Your highlights from day six at SW19:
Dominic Thiem is also through to face Tomas Berdych after beating Jared Donaldson 7-5, 6-4, 6-2. That’s all from me today. Thanks for reading, commenting and emailing. See you again on the day I’m contractually obliged to call Manic Monday.
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Jay Clarke and Marcus Willis beat Nicolas Mahut and Pierre Hugues-Herbert 3-6, 6-1, 7-6, 5-7, 6-3!
What an effort from the unseeded British pair! They’ve knocked out the No2 seeds on Court 3!
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Roger Federer beats Mischa Zverev 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-4!
An ace brings up three match points. Another one seals his place in the fourth round against Grigor Dimitrov. Comfortable in the end.
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Clarke and Willis are a game away from beating Herbert and Mahut. They lead 5-2 in the fifth. The atmosphere on Court 3 is electric. Less so on Centre Court, where assorted lickspittles are absolutely delighted to be in the presence of King Roger.
Zverev double-faults on break point. That could be that. Federer breaks early in the third set to lead 7-6, 6-4, 2-1.
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Clarke and Willis have broken for a 2-0 lead in the fifth set!
That doubles match between Britain’s Jay Clarke and Marcus Willis the No2 seeds Nicolas Mahut and Pierre Hugues-Herbert has gone to a fifth. On Court 1, meanwhile, Dominic Thiem leads 7-5, 6-4 against Jared Donaldson.
Roger Federer wins the second set to lead 7-6, 6-4!
Zverev punches a return into the umpire’s chair. The easily pleased Centre Court crowd reckon it’s the funniest they’ve ever seen. Zverev responds by charging to 15-30, but Federer slaps an ace past him for 30-all and earns a set point when the German mistimes a forehand into the net. A simple forehand does the trick for Federer.
Herbert and Mahut break to lead 6-5 in the fourth. Uh oh.
Herbert and Mahut have saved all three match points and held! Blast and dammit!
Away from Centre Court, I can hear huge cheers. That’s because British men’s doubles pair Jay Clarke and Marcus Willis have three match points in the fourth set against the No2 seeds, Nicolas Mahut and Pierre Hugues-Herbert. Well, well. They lead 3-6, 6-1, 7-6, 5-4, with the French pair serving to stay in it.
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Federer is utterly determined to lob Zverev here. It’s a good way to mess with his net game. Zverev nets a volley to give up a break point, but Federer growls as he watches a forehand return sail wide. The German holds, but Federer leads 7-6, 3-2.
Mischa Zverev’s cap just fell off during a point. We call that Doing A Murray. Federer doesn’t mind. A few points later, he flashes a backhand pass down the line for 30-40. Zverev saves it with an ace. But Federer continues to push, a forehand pass earning another chance. This time, he capitalises. Zverev tees him up, Federer thrashes a drive volley away to break and lead 7-6, 2-1.
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Roger Federer wins the first set 7-6 (3)!
Just as he did when they met in Halle, Federer has enough in the tie-break. Zverev has really forced the issue since hauling himself level midway through the set, but accuracy was key for Federer in the tie-break. He plants a volley out of reach for three set points. Zverev serves and volleys. But Federer rams a backhand at the German, who blocks long, much to the great man’s relief.
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Zverev holds to force a tie-break. He’s playing very well.
I’ve seen Federer play better than this. Two scratchy errors gift Zverev a 0-30 lead at 5-all. But he glides to 30-all and then wins a whip-sharp volleying exchange at the net, his final effort looping and hanging in the air before dropping just inside the line. The game goes to deuce, however, Zverev knocking on the door. Zverev fancies this. An 85mph second serve offers him the chance to attack. He does so with a backhand to earn a break point, but Federer saves it with an ace down the middle and eventually clings on to lead 6-5. On Court 1, meanwhile, Dominic Thiem has won four straight games to take the first set 7-5 against Jared Donaldson.
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After two straight games for Mischa Zverev, Roger Federer holds to love to lead 5-4. There was a moment when one of his forehands was called long, but Federer shot the offending line judge a dirty look and she’s been carted off to the re-education centre. She’ll learn.
Jared Donaldson couldn’t hold his nerve or his serve. Dominic Thiem breaks back to trail 4-5.
