Halfway through July, the 2024 Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London concluded under clear skies, marking another grand chapter in sports history as fans worldwide witnessed the birth of yet another great champion. The ASICS team delivered stellar performances at this year’s Wimbledon, with Djokovic and Paolini advancing to the men’s and women’s singles finals respectively. Although they fell short of clinching the coveted trophies, both achieved personal breakthroughs on their journeys, setting the stage for future endeavors with renewed hope and determination.
ASICS Tennis Ambassador Novak Djokovic
ASICS Tennis Ambassador Novak Djokovic, returning to the Wimbledon court less than a month after undergoing knee surgery, made it to the final despite insufficient preparation – a feat that was nothing short of miraculous. In the ultimate showdown, he faced the unstoppable rising star Alcaraz, whose impeccable performance left Djokovic tasting bitter defeat. For Djokovic, however, this loss is far from the end; he now heads to Roland Garros with his sights set on Olympic gold, believing that the gates of victory will reopen for him one day.
“I’ve given it my all to prepare for this final, for this tournament,” Djokovic said post-match. “If someone had told me three or four weeks ago that I would be playing in this Wimbledon final today, I would have gladly accepted. Losing the final in this manner is undoubtedly disappointing, but overall, this Wimbledon has been a success for me and my team. I lost to the best player in the tournament.”
ASICS Tennis Ambassador Camila Giorgi
ASICS Tennis Ambassador Camila Giorgi reached her second Grand Slam final at this year’s Wimbledon, falling short against Krejcikova in a three-set match, narrowly missing out on the title once again. Just a month prior, Giorgi stunned the world with her performance at Roland Garros, making her first Grand Slam final appearance where she lost to Polish star Swiatek in straight sets. A month later, Giorgi, who had never previously won a match at Wimbledon, stormed through six consecutive victories at the All England Club, becoming the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach back-to-back finals at the French Open and Wimbledon. The outcome of the three-set battle between Giorgi and Krejcikova remained uncertain until the very last moment, with the Italian ultimately losing by a slim margin.
However, Giorgi believes that she is inching closer to Grand Slam glory: “I must accept defeat and continue to train hard and put in the effort. I think I played better than in my previous Grand Slam final. I was very close to winning, but my performance wasn’t enough to claim the title. I’ll focus on the present and try to maintain this momentum. I believe I have more opportunities ahead.”
ASICS Tennis Ambassador Alex de Minaur
ASICS Tennis Ambassador Alex de Minaur achieved a quarterfinal finish in the men’s singles, marking his best performance at Wimbledon and unlocking the quarterfinal achievement across all three major court surfaces (hard, clay, and grass) in Grand Slam events. Unfortunately, due to a hip injury, de Minaur withdrew from his quarterfinal match against Djokovic, expressing disappointment over missing such a significant encounter but acknowledging the need to avoid aggravating his injury. Despite this setback, de Minaur’s ranking rose to No.6 this week, setting a new personal high. We wish the Australian No.1 a speedy recovery and a swift return to the court.
Zhu Zhenzhen
Chinese wheelchair tennis ace Zhu Zhenzhen teamed up with compatriot Li Xiaohui to reach the semifinals of the women’s doubles wheelchair event, matching her best result from last year’s Wimbledon. Zhu Zhenzhen will now return home for rest and training, gearing up for the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris next month, hoping to carry forward her recent form and strive for medals for Team China.
Another Wimbledon season draws to a close, leaving behind countless unforgettable moments and memories. Every corner of the Wimbledon town bears witness to history, and the annual grass court spectacle remains a cherished summer memory for fans. However, the show in the tennis world never stops. Players will move on to the next uncertain stage, challenging themselves and pushing forward time and time again.
