As Murray races through the opening set 6-2, it’s time for me to take my leave. I’ll leave you in Les’s capable hands in the game-by-game. Monfils and Simon are only just getting under way on Court No1, in the other remaining third-round match. That could be tight: it would be no surprise if they’re back on Monday. Thanks for reading, see you next week. Bye!
Which leaves the bottom half of the men’s draw looking like this:
Pospisil v Troicki
Karlovic v Murray or Seppi
Berdych v Monfils or Simon
Bautista Agut v Federer
Berdych beats Andujar 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-6
Berdych and Andujar are duking it out in a fourth set tie-break on Court No2, after Andujar earlier served for the set. Berdych breezes into a 3-0 lead. Andujar attacks, 3-2. But Berdych still has the mini-break and gets to 5-2. Make that 6-2, four match points. Andujar smashes away the first, but the second is on Berdych’s serve. Berdych goes back behind Andujar, completely wrong-footing the Spaniard, and that’s the win.
Hewitt and Kokkinakis win in five sets again. And Hewitt celebrates more exuberantly than he did when won the singles title in 2002.
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) July 4, 2015
WATCH An ecstatic @VasekPospisil ends the valiant effort of James Ward with a super comeback #Wimbledon http://t.co/cGbGrIyMpY
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2015
Ward is edged out by Pospisil 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 8-6
Pospisil is on his knees as he takes the match with a volley. The Canadian is through to the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time, while Ward is left to reflect on defeat, yet this is still his finest performance at a major. Ward is cheered off court like a winner, just as Heather Watson was last night. Two valiant British defeats. But now, as always, it’s up to Britain’s only serial winner. Over to you Murray ...
Updated
Ward has been broken. Pospisil is serving for the match after three hours. It’s all here.
And Jankovic’s thoughts on knocking out Kvitova:
I don’t know what to say. I am overwhelmed and so excited. I have played so poorly the last couple of years and playing on Centre Court against the defending champion was unbelievable. The crowd was really great.
I am glad I was able to win against a two-time Wimbledon champion. I could not believe it. Beating Petra gives me a lot of confidence for the tournament.
Tsonga was fairly diplomatic about that Karlovic double hit in his press conference:
It’s the job of the umpire, you know, to see it. If he can’t see it, I can’t do anything. Even if I saw it, I can’t say anything. I just look at the umpire. He said no. I said OK, next point.
So who is Seppi? The Italian 25th seed knocked out Roger Federer at the Australian Open earlier this year, and showed he is dangerous on grass by reaching the Halle final last month. But the Murray-Seppi head-to-head is very much in Murray’s favour: in their past six meetings, the world No3 hasn’t dropped a set.
Centre Court catches its breath but only for a few minutes, as here come Murray and Seppi. You can keep an eye on Les’ game-by-game report here. And for once, it’s not all about Andy right now. Ward and Pospisil are 5-5 in the final set. Alan’s busy typing away here.
Total slams won by eight women on top half of #Wimbledon draw: 34 (Serena 20, Venus 7, Sharapova 5, Azarenka 2) Bottom half total: 0.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 4, 2015
For Jankovic, the 30-year-old former world No1, it’s her biggest win for years. And it leaves the bottom half of the women’s draw wide open. Here’s how it looks:
Wozniacki v Muguruza
Bacsinszky v Niculescu
Govortsova v Keys
Radwanska v Jankovic
Kvitova, the defending champion is dethroned, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4!
So will Kvitova be on or off? On, as the Czech dispatches the smash. On, as she wallops away a winner. Two top-class points. Jankovic then gets a strong serve back with interest, 30-15. And from there Kvitova is completely off. A wild and wayward forehand and it’s 30-all. Jankovic, potentially, is two points from the match. Kvitova nets the first serve, is brave on the second, but after a relatively long exchange she shanks another shot despite a winner, seemingly, being on the cards! 30-40, match point to Jankovic. And Kvitova prods into the net! Jankovic sinks on to the court, she’s celebrating like she’s won Wimbledon. From a set and a break up, Kvitova unravelled.
Updated
Kvitova and Jankovic are locked at one set all, four games all, 15-all. Jankovic then hits long and it’s 15-30. But what an error of judgment from Kvitova on the next point. Jankovic’s shot skips off the baseline, Kvitova gets it back into play but decides to stop the point and challenge. HawkEye proves the ball was in. 30-all. And from there Jankovic holds to lead 5-4. The defending champion will have to hold serve to stay in the Championships.
