With that match wrapped up, it’s time for me to finish the blog. I think you might all be following some kind of football match anyway and I assume I’m not jinxing Roger Federer. Thanks for following, commenting and emailing today. I’ll be back tomorrow.
Gael Monfils, you baffling so and so. Look at the state of this scoreline. The 17th seed has lost 6-7, 0-6, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 to Jeremy Chardy.
Updated
Dan Evans joins Marcus Willis in the second round! He pings a brilliant backhand past Jan-Lennard Struff to seal a 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 win over the German. That makes it two British winners out of eight today! That’s a 25% success rate!
Updated
Roger Federer turns it on in the tie-break again, while Pella tightens up again. It’s a very similar story to the first set. He earns four set points and takes a two-set lead when Pella nets a forehand.
Federer holds from 0-30 down. Another tie-break. He might as well be Ivo Karlovic.
Updated
Pella holds to lead 6-5. He’s playing very well. Federer will serve to force another tie-break.
But Federer holds to 15 for 5-all. Expert serving meant it was never an issue.
The pressure on Guido Pella tells. He double faults then wafts a drop shot into the net to hand Federer two break points. But Federer twices slice into the net to make it deuce and Pella holds for a 5-4 lead. He’ll level the match if he breaks now!
These two are playing some extremely watchable tennis but they’re still on serve in the second set, Pella holding to lead 4-3. Federer looks like he’s going to make the crucial breakthrough soon, though. He’s yet to be troubled on serve by the Argentinian lefty.
Guido Pella fends off a break point, Federer steering a forehand wide, and he holds for a 3-2 lead. Is Marcus Willis watching? No, it seems he’s spent some time on Court 18, cheering on his mate Dan Evans.
Over on Centre Court 18, Dan Evans has won a third set tie-break against Jan-Lennard Struff to lead by two sets to one. I’m sitting on Centre Court now and Roger Federer and Guido Pella are still locked on serve in the second set.
Updated
Here’s our report on Marcus Willis’s win over Ricardas Berankis.
Updated
Guido Pella has made him work for it but Roger Federer has won the first set tie-break 7-5, finishing it off with a precise forehand winner. The Argentinian might not be done yet, though.
Laura Robson beat Angelique Kerber in the first round five years ago. Not this time. The former British No1 was no match for the fourth seed, flapping a forehand into the net on match point and taking just two sets off the German in two sets. Back to the training courts for Robson.
Updated
Guido Pella holds on Centre Court. We’ll have a tie-break.
Kiki Bertens, the 26th seed, has beaten Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 on Court 3. Bertens was a French Open semi-finalist this year. Might she go one better at Wimbledon?
Stunning serving from Federer helps him hold to 6-5. Pella will have to hold to force a tie-break.
Updated
Over on Centre Court, we’re trying to find out who Marcus Willis will face in the second round. Guido Pella has held to 15 for 5-all in the first set against Roger Federer. It’s tight.
You never really know what you’re going to get from Gael Monfils. The sublime. The ridiculous. Sometimes at the same time. He won the first set 7-6 against Jeremy Chardy. He lost the second 6-0. That takes some doing. Elsewhere Jack Sock has beaten Ernests Gulbis 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. A good win for the 27th seed.
Simona Halep is safely into the second round. She’s beaten Anna Schmiedlova 6-4, 6-1.
Updated
On Court 1, Laura Robson trails Angelique Kerber by a set and a break. Not everything’s going to plan.
Marcus Willis hit 43 winners. It felt like 43 million.
To be brutally honest, Roger Federer is probably better off losing to Guido Pella. What chance has he got against Marcus Willis?
To put it into context, Marcus Willis has earned $350 from his tennis career this year. He had to go through six matches of qualifying to get to this point, he’s the world No772, he’s beaten the world No54 and he’s just earned £50,000. He could play Roger Federer on Centre Court on Wednesday!
Marcus Willis😄😄😄😄😄😄 how good is that!
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) June 27, 2016
Updated
“I played great,” says Marcus Willis, speaking courtside. Great? That’s one of the best performances you’ll ever see!
Updated
Marcus Willis beats Ricardas Berankis 6-3, 6-3, 6-4!
Here comes the man they call Willbomb. He’s chucked a fair few explosives over the net today. But he loses the first point as he looks to serve for the match, Berankis cracking a forehand away for 0-15. Back comes the superlative Willis, though, reaching a Berankis volley into the left corner and somehow steering a forehand pass inside the line! It’s 15-all - but Berankis is throwing everything at him now. He dominates the rally. Willis strains and lobs. Berankis smashes. Willis pounds a backhand down the line. Moments later, after Berankis nets a forehand return, he’s clutching two match points. And he only needs one! Berankis hits wide off another monstrous serve and Marcus Willis, who no one had heard of before the weekend, is into the second round of Wimbledon! The celebrations on Court 17 are pretty wild and understandably so.
