Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Open court: On Wimbledon 2024

Open court: On Wimbledon 2024

For the first time in two decades, the Big Four are not among favourites

Wimbledon 2024 has begun with world tennis in the middle of a generational transition (परिवर्तन, संक्रमण). There is no Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, with the former having retired and the latter on a long valedictory (विदाई, अंतिम) lap (चरण, हिस्सा, दौर) which does not have SW19 (the tag (nickname) of Wimbledon Championships; SW19 is the postcode district in South West London incorporating the areas of Wimbledon and other two places. Wimbledon is an area of urban south west London and SW19 is the geographic postcode for the All England Club) as a pit stop ((in a long journey) a brief stop for fuel, rest or food). The 37-year-olds in Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are closer to the end of their careers, and have arrived in London with broken bodies. Djokovic is recovering from a knee surgery while Murray went under a surgeon’s scalpel (a small straight knife with a very sharp blade used for surgery, dissection and craftwork) to mend (सुधारना, ठीक करना, मरम्मत करना) his back barely (मुश्किल से, केवल, शायद ही) days ago. At what is set to be his Wimbledon swansong (a metaphor used to refer to a final activity, gesture, effort or last performance given just before retirement/death. It was said to be that swans live a silent existence until the time of their death, when, with their last breath, they would sing a beautiful song), Murray will only compete in doubles with his brother Jamie. Thus, the stranglehold (control, grip, domination (over something)) the ‘Big Four’ had established (स्थापित करना, निर्माण करना) by winning 19 of the 20 editions from 2003 to 2023 is likely to be loosened. Among women, this will be the first time since 1996 that neither of the famed (प्रसिद्ध) Williams sisters will be in action. Starting from 2000, Venus and Serena won 12 singles titles and finished runner-up on eight occasions. Venus has not played since March 2024 and Serena since September 2022. In the year or two preceding (पूर्ववर्ती, पहले का) their last matches, they were far from (not, not at all; nowhere near, a long way from) tournament-winning form. Yet, such has been their overarching (व्यापक, समग्र) excellence (उत्कृष्टता, श्रेष्ठता) that they are the benchmark (मापदंड, आधार) indices against which every grass-court career is measured (मापना).

As the stage appears set to identify the next era’s tennis greats, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz has staked claim (दावा करना, हक जताना) most authoritatively (अधिकारपूर्वक). As a 20-year-old, he won Wimbledon in 2023 for his second Major (US Open 2022, the first), beating Djokovic over five pulsating (रोमांचक, उत्तेजक) sets, and last month he graduated (progress, advance, move up, be promoted) further by claiming (assert by achieving/winning (something)) the French Open. In close proximity (nearness or closeness) is Jannik Sinner, the lanky (thin and tall) Italian who won the Australian Open in January and has since meticulously (carefully, scrupulously, painstakingly) risen to the top of the singles rankings. A quarterfinalist and a semifinalist in his last two visits to Wimbledon, the 22-year-old recently proved that he was a serious challenger on the slick (shiny, shining, smooth and silky) lawns by winning in Halle (Germany), his first title on grass. Sinner’s credentials (qualification, achievement, expertise, capability, talent, ability, quality) will however be put to test (check out something or someone especially. in difficult conditions) as early as the second round against 2021 finalist and the quintessential (being the most perfect & typical example of something; classic, ideal, consummate, exemplary, best, ultimate) grass-courter Matteo Berrettini. While the passing of the baton (responsibility) appears seamless (flawless, smooth, ideal, faultless, consistent, continuous, immaculate, impeccable) among men, the battle of succession (the right of inheriting a position, title or etc.; line of descent) among women has multiple contenders. Five-time Slam winner Iga Swiatek is the undisputed (undoubted, uncontested, unchallenged, unquestioned, recognized) No.1 but her grass-court nous (common sense, intelligence, good judgment, foresight, awareness, forethought, tactfulness) is yet to fully develop. Second seed Coco Gauff’s best at Wimbledon is fourth round, which she first reached in 2019 as a 15-year-old qualifier. And with the withdrawal of Aryna Sabalenka — third seed (ran, position) and a two-time semifinalist — the field is open.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.transition (noun)

Hindi Meaning - परिवर्तन, संक्रमण
English Meaning - change, shift.

2.valedictory (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - विदाई, अंतिम
English Meaning - farewell, leaving, departing, goodbye, parting.

3.lap (noun)

Hindi Meaning - चरण, हिस्सा, दौर
English Meaning - phase, portion, segment, tour, part, section, round, circuit.

4.mend (verb)

Hindi Meaning - सुधारना, ठीक करना, मरम्मत करना
English Meaning - repair, fix, cure, heal, make well.

5.barely (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - मुश्किल से, केवल, शायद ही
English Meaning - just, only just, hardly, almost not.

6.establish (verb)

Hindi Meaning - स्थापित करना, निर्माण करना
English Meaning - form, found, build, create; show, demonstrate, display, exhibit.

7.famed (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - प्रसिद्ध
English Meaning - famous, well-known, noted, distinguished, prominent.

8.preceding (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - पूर्ववर्ती, पहले का
English Meaning - previous, prior, earlier.

9.overarching (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - व्यापक, समग्र
English Meaning - comprehensive, all-inclusive, across-the-board, all-embracing, all-encompassing, sweeping, extensive, broad.

10.excellence (noun)

Hindi Meaning - उत्कृष्टता, श्रेष्ठता
English Meaning - distinction, quality, greatness, skill, talent, prowess.

11.benchmark (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मापदंड, आधार
English Meaning - standard, base/basis, point of reference, criterion, ideal.

12.measure (verb)

Hindi Meaning - मापना
English Meaning - evaluate, assess, appraise, judge; compare with.

13.stake a claim (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - दावा करना, हक जताना
English Meaning - assert, declare, announce/state (ones right to something).

14.authoritatively (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - अधिकारपूर्वक
English Meaning - with authority; reliably, dependably, legitimately.

15.pulsating (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - रोमांचक, उत्तेजक
English Meaning - very exciting.

16.open court (noun)

English Meaning - a tennis tournament in which there is no favorite, but any one can win the title.

17.SW19 (noun)

English Meaning - the tag (nickname) of Wimbledon Championships; SW19 is the postcode district in South West London incorporating the areas of Wimbledon and other two places. Wimbledon is an area of urban south west London and SW19 is the geographic postcode for the All England Club.

18.pit stop (noun)

English Meaning - (in a long journey) a brief stop for fuel, rest or food.

19.scalpel (noun)

English Meaning - a small straight knife with a very sharp blade used for surgery, dissection and craftwork.

20.swansong (noun)

English Meaning - a metaphor used to refer to a final activity, gesture, effort or last performance given just before retirement/death. It was said to be that swans live a silent existence until the time of their death, when, with their last breath, they would sing a beautiful song.

21.stranglehold (noun)

English Meaning - control, grip, domination (over something).

22.far from (phrase)

English Meaning - not, not at all; nowhere near, a long way from.

23.indices plural of index (noun)

English Meaning - a data figure reflecting something compared with a standard or base value; pointer, indicator.

24.graduate (verb)

English Meaning - progress, advance, move up, be promoted.

25.claim (verb)

English Meaning - assert by achieving/winning (something).

26.proximity (noun)

English Meaning - nearness or closeness.