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From 30-0 up, out of nowhere Roger Federer drops his serve! Zverev battles to a break point and Federer shanks a forehand. They’re back on serve.
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On Court 1, Jared Donaldson is up a break against eighth seed Dominic Thiem. The unseeded American’s serving for the first set.
Mischa Zverev did hold his opening service game, which is an improvement on the Australian Open, when he was 0-5 down to Federer after around three seconds. But now he’s a break down. Two superb backhands from Federer, then a forehand pass that drops just inside the line. Zverev left it and turned back in dismay. Federer holds with a lovely volley for 4-1.
On Centre Court, Roger Federer and Moscha Zverev have arrived. I’m going to see if the wifi’s any use there this evening. Federer, remember, crushed Zverev in Melbourne and beat him in Halle last month.
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Novak Djokovic beats Ernests Gulbis 6-4, 6-1, 7-6!
Djokovic roars a few times just to keep himself alert and awake, but his bellowing feels a little out of place given the tepid atmosphere in the stands. Gulbis wallops his umpteenth forehand long to give Djokovic five match points. Gulbis saves the first with an ace. He knocks a forehand wide on the second. Djokovic is through to face the French left-hander Adrian Mannarino and the truth is that he’s not really been tested yet.
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Novak Djokovic holds easily. So we’ll have a tie-break on Centre Court. A sudden injection of drama, perhaps, or the final few steps of a gentle stroll for Djokovic.
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Over on Centre Court, Ernests Gulbis makes a meal of a service game but comes through four deuces to hold for 6-5 in the third set. It might yet be a late finish for Roger Federer.
There’s no romance on Court 2. Sebastian Ofner battled hard and produced some good tennis at times, but the Austrian qualifier was always fighting a losing battle against Alexander Zverev, who’s through to face Milos Raonic after winning 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.
Now it’s Caroline Wozniacki’s turn to serve for the match. And she makes a rather better fist of it than Anett Kontaveit despite finding herself down 15-30. Kontaveit whistles a backhand wide by an inch and Wozniacki has a match point. But having already saved one in the previous game, Kontaveit saves this one with a backhand down the line. Wozniacki gets another one; Kontaveit saves it with another backhand winner. Third time lucky? Yep! Wozniacki hits a backhand deep. It’s not called out. Kontaveit thinks it might be. It’s really not, Anett. So it ends here. Caroline Wozniacki is through to face Coco Vandeweghe after winning 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2. That was gritty.
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Ernests Gulbis is interested again. He holds rather emphatically to lead 5-4 in the third set. Djokovic will serve to keep it alive. Is this going to a fourth?
Anett Kontaveit burned so brightly for much of the first two sets, but now she has all the shine of Donald Trump’s Hollywood star. It’s Caroline Wozniacki who’s making all the running. A Kontaveit error gifts her two break points and she constructs the next point beautifully before lofting a backhand down the line to lead 3-6, 7-6, 4-1.
With grim inevitability, Anett Kontaveit finds herself a break down to Caroline Wozniacki in the third set. It’s going to hurt so very much if she loses this.
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For a man who’d never played on grass before this tournament, Sebastian Ofner’s not disgracing himself at all on Court 2. Unfortunately he’s two sets down. Alex Zverev leads 6-4, 6-4 and he’s inching closer to a fourth-round match against Milos Raonic.
Anett Kontaveit had the match on her racket. Now she’s going into a decider. She served for it twice, got broken twice and now she’s lost the tie-break 7-3 to Caroline Wozniacki.
After a quick massage, Ernests Gulbis is ready for the third set. But you sense that Roger Federer and Mischa Zverev should start running through their final preparations.
Anett Kontaveit serves for the match for a second time. She’s broken to 15. Dearie me. Tie-break.
Novak Djokovic wins the second set 6-4; he leads 6-4, 6-1!
Back to the drawing room soon for Ernests Gulbis. He’s feeling his back and has called for the trainer.
Undeterred, Kontaveit wallops two backhands away for 0-30. Then she whistles a superb forehand down the line for 0-40. It’s her 26th winner. She can’t convert any of those three break points, but she earns a fourth with an Ostapaneko-esque forehand. This time, she makes Wozniacki pay. More patient, she works the point cleverly. A backhand from left to right pulls Wozniacki out of position and allows her to punch a backhand down the line. She’ll serve for the match again.