Updated
From 15-30 down, Berankis holds. Marcus Willis leads 5-4 as he walks back to his chair. When he returns, he’ll serve for a place in the second round. He’s ranked 772nd in the world. What on earth must be going through his head? He’s the new Leicester City. Is there a Marcus Willis lookalike?
Updated
They’re going mad on Court 17 as Marcus Willis, who was 0-40 down, charges forward to put away a volley and hold for a 5-3 lead! He’s had an answer every time he’s been asked a difficult question - and now he’s a game away from the second round of Wimbledon. He’s saved 19 of 20 break points. Of course he has.
Updated
Laura Robson could do with some of that Marcus Willis magic. She’s down a break against Angelique Kerber on Court 1, the German in no mood to mess around. Elsewhere Simona Halep is a set up against Anna Schmiedlova, while Dan Evans has lost a second set tie-break against Jan-Lennard Struff on Court 18.
Updated
Marcus Willis, the chubby genius, saves three Berankis break points. Can he hold? His slice technique is bizarre. They spin so deep. His game is very unconventional, which is probably to be expected. There have been so many light volleyed winners.
A 25-year-old part-timer from Slough!
Willis can’t take two break points and Berankis holds to trail 4-3 in the third set. On Centre Court, meanwhile, some bloke called Roger Federer is out to face Guido Pella.
Willis holds off more break points from Berankis and holds to lead 4-2 in the third set. A break here would more or less seal the match.
Updated
Marcus Willis breaks! He batters a forehand down the line and Berankis can only net! Willis leads 3-2 in the third set. This is absurd. He’s probably going to beat Andy Murray in the final, then win the general election.
Garbine Muguruza has passed a very tough test for a first-round match against Camila Giorgi, who knocks a forehand return wide to concede. Muguruza goes through a 6-2 5-7, 7-4 winner, meaning that we can expect Roger Federer on Centre Court shortly.
Updated
Jack Sock is up a set and a break against Ernests Gulbis, who was good once. Garbine Muguruza, meanwhile, is one hold away from beating Camila Giorgi. She’s about to serve for the match.
Simona Halep, yet to win her first major, is in action on Court 2 and the Romanian has started well, breaking twice for a 4-1 lead against Anna Schmiedlova. Is this her year?
Aces and double-faults: the Marcus Willis story. He’s hit 10 aces and 10 double-faults so far.
Marcus Willis wins the second set to lead 6-3, 6-3!
This is truly bizarre. The world No772 leads by two sets. He’s heading for a likely second-round match with ... Roger Federer.
Updated
The USA’s Steve Johnson, enjoying a surprisingly wonderful season on grass, is enjoying himself against Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri. He took the first set 7-5. Back on Court 17, meanwhile, Marcus Willis has broken again to lead 5-3. He’ll serve for a two-set lead against Ricardas Berankis!
Kei Nishikori has beaten Sam Groth 6-4, 6-3, 7-6, so Court 1 will soon be graced by the presence of Laura Robson and Angelique Kerber.
Hello, reality. Ricardas Berankis has finally broken back against Marcus Willis in the second set on Court 17.
Naomi Broady is out. She loses 6-2, 6-3 to Elina Svitolina. But Dan Evans has taken the first set 6-3 against Jan-Lennard Struff.
Updated
Loud, Italian shouts in the media centre break out. I assume they’re not happy about Camila Giorgi being broken in the third set against Garbine Muguruza. Must be something else going on.
No drama for Milos Raonic. The sixth seed breezes past Pablo Carreno Busta, winning 7-6, 6-2, 6-4. As for Marcus Willis, he’s saved umpteen break points as he looks to consolidate that break.
Marcus Willis breaks to love!
!
The qualifier leads 63, 3-1! It’s impossible to say if Ricardas Berankis is doing anything wrong. This defies all logic.
The 12th seed, Carla Suarez Navarro, has beaten Shuai Zheng 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. But you don’t care about that, do you. You want to hear about Marcus Willis. Another ace. Another hold. He leads 2-1 in the second set and the atmosphere is very Lad Bible. “Djokovic really is one hoopy frood - he really knows where his towel is,” says Andrew Benton. “Does he also use it to shade his eyes from the ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal, a creature so amazingly stupid it assumes that if you can’t see it, it can’t see you, I wonder?”
Updated
Here’s an excerpt from Novak Djokovic’s press conference.
Q. The Wimbledon towels are very popular collectibles among fans. What are the towels’ meanings to you and other players and how would you describe them?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I, at least, kind of plan in advance half of the bag or entire new bag for space for the towels that I take from Wimbledon. Funny that you ask, but there is plenty of requests each year for Wimbledon towels particularly.
