Petchey
shared his opinion on Vekic's recent victory over Rybakina at the Grass Court
Championships Berlin. In the round of 16 match, Vekic staged a comeback after
losing the first set to defeat the 2022 Wimbledon champion by 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-4.
Vekic has
been showcasing a great level of play on grass and has advanced to the final of
the German tournament. With wins over Gracheva, Rybakina (second seed),
Avanesian, and Maria Sakkari (6th seed), the world No. 23 will face Petra
Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion (2011, 2014).
Andy
Roddick recently expressed his opinion that Elena Rybakina is his favorite to
win Wimbledon: “because she's the best grasscourt player in the world. It’s
pretty straightforward,” Roddick said.
The world
No. 23 disagreed with the statement made by the former world No. 1 American.
"When
I was in the car today, traveling from warm up to the site, I was Twitter and I
saw how Roddick said that [Elena Rybakina] she's the best player on grass right
now," she said.
So, I was
like we'll see about that, I'm not saying that I'm the best player on grass,
far from that but I think nowadays everyone can beat everyone, especially if
you have a good day and you believe in yourself," Vekic added.
Petchey
shared his opinion on Vekic's comments during a press conference at the Berlin
Open:
"More
swagger from the other players is warranted and needed. Great for the tour. No
issue here from me. She’s playing great. No reason she can’t win it all,"
Petchey wrote on Twitter.
Vekic will
be aiming for her sixth title at the Steffi Graf Stadion. The Croatian has
reached 11 finals so far, winning four of them, all in the WTA 250 category.
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
More swagger from the other players is warranted and needed. Great for the tour.
No issue here from me. She’s playing great. No reason she can’t win it all.