Wimbledon 2022, Day 1: Novak Djokovic and four Argentines make their debut

With four Argentines on the pitch and the debut of Novak Djokovic, the first favorite for the title, a very special edition of Wimbledon will begin on Monday, with no Russian and Belarusian players or ranking points to distribute and marked by two historic events. The first, the centenary of its Central Court in its current location in Street of the Church. The second, the end of the tradition of Middle Sundaythat Sunday between the first and second week which was previously a “rest day” (there was action only when the rain complicated the normal running of the program in the previous days) and, from this year, will be part of the program of the tournament.

The action of the blue and white racquets will start very soon in All England. Tomás Etcheverry will perform in the first round of Field 6, making his all-time debut in a grass competition. The platense, 22 years old and 79th in the standings, will face – in 7th place in our country – the Frenchman Ugo Humbert, 103rd.

One of Argentina’s Next Gen representatives, Etcheverry played the ATP 250 qualy at Eastbourne last week, but lost in the first round to Chinese Juncheng Shang.

In the fourth round of the same field – around 13:30 in Argentina – Sebastián Báez, seeded 31a, will make his debut. The Buenos Aires native will clash with Japanese Taro Daniel, 123rd, and will try to enter the main draw of the British Grand Slam for the first time. Last year, he retired in the qualifying round against Australian Matthew Ebden. Although a lot has changed in the past twelve months for him.

In this 2022 he played the main draws of Australia and Roland Garros, entered the top 50 at the end of April and won his first professional title in Estoril.

Federico Coria will have a special challenge in London. It is that Rosario (70th), who will face Czech Jiri Vesely (66th) in field 9 (about 10) in the second round, arrives at the tournament with zero preparation on the grass. Moreover, less than 24 hours ago, he was crowned champion at the Milan Challenger, which was played on clay, beating local Francesco Passaro in the final.

“Champions in Milan! Now try to make it to tomorrow’s match at Wimbledon!” Santa Fe wrote on their Instagram account, adding their fourth title at that level.

The Argentine action of the day will be completed by the presentation of Federico Delbonis, 85th in the standings, who will play – around noon on field 11 – with one of the great surprises of the start of the lap on the grass, Tim van Rijthoven. The 25-year-old Dutchman, 105th in the ATP, surprised a few weeks ago by beating Russian Daniil Medvedev in the ‘s-Hertogenbosch final and lifting his first trophy on the major circuit, in which he had never won a match before. . That performance earned him a special invitation to play for All England.

Delbonis, who lost to Mallorca last week, will look to make it through the first round of the English Grand Slam in his seventh appearance on the main draw.

The other three Argentines will appear on Tuesday. Diego Schwartzman, seeded 12th, will face American Stefan Kozlov, 107th and entered the draw as a lucky underdog. Francisco Cerúndolo, 42nd, will face a very complicated test against the Spanish Rafael Nadal, second favorite. And Facundo Bagnis, 110th, will face Austrian Dennis Novak, 155th.

Djokovic, Alcaraz and Jabeur, the main dishes of the day

Novak Djokovic will be the main attraction on the first day of the All England competition. And, as usual, it will be the Serbian, the last champion of the tournament, to open the action on the Central Court, when he will face – at 9:30 in Argentina – the South Korean Soonwoo Kwoon, 75th in the world.

Nole, who last year added his sixth crown in London by beating Italian Matteo Berrettini in the final, will try to revalidate the title to get closer to Nadal’s record of 22 “majors”, champion this year at the Australian Open and at the Roland Garros.

This season, the current world number three was unable to play in Melbourne due to his refusal to get vaccinated, he lost to the Spaniard in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros and will certainly miss the US Open, also because he was not vaccinated. So the appointment in the British capital will be the only “big one” for him in 2022. While still validating his 2021 triumph, he will in any case give up the two thousand points won on that occasion and will drop to seventh step in the ranking.

After Djokovic’s match – who, in the absence of Medvedev and Alexander Zverev (injured), is the first seed -, two local idols will be presented. First of all Emma Raducanu, champion in 2021 at the US Open and tenth favorite among women. The one born in Toronto 19 years ago will face Belgian Alison Van Uytvack (46th).

And then Andy Murray, former world number one and winner of All England in 2013 and 2016, will make his debut. The Scotsman, placed today at the 51st step of the standings and recent finalist in Stuttgart, will face the Australian James Duckwoth (77th) .

The Tunisian Ons Jabeur, number two in the women’s ranking e