Wimbledon Update: Djokovic stunned by Querrey, Williams Sisters Through to Quarters

Manic Monday kicked off Wimbledon to its second week. The first week was riddled with upsets and rainy weather that had tennis fans scratching their heads and on their edge of their seats. Here are the biggest storylines so far:

Sam Querrey derails Novak Djokovic

The biggest story of the first week, perhaps the year, without question was the defeat of world number one Novak Djokovic. Djokovic was defeated by American Sam Querrey in four sets. With the win Sam snapped Novak’s 28 grand slam match winning streak and ruined his chances at a calendar slam. As the winner of this year’s French Open Djokovic was the holder of all four major championships but Djokovic was looking to be the first since Rod Laver in the late 60s to win all four major championships in a calendar year (January to December). Many believed that with this being an Olympic year Novak could win the golden slam, an Olympic gold medal plus all four grand slam. Querrey held a two set lead before play was suspended for the day due to rain. Djokovic was then able to come back the next day and win a set but Querrey was able to seal the deal in the fourth set, after stops in play due to the rain. After defeating Djokovic, Querrey was able to beat French player, Nicolas Mahut and end the six-year drought of Americans not making the quarterfinals of grand slams. With the elimination of Djokovic many predict that the door is wide open for seven-time champion and last year’s finalist Roger Federer to emerge from the top half to face 2013 champion Andy Murray.

The Williams Sisters battle through

On the women’s side, Serena Williams continued her march in the tournament. Serena had to come back from down a set to beat scrappy fellow American Christina McHale in the second round. From then on Serena was able to beat her next two opponents, Annika Beck and Svetlana Kuznetsova fairly easy, although the latter was tight in the first set before the roof was closed. Serena’s older sister Venus, is seeing a resurgence at her most successful grand slam. Venus, a five-time Wimbledon champion, was able to make the quarterfinals since 2016 by winning two tight three set matches in the second and third round and then defeating crafty Spanish player Carla Suarez Navarro in the fourth round. Venus and Serena are the remaining American women left in the draw. Venus and Serena also remain in the doubles draw.

Unpredictability continues in the women’s game

Besides Serena it really is anyone’s guess who will emerge on the other side of the net.  Many thought it would be French Open champion Garbiñe Muguruza, however she lost to qualifier Jana Cepelova. Going into the quarterfinals half of the remaining top seeds are intact. With the bottom draw (opposite half of Serena) there are many possibilities of different players making the finals. The three strongest the aforementioned five-time champion Venus Williams, Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber and fifth seed Simona Halep.

With the absence of Novak and with the possibility of an all Williams final, the rest of the second appears to be intriguing to watch. Odds are that either Murray or Federer will have to walk away with the title. Serena Williams also appears to be on pace to finally tie Steffi Graff’s 22 grand slam record. The only sure way to know what happens though is to remain watching.