Berdych now leads 4-6, 6-0, 6-3.
Jankovic playing well, freely. Backhand down the line especially glimmering, if not 100% vintage. Up 4-3 in third on Kvitova. #Wimbledon
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 4, 2015
Updated
Kim Sears take note - Tomas Berdych doesn’t appear to be a man you want to make angry. After losing the first set to Spain’s Pablo Andujar, the 2010 runner-up has stormed through the second 6-0. It’s 3-3 in the third.
Updated
Ivo Karlovic has a career average of hitting 18.9 aces per match played. His current #Wimbledon 2015 average is 45 per match #bbctennis
— Chris Goldsmith (@TheTennisTalker) July 4, 2015
Ward v Pospisil is going into a decider as well. Alan has the latest.
Kvitova is break point down. She can’t buy a first serve at the moment, and she plants her effort into the net. Jankovic attacks the second serve but misses by a whisker. Deuce. Jankovic again has a chance but this time she nets. Kvitova, having looked so strong, is shaky. She’s such an up and down player, she can switch it on and off in equal measure. Kvitova keeps her finger on the switch this time and edges through. It’s 2-2 in the third set.
Confirmation that it was a double hit from Karlovic on one of Tsonga’s set points. If the umpire had noticed, Tsonga would currently be in a fifth set. Instead, he’s in the locker room pondering defeat.
Replay of the double hit that would have given Tsonga the set. https://t.co/DQSSOYhoXN
— Tony (@tjc05) July 4, 2015
Kvitova, meanwhile, is holding Murray up. Having breezed through her opening two matches and looked like she was going to do the same today, the defending champion’s surrendered the advantage from a set and a break up, with Jankovic taking the second set 7-5. Kvitova decides to take stock by leaving the court for a lengthy comfort break.
Updated
Ward, remarkably, is one set from the second week. The Londoner now leads Pospisil 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Follow it all here.
Next up for Karlovic? Most likely a certain Andy Murray.
Karlovic knocks out Tsonga 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6
On the 10th point of the tie-break, a Karlovic serve almost snaps Tsonga’s racket in two. Karlovic has a match point on Tsonga’s serve at 6-5. The Frenchman flicks away a winner. Tsonga then has a set point on the Karlovic serve at 7-6. Tsonga looks like he’s pulled off the pass but Karlovic somehow gets a racket to it. It sounded like a double hit, but the umpire doesn’t intervene. Another match point at 8-7. And another set point at 9-8. 17 successive points on serve. Make that 18. Match point Karlovic, 10-9. Tsonga misses the first serve, the second is not strong enough, Karlovic is on the attack and the giant Croatian claims a point on Tsonga’s serve and with it the match!
Updated
Tsonga and Karlovic are into another tie-break, one Tsonga must win if he’s to stay in these Championships. Neither can get a mini-break (no surprises there, there’s only been one break in the entire match). The ace count reads 41-14 in the 6ft 11in Karlovic’s favour. It’s so, so tough facing a serve coming from that trajectory on grass. But Tsonga is still fist pumping and jumping as he tries to find a way of taking this to a final set.
Unlikeliest #Wimbledon second-weeker is 122nd-ranked qualifier Olga Govortsova, who beat Magdalena Rybarikova 7-6, 6-3. Plays Keys in R16.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 4, 2015
Jankovic has two break points, her first since the opening game of the match. Kvitova, her feet in a mess, hoiks high and wide on the second, and it’s back on serve in the second set, 4-4. Kvitova, remember, leads by a set to love.
A 30-shot rally on Court No1 and Ward prevails to bring up break point. He does his best windmill impression as he waves his arms in the air in celebration And Ward breaks with a brutal backhand return which Pospisil can only put into the net! All those hours he’s been putting in on the practice court with Murray this week are reaping rich dividends. Ward leads 2-1 in the third set.
The clock watch on Centre? It took Kvitova 29 minutes to win the set.
There’s a Davis Cup-style atmosphere on Court No1, where Ward is serving to level up the match. From 30-15, he serves wide to Pospisil’s backhand before hitting to the Canadian’s forehand wing. Pospisil isn’t getting to that. Pospisil goes long on set point and Court No1 rises. They’re all square. Ward takes the second set 6-3, just as Kvitova wins the first against Jankovic by the same score on Centre. At this rate, there’s a chance Murray, who follows Kvitova on the main court, could be finished before Ward is.
