Svetalana Kuznetsova has seen off Caroline Wozniacki, winning 7-5, 6-4. With play suspended on the outside courts, I’m going to wrap up the live blog here. Thanks for following. Join us for more live coverage tomorrow. Bye!
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PLAY ABANDONED!
There will be no further play on the outside courts because of persistent showers.
The covers are staying on for the time being. They’re expecting more showers.
The match between Coco Vandeweghe and Kateryna Bondarenko has been moved to Centre Court. Kuznetsova leads by a set and a break against Wozniacki.
Svetlana Kuznetsova thrashes a forehand volley away. The first set is hers. 7-5.
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Svetlana Kuznetsova has made harder work of this first set than might have been anticipated when she broke for a 2-0 lead. But she’s just broken Caroline Wozniacki to lead 6-5.
Blimey. Gilles Muller hit 51 aces in his 4-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 15-13 win over Santiago Giraldo today.
An interesting snippet: Juan Martin del Potro is working with Andy Murray’s old chum, Dani Vallverdu. “We will see after Wimbledon what is the plan,” Del Potro said. “We have a great relationship. We know each other since juniors players. He’s a great person. So we are working well here. But we will see after here what’s happen.”
The word from the referee’s office is that the rain will last for an hour and that there will be further showers after that.
Caroline Wozniacki has shaken off the rust. Trailing 2-0, she’s rallied to win three straight games and lead 3-2, fending off three Kuznetsova break points to hold in the fifth game.
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Thanks heavens for the roof. At least we have play on Centre Court, where it’s former world No1 against former French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova. The Russian leads 2-0.
PLAY IS SUSPENDED
It’s raining. Hard. The covers are coming on.
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It won’t surprise you to learn that Bernard Tomic and Fernando Verdasco have gone into a fifth set. Verdasco has won the fourth set 6-3. What next? Your guess is as good as mine.
Tara Moore heeds my advice and gets a move on! She becomes the first British woman to reach the second round of Wimbledon this year, beating Alison van Uytvanck 6-3, 6-2, the Belgian knocking a forehand return long on match point. That’s Moore’s first ever grand slam win and the world No227 has done it against a player 100 spots above her in the rankings.
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My colleague, Simon Cambers, says there are a few spots of rain in the air. Tara Moore needs to get a move on, then. She leads 6-3, 5-1 against Alison van Uytvanck.
Andy Murray’s off. He bangs a forehand into the right corner and although Liam Broady gets it back, Murray simply feathers a drop shot away to seal a comfortable 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 win over the world No235. A pleasant enough workout for Murray. There are tougher tests down the line. He’ll face Taiwan’s Yen-Hsun Lu on Thursday. Lu beat Alexander Kudryavtsev 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 earlier.
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Johanna Konta’s power is too much for Monica Puig at the moment. She pounds her with backhand after backhand and Puig crumbles on set point. The first is over after 23 minutes and Konta takes it 6-1. She’s a set away from reaching the second round for the first time.
It’s heartening to see Eugenie Bouchard, a beaten finalist in 2014, enjoying herself on Court 12. She’s not had much to smile about since that final. But she is a set up against Magdalena Ribarikova, winning it 6-3.
Roberta Vinci, the sixth seed, progresses in the end, beating Alison Riske 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. Over on Court 18, meanwhile, Tomas Berdych leads Ivan Dodig 7-6, 5-7, 6-1. And on Court 11, there’s been another marathon match, with Gilles Muller squeaking past Santiago Giraldo 4-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 15-13. Though they still have nothing on Isner-Mahut.
A brief loss of concentration from Andy Murray, who dozily gives up two break points, but he saves both and holds to lead 4-2 in the third set. Elsewhere Tara Moore has a break in the second set on Court 8. Is she finally going to make it into the second round?
An electric start from Johanna Konta on Court 1. She earns another break point and takes it when Monica Puig nets a forehand. The double break is hers. Konta leads 3-0.