I try to sneak in an extra towel here and there during the match, using the excuse that it’s too warm and I’m sweating. Actually I just put an extra towel in the bag. I’m sure the All England Club Committee will forgive me for that extra towel per match.
But it makes a lot of people happy back in my country, the ones that are close to me. It’s a great memorabilia. I have plenty of towels from Grand Slams at home as well. But I also give away a lot.
Q. What do you think when you look at those towels?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I see a great design. I see something that I and many other people appreciate as a great souvenir from the tournament. But during the match, my comfort zone, let’s say. For a second or two, I’m able to lose myself in a towel if I need some concentration. The size of the towel is perfect for that. Just cover your head.
Is an upset brewing on Centre Court? Camila Giorgi took her chance in the 12th game of the second set after carving out a set point and she levels it against Garbine Muguruza. The world No2 has been taken to a third set.
Updated
Marcus Willis saves a break point in the first game of the second set with his seventh ace and eventually clings on to his serve to lead 1-0. This is astonishing. Who is this guy?
It took an almighty effort from Lucie Safarova to reach the second round at the expense of Bethanie Mattek-Sands. But she got there in the end, winning 6-7, 7-6, 7-5.
Updated
In slightly less positive news, Naomi Broady has dropped the first set 6-2 to 17th seed Elina Svitolina. Back on Centre Court, meanwhile, it’s 5-all in the second set between Garbine Muguruza and Camila Giorgi.
Updated
Marcus Willis wins the first set 6-3!
A baffled Ricardas Berankis wallops a backhand wide at 0-40 and Marcus Willis only needs one set point to claim the first set in 31 minutes! Relax, everything’s going to be fine, this is what James Ward meant.
Two more aces and Marcus Willis, the rotund charmer, holds to lead 5-3 in the first set. Berankis will serve to stay in the set.
Updated
Marcus Willis bangs down two aces to save a break point in the eighth game of the first set. He’s Peter Colt. “Come on Willbomb!” someone cries.
Marcus Willis was jigging along to a chant of “Willbomb’s on fire, Berankis is terrified” during the changeover. Welcome to Britain in 2016.
The latest chant on Court 17. “Shoes off if you love Willis!”
Updated
There’s quite a rowdy crowd on Court 17. The Pimm’s is flowing, clearly.
Kei Nishikori is very happy with his afternoon’s work so far having taken a 6-4, 6-3 lead against Sam Groth on Court 1. Milos Raonic is looking good, too, grabbing a 7-6, 6-2 lead against Pablo Carreno Busta.
The chant on Court 18: “Willbomb’s on fire, Berankis is terrified.”
Oh no.
What a start from Marcus Willis! He breaks Berankis in the very first game, delighted to see the Lithuanian double fault on break point. He’s only got to win 17 more games - or 68 more points. It’s easy when you put it like that.
Updated
Gilles Simon has finally got rid of Janko Tipsarevic, beating the stout Serbian 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. It’s good to see Tipsarevic back at Wimbledon for the first time since 2012 but his stay hasn’t lasted long. The 16th seed goes through on Court 18.
Kei Nishikori has broken to lead 6-4, 3-2 against Sam Groth. Laura Robson should start limbering up; she’ll be on Court 1 soon. Elsewhere Andrea Seppi has thumped Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2, 6-4, 6-0, while Britain’s Naomi Broady is about to get going against Elina Svitolina, the 17th seed, on Court 3. But the big story is over on Court 17, where British qualifier Marcus Willis has just started his match against Ricardas Berankis.
Sam Querrey flirted with disaster against the dangerous Lukas Rosol, but the 28th seed has eventually worn the Czech down, winning 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 12-10. A two-set lead isn’t always as imposing as it looks. Kevin Anderson, the 20th seed who has struggled with injuries this year, is also out, losing 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-3 to Denis Istomin.
Updated
Good news for France! Alize Cornet has beaten Polona Hercog 6-3, 6-0, while Nicolas Mahut has beaten Britain’s Brydan Klein easily enough, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4.
“Afternoon Jacob,” says Simon McMahon. Afternoon, Simon.
“I wouldn’t say this to his face, obviously, but McEnroe looks faintly ridiculous in his jacket, shirt and tie with baseball cap and shades combo,” he continues. “By the way, can I be the first to say that Andy Murray is going to win Wimbledon.”
Sam Querrey makes the breakthrough on Court 5! He breaks to 15 to lead 11-10 in the fifth and now the 28th seed will serve for the match against Lukas Rosol. And another five setter is edging towards a conclusion on Court 4, where Denis Istomin has broken for a 5-3 lead against Kevin Anderson.