Updated
Karlovic’s 28th ace of the day brings up four set points against Tsonga in a third-set tie-break on Court No3. Another big serve from the 36-year-old and Tsonga’s return balloons long. Karlovic wins the breaker 7-2 and leads the 13th seed by two sets to one, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6.
There’s been a break on Centre and no prizes for guessing who got it. Kvitova leads Jankovic 4-2 opening set.
And a break to tell you about on Court No1, where Ward is coming back at Pospisil. The British No4 is 4-1 ahead having lost the first set 6-4.
Updated
Some emails.
“I love that Querrey quote,” writes David Watson. “Made me laugh. I know what McEnroe means that a bit of distaste doesn’t go amiss, but if I was Ward I’d smile at that. That’s a mate’s thing to say.”
And some thoughts on Nadal, courtesy of the mysteriously-named Strength A: “I think the lower ranked players play the game of their life when they face Nadal. It’s easier for these players to go after and beat Nadal on grass or hard court when he is not on top of his game than it is for them to beat Federer, Djokovic or Murray simply because of his style of play. Didn’t Rafa beat Troicki in the finals at Halle this year? [It was Stuttgart]. Brown just lost to someone that Rafa has already beaten. We’ve seen a resurgent Agassi during his later years. We’re seeing a resurgent Federer this year on grass. I wouldn’t bet against seeing a similarly resurgent Nadal in the second half of this year and next, provided he remains injury free.”
A defeated Dustin Brown’s been in the press conference room, and says he will allow himself little time to reflect on his week at Wimbledon:
The next thing is tomorrow. The next thing after that is Newport. After I won the Rafa match, I can’t just sit there and say: ‘Oh, great. I beat Rafa. Life is great.’ Then two days later, what? So one thing has happened, it is great. When I’m in Jamaica at the end of the year, then I can have a Red Stripe and say, great. Great year, Dustin. You played great. There’s no time for that right now.
Keep an eye on your watches because Petra Kvitova, inconvenienced for only a combined hour and a half in her opening two matches, is under way against Jelena Jankovic. This one could take a little longer: Jankovic, while no longer the player who reached the top of the rankings in 2008, will scramble and scramble. That Jankovic does in the opening game but Kvitova comes through from deuce. Kvitova leads 1-0.
Bad news on Court No1. Ward has lost the first set to an aggressive Pospisil, 6-4. More here.
Lisicki loses
Sabine Lisicki, the 2013 finalist, usually saves her best run of the season for Wimbledon, but not so this year as she’s been bundled out in two emphatic sets, 6-3, 6-2, by Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky, who’s in fine form having reached the French Open semi-finals last month.
Updated
Photo of the day
#Wimbledon looked striking last night... pic.twitter.com/OK2iiHm0sb
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2015
Federer defeats Groth 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2
Normal service has been resumed on Centre Court where Federer, after that third-set blip, has charged through the fourth in 29 minutes. The seven-times champion may have conceded a set but he still hasn’t dropped his serve. Meanwhile, Groth’s serve of 147mph early in the match was the second fastest serve recorded at Wimbledon.
Roger Federer hiccups over Sam Groth in 4 sets, but good enough. To face Bautista Agut in 4th round, heavy favorite. Nice draw Rog
— Matt Cronin (@TennisReporters) July 4, 2015
Updated
Ward v Pospisil is under way on Court No1. Ward, who’s already guaranteed the biggest pay cheque of his career and a place in the world’s top 100, is attempting to reach the fourth round at a grand slam for the first time. Pospisil won the men’s doubles title here last year but has also never been beyond the third round in the singles at a major. Ward, who has the rather good habit of stepping it up on the big stage, will need to summon some of that Davis Cup spirit this afternoon. Sam Querrey, one of Wards’s Davis Cup victims in March, said: “It’s aggravating. He beats me, John Isner and then loses 6-2, 6-2 in a Challenger in the middle of nowhere”. We’ve got game-by-game coverage of Ward’s match here.
Tsonga roars as he finally makes some inroads on the Karlovic serve, breaking, before serving out the set, 6-4. It’s one set all, with the winner potentially facing Murray in the last 16.
Radwanska advances, coming back from 0-4 down in second to win 6-1, 6-4 over Dellacqua. Eager to see her likely R16 vs Kvitova. #Wimbledon
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 4, 2015
Heather Watson, back in action after her heroics in defeat to Serena Williams last night, has gone out of the women’s doubles. The British No1 and her partner, New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic, were whitewashed in a final set, losing 7-6, 3-6, 6-0 to Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Coco Vandeweghe.