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Bernard Tomic is in command on Court 2. He leads 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 against Fernando Verdasco.
What a start for Johanna Konta! She’s broken in the first game on Court 1. An anxious Monica Puig was very careless.
As for Tomas Berdych, he’s been sketchy throughout 2016 and the Czech has dropped the second set against Ivan Dodig on Court 18. The Croatian battles back after losing the first on a tie-break, winning the second 7-5.
Alex Zverevz - who could be tennis’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic according to a good judge I know - is strutting his stuff on Court 16. The 19-year-old German has the first set against Paul-Henri Mathieu, winning it 6-3. We could see Thiem v Zverev in the fourth round if everything goes to plan. Not bad.
Flying below the radar, Tara Moore is a set away from reaching the second round. The British wild card has won the first set 6-3 against Belgium’s Alison van Uytvanck on Court 8.
On Court 1, Johanna Konta emerges to a huge reception. The British No1 has never been past the first round before. This is her fifth attempt and she’s never been in a better position. The 25-year-old has been in the form of her life in the past year and could go far. She hasn’t got an easy draw, though. Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig is a very strong player.
Andy Murray is turning the screw now, breaking in the first game of the third set. Liam Broady’s race is almost run, I’m afraid, and he’s teetering badly. Elsewhere Bernard Tomic has steadied himself on Court 2, winning the second set against Fernando Verdasco and breaking at the start of the the third, while Alison Riske has taken Roberta Vinci to a third and final set.
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Dustin Brown was asked about Germany’s chances at the Euros. His reply? “If we’re not on the court and home, we watch a little bit. Yesterday obviously everybody saw the Iceland stuff. Yeah. I’m not the biggest football fan. Soccer, whichever you want to call it. Obviously it’s always great when Germany wins, but I also watched Game of Thrones yesterday, which was more important for me.”
Andy Murray has the second set in the bag. Liam Broady slices into the net and Murray leads 6-2, 6-3. It’s a non-event.
Stan Wawrinka has quelled the admirable challenge of the American teenager Taylor Fritz, who clearly has a big future in the game. Fritz gave Wawrinka a lot to think about on Court 1 but he couldn’t sustain it and loses 7-6, 6-1, 6-7, 6-4. Wawrinka’s second-round opponent is Juan Martin del Potro, victorious in his first match at Wimbledon since 2013. The big Argentinian has crushed Stephane Robert 6-1, 7-5, 6-0. Blimey. That’s great to see. He’s one of the most watchable male players around. That should be a cracking match. Meanwhile Benoit Paire has outlasted Franko Skugor on Court 11, beating the Croatian qualifier 3-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3, 10-8.
Liam Broady pings a forehand into the corner to hold. He pumps his fist. But Murray will serve for the second set.
Liam Broady is about to serve to stay in the second set. He just had 0-30 on Murray’s serve but he couldn’t capitalise. Murray held to lead 5-2.
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Nick Kyrgios faces Dustin Brown in the second round, by the way. That should be nothing if not entertaining. “That’s another tough one,” Kyrgios said. Especially on the grass. I think he just waits for this time of the year. He’s a good friend of mine as well. When you’re playing a guy like Dustin, you hope it’s not a day when he’s feeling it, he can’t miss, he’s enjoying it. When he’s playing like that, we all know what he can do, what he’s capable of. He’s a great player. As well, he’s exciting. I’m ready to have fun out there with him.”
Caroline Garcia, who somehow contrived to lose to Heather Watson in the first round last year, is through to the second round. The 30th seed tames Turkey’s Cagia Buyukakcay 6-2, 6-3. Garcia is only 22. Triumphant in Mallorca last week, she could go far.
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Benoit Paire is being given one hell of a ride by Franko Skugor. The Croatian qualifier is serving to make it 8-all in the fifth set on Court 11. It’s all good news for John Millman, who faces one of these two next.