Milos Raonic has edged a first-set tie-break against Pablo Carreno Busta on Court 2. I wonder if Djokovic will be hoping someone takes him out before the last eight. With John McEnroe in his camp, he could be a bigger threat than ever this year. Elsewhere Andrea Seppi leads by two sets and a break against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
Garbine Muguruza means business. The world No2 has won the first set 6-2 against Camila Giorgi and she’s playing some stonking tennis. Elsewhere David Goffin has thumped Alex Ward
Updated
James Ward was asked about the EU referendum in his press conference. Here’s what he said.
Q. Sky asked you about the political news of the week. You were quite positive about the outcome. Is that right?
JAMES WARD: Yeah, I voted out. I’m not fussed about saying it. I don’t know others who are or not. But, yeah, I voted out. I’m happy with my decision. I think we’ll be all right. Everyone needs to stop panicking and we’ll be fine.
Q. What were your reasons for voting out?
JAMES WARD: Now we’re getting... I’m not going to go into that.
Q. You’re not worried that it will cost you a bit more on the tour?
JAMES WARD: It may do. But it’s still an expensive life out there anyway. I don’t think it’s going to change too much.
Kei Nishikori only needs one break. Sam Groth has a big serve but his returning isn’t up to much and the fifth seed takes it 6-4.
It’s not quite at Isner-Mahut levels yet but marathon fans might be interested by events on Court 5, where it’s 8-8 in the fifth set between Querrey and Rosol.
James Ward has revealed that he voted out in the EU referendum and has urged everyone to stop panicking. So that’s all right then.
Here’s Kevin Mitchell’s match report on Novak Djokovic’s win over James Ward.
Updated
Denis Istomin looked down and out about an hour ago but the man from Uzbekistan has ripped back into his match with Kevin Anderson, fighting back from two sets down to take it into a fifth. Not bad. Anderson, the 20th seed, needs to take care now. As does Sam Querrey, the 28th seed. He also fought back from two sets down against Lukas Rosol but blew a chance to serve out the match and now trails 7-6 in the fifth set on Court 5.
On Courts 1 and 2, a couple of players who are hoping to break the dominance of the Big Four. Kei Nishikori, the fifth seed, is a break up against big-serving Aussie Sam Groth, while Milos Raonic, the sixth seed, is on serve in the first set against Pablo Carreno-Busta.
Here’s an excerpt from Sabine Lisicki’s press conference, where was asked for her thoughts on Nike’s garb.
Q. Important question about your outfit: How did you decide?
SABINE LISICKI: About my outfit? It’s good, no?
Q. How did you decide to pick that one? I know Nike had options here. There was concern about the dress that some players were wearing. How did you come up with yours? Why did you choose it?
SABINE LISICKI: Why did I choose it? Because I felt comfortable in it. For me, the most important thing is to feel comfortable and not to think about anything, and with this I feel great. I like it. I think it looks good. It’s classic. So that’s why I picked that one.
Q. Had you tried the other dress?
SABINE LISICKI: Yes, I did.
Q. You didn’t like it? Or are you uncomfortable in it?
SABINE LISICKI: I didn’t feel comfortable showing that much. (Laughter.)
David Goffin won’t be detained for long. Inspired by Belgium’s victory last night, the 11th seed leads Alex Ward 6-2, 6-3.
Brydan Klein is fading fast. Nicolas Mahut leads by two sets and a break on Court 17. Elsewhere Grigor Dimitrov has won a match! Honest! He beat Bjorn Fratangelo 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the second round. He’s back!
Updated
Garbine Muguruza has started like she means to go on, breaking in the very first game. She hits the ball hard. Has it offended her?
Now on Centre Court, Garbine Muguruza. The French Open champion and world No2 faces Italy’s Camila Giorgi, a dangerous floater.
Another Brit falls, while another’s in trouble. Alex Ward is a set down against David Goffin, unable to stop the 11th seed from taking it 6-2. They’re falling like some kind of small airborne insect.
Djokovic congratulates him for a “flawless” performance in the first nine games. He’s probably entitled to do that.
Novak Djokovic takes the first step towards winning his 13th grand slam and completing the third leg of his attempt to win the golden slam, beating a stubborn James Ward 6-0, 7-6, 6-4. The satisfaction for Ward is that it wasn’t utter humiliation after the first set. He almost won the second. But, really, he was beaten the moment he stepped on Centre Court. He gets a warm ovation from the crowd after contributing to an entertaining match but it wasn’t enough to stop the defending champion. Djokovic is through and he’ll face Adrian Mannarino in the second round.
Updated
It’s all over on Court 1. Venus Williams clenches a fist as she watches a Donna Vekic forehand sail wide, confirming her 7-6, 6-4 victory. That was tough for a first-round match. Williams must be delighted she’s got through this one unscathed. Meanwhile ninth seed Madison Keys has made serene progress, a 6-3, 6-1 winner against Laura Siegmund.
