Foxtel_Magazine_July_2017

if he can win the Australian Open, he
has got to be in the mix at Wimbledon.
Going back to Wimbledon last year you
could easily have looked at that and
thought Federer probably wouldn’t win
another grand slam. He won’t be a sitting
duck. He’s a massive hope [to win].”
THE MYSTERY OF MURRAY
Defending champion Murray has
confounded commentators this year,
playing well one week then appearing
hopelessly out of touch the next.
While some players are quick to blame
injuries for form lapses, Murray rarely
cites physical ailments for losses. It has
some wondering if he’s carrying an
injury that he hasn’t disclosed.
“He’s in the mix at Wimbledon, but
I just don’t know what’s happened to
him this year,” Peacock says.
“He was so good at Wimbledon in
2016, so strong mentally, but he’s had
some weird losses this year. He’s good
enough, but I’m not sure he’s in the
right mental space to do it again.”
NO JOKING IN
THE DJOKOVIC CAMP
“And if Murray’s drop in form has been
weird, then Djokovic’s is X-Files stuff!”
Peacock declares.
“Maybe he’s lost three per cent on the
player he was and that three per cent was
the edge he had. He’d been unbeatable
no matter the serve or forehand you put
to him. I think the drop [in consistency]
is a combination of the physical and
mental. Now it’s a question of whether
he can turn that around.”
DON’T DISMISS KYRGIOS
Nick Kyrgios will lead Australia’s hopes
at Wimbledon once again. He had
two wins over Djokovic back in March
and pushed Federer to three sets before
a Davis Cup tie, but took a tennis break
following the death of his grandfather.
He conceded his mind wasn’t “fully
invested in tennis” at the Miami Open,
but Peacock believes Kyrgios is a more
mature player than the one who was
bundled out by Murray in 2016 and
can impress at Wimbledon.
“He’s a top-five chance, absolutely”
Peacock says of the Aussie.