Judy Murray will be even more pleased. A double-fault from Liam Broady is enough for Andy Murray to break to 15 and lead 6-2, 3-1 on Centre Court. For all the excitement about two British players meeting at Wimbledon, it’s quite a drab match simply because Murray is way too strong.
Judy Murray will be pleased. Feliciano Lopez is into the second round, beating Rajiv Ram 7-6, 6-4, 6-4. Only one tie-break!
The way things are looking now, we’re going to have a treat on Thursday: Stan Wawrinka versus Juan Martin del Potro, who now leads 6-1, 7-5 against Stephane Robert.
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Stan Wawrinka is stamping out the first sign of insurrection on Court 1. Having dropped the third set, he’s broken Taylor Fritz twice to lead 3-0 in the fourth set.
The Fanatics had something to cheer earlier on Court 2 when Nick Kyrgios beat Radek Stepanek in four sets. But times are tough now. Bernard Tomic is also going to have to do it in at least four sets to join Kyrgios in the second round - the 19th seed has dropped the opening set 6-4 to Fernando Verdasco.
Andy Murray wins the first set 6-2, grabbing two set points on Liam Broady’s serve, strolling ahead when his opponent sees a shot sail wide. There’s very little drama on Centre Court.
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Taylor Fritz looked down and out when he lost the second set 6-1 against Stan Wawrinka. Think again. The 18-year-old American has revived his hopes of springing a surprise by winning a third set tie-break 7-2. Problem, however: Wawrinka is a break up in the fourth set.
Andy Murray edges closer towards taking the first set on Centre Court, holding to lead 5-2. He’s been in outstanding form this year. It’s just a shame Novak Djokovic exists. In an alternative universe he’d be on 15 slams.
Russia’s Elena Vesnina, who was in sharp form in Eastbourne last week, is into the second round. She’s beaten Austria’s Tamira Paszek 7-5, 6-2.
Timea Babos has no room for sentimentality. The Hungarian makes it a short Wimbledon debut for Katie Swan, beating the British wild card 6-2, 6-3 on Court 16. Swan did get one break in the second set but it wasn’t enough and she’s off to lick her wounds. She’ll learn from this disappointment, though.
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Liam Broady is on the board. He raises his racquet in appreciation as the crowd applauds him winning his first game to trail 3-1. But Andy Murray is looking mean and magnificent, in no mind to hand out any free gifts. He promptly holds to 15 to lead 4-1.
Tomas Berdych is starting to exert some control on Court 18. Taken to a first set tie-break by Ivan Dodig, the 10th seed edged it 7-5, which seems to have settled him. He’s broken at the start of the second set.
Yulia Putintseva is safely into the second round, beating Marina Melkinova 7-5, 6-2 on Court 14. The Kazakh was unfortunate not to beat Serena Williams in the French Open this year.
Here, this Andy Murray chap doesn’t look half bad. He pushes Liam Broady around the baseline, hooks a forehand from right to left and breaks for a 2-0 lead when his opponent nets. 233 places separate these two in the rankings; it shows.
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Roberta Vinci, the sixth seed, has won the first set 6-2 on Court 3 against Alison Riske. The best the 33-year-old Vinci has ever managed here is two fourth round appearances.
John Millman is into the second round, beating Albert Montanes 7-5, 4-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. He’ll face wither Franko Skugor or Benoit Paire, who are into a fifth set on Court 11.
Juan Martin del Potro looks like he’s never been away, stomping away with the first set against Stephane Robert, winning it 6-1. Is it possible not to love Delpo?
A tough one for the Centre Court crowd today. Who to support? Andy Murray or Liam Broady? Two Brits enter ... one Brit leaves. Play in the second match on Centre will begin shortly. Broady, whose middle name is Tarquin, got to the second round last year. It’s doubtful he’s going to equal that result last year.
Making her grand slam debut, Britain’s Katie Swan is discovering what it’s like to mix it with the best. The 17-year-old Bristolian, here on a wild card, has been blown away by Hungary’s Timea Babos in the opening set on Court 16, going down 6-2.