Updated
Venus Williams’s reward for patience is a crucial break in the second set. Donna Vekic overcooks a forehand and Venus breaks to lead 7-6, 5-4 on Court 1. She’ll serve for the match.
Kyle Edmund is in his press conference now, speaking about his defeat to Adrian Mannarino. “I thought I played quite inconsistently,” he says. “It’s just disappointing.” It’s not going well for the British players. James Ward is two sets and a break down against Novak Djokovic, Alex Ward is down an early break against David Goffin and Brydan Klein has lost a first set tie-break against Nicolas Mahut.
And she’s done it! Ekaterina Alexandrova has stunned Ana Ivanovic, beating the 23rd seed 6-2, 7-5 on Court 12! She had to save three break points in the final game but she saved three break points in the final game, earned a match point and cracked an ace down the middle to end Ivanovic’s challenge! It’s not a bad way to mark your first match in a grand slam, is it? Alexandrova is 21, a qualifier and the world No 223.
Updated
Ekaterina Alexandrova is about to serve for victory in her first ever grand slam match! She shakes off the disappointment of being broken, earns two break points and wallops a forehand past Ana Ivanovic when the Serbian bungles a smash at the net! The Russian qualifier leads 6-2, 6-5. Four more points.
Ekaterina Alexandrova couldn’t hold her nerve, alas, and Ana Ivanovic breaks back for 4-all in the second set. On Court 3, meanwhile, British wild card Alex Ward is about to begin against the 11th seed, David Goffin, while Nicolas Almagro has beaten Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 3-6, 6-3 and Lukas Lacko has beaten Paolo Lorenzi 6-4, 6-7, 7-5, 6-3.
Updated
Kazakhstan’s Zarina Diyas, who made the fourth round here in 2014 and 2015, has been sent on her way by Anna Lena Friedsam. The German has recorded a resounding 6-4, 6-0 victory. Elsewhere Madison Keys, the ninth seed and an obvious dark horse, has won the first set of her match against Laura Siegmund. The American takes it 6-3.
Ekaterina Alexandrova is two games away from causing a major upset. The Russian qualifier is a set and a break up against Ana Ivanovic, the 23rd seed and former French Open champion. Can she hold her nerve? She only needs two more holds of serve and she’ll have won her first ever grand slam match.
Updated
Fun time’s over. James Ward steers a backhand wide and Novak Djokovic wins the second set tie-break 7-3 to lead 6-0, 7-6. “If James Wardedoes lift the nation, how much will he win?” says Andrew Benton. “Can he lift the pound?”
An epic tie-break on Court 4 ends with Kevin Anderson taking it 15-13 against Denis Istomin to forge a two-set lead. The 20th seed had a good 2015 but he’s had a tough time this year.
Updated
Grigor Dimitrov has won a set of tennis! He’s actually won one. Anything’s possible. The Bulgarian takes it 6-3 against the USA’s Bjorn Fratangelo on Court 16.
Updated
James Ward does hold on Centre Court. They’re into a tie-break in the second set, a triumph of sorts for the 29-year-old.
A minor classic over on Court 7, where they’re into a fifth. Nicolas Almagro appears to have steadied the ship after letting a two-set lead slip against Rogerio Dutra Silva - the Spaniard leads 3-0 in the decider.
James Ward had three break points in the 11th game of the second set and he couldn’t take a single one. Novak Djokovic is struggling - these things are relative - but he holds to lead 6-5. Ward will have to hold serve to force a tie-break.
Donna Vekic learns the hard way that you can’t fritter away two set points on your serve against Venus Williams and expect to win the set. The No8 seed roars back to break and then win the tie-break 7-3.
Janko Tipsarevic, who could do with a decent Wimbledon before Serbia’s Davis Cup quarter-final against Great Britain, is having a decent Wimbledon so far. Having suffered so much because of injuries, Tipsarevic took the first set 6-4 against the 16th seed, Gilles Simon.
Ana Ivanovic, the 23rd seed, has dropped the opening set on Court 12 to a Russian qualifier, Ekaterina Alexandrova. The world No223 wins it 6-2. Crikey.
Updated
James Ward holds for 5-all in the second set and the Centre Court crowd is properly into this now. Djokovic led 6-0, 3-0! James Ward, the hero of the post-Brexit era, the man to lift a nation.
Donna Vekic, 19 years old, is sighing after wasting two break points against Venus Williams, who promptly breaks back to force a tie-break. A harsh lesson for the youngster.
... Donna Vekic is serving for the first set against Venus Williams. The 19-year-old leads 6-5. But she’s squandered two set points.
Updated
Let’s zip around the courts quickly. Japan’s Kurumi Nara is through - she’s beaten the USA’s Madison Brengle 6-2, 6-7, 6-3. David Ferrer leads by a set and a break against Dudi Sela. Sara Errani, the 20th seed, has won the first set 6-4 against Patricia Maria Tig. And over on Court 1...