Here’s Anett Kontaveit serving for the match. She begins with a backhand thwack for 15-0. But the game goes to 30-all and Wozniacki, with deep hitting, forces a break point. And sure enough, Wozniacki breaks back for 5-all in the second set!
On Court 1, Anett Kontaveit cracks a forehand down the line, holding to 15 for a 6-3 4-2 lead against Caroline Wozniacki. The Estonian’s found some inspiration today. Can she hold her nerve?
Gulbis foolishly leaves a volley hanging in the air just long enough for Djokovic to scamper forward and whip a forehand away. Djokovic breaks to lead 6-4, 2-0 and suddenly this match doesn’t seem quite as interesting as it did around half an hour ago. Over on Court 2, meanwhile, Alexander Zverev has managed to pull clear against Sebastian Ofner. The 10th seed breaks at a good time to win the first set 6-4.
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“Think you can hit a forehand hard?” Djokovic enquires of Gulbis. “Let me show you how it’s done.” And so the world No4 begins the second set by battering a forehand down the line before holding to love. Slowly but surely signs of Djokovic’s motivation are returning. Which is bad news for everyone else.
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Tomas Berdych slips quietly into the fourth round. He’s beaten David Ferrer 6-3, 6-4, 6-3. The 11th seed will play Dominic Thiem or Jared Donaldson next.
Novak Djokovic wins the first set 6-4!
Serving to stay in the first set, Gulbis finds himself down 0-30 after two poor forehands, one into the net, one badly overhit. His level’s dipping. Djokovic knows he doesn’t have to do much but get the ball back into play and wait. Gulbis promptly thrashes another forehand wide. He saves the first set point with a big serve but then he dumps a simple volley into the net. His inner fire didn’t rage for long.
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That’s a fine win for Adrian Mannarino. The unseeded Frenchman has come back from 2-1 down to beat 15th-seeded Gael Monfils 7-6, 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. There’s still no sign of Monfils really getting to grips with grass.
It’s a crying shame that the men’s final won’t be between Fogini and Gulbis.
Ernests Gulbis saves two break points with fine tennis. Then he double-faults. He winces. Djokovic is back in it at 4-4.
Anett Kontaveit, who hasn’t reached the last 16 of a slam since the US Open in 2015, is a set away from the fourth round. The 21-year-old’s taken the opener 6-3 against Caroline Wozniacki on Court 1.
Ernests Gulbis has a face that’s seen some things. And a truly magnificent, unruly beard. He’s on top on Centre Court against Novak Djokovic, who’s taking his time to work out the Latvian enigma. Djokovic trails 3-4 - and he hasn’t done a lot wrong to be honest.
Over on Court 12, Adrian Mannarino is a break up in the fifth set against Gael Monfils. The ballkids will be delighted. They’ll be lining up to congratulate him.
Sebastian Ofner was two sets down to British teenager Jay Clarke in Wimbledon qualifying. Then he won. The 21-year-old Austrian had never played on grass until this summer, but now he’s in the third round in his first grand slam event. He beat Jack Sock the other day, which is no mean feat, and today he takes on Alexander Zverev, the world No10. His run may well come to an end. But this is certainly one to keep an eye on.
So Ernests Gulbis appears to be in the mood early on. A searing backhand down the line earns him a break point. Then he demolishes a Djokovic serve with a monstrous inside-out forehand to break for a 2-1 lead! This might not last, but what a statement of intent from the Latvian.
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Popular friend to the ball kids, Adrian Mannarino, has forced a fifth set against Gael Monfils after taking the fourth set. The winner plays Djokovic or Gulbis next. Meanwhile Tomas Berdych leads 6-3, 6-4 against David Ferrer.
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Peace and love’s Novak Djokovic has just told the umpire to focus on Centre Court. They’ve only played one game. Good to see he’s in a good mood.
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On Court 1, a lightning start from Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit. She leads 3-0 against Caroline Wozniacki.
Novak Djokovic and Ernests Gulbis are underway on Centre Court. Gulbis’s physio has said he’s never seen him this motivated. Oh my.
Angelique Kerber beats Shelby Rogers 4-6, 7-6. 6-4!