Updated
A tie-break, too, on Court No3, where Tsonga’s in a spot of bother against Ivo Karlovic, trailing 7-6, 2-2.
In 8 serv games + the TB Jo-Willy won only 3 points on Dr Ivo serv so far
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) July 4, 2015
And Groth’s done it, winning the third-set tie-break 7-5. It’s the first set Federer’s dropped this week.
Groth has set points against Federer! Follow it all here.
Finally today a British (and Australian) win!
Great work from @jamie_murray and @johnwpeers to recover from two sets to one down to beat Monroe/Sitak 6-4 in the fifth
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) July 4, 2015
The irony. John Isner double-faults to lose to Marin Cilic 12-10 in the fifth. Hit 33 aces and only 1 DF before two in last game
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) July 4, 2015
Cilic sees off Isner 12-10 in fifth set!
Cilic already has a match point, on Isner’s serve, leading 11-10 in the deciding set (the US Open champion had a match point yesterday, too, while 5-4 ahead). Isner dismisses the danger with an ace. But here’s another match point – and another ace. A third match point of the day is saved with a volley. Deuce. Advantage Isner. Deuce. Advantage Isner. Deuce. A neverending game in what could yet be a neverending match. But Cilic has other ideas and brings up another match point. And Isner, one of the fiercest servers in the game, double faults! Cilic wins through 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-7, 12-10. It’s all over in only two games and James Ward will be on Court No1 next.
Updated
Madison Keys steadily enough through her WIDE open draw, dismissing Tatjana Maria 6-4, 6-4. Can't face a top-60 foe before QFs. #Wimbledon
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 4, 2015
Madison Keys thumps away a 33rd winner to bring up three match points. The 20-year-old American needs only one as she reaches the second week with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Tatjana Maria.
Marin Cilic and John Isner, after four hours and 16 minutes on court yesterday, are back for the second instalment of their third-round encounter. I refrain from saying “final” instalment, because if Isner’s track record is anything to go by, they’ll be back tomorrow. And the day after. And the day after that. They resume at 10-10 final set.
There are also two big servers firing rockets at each other on Court No3, where Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Ivo Karlovic are in the opening set.
Wozniacki made only three unforced errors. She’s got the consistency, but will she have the weapons to trouble the big-hitters in the second week?
Wozniacki wins, 6-2, 6-2 against Camila Giorgi. Up next for the former world No1, Spain’s Garbine Muguruza, who received a standing ovation on Court No2 following her monumental effort against Angelique Kerber.
After saving NINE set points in first set, No10 Garbine Muguruza beats No10 Angelique Kerber 7-6(12!), 1-6, 6-2. Wozniacki next. #Wimbledon
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 4, 2015
Updated
Federer has his tin hat on over on Centre, where he’s withstanding Groth’s serve bombs and leads by two sets to love, 6-4, 6-4. Les has more here.
Here's how Vicktor Troicki did what Rafa Nadal couldn't manage. Watch: http://t.co/en5y8lOF5m #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/zMQv8cicX4
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 4, 2015
There’s a pattern, isn’t there? In 2012, Nadal lost to Lukas Rosol, who went out in the next round. In 2013, Nadal was defeated by Steve Darcis, who withdrew before his next match. In 2014, Nadal crashed out to Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round, who then exited in the quarter-finals. And it’s the same story this year. Does it show how hard it is to back up a big win? Or is it more a reflection of Nadal’s level on grass in recent years?
Brown beaten 6-4, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 by Troicki
Dustin is down and out on Court No3, Troicki conquering Nadal’s conqueror in four sets, wrapping up proceedings on his third match point. That was a mightily impressive serving performance from the Serb. Brown’s Wimbledon run was brief but it will live long in the memory.
Updated
Sorry for the radio silence. Long lunch queues.
Caroline Wozniacki’s already a break up, 4-2, on Court No1, where she’s playing Italy’s Camila Giorgi. Madison Keys, the young American who’s coached by Lindsay Davenport, is getting started on Court No12 against Germany’s Tatjana Maria, and Agnieszka Radwanska and Casey Dellacqua are warming up on Court No18. Meanwhile, Romania’s Monica Niculescu is the first winner in the women’s singles today, advancing 6-3, 7-5 against Kristyna Pliskova.