Here’s today’s picture of the day. Anyone for tennis?
The all-Croatian dust-up on Court 8 ends with the durable Ivo Karlovic wearing down his younger compatriot, beating Borna Coric 7-6, 7-6, 6-4. We’re still waiting for Coric to make a proper impact in a slam, for all his potential. Karlovic stomps on and there won’t be too many who’ll relish spending an afternoon with the tie-break machine.
Thanks to Les for stepping in while I was having a plate of salad. I’m back now and I see that anarchy reigns, James Ward breaking Novak Djokovic. Whatever next?
As Djokovic stops the rot with a business-like hold, over on Court One Venus Williams is a couple of points away from taking the first set against Donna Vekic of Croatia. And with that, I’ll hand you back to a refuelled and reinvigorated Jacob.
From being blown away, Ward is now reading the Djokovic game so well that he almost overruns an attempted pass by the Serb. He doesn’t, though, capitalising on some fine anticipation to angle off a forehand volley, and suddenly he’s 40-0 up. Djokovic hits back with a lovely backhand winner, but Ward holds firm to see out the game and he’s now level at 3-3. Wonderful stuff.
Updated
Crikey, Ward really is feeling better – he’s only gone and broken! True, it was largely the result of some wayward shotmaking from Djokovic. Still, he’s now back on serve at 3-2 in the second set and showing real signs of life. Wow.
Updated
But wait a moment, because Ward is finally on the scoreboard! With 41 minutes gone, the Brit slams an ace down the centre of the deuce court and hold his arms aloft in tongue-in-cheek triumph. The Centre Court crowd roars its approval. Defeat may be inevitable, but Ward will be feeling a whole lot better now.
Updated
Yikes. Djokovic underlines his supremacy with a sweeping forehand winner to secure another quick break. Ward must feel the match is passing at a rate of knots. For Djokovic, though, time seems to stand still. Forget the lushness of the pristine Centre Court grass at this early stage in the fortnight, the Serb seems top have all the time in the world on the ball. That’s partly a tribute to his immaculate footwork, partly down to Ward’s lack of firepower. Djokovic caresses a drop volley into the open court and he’s a set and 3-0 up.
As Jacob heads off for a well-earned sarnie, Djokovic continues to display an unrelenting appetite for victory. He holds to love and Ward really needs to make an impression on the scoreboard soon if the second set is not to go the same way as the first.
James Ward double-faults with the manner of a man who’s had enough, beginning his march back to his chair almost as soon as the ball left his racquet. He knew that second serve wasn’t getting over the net. He looks broken already. Such is the torment of playing Novak Djokovic, who’d probably be Universe No1 if they happen to play tennis in outer space. Djokovic takes the first set 6-0 on Centre Court. Stranger things have happened and so on and so forth but they can probably call this one now. I’m going to grab some lunch. I’ll be back soon.
Updated
After 21 minutes, Novak Djokovic leads 4-0. James Ward hasn’t even played that badly. The applause on Centre Court is rather muted.
Updated
They’ve split sets on Court 17. Kurumi Nara took the first 6-2, Madison Brengle has taken the second 7-6. It’s anyone’s match now. Meanwhile Kevin Anderson, the 20th seed, is a set up against Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin.
Updated
Elsewhere Ivo Karlovic leads 7-6, 7-6 against Borna Coric, who squandered two set points in the second-set tie-break. Coric has been far too profligate.
A calm and collected Novak Djokovic whistles a forehand down the line to break straight away. He’s looking impenetrable. James Ward is struggling to make any impact with his groundstrokes; he’s not going to beat Djokovic if it’s going to be long baseline rallies all afternoon. Djokovic took the game to deuce and then began to move Ward around, biding his time and then punching a forehand away. But hang on. Ward responds impressively, carving out a 0-40 lead on Djokovic’s serve thanks to a lovely backhand pass. He can’t take the break points, however, and Djokovic forces deuce. Then a fourth break point goes begging. Djokovic holds to lead 3-0.
Updated
Adrian Mannarino’s crafty lefty game is causing Kyle Edmund all kinds of problems. Edmund’s head is beginning to drop. His shoulders are beginning to slump.
I am shocked. Ivo Karlovic has taken Borna Coric to a second consecutive tie-break. Someone fetch the smelling salts.
Novak Djokovic doesn’t seem to be fazed by any nerves, holding to love in the first game against James Ward. Don’t worry, though, I’ve got a good feeling about this one.
Play is about to begin on the show courts. It’s Novak Djokovic versus James Ward on Centre, Venus Williams versus Donna Vekic on Court 1.
Kyle Edmund has a mountain to climb now. He’s lost his serve and he’s lost two sets. Adrian Mannarino leads 6-2, 7-5 on Court 2.
