Why Federer and Djokovic are unhappy
Tennis
By
Agencies
| Jul 06, 2017
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic said Wimbledon should consider rule changes after both their first-round opponents retired with injuries.
Third seed Federer led 6-3 3-0 when Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov quit with an ankle injury after 43 minutes.
Second seed Djokovic progressed after a calf injury saw Martin Klizan pull out after 40 minutes at 6-2 2-0 down.
"We had a joke in the locker room saying we should maybe play a practice set on Centre Court," said Djokovic.
Both Klizan and Dolgopolov have struggled with injuries recently and their retirements were among a total of eight - seven in the men's draw and one in the women's - over the first two days of the Championships.
The men's tour, the ATP, introduced a rule at the start of 2017 that means a player can retire before a first-round match and retain their prize money.
A lucky loser then gets the place and money earned from qualifying, plus any further prize money accrued from the second round onwards.
The rule is not in place at the four Grand Slam tournaments.
"Maybe it should be addressed," said Djokovic.
"I think the new rule that the ATP has reinforced allows players who have made it to the Grand Slam main draw to get what they deserve, but on the other hand, allow someone else to play if they can.
"I support that kind of rule."
First-round losers at Wimbledon earn £35,000 (Sh4.6m) this year, potentially encouraging players to take to the court when they know they are not fit enough to compete.
"You hope that they would give up their spot for somebody else, even though they deserve to be in there, but fitness not allowing them," said Federer.
"Maybe the Grand Slams should adopt some of that [the ATP rule], then maybe we would eliminate maybe half of the players [who retire]," said Federer.
Meanwhile, Victoria Azarenka stepped up her bid to become the first mother to win Wimbledon in 37 years as the former world number one defeated Russian 15th seed Elena Vesnina yesterday.
Azarenka cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 victory in the second round of her first Grand Slam since taking a year off to have her first child in December.
In just her second tournament following son Leo's birth, the 27-year-old Belarusian hopes to become the first mother to lift the women's singles trophy since Evonne Goolagong in 1980.