Updated
Here's how Dustin Brown got back in his match with Viktor Troicki #Wimbledon Watch: http://t.co/een7nas7VE pic.twitter.com/aMzy9OAe2C
— BBC Tennis (@bbctennis) July 4, 2015
Ivan Drago Groth just hit fastest serv of the tourney at 147 2mph faster then the missile Raonic, the @Wimbledon record 148 is Taylor Dent
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) July 4, 2015
While I was checking in on the Brits, Brown only went and won the third set against Troicki, 6-4, with just the one break of serve. And thump, thump, thump goes the sound on Centre Court, where Groth has already rattled down a serve of 147mph. The Australian leads Federer 2-1 on serve.
Updated
Brit watch. Andrew Benton writes from China: “Thanks muchly for the online commentary. Wondering how the Skupskis fared a couple of days ago? Re other Brits – do please give an update on the chaps/chapesses playing today.”
You’ll wish you hadn’t asked, Andrew. Ken and Neal Skupski lost the other day, and today’s record currently reads played 3, lost 3, with Jocelyn Rae and Anna Smith going out of the women’s doubles, and Ali Collins and Finn Bass defeated in the junior events.
Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut is the first singles winner of the day, 7-6, 6-0, 6-1 against the Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili. He could face Federer next.
Updated
Les is on game-by-game duty for Federer v Groth, so do click over to that if you want to follow the match closely. I’ll keep a little eye on that, but will also be updating on what’s happening around the rest of the grounds.
To get you in the mood for Federer, here’s that shot from Thursday:
Sue Barker has finished doing her bit, which means Roger Federer and Sam Groth will be under way shortly. Groth, who briefly played Aussie Rules football, holds the world record for the fastest ever serve at 163.4mph, and was once dismissed as a serving “novelty act” by Jim Courier. However, he’s worked on his all-round game, has moved to No69 in the world rankings, and is looking to reach the last 16 at a grand slam for the first time at the age of 27, having only played in seven majors.
Better from Dustin Brown, but he needs to do more to upset the 22nd seed #Wimbledon Watch:http://t.co/en5y8lOF5m pic.twitter.com/yM6oKUkgmT
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 4, 2015
Brad Gilbert looks like he’s written off Brown’s chances of turning the match around against Troicki.
amazing how many of the lower ranked guys that come up with the huge upset flame out next rd in straight sets
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) July 4, 2015
Meanwhile, over on Centre, Sue Barker is busy introducing the sports names in the Royal Box. Jimmy Anderson, Andrew Strauss, Kumar Sangakkara, Nicola Adams, Jo Pavey, David Weir, Matt Dawson, Chris Robshaw, Stuart Lancaster, Brian O’Driscoll, Graeme Le Saux, Gary Lineker, Luke Donald, Justin Rose, Joanna Rowsell, Martina Navratilova and Boris Becker are among those to take to their seats. Judy Murray is there too; hopefully she won’t be recreating her shocking Strictly Come Dancing performances despite choosing to bring Anton du Beke.
Troicki wins the second set to lead Brown 6-4, 7-6
And Troicki takes a two sets to love lead when Brown can only direct his backhand volley into the bottom of the net!
Updated
Ace down the middle this time, just to even things out. 6-3 Troicki. I don’t think he’s missed a serve in this breaker ...
Ace down the T, 5-3 Troicki ...
Troicki nets his forehand return. 4-3 to the Serb ...
Brown opts to serve and volley for the 632nd time but Troicki is on to him and pulls off the pass. 4-2 Troicki with the mini-break ...
An unreturned serve makes it 3-2 Troicki ...
Troicki gets it back to 2-2 ...
Brown crashes down a smash ...
Brown gets in on the act too ...
Troicki slams down an ace ...
Which they’re now in. Shall we point-by-point it? Why not ...
Brown and Troicki are hurtling towards a tie-break on Court No3.
Scrum around court 19 as Andy Murray warms up with Jonas Bjorkman. pic.twitter.com/a1jDs0be03
— Nick Lester (@nicklester) July 4, 2015
Brown breaks – Troicki breaks straight back. And 2-2 quickly becomes 4-4.
It’s funny what an unexpected British run at Wimbledon does to the nation. Here’s James Ward recreated by the artist Nathan Wyburn, using eight loaves of bread, 30 rashers of bacon and 30 sausages. I hope Ward didn’t have a full English for breakfast this morning, I don’t think that would be the most healthy fuel for his encounter with Vasek Pospisil later.