Updated
How many points would Novak Djokovic win with his shoelaces tied together? Not against James Ward specifically, just in general.
Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi! Sam Stosur safely advances, seeing off Magda Linette 7-5, 6-3 on Court 3.
Updated
Adrian Mannarino responds to adversity by breaking Kyle Edmund again to lead 6-5 in the second set. Hmm. It’s not going to plan for the British No4. Oh well. Maybe James Ward will fare better against Novak Djokovic on Centre Court. Maybe. They’re out now.
Updated
Having held for 5-all, Marin Cilic breaks to lead 6-5, Brian Baker unable to cope once the Croatian upped the intensity. Baker dabs a couple of sad forehands into the net and Cilic will serve for a two-set lead on Court 12.
Without ceremony, though, Cilic does hold for 5-all. More interestingly, Kyle Edmund has broken back with Mannarino serving for the second set at 5-4. He’s still got to hold serve here, then break, then win two more sets. But rule Britannia.
Updated
Battling hard, Brian Baker holds for a 5-4 lead against Marin Cilic in the second set on Court 12. Cilic will have to hold if he’s going to stay in this second set. Meanwhile Kyle Edmund has just demonstrated some outstanding hurdling skills, avoiding an injury by leaping over a rogue courtside chair as he hunts down a Mannarino shot.
A seed has fallen. Irina Camelia-Begu, the 25th seed, has some free time on her hands now – there’s a Franco Manca near the station, if she fancies some lunch – after losing 6-1, 6-4 to Germany’s Carina Withoeft.
Updated
Farewell, Shelby Rogers, thanks for coming. The American is out, thumped 6-1, 6-3 by Sabine Lisicki.
A mighty performance from Daria Kasatkina. The 19-year-old Russian has excelled on her Wimbledon debut, beating Victoria Duval 6-0, 7-5. Imagine being that nerveless at that age. She’s effectively Russia’s Marcus Rashford.
What rotten luck for Borna Coric! Serving at 8-9 in the tie-break against Ivo Karlovic, he sees a sliced backhand return from his experienced compatriot clip the top of the net and dribble over while he’s stranded and helpless on the baseline. That’s a grim way for the teenager to lose the first set.
The Duval revival didn’t last long. Daria Kasatkina breaks to lead 6-5 in the second set. Over on Court 3, meanwhile, 14th seed Sam Stosur is a set up against Magda Linette of Poland.
Lukas Lacko, a Slovakian qualifier, has won the first set 6-4 against Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi on Court 10. And Pierre-Hugues Herbert has taken the first set 7-5 against Philipp Kohlschreiber, the 21st seed.
Updated
Victoria Duval was 6-0, 2-0 down not so long ago but she’s fighting back against a previously rampant Daria Kasatkina, breaking back. It’s 5-5 in the second set on Court 4.
Are you sitting down? Ivo Karlovic is in a tie-break.
FASHION NEWS
Worth noting after the "everyone wears the Nike dress" decree: Sabine Lisicki is wearing top and skirt.
— Stephanie Myles (@OpenCourt) June 27, 2016
Kyle Edmund is heading towards a hasty exit at the moment. Adrian Mannarino is playing some gorgeous tennis, dinking and lobbing and volleying to break at the start of the second set. He’s giving young Edmund the runaround here.
More first sets are done and dusted. Marin Cilic broke Brian Baker for a 5-3 lead and served it out, while Nicolas Almagro is a set up against Brazil’s Rogerio Dutra Silva.
Adrian Mannarino is in storming form, blasting Kyle Edmund away, winning the first set 6-2. The British lad’s floundering here.
Kyle Edmund is vulnerable on his serve today, damagingly so. He got one of those breaks back against Adrian Mannarino – but the Frenchman breaks for a third time and will serve for the first set at 5-2.
Sabine Lisicki, a tearful finalist in 2013, has whizzed away the first set against Shelby Rogers. The German takes it 6-1.
Updated
And Adrian Mannarino has broken again for a 4-1 lead. Bloody Frenchmen, coming over here, beating our boys.
Kyle Edmund’s in trouble early on. He’s a break down against Adrian Mannarino in the first set.
Daria Kasatkina, the very impressive young Russian, has blitzed Victoria Duval, winning the first set 6-0 in no time at all. What a start from the 19-year-old!
Brian Baker is 31 and, though this is not a particularly fascinating fact on its own, he must be wondering where the time has gone. His career is a tale of lost potential, but through no fault of his own. The American was a hugely talented junior - to put it into context, he lost to Stan Wawrinka in the 2003 boy’s final at the French Open, beating Marcos Baghdatis and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to get there - but injuries robbed him of his best years. He’s plugged away, though, and he’s up against Marin Cilic, the ninth seed, at the moment.
