One former champion still stands as Wimbledon round of 16 approaches

Angie takes the 2nd set 6-0 🔥 #TeamAngie #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/q0s5Dwcle4

— Angelique Kerber FC (@AngieKerberFC) July 3, 2021

Before the 2021 Wimbledon event began, there were six former champions expected to contend--five-time champion Venus Williams, seven-time champion Serena Williams, two-time champion Petra Kvitova, Angelique Kerber, Garbine Muguruza, and Simona Halep. Sadly, Halep had to withdraw because of continuing problems with a calf tear.

Equally sad was the first round of exit of Petra Kvitova. The mercurial Czech champion was upset by the mercurial USA player, Sloane Stephens. Serena Williams slipped and hurt her leg during her first round match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, and had to retire. Venus Williams made it to the second round, in which she was defeated by Ons Jabeur, and Garbine Muguruza was upset by Jabeur in the third round.

That leaves Kerber, who survived the match of the tournament (so far--but it's hard to imagine that a more thrilling one will come along) against Sara Sorribes Tormo--a three-hour and 19-minute extravaganza in which there was never a let-up. That the German champion is the lone survivor may surprise many, but it doesn't surprise me. Kerber's combination of fitness, determination and a willingness to make changes in her game has always put her in line for another comeback. (And if you haven't seen her "One on One" episode with Chris Evert, you've missed something good; it was one of my favorites of the series.)

Of note is that two wild cards--Emma Raducanu of the UK and Liudmila Samsanova of Russia--have advanced to the second week of the tournament. There are also two other unseeded players in the fourth round. Finally--and not surprisingly--there are three Czech players who are still in the draw.

Here is the round of 16 draw:

Ash Barty (1) vs. Barbora Krejcikova (14)
Emma Raducanu (wc) vs. Ajla Tomljanovic
Paula Badosa (30) vs. Karolina Muchova (19)
Coco Gauff (20) vs. Angie Kerber (25)
Karolina Pliskova (8) vs. Liudmila Samsanova (wc)
Madison Keys (23) vs. Viktorija Golubic
Iga Swiatek (7) vs. Ons Jabeur (21)
Elena Rybakina (18) vs. Aryna Sabalenka (2)