Around the grounds. Angelique Kerber, a semi-finalist here in 2012, leads 6-5 on serve in the opening set against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza. The unorthodox Monica Niculescu looks set for the last 16, she’s squash-shotted her way to a 6-3, 2-0 lead over the Czech player Kristyna Pliskova. And Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut has taken the first set on a tie-break against Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Updated
Here's how 22 seed Viktor Troicki won the first set against Dustin Brown #Wimbledon Watch: http://t.co/een7nas7VE pic.twitter.com/2rY8nqotsH
— BBC Tennis (@bbctennis) July 4, 2015
Troicki wins the first set against Brown 6-4
But for all of his entertaining, Brown is in a bit of trouble at 0-30, 4-5 down. Which becomes a big hole at 0-40. Three set points for Troicki. Brown fends off the first at the net, he’s also able to slam the door shut on the second, but on the third there’s too much length on his drop volley and Troicki is able to charge in to rattle away a backhand cross-court pass. “I’m dangerous,” Brown said after bumping out Nadal. “But I can also play a shocking match.” Let’s hope this doesn’t run away from him from here.
Big serve, fall over, drop shot, diving volley winner - just your average Dustin Brown point @DreddyTennis
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) July 4, 2015
Stop it! Brown slips over on his way into the net, but still manages to scramble the ball back, before putting away a volley while diving Becker-like on to the grass. It’s still going with serve, 4-4, though Brown has had four break point chances compared to Troicki’s two.
Oohs and aahs on Court No3 and gasps from those watching on TV in the press room as Brown executes an inch-perfect drop-shot return off a Troicki second serve. Quite ridiculous. You wouldn’t blame Troicki if that befuddled him enough to lose the game, but he comes through from deuce and the Serb leads 3-2 on serve.
It’s middle Saturday! Which means not only will we see the annual parade of sport stars in the Royal Box, it’s also the start of the boys’ and girls’ singles tournaments, as the baby Beckers and wannabe Williamses take lumps out of each other on the outside courts. Britain has six juniors in action today.
Updated
Wimbledon weather watch. After the heavens opened in the early hours of this morning, we’re set for an uninterrupted day’s play:
The calm after the #storm. Full day's play at #Wimbledon2015 expected. Fine, dry and warm. John H pic.twitter.com/rtCQGuLB9i
— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) July 4, 2015
Today’s full order of play for your perusal
CENTRE COURT
1pm start
S Groth (Aus) v R FEDERER (Swi, 2); J JANKOVIC (Ser, 28) v P KVITOVA (Cz, 2); A SEPPI (It, 25) v A MURRAY (GB, 3)
No1 COURT
1pm
C WOZNIACKI (Den, 5) v C GIORGI (It, 31); J Ward (GB) v V Pospisil (Can); G MONFILS (Fr, 18) v G SIMON (Fr, 12)
No2 COURT
11.30am
G MUGURUZA (Sp, 20) v A KERBER (Ger, 10); T BACSINSZKY (Swi, 15) v S LISICKI (Ger, 18); T BERDYCH (Cz, 6) v P Andújar (Sp); E Roger-Vasselin & A Cornet (Fr) v L PAES & M HINGIS (Ind/Swi, 7)
No3 COURT
11.30am
V TROICKI (Ser, 22) v D Brown (Ger) ; J-W TSONGA (Fr, 13) v I KARLOVIC (Cro, 23); C DELLACQUA & Y SHVEDOVA (Aus/Kaz, 9) v D Hantuchova & S Stosur (Svk/Aus)
COURT 12
11.30am
N Basilashvili (Geo) v R BAUTISTA AGUT (Sp, 20); M KEYS (US, 21) v T Maria (Ger); R Lindstedt & J Melzer (Swe/Aut) v L Hewitt & T Kokkinakis (Aus)
COURT 18
11.30am