The world No1 finds a way. Shelby Rogers, who was a set and a break up, saves one match point but she can’t save a second, sending a backhand return long. It’s a huge win for Kerber, who goes on to face Garbine Muguruza in the fourth round. That one should be a cracker. Wonder if it will make it on to Centre on Monday.
Angelique Kerber is serving for the match. Shelby Rogers’s brave fight is almost over. Unless.
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“Come on!” Angelique Kerber roars after watching Shelby Rogers whack a backhand long. She breaks for 4-3 in the third set. Rogers is becoming frayed. She’s hit 43 winners so far, but the errors are beginning to spill off her racket.
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Milos Raonic is scrawling on those outsized tennis balls they sell for kids here. That’s because he’s crunched his way to a 7-6, 6-4, 7-5 win over Albert Ramos-Vinolas. He’ll play Alex Zverev or Sebastian Ofneur next.
Agnieszka Radwanska gets there in the end. She roars into a 0-40 lead, only to squander two match points. But she takes the third, Timea Bacsinszky rattling a backhand wide. It ends 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to Radwanska and the ninth seed plays Svetlana Kuznetsova next.
It’s all happening. Shelby Rogers has ripped back into contention on Court 2, breaking back against Angelique Kerber in the third set. The powerful, punchy American holds to lead 3-2.
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A set for Tomas Berdych. A tall order for David Ferrer. Berdych wins the opener 6-3.
She might only have delayed the inevitable, but at least Timea Bacsinszky hasn’t been bageled in the final set. With Agnieszka Radwanska serving for the match at 5-0, Bacsinszky battles back from 30-0 down to break back. The comeback’s on. It’s on!
Alas, young Jack Draper was no match for China’s Yibing Wu in the boy’s singles. The second seed won 6-3, 6-2.
The tide is well and truly turning on Court 2. After snatching that second set, Angelique Kerber breaks in the first game of the second. It’s the kind of match you look back on fondly after winning the title...
The last match on Court 3’s underway. It’s between David Ferrer, the former world No3, and Tomas Berdych, the 11th seed. Ferrer’s in trouble early on. The unseeded Spaniard’s struggling to deal with Berdych’s power.
Second set tie-break: Rogers 2-7 Kerber* (*denotes server): A terrible drop shot from Rogers receives the treatment from Kerber, who batters a backhand down the line. From a set and a break down, she’s forced a third set.
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Second set tie-break: Rogers 2-6 Kerber* (*denotes server): Rogers saves the first.
Second set tie-break: Rogers* 1-6 Kerber (*denotes server): Five set points for Kerber.
Second set tie-break: Rogers* 1-5 Kerber (*denotes server): Rogers nets a backhand.
Second set tie-break: Rogers 1-4 Kerber* (*denotes server): It’s running away from Rogers.
Second set tie-break: Rogers 1-3 Kerber* (*denotes server): Three straight points for Kerber.
Second set tie-break: Rogers* 1-2 Kerber (*denotes server): Kerber whooshes a forehand away at the end of a grinding rally.
Second set tie-break: Rogers* 1-1 Kerber (*denotes server): Kerber levels with canny net play.
Second set tie-break: Rogers 1-0 Kerber* (*denotes server): The tie-break begins with Shelby Rogers clipping the tape with a forehand that lands on Kerber’s side.
Shelby Rogers comes through deuce to hold for a tie-break. Angelique Kerber’s waving us all goodbye if she doesn’t win this!
Agnieszka Radwanska’s guile and craft have pulled her level in an engaging match on Centre Court. The wily Pole earns two set points at 5-4 against Timea Bacsinszky and takes the first with a precise forehand into the left corner.
Intrigue grows on Centre Court and Court 2. Agnieszka Radwanska is serving for the second set on the former, while Shelby Rogers is trying to force a second-set tie-break against Angelique Kerber on the latter.
A good win for the emerging Coco Vandeweghe. She could be on to something here. She’s seeded 24th but she knows how to get around the grass and has beaten Alison Riske 6-2, 6-4, doing well to survive a brief fightback in the second set from her fellow American.
Milos Raonic is two sets up against Albert Ramos-Vinolas. 7-6, 6-4. He’s been moving that freely during the past week, but he does look like making it the last 16 again. As for Gael Monfils, he’s levelled his match against fellow Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.
