ said Edmund, insisting the point be replayed.
The umpire said he couldn’t do that, but the referee arrived anyway, only to back his official.
In truth, Edmund was already in trouble. He had been broken twice in the first, losing it clearly, despite having two early break points himself.
SLUGGED
Then he went off with the trainer for what seemed like an eternity, and you wondered whether he would even be able to continue.
He did, and slugged it out with Cilic all the way through that feisty second set, showing admirable passion and finding some success. But the Croat had more experience and a technical edge to go with it on the night.
Edmund took Cilic all the way to a tie-break. But some of his returns couldn’t find their target during some of the biggest moments. And it could be argued that he unwittingly played into his opponent’s hands during others, as he went down 4-7 in the breaker.
FASCINATING
But these are areas “Kedders” can learn from, as he continues to develop. He has Grand Slam semi-final experience now, he can only get better, he is only just 23 and he has done superbly.
The whole of Britain can be proud of a player who will now challenge Andy Murray for top spot back home – and set Wimbledon alight with a new and fascinating domestic rivalry.
Meanwhile, Simona Halep showed why she is world number one by defeating a woman who used to hold that distinction, Angelique Kerber.
DRAMATIC
The final set was truly dramatic – and Halep had to save two match points before she won through 9-7 to reach the final.
There she will play the in-form Caroline Wozniacki, yet another former world number one, who, like Halep, has never won a Grand Slam.
So the women’s trophy will have a brand new owner, and no one can say that Halep and Wozniacki don’t deserve another tilt at the meaningful silverware after all their spectacular exploits over the years.
RHYTHM
Halep hit the ground running against Kerber, knowing she couldn’t afford another slow start. Instead, it was the German who was caught cold, finding herself 0-5 down in the blink of an eye.
By the time she started playing in that first set it was too late, and Kerber eventually succumbed 3-6.
She had found enough rhythm to go into the next clashes with more confidence, though, and took the second set 6-4.
FLAPPING
That was when the true battle of wills commenced. And no one who witnessed it will forget what followed in a hurry.
Either woman could have closed out. Neither woman allowed it to happen, not for a very long time at least.
Kerber saved two match points while serving to stay in the match at 4-5 in the third. Then she fought her way to the brink of victory – one you might have expected, given Halep’s penchant for flapping under severe pressure in massive matches.
TENACITY
But Halep, who lost the French Open final to Ostapenko having led, and was two points from beating Jo Konta at Wimbledon, dug in with extra tenacity this time – and wasn’t to be denied.
She saved two match points as Kerber served at 6-5. Then she lasted the longest, as both women gasped for air and searched for reserves of energy that was barely there.
Eventually, on her fourth match point in total, Halep sent a shot deep enough for Kerber to be left distraught. ‘I’m shaking right now, I’m really emotional,’ said a triumphant Halep.
ELATED
And Caroline Wozniack was equally elated after defeating Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), to ensure we’ll have a new champion. ‘That finals feeling!’ she tweeted. ‘It means so much to me.’
Should be a great showpiece!
Edmund might be out of the Austrailian Open but let’s look forward to seeing him at Wimbledon! Get your Wimbledon tickets here
