Wimbledon 2013: Talking Points from Day 5

Never a better chance for the kids to shine

Jerzy Janowicz

With the ridiculous consistency shown by the top players, particularly in the men’s game, the chances for a young up and coming player to show their talent at the business end of a major are slim to none. Now with so many sections of the draws opening up, the time is now for a champion in waiting to raise their head above the crowd and propel themselves onto the scene. On the men’s side, the third quarter in particular is as wide open as a car window in a heatwave.

Adrian Mannarino ranked 111 in the world is already in the fourth round as is fading former contender Jurgen Melzer, but the spotlight is on Benoit Paire and Jerzy Janowicz. Janowicz in particular looked very impressive dismantling Nicolas Almagro on Centre Court, but Melzer will provide a much sterner test to the big serving Pole than the clay court specialist who has never been past the third round at Wimbledon.

Paire faces a tough test against Lukasz Kubot who likes to serve and volley and made the fourth round here two years ago. Come through that and he should see off Mannarino no problem. Then it could very well be a battle of the young prospects for a place in the semi final and 720 massive ranking points.

In the women’s draw there are too many names to count. In the top half with Kerber knocked out today, an unseeded player will definitely have a chance to face probably Serena Williams in the quarter-finals. Laura Robson and Kaia Kanepi – a former quarter-finalist – are the current favourites to take that place.

Madison Keys has her biggest match of her career against Radwanska tomorrow as well. Heather Watson faced the same player last year in the third round and got hammered so how will Keys fare?

In the other half of the draw the prospects aren’t doing so well. Sloane Stephens stole the first set against Petra Cetkovska but then lost 6-0 in the second. Monica Puig lost the first set to Eva Birnerova, but both players were saved by the rain. With Petra Kvitova struggling against Ekaterina Makarova, these two young women won’t have a better chance to reach another quarter-final and for Stephens in particular, this is her chance to prove that she could be a contender on all surfaces.