Unfortunately the Algarve’s Wimbledon involvement ended as early as the first qualifying round where Faro-born Rui Machado was beaten 6-4, 3-6, 3-6 by Japan’s Tatsuma Ito.
Portugal can still look forward to Frederico Gil and Michelle Brito, who are both in Monday’s main draw of the All England Championships which appear to be more open than for a long time. Both top seeds and rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal lost during their grass court preparation tournaments in Halle and Queens respectively last week, raising the possibility that the likes of Lleyton Hewitt or Sam Querrey, winners in Germany and London, could upset the established order.
In the Birmingham ladies warm-up final China’s Na Li dismissed Maria Sharapova 7-5, 6-1 confirming the impression left after two outsiders contested the French Open title that the women’s draw is also wide open.