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Argentina 1-0 Japan! Juan Monaco beats Taro Daniel 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
It’s all over on Centre Court, where Serena Williams summon all the power and glory of Hawkeye to secure her win over Amra Sadikova. Clutching two match points, she was outraged to see her shot called out. Me? Miss a tennis shot? Me, Serena Williams? I don’t think so. And so it proved. The ball caught the line, confirming a 6-2, 6-4 win for the world No1. Which means that Andy Murray and Liam Broady will be on Centre Court soon.
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Out on Court 12, Juan Martin del Potro is already in the groove against Stephane Robert. The hulking Argentinian has helped himself to a double break and leads 4-1 in the first set. It would be lovely to see him regain his rightful place in the top 10.
Thanks, Les. I’m back. Did you miss me? Oh. Fine. Moving on, then, you’ll be pleased to hear that Stan Wawrinka has a two-set lead over Taylor Fritz, who’s fading on Court 1. Well, unless you’re American. Or part of the Fritz family. I’ll stop digging.
Back on Centre, Sadikovic is serving at a set and 3-4 down. Lose this game and she’ll be staring down the barrel. Does it bother her? Does it heck. She seals a love hold, and that one looks to be coming to the boil nicely as I hand you back to the fit and firing Jacob Steinberg.
Stan the Man is going great guns on Court One now. He’s bagged a double break against Fritz with a forehand winner and, as the match passes the hour mark, he looks set fair for round two. Fritz, incidentally, is the son of Kathy May, who rose as high as 10th in the world back in the 70s and reached the last eight in Paris and New York. Pretty decent pedigree that, I’d say.
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He may have gone out in the opening round of the past two slams, but what a competitor Stepanek remains at the ripe old age of 37. He pushed Andy Murray all the way in Paris and gave Kyrgios a rare tussle here. The Aussie will be relieved to have come through that one.
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Stepanek nets with a tame backhand and it’s all over. Cue a matey hug at the net between the two men, and a smile – yes, you read that right – from Kyrgios. Amazing what a win can do for one’s mood.
Over on Centre, Serena gets her challenge firmly back on track, holding to 15 with a trademark double-hander into the open court. Kyrgios, meanwhile, is now the proud owner of two match points …
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Still looking moody and broody, Kyrgios is now 5-0 up. Stepanek to serve to stay in the match.
As Kyrgios registers a second break, he looks all but home and dry. Then again, having come within a whisker of victory already, he’ll not be counting any chickens just yet. As for Sadikovic, she continues to give a good account of herself on Centre Court, where Williams has just had to claw back an early break. It’s 2-2.
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Meanwhile, over on Court One, fourth seed Stan Wawrinka has wrapped up a tight opening set against the American teenager Taylor Fritz. He’s got his head screwed on, has Fritz, and has so far handled the match with immense maturity, narrowly losing out on a tiebreak. It’s been impressive stuff from a young man hailed as the future of American tennis, and it’ll be fascinating to see if he can continue to push Stan close.
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Kyrgios is engaged in a heated debate with the umpire. He’s not happy about that earlier code violation, but he is 3-0 up in the fourth set. Some people are never happy, eh?
Thanks very much, Jacob. Well, the afternoon is shaping up nicely at the All England Club, no? We’ve got Nick Kyrgios battling his inner demons against Radek Stepanek on Court Two, and doing so with some success after an abject service game from Stepanek handed him an early break in the fourth set. The Aussie is serving with new balls, too, which should improve his mood. And on Centre Court, Serena continues to make surprisingly heavy weather of things against Amra Sadikovic. She may be a set down, but Sadikovic – a qualifier ranked No148 – has acquitted herself well so far against the champion. So well, in fact, that it’s hard to believe she hung up her rackets a couple of years back with every intention of giving up the game for good.
Serena Williams doesn’t look like anything is going to detain her today. The world No1 has won the first set 6-2 against designated stooge Amra Sadikovic. I’m going to grab some lunch and leave you in the capable hands of Les Roopanarine.