Angelique Kerber breaks back for 4-4! She’s still alive. For now.
Petra Martic’s renaissance continues. The Croatian qualifier has beaten Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan 7-6, 6-1 to reach the fourth round for the first time. Magdalena Rybarikova’s up next for her; what a chance for both of them to make the last eight!
Shelby Rogers, who’s capable of big tennis on a good day, continues to dominate Angelique Kerber. Her thudding groundstrokes are overwhelming the ailing German.
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Jack Draper, whose father Roger was the LTA’s chief executive, is competing in the boy’s singles now. The British wildcard is playing China’s Yibing Wu, the second seed.
What tennis from Petra Martic! The Croatian qualifier’s 5-0 up in the second set.
Angelique Kerber is now a set and a break down. Shelby Rogers is on her way to claiming a major scalp.
All that said about Kerber, it will only be a half-shock if she loses today, given her recent form. And she’s halfway there. Shelby Rogers, rugged and powerful, is bullying the German from the baseline and has taken the first set 6-4.
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Bethanie Mattek-Sands on her knee injury pic.twitter.com/uEQCBsIa8y
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) July 8, 2017
After debate earlier in the week about the gender discrepancy in scheduling on Centre Court and Court 1, what does it say that Angelique Kerber is on Court 2 today? When was the last time a male No1 played on an outside court? Is Dominic Thiem more deserving of a Court 1 spot today? He’s done nothing at Wimbledon in the past and unlike Kerber doesn’t own two slam titles.
Petra Martic, who rose from the low 200s to 135 in the rankings after an excellent run in Paris, held her nerve in a first-set tie-break against Kazakhstan’s Zarina Diyas, winning it 8-6. Don’t be fooled by the 26-year-old Croatian qualifier’s ranking, though. She’s got game. She’s only so low because of injuries.
A very entertaining first set on Centre Court comes to an end when Timea Bacsinszky nails a backhand down the line to take it 6-3. Agnieszka Radwanska is experiencing huge problems on serve.
On Court 2, Angelique Kerber’s 2017 woes are flaring again. She’s a break down in the first set to the unseeded American Shelby Rogers, who leads 4-3. In more Stateside news, Coco Vandeweghe’s a set and a break up against fellow American Alison Riske on Court 3.
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Albert Ramos-Vinolas whacks a forehand wide and the first set tie-break goes to Milos Raonic for the loss of only three points. The sixth seed doesn’t look entirely content as he walks back to his chair, though. That brow’s very furrowed during the changeover.
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This is an utter sexist disgrace. That is all.
Leave Vika alone! How about writing about actual tennis. #FakeNews #Embarrassing pic.twitter.com/tPETDpZ0rC
— Vickesh (@Vickesh) July 8, 2017
Are you sitting down? Good. Milos Raonic is in a tie-break. I wouldn’t have wanted you to have fainted.
Adrian Mannarino has pinched that first-set tie-break against Gaël Monfils, winning 7-3. And with that I’ll hand you back to Jacob Steinberg. Enjoy.
Centre Court fans might have to wait a while to see Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, who are scheduled to follow this match between Radwanska and Bacsinszky, because its not a quick one. These two are putting on an exhibition of long rallies, albeit an entertaining one. The 19th seed Bacsinszky clinches another break and she’s now serving at 3-2 up in the first.
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Out on Court 12, the French No2 Gaël Monfils is in a tight opening set with the French No7 Adrian Mannarino, who holds his service game to take it to a tie-break. Raonic and Ramos Viñolas are heading that way too, locked at 5-5 in the opening set of their third round match on Court 1.
After Tsonga’s defeat Court 2 now welcomes the women’s world No1, Angelique Kerber. She faces 25-year-old American Shelby Rogers, who has never got beyond the third round of a grand slam. Kerber holds her opening service game.
It was the perfect start for Timea Bacsinszky on Centre, who earned three break points against Agnieszka Radwanska in the opening game, let them slip, then created another one and took it with a lovely crosscourt backhand as Radwanska came into the net. But the Polish player has broken back immediately and it’s all square. This will be a fun one to watch, two players who don’t rely on power but will try to outmanoeuvre each other from the baseline. On Court 1, Raonic and Ramos Viñolas are on serve, 4-3 to the Canadian in the first.