K Pliskova (Cz) v M Niculescu (Rom); A RADWANSKA (Pol, 13) v C Dellacqua (Aus); M Rybarikova (Svk) v O Govortsova (Blr); R Ram & Arina Rodionova(US/Aus) or A Begemann & J Husarova (Ger/Svk) v B SOARES & S MIRZA (Br/Ind, 2)
COURT FOUR
11am
A Potapova (Rus) v F Di Lorenzo (US); J Nikles (Swi) v A Pellegrino (It); L Stefani (Br) v C Liu (US); S Fukuda (Jpn) v T Sandkaulen (Ger)
COURT 5
11.30am
T Gabashvili & Lu Y-h (Rus/Tai) v D NESTOR & L Paes (Can/Ind, 11); J-S CABAL & R FARAH (Col, 16) v J Marray & F Nielsen (GB/Den); J PEERS & Chan Y-j (Aus/Tai, 14) v M Draganja & A Konjuh(Cro) or C Fleming & J Rae (GB); H TECAU & K Srebotnik (Rom/Svn, 6) v E Butorac & K Marosi (US/Hun) or R Bopanna & MJ Martínez Sánchez (Ind/Sp)
COURT 6
11.30am
A Collins (GB) v S Zhuk (Rus); Y Watanuki (Jpn) v A Canter (GB); L John-Baptiste (GB) v I Neel (US); U Maitane Arconada (US) v M Kilnarova (Cz)
COURT 7
11.30am
J MURRAY & J PEERS (GB/Aus, 13) v N Monroe & A Sitak (US/NZ); L Arruabarrena & I-C Begu (Sp/Rom) v J Gajdosova & A Tomljanovic (Aus); M Daniell & M Demoliner (NZ/Br) v J Erlich & P Petzschner (Isr/Ger)
COURT 8
11.30am
B MATTEK-SANDS & L SAFAROVA (US/Cz, 3) v J Rae & A Smith (GB); B Bencic & K Siniakova (Swi/Cz) v A KUDRYAVTSEVA & A PAVLYUCHENKOVA (Rus, 11); M Niculescu & O Savchuk (Rom/Ukr) v T BABOS & K MLADENOVIC (Hun/Fr, 4); J-J ROJER & A-L GRöNEFELD (Neth/Ger, 11) v A Sitak & Anastasia Rodionova (NZ/Aus)
COURT 9
11am
J Adina Cristian (Rom) v Zheng Wushuang (Chn); M Peña López (Arg) v A Santillan (Jpn); C Muramatsu (Jpn) v E Levashova (Rus); A Bublik (Rus) v S Tsitsipas (Gr); Chung Y-s (Kor) v M Osmakcic (Swi)
COURT 10
11am
N Bains (Aus) v C Robillard-Millette (Can); Oh C-y (Kor) v M Ymer (Swe); F Stollar (Hun) v B Torelli (It); JJ Rosas (Per) v M Dembek (Pol)
COURT 11
11am
M Kecmanovic (Ser) v F Bass (GB); F Cunha Silva (Por) v M Valkusz (Hun); P Yadlapalli (Ind) v M Herazo González (Col); F Christie (GB) v O Pervushina (Rus); RJ Storrie (GB) v N Borges (Por)
COURT 14
11am
A Dougaz (Tun) v A López San Martín (Sp); Y Takahashi (Jpn) v N Ponwith (US); A Pospelova (Rus) v T Mihalikova (Svk); R Masarova (Swi) v M Gordon (US); C Denolly (Fr) v K Raisma (Est)
COURT 15
11am
Ly Nam Hoang (Vie) v P Niklas-Salminen (Fin); C Ruud (Nor) v J Yamasaki (Jpn); K Day (US) v T Andrianjafitrimo (Fr); K Sebov (Can) v TA Black (US)
COURT 16
11.30am
K Knapp & R Vinci (It) v A HLAVACKOVA & L HRADECKA (Cz, 8); D Inglot & E Roger-Vasselin (GB/Fr) v M MATKOWSKI & N ZIMONJIC (Pol/Ser, 7); M Fyrstenberg & K Jans-Ignacik (Pol) or S Lipsky & Chan H-c (US/Tai) v R KLAASEN & R KOPS-JONES (SA/US, 10); M MATKOWSKI & E VESNINA (Pol/Rus, 3) v N Skupski & L Raymond (GB/US) or I Dodig & A Tomljanovic (Cro/Aus)
COURT 17
11.30am
A-L Grönefeld (Ger) & C Vandeweghe (Ger/US) v C GARCIA & K SREBOTNIK (Fr/Svn, 10); M Erakovic & H Watson (NZ/GB) v A MEDINA GARRIGUES & A PARRA SANTONJA (Sp, 16); P-H HERBERT & N MAHUT (Fr, 10) v G Muller & Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (Lux/Pak); A PEYA & T BABOS (Aut/Hun, 5) v P Oswald & B Bencic(Aut/Swi) or D Inglot & E Svitolina(GB/Ukr)
To be arranged
M BRYAN & B MATTEK-Sands (US, 1) v N Monroe & M Brengle (US); N Zimonjic & J Gajdosova (Ser/Aus) v B Bryan & C Garcia (US/Fr, 4); O Marach & O Savchuk (Aut/Ukr) v M Mirnyi & H Watson (Blr/GB)
Troicki squeezes through his opening service game from deuce. The Serb beat Britain’s Aljaz Bedene in the second round on Thursday, and was a Queen’s semi-finalist a couple of weeks ago. Brown holds and it’s 1-1.