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Now Nick Kyrgios is having a row with the umpire - I think he might have been given a warning for an audible obscenity. “What did I say? What did I say? What did I say?”
Radek Stepanek is beating his chest and glaring at his box after winning the third set tie-break with an elegant forehand pass! Nick Kyrgios had two match points and couldn’t take either. The second was on his serve but he ballooned a forehand and this is the consequence. Kyrgios leads 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 and Stepanek clearly has nowhere better to be today.
Nick Kyrgios earns a match point - but Radek Stepanek saves it with a diving volley! Petr Cech will approve.
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Nick Kyrgios saves a third break point with an ace. Radek Stepanek endures more frustration.
Radek Stepanek was 5-2 up in the tie-break. Now he’s failed to take two set points. It’s 6-all.
Taylor Fritz, only 18, is holding his own against Stan Wawrinka on Court 1. There’s still not been a break in the first set.
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Kyrgios holds to force a tie-break against Stepanek. This match should already be over.
It’s not taken Victor Troicki long to reach the second round. The 25th seed sails through, beating Tristan Lamasine 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
Radek Stepanek has earned himself a third set-tie break at the very least, holding to love for a 6-5 lead. Kyrgios needs to watch himself here.
Serving for the match, Nick Kyrgios sends a backhand long and Radek Stepanek breaks back for 5-all in the third set. Whoops. The crafty old Czech isn’t done yet.
Amra Sadikovic is the world No148. She’s 27. She’s never been past the first round of a grand slam. This, in fact, is her grand slam debut. She’s just been broken to love in her first service game by Serena Williams, who directs a backhand return down the line to lead 2-0.
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Here’s an interview by Paula Cocozza with Serena Williams. There are some choice lines. Enjoy.
Speaking of Tsonga, he could face Richard Gasquet in the fourth round. Now that would be a tasty match, one for the purists. There’s a way to go yet but both Frenchmen look like they’re heading into the second round, with Gasquet establishing a two-set lead over Aljaz Bedene on Court 3. He leads 6-3, 6-4.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is being made to work for his place in the second round by Inigo Cervantes but he’s well on his way now. The 12th seed has just won a second set tie-break to lead 6-4, 7-6.
The players are out on the show courts. On Centre Court, Serena Williams looks icy as she prepares to face Amra Sadikovic. On Court 1, it’s Stan Wawrinka and Taylor Fritz.
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Nick Kyrgios has just produced what may well go down as the shot of the tournament! This is an amazing piece of skill from the 15th seed, an example of just how brilliant he could turn out to be, not just a tweener, not just a lobbed tweener, but a lobbed tweener that’s good enough to win the rally! Stepanek is stunned. You’re unlikely to see a better piece of skill than that today.
Daria Gavrilova has roared back against China’s Quai Wang, winning the second set 6-3. Maybe some of the Fanatics can head over to Court 8 to lend the Australian a bit of support. It doesn’t look like Nick Kyrgios needs it today.
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A big forehand into the left corner from Nick Kyrgios is too much for Radek Stepanek to handle and the 15th seed leads 6-4, 6-3. It’s been impressive from Kyrgios so far: confident, mature, classy, no nonsense with the umpires or his racquet. More please! Meanwhile Victor Troicki is having a whale of a time against Tristan Lamasine on Court 7, where the 25th seed has taken a commanding 6-4, 6-2 lead.
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The popular Dustin Brown is keeping everyone entertained on Court 16 but the German wild card needs to get his act together if he’s going to reach the second round, where he stunned Rafa Nadal last year. Having levelled the match by taking the second set 6-3, he finds himself a break down in the third set against Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic.
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Aljaz Bedene decides to make an approach to the net. Richard Gasquet’s eyes light up and he fizzes a backhand down the line to earn three break points. Bedene tries the same tactic but the outcome is the same, a flicked backhand winner from Gasquet clipping the line and sealing the break for a 6-3, 3-2 lead on Court 2. This is a bothersome development for the British No2, who really has been very unlucky to draw the in-form seventh seed in the first round.