A decent start for Kyle Edmund on Court 2, a hold in the first game for the British No3. What do you think’s achievable for the 21-year-old? He’s got a wicked forehand and you might recall him playing lights-out tennis in the first two sets of the Davis Cup semi-final against David Goffin before running out of steam.
Updated
Games have been won - this is real now. It’s happening. Russia’s Daria Kastkina, the 29th seed, has made a fast start on Court 4, breaking for a 2-0 lead against the USA’s Victoria Duval. She must want to be done in time for Spain v Italy, it’s the only possible explanation.
And ... play!
The courts are packed, the players are out and balls are flying. Off we go!
On Court 2, the first match sees British No3 Kyle Edmund take on France’s Adrian Mannarino. Edmund is improving - why, he even took a set off Andy Murray at Queen’s - and the 21-year-old has a fair chance of getting through here. Mannarino, however, is no mug. The world No55 got to the fourth round three years ago.
The Wimbledon theme tune is blaring out on the BBC. The players will be hitting tennis balls soon on the outside courts. The 130th Wimbledon is almost underway!
If you’re looking for an intriguing match on an outside court, there’s one that catches my beady eye. Grigor Dimitrov, a semi-finalist two years ago, has been shoved out to Court 16, where he’ll be taking on the USA’s Bjorn Fratangelo later today. Oh, the ignominy! Dimitrov was edging towards the top 10 not so long ago but the world No37’s recent form has been horrible. He tumbled out of the French Open in the first round and has lost both of his matches on grass here. What do you think has gone wrong? He’s 25, no longer a player with youthful potential. His opponent today is 22, ranked 112th in the world and a Wimbledon debutant.
The sun is shining now but play isn’t due to start for another 40 minutes or so. The gates have been opened, though, and fans are milling around, soaking up the atmosphere, thumbing through the order of play and trying to work out which court they should head to.
Updated
Preamble
Hello. The skies are grey, there’s rain in the air and more than little uncertainty, but at least Wimbledon’s here to offer us some respite from reality. Reality. Curses to reality. There’ll be none of that here over the next fortnight. For example, now that we’ve got our country back, you’d have to assume that both singles finals will simply be a British free-for-all, Johanna Konta and Heather Watson and Naomi Broady and Laura Robson deciding to share the women’s title, the good old-fashioned way, and a tag-team of Brits teaming up to smite some FOREIGN chancer to claim the men’s final. Hurrah! Hip hip! Huzzah! Hooray! What a country. We’ve got it back.
Unfortunately, as the last few days have proved, you can’t live outside reality for too long. So we probably shouldn’t expect James Ward, 29 years old and ranked 177 in the world, too detain Novak Djokovic for too long in the opening match on Centre Court. Laura Robson is on the comeback trail after wrist trouble but the former British No1 has seen her ranking slip and her task is daunting against Angelique Kerber, the Australian Open champion.
Then again, what is sport if it’s not a chance to dream? Today life imitates art of sorts, with 25-year-old Marcus Willis, who is set to rise from his ranking at world no706, seizing his chance in qualifying and making the first round for the first time by beating Daniil Medvedev on Friday. Willis, a left-hander who makes a living from coaching and club tennis, only got a spot after Scott Clayton’s last-minute withdrawal at Roehampton. Today, incredibly, he is in the Peter Colt role, up against Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis on Court 17. If he beats the world No53, he could face Roger Federer in the second round.
But there’s a familiar name. Federer is back at his second home after missing the French Open with back trouble, still hopeful of winning his eighth title here and 18th grand slam overall, ready to take on Argentina’s Guido “Fawkes” Pella. The problem for Federer? His likely semi-final opponent is Djokovic. It’s hard to look past the world No1.
Beyond those two giants, the usual suspects are here today. Kei Nishikori is up against Sam Groth, Milos Raonic faces Pablo Carreno Busta, David Ferrer meets Dudi Sela, Marin Cilic duels Brian Baker and keep an eye out for an all-Croatian affair first up on Court 8, where the rising Borna Coric will try to deal with a barrage of aces from Ivo Karlovic.
In the women’s draw, the defending champion doesn’t start until tomorrow. We must wait to catch a glimpse of Serena Williams, who’s still not got that 22nd major in the bag. But we will be treated to the sight of her conqueror in the French Open on Centre Court. Garbine Muguruza is hungry for more after losing to Williams in the final here last year, before clumping her in Paris, although the world No2 will need to have her wits about her against Camila Giorgi.
Elsewhere Venus Williams, the No8 seed, could have her hands full with Donna Vekic on Court 1, Madison Keys faces Laura Siegmund and Simona Halep will hope to see off Anna Schmiedlova without too much stress.
It’s a tennis feast! Let play begin!
Play begins at: 11.30am BST.
