Wimbledon, Francesca Schiavone’s predictions

Jannik Sinner to expect great things from. King Novak Djokovic who will have to prove he deserves the crown. But also the infinite charm of Wimbledon, which will not be the slam she won in her career but which exerts a unique charm on Francesca Schiavone: when she speaks she lights up, almost as if she were to take the field again, even now that she has stopped. Guest of the Italian Embassy in London, in an evening that celebrated “The Italian Job” between Queen’s and Wimbledon, the Lioness told what makes the Church Road slam special and what to expect from this year’s tournament.

What makes Wimbledon special?

“The colours, the grass, the atmosphere, the history, the rules, the demand for perfection that seems impossible to achieve. But once you enter the court you always feel at ease because we were born to play tennis: we need to fix some small things on the grass, but it’s our space, that’s where we players want to be.”

What was your special moment at Wimbledon?

“Certainly when I won the round of 16 (in 2009 against Virginie Razzano, ed.). I played a super-contested game, in which my identity came out, and then I went to Court No. 1 against Dementieva to play those quarter-finals. I gnawed a bit, because I wanted to play at the Central, which in any case I was able to play at. I remember that match there very fondly”.

The Centrale is probably the most famous court in world tennis. Does a player ever lose the “wow” effect of playing there?

“You never lose the charm of playing there, because that field is unique and the player lives to enter that kind of arena. We were born to compete on fields like this, to want to experience those emotions and those fields in front of those people”.

In the men’s tournament, Italy has many points: from whom do you expect something more?

“I say Sinner, because I like him a lot. I obviously hope that Matteo Berrettini can get back to being in great shape, but I’m taking Sinner. Musetti has managed to find a balance that I really like, but this year I’m taking Sinner”.

Djokovic is the big favorite and is chasing a historic record. He is truly unbeatable?

“No, everyone is beatable. Djokovic is the king right now, but it’s a moment to be able to unseat him. The level is so high and the balance so fine, I’m talking about 51%-49%, that it will be an extraordinary Wimbledon”.

Are you expecting any surprise names in the men’s tournament?

Who is he betting on for the women’s title?

“Aryna Sabalenka. She has the characteristics of a fast player.”