Those hoping for fireworks from Nick Kyrgios on Court 2 are probably going to be disappointed. There’s barely been a peep from the Australian - and his cool demeanour seems to be working for him against Radek Stepanek, who likes to mess around with his opponent’s head, because he leads 6-4, 3-0 against the Czech.
That’s a pretty shocking opening set from Daria Gavrilova, who can’t stop China’s Quai Wang from racing away with to the tune of six games to two. In better news for Australians, however, at least John Millman is a set up against Albert Montanes after winning the opener 7-5 on Court 4.
They’re racing through these first sets today, presumable because they’ve heard about the impending gloomy weather. Nick Kyrgios gets his head back in the game to break Radek Stepanek at the business end of the side, winning the opener 6-4. The 15th seed is looking good.
Good news for France: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga overcomes an early wobble to win the first set 6-4 against Inigo Cervantes, while Richard Gasquet glides away with it against Aljaz Bedene.
Bad news for France: Benoit Paire is a set down against Franko Skugor, losing it 6-3.
But not for long. Gasquet backs back straight away to lead 5-3 and he’ll serve for the opening set. Elsewhere Victor Troicki, seeded 25th, has taken the first set 6-4 against French qualifier Tristan Lamasine. And in a battle between two qualifiers on Court 9, Australia’s Luke Saville strikes the first blow against the USA’s Dennis Novikov, winning the first set 6-4.
Jittery early on, Aljaz Bedene has discovered some poise on Court 3, breaking back against Richard Gasquet in the seventh game of the first set. The British No2 is back on serve.
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“A composed Nick Kyrgios”, some idiot wrote around 15 minutes ago. Now he’s showing all the composure of Harry Kane over a dead ball, dropping his serve to love to allow Radek Stepanek back into the first set on Court 2.
I’ll level with you. I didn’t realise that Dmitry Tursonov was still going. But he is! And just look at him go! The Russian leads 4-1 in the first set against Joao Sousa, the 31st seed.
It was coming. Radek Stepanek has to deal with severe pressure in the fourth game of the first set and he crumbles eventually, dabbing a forehand wide to give up an early break to a composed Nick Kyrgios.
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There’s a Croatian qualifier on Court 11 at the moment and he’s making life extremely tough for Benoit Paire. Franko Skugor has started brilliantly, charging into a 4-1 lead against the 26th seed. Elsewhere Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 12th seed, is feeling his way into his match after missing the French Open with an injury. He was broken early on by Spain’s Inigo Cervantes but they’re back on serve.
Kyrgios holds serve to 30 for a 2-1 lead against Stepanek. Another Aussie is in a spot of bother early on, however, Daria Gavrilova dropping her serve against China’s Qiang Wang on Court 8.
Aljaz Bedene has made a tight start on Court 3, dropping his serve to trail Richard Gasquet 2-0. Gasquet reached his first semi-final here last year. He’s a potential quarter-final opponent for Andy Murray. I doubt he’ll be pleased to see the Scot next Wednesday given their history.
Radek Stepanek looks like he’s in the mood to be a persistent nuisance today, gliding into a 0-30 lead on Nick Kyrgios’s serve thanks to some canny play. Kyrgios holds to lead 1-0 but he’s going to need his wits about him against the unpredictable Czech.
And ... play! Day two of Wimbledon 2016 is underway. The 130th Wimbledon - and it’s still not lost its charm. Here we go.
On Court 2, the Fanatics are out in force, ready to cheer on their boy. Nick Kyrgios, the 15th seed, is about to get going against Radek Stepanek, who’s got Arsenal’s Petr Cech in his box today. In case you’re wondering, the answer is no, Cech isn’t wearing his head guard.
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Tok! Tok! Tok! They’re knocking up.