Updated
Brown’s backstory, which features camper vans, stringing other players’ rackets for money and his one-time plans to play Davis Cup for Britain, has been well-documented over the past few days. But in case you want to read more, here’s an excellent piece that was written by William Skidelsky after Brown’s victory (also over Nadal) at Halle last year:
According to the ATP rankings, Dustin Brown is the world’s 78th best tennis player. Yet just over a week ago, at the Gerry Weber Open – a Wimbledon warm-up event in Halle, Germany – he beat the world No 1, Rafael Nadal, in straight sets. Actually, beat is too polite a word; pulverised would be better. From 4-4 in the first set, Brown reeled off seven consecutive games, reducing Nadal to the unfamiliar role of bit-player. The Spaniard wasn’t playing badly – he just couldn’t lay his racket on the ball. Aces thundered past him. Service returns streaked to the corners. When Nadal did get the ball in, Brown, who is 6ft 5in and whose body seems to consist entirely of arms and legs (plus flailing dreadlocks), would bound to the net and finish off the point, often with an outrageous angled drop volley or a jubilant slam dunk. Seldom can Nadal have been so comprehensively outplayed, so spectacularly dusted up.
Not surprisingly, the crowd went wild. They were, after all, witnessing a home player pulling off a massive upset, the equivalent of, say, British No 2 Dan Evans taking out Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon. But the excitement was about more than this. It was also to do with the personality and playing style of Brown himself. Brown is a flamboyant presence in a sport that, in recent decades, has become increasingly uniform. He is professional tennis’s closest thing to an eccentric. No one else looks like him. No one else has his repertoire of on-court antics (the celebratory leaps, the eight-foot-high racket tosses). And certainly no one else plays like him. The man who, on Twitter, styles himself as DreddyTennis plays the game in a totally unique way – and the result is utterly captivating to watch.
You can read the rest of the article here.
Troicki is keeping Brown waiting. Brown, sporting a pair of bright red headphones, sits in his chair while there’s no sign of his opponent. The crowd engage in a slow hand clap. They want some action. And then Troicki finally turns up to give them some. Brown takes the headphones off and they’re warming up.
Updated
Today’s other highlights
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Roger Federer faces Australia’s Sam Groth, who holds the world record for the fastest serve at 163.4mph. Groth will have to send down a fair few of those, though, to stop Federer’s serene progress.
- The stop watches will be beeping when Petra Kvitova, the defending champion who’s spent only 93 minutes on court so far, plays the former world No1 Jelena Jankovic.
- There’s a French face-off as Gael Monfils comes up against Gilles Simon.
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Caroline Wozniacki, Sabine Lisicki, Agnieszka Radwanska, Tomas Berdych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga play too, while the dreadlocked and dazzling Dustin Brown is back. Following Thursday night’s breathtaking win over Rafael Nadal, the German-Jamaican has just strutted on to Court No3, where he takes on Serbia’s 22nd seed, Viktor Troicki.
Updated
Good morning! Welcome to day six of our Wimbledon coverage.
Heather Watson made Britain proud during her gut-wrenching loss to Serena Williams last night. In fact, Andy Murray said she made him really effing proud. It seems contradictory to say Watson played the match of her life in defeat, but she did. Williams was blinking back tears on the penultimate point, such was Watson’s fight. They didn’t look like tears of joy at the impending win, more of pain and stress at continuing to chase that calendar slam; if Williams does go on to join Steffi Graf in the history books, she’ll remember Watson as one who gave her an almighty fright.
Today the attention shifts to Murray as he looks to turn British pride in a valiant loss into British pride in a victory. James Ward has the chance to do so too. Murray plays the Italian 25th seed, Andreas Seppi, last on Centre Court, while Ward, through to the third round of a grand slam for the first time, takes on Canada’s Vasek Pospisil in the third match on Court No1, after the conclusion of Marin Cilic v John Isner. The pair were dragged off the canvas in the fading light last night, having landed service blow after service blow. The score was 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-7, 10-10. It was Isner, of course, who prevailed 70-68 in the final set against Nicolas Mahut in 2010. He couldn’t do the same again. Could he?