If you’re a British tennis fan buoyed by some promising homegrown performances this week, Tim Henman is on hand to bring you back down to earth:
One of the most interesting of yesterday evening’s matches is back on this afternoon on Court 2. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Sam Querrey were left at 6-5 to Querrey in the fifth set overnight, and as I write Querrey has broken serve. Which means it’s over! The American picks a big scalp, winning 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1, 7-5, and now they’re off Court 2 again.
Up first on Centre Court today is the ninth seed and 2012 finalist Agnieszka Radwanska taking on against the 19th seed Timea Bacsinszky. Meanwhile over on Court 1 they’ve just begun, where Milos Raonic has held his opening service game facing the Spanish world No19, Albert Ramos Viñolas.
Hello there. As is traditional on middle Saturday, Wimbledon welcomes faces from all around British sport into the Royal Box on Centre Court. Sue Barker is on court to salute a selection of Olympians and Paralympians who shone in last year’s Rio Games, including swimmer Adam Peaty, hockey captain Kate Richardson-Walsh, cyclists Laura and Jason Kenny, and a chap called Andy Murray. Tennis, I think. They all stand up and give an awkward wave, while Murray is greeted with a full standing ovation. Lovely.
Time for me to grab some lunch. Please give a warm welcome to Lawrence Ostlere.
Garbine Muguruza has easily accounted for Sorana Cirstea, dropping only two games in each set. They’re rattling through these matches today, aren’t they? Muguruza looks very happy indeed to be done in time for lunch. Off she goes to rest up for the rest of the weekend. On this form, she’s a threat. However her 14th seeding means she’s got a potentially daunting fourth-round match: it could be against Angelique Kerber if the world No1 beats Shelby Rogers later.
There’s always the danger of a comedown for an underdog in the match that follows a big win. Not for Magdalena Rybarikova, however. The unseeded Slovakian, who beat Karolina Pliskova on Centre Court on Thursday, has walloped Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-1 to reach the fourth round of a slam for the first time in her career. The 28-year-old plays Zarina Diyas or Petra Martic next.
Polona Hercog’s arms are both heavily tattooed. Let’s focus on that rather than the scoreline on Court 12. She slaps a final forehand into the net to lose 6-4, 6-0 to Svetlana Kuznetsova. The seventh seed is through to face Agnieszka Radwanska or Timea Bacsinszky.
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Grigor Dimitrov wins the second set to lead 6-1, 6-1. So Dudi Sela walks to the net to shake hands. The Israeli’s done; another retirement. Unless he thinks it’s best of three. Dimitrov is through to the fourth round for the first time since 2014, when he went all the way to the semis, and he’ll play Roger Federer next.
Or Mischa Zverev.
How it it possible not to love Andy Murray?
The problem for Grigor Dimitrov as he continues to outclass Dudi Sela is that all his fine form in the first week might count for nothing on Monday: that wretched draw’s only gone and pitched him with a likely fourth-round match against Roger Federer. His style might evoke comparisons with Federer. But it’s fair to say that the master still does everything a bit better than the apprentice. Still, Dimitrov’s looking sharp on Court 3, brilliantly saving a break point with stunning feel at the net to hold for a 6-1, 4-1 lead over Dudi Sela.
After a tense first set, Svetlana Kuznetsova is in complete control against Polona Hercog. The Russian holds a commanding 6-4, 3-0 lead. Elsewhere Garbine Muguruza’s looking for the security of a double break in the second set against the fading Sorana Cirstea.
From Row A of the stands to a volley winner...
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2017
A quite incredible point from Joe Salisbury in the mixed doubles 😲#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/nJUo9rVO5d
At the age of 28, Magdalena Rybarikova finds herself a set away from the fourth round for the first time. She won the first set 6-2 against Lesia Tsurenko. She’s unsurprisingly high on confidence after toppling Pliskova.
Svetlana Kuznetsova, the former French Open champion and a dark horse here, is a set up against Polona Hercog. She won a tight first frame 6-4.
Dudi Sela has returned to Court 3 after that medical timeout. It’s nothing the magic sponge can’t cure!