The players are out on court! We’ll have tennis soon! Forget about the football! Tennis!
It’s 11.30am! Players will be out on courts soon. And the sun is still shining.
My cool kids on the video desk have put together this fine film about the ball kids at Wimbledon.
The sun is shining at the moment but we’re expecting rain later. The forecast suggests that it will arrive at around 5pm, though, so hopefully a fair chunk of matches will get done before then.
Preamble
Hello. With Marcus Willis being lined up to become the new England manager, it seems that the hopes of a British winner at Wimbledon rest once again on Andy Murray’s broad shoulders. That the world No2 faces a British player for the first time at Wimbledon won’t make an iota of difference to the way he approaches his first-round match this afternoon. After an unnecessarily dramatic start to the French Open, Ivan Lendl has warned Murray that he he can’t afford to begin dozily here if he’s going to beat Novak Djokovic in the final. Djokovic was inspired and clinical in three sets against James Ward yesterday, while Roger Federer also did what was required against the sprightly Guido Pella later in the day. Murray needs to be similarly ruthless against Liam Broady, the 22-year-old world No235. They’re up second on Centre Court.
First up, however, is Serena Williams, who ought to dispense with Switzerland’s Amra Sadikovic. The world No1 is still chasing Steffi Graf’s record of 22 grand slams, having suffered surprise defeats in New York, Melbourne and Paris, and she probably won’t have been happy to hear that Garbine Muguruza, the world No2 and her conqueror in the French Open final, edged out the awkward Camila Giorgi in three sets.
Serena is on the tougher side of the draw. Agneiszka Radwanska, the world No3, takes on Kateryna Kozlova on Court 2, Petra Kvitova, champion here in 2011 and 2014, faces Sorana Cirstea, Timea Bacsinszky meets Luksika Kumkhum, Belinda Bencic plays Tsvetana Pironkova and the final match on Centre is certainly intriguing, Caroline Wozniacki back from injury and drawn against the 13th seed, Svetlana Kuznetsova. Keep an eye out, too, for Dominika Cibulkova, who was in excellent form as she won the Aegon International on Saturday; the Slovakian faces Mirjana Lucic-Baroni first on Court 18.
And then there’s Johanna Konta, the British No1. She also did well in Eastbourne last week, reaching the semi-finals, and she’s the first British woman to be seeded here since Jo Durie in 1984. Second up on Court 1, the 16th seed is likely to have her work cut out against the world No36, Monica Puig, however. It’s one of the hardest draws she could have had. Puig has reached two semi-finals on grass this year. Konta will have to be at her best. As will Heather Watson, the British No2, who faces Annika Beck, the world No43. Watson has not impressed recently. The other British interests in the women’s draw are Tara Moore, who faces Alison van Uytvanck of Belgium, and Katie Swan, who faces Timea Babos of Hungary.
There are potential storylines everywhere. How about the return of Juan Martin del Potro, the man who pushed Djokovic so hard in an incredible semi-final three years ago? Fit again, the unseeded Argentinian - the US Open champion in 2009, don’t forget - meets Stephane Robert of France on Court 12. If he wins, he could meet Stan Wawrinka in the second round. Your mouth is salivating already. But Wawrinka, the fourth seed, will have to be wary of Taylor Fritz, the rising young American, on Court 1.
Fritz isn’t the only young pretender hoping to cause a stir today. Nick Kyrgios, the Aussie firebrand, plays the wily old Czech, Radek Stepanek, who gave Murray a fright in Paris, on Court 2. That’s followed by Bernard Tomic against Fernando Verdasco, while eighth seed Dominic Thiem faces Florian Mayer and 24th seed Alex Zverev will hope to show what he’s made of against Paul-Henri Mathieu.
If all that’s not enough, you greedy people, British No2 Aljaz Bedene is hopeful of causing an upset against the seventh seed, Richard Gasquet, on Court 3.
The only problem is the weather. We’re expecting rain at around 4pm. Bah.
Play begins at: 11.30am.
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