With a booming serve, Garbine Muguruza saves a break point before earning a set point with a vicious, angled backhand. It’s all the Spaniard needs. The first set is hers, 6-2. You know, no one’s really talking about Muguruza. Is that a mistake? She reached the final in 2015 and won the French Open last year. Ignore her at your peril. She should be feared by every player left in the draw*.
*Apologies for the kiss of death, Garbine.
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A few whistles on Court 2 as Grigor Dimitrov changes into a new shirt. MEN ARE PEOPLE TOO, YOU KNOW. Mind you, I’m not sure how Dimitrov has managed to work up a sweat in that first set. Sela has disappeared for an off-court timeout.
And that, my friends, is the first set to Grigor Dimitrov, who delighted the crowd with an impossible backhand pass from way out on the left before breaking Dudi Sela to win it 6-1. Sela might not be with us much longer. He sits down at the changeover and calls for the trainer. Is another retirement in the offing?
In this most open of women’s draws, perhaps it wasn’t so much of a surprise when Magdalena Rybarikova dumped Karolina Pliskova out of the tournament. Still. It went down as a shock. But Rybarikova intends to keep going; the Slovakian would rather not go down as a flash in the pan and she’s 4-1 up against Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko on Court 18.
The first set’s running away from Dudi Sela with all the uncontrollable speed of Santa’s Little Helper chasing She’s The Fastest. The diminutive Israeli (I say diminutive, he’s 5ft 9in, an inch shorter than me, but that’s small in the world of men’s tennis) is broken again to 15 by Grigor Dimitrov, who leads 4-1 in the first set. Sorana Cirstea finds herself in a similar pic-pic-pickle on Court 2, where she’s two breaks down to Garbine Muguruza.
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Early breaks on courts 2 and 3. Muguruza broke to love against Cirstea to lead 2-1. Dudi Sela made Grigor Dimitrov work harder for his - but the Bulgarian kept pressing and got there in the end to lead 2-1.
On Court 2, it will be interesting to see how Sorana Cirstea is feeling after her second-round match was marred by that awful knee injury suffered by Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Cirstea, who tried to comfort the stricken Mattek-Sands as she lay on the court in searing pain, was clearly emotionally spent when she spoke to the press later. Nothing happened to her, of course, but being involved in such an incident takes a toll. But the unseeded Romanian can’t let that weigh her down today. Not against Garbine Muguruza. Can she pull off a shock and reach the fourth round for the first time?
And ... play! Day six is underway.
Put your hands together for the cast and crew, ladies and gentlemen! Players, officials and ball gatherers are emerging on the outside courts, ready for the start of play on day six. There are, of course, a few whoops for Grigor Dimitrov on court 3, where the Bulgarian’s about to take on Israel’s Dudi Sela, who made light of the size gap to beat the tall American, John Isner, in round two.
Updated
Not that I’ve been watching too much tennis lately, but the other night I dreamt that Fabio Fognini Cantona’d someone in the Wimbledon crowd. They probably shouted ‘Come on Tim’, so they’ll have deserved it.
Preamble
Hello. After Andy Murray became the first member of the Big Four to show signs of vulnerability in his stress-inducing four-set win over the dashing Italian Fabio Fognini last night, the burning question in the men’s draw on day six is whether anyone give Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic something resembling a contest worthy of the name. Federer and Djokovic have both made serene progress so far, though that’s partly because their first-round matches became mired in Wimbledon’s DAY OF QUITTING SHAME, with both of their opponents retiring injured after no more than a quick hit and a stroll in the sun.
So accurately assessing their level hasn’t been easy. In the second round, Federer was briefly troubled by Dusan Lajovic, who couldn’t sustain a blistering start that took him to a first set tie-break but no further, while Djokovic saw off a feeble challenge from Pavlasek. Yee-awwwwwwwn. But don’t keep those eyes shut too long. Things could get interesting this afternoon. Let’s begin with Djokovic, who’s second on Centre Court against preposterous Latvian dandy Ernests Gulbis, who can be utterly brilliant on the rare occasions when he can be bothered, but who often looks as though he’d be more comfortable in a velvet jacket, a neckerchief and an ironic monocle than tennis whites, with a cocktail in hand and a cheeky glint suggestive of a free spirit who’d love nothing more than to show you a good time. Oh, but keep your distance. He’s so much trouble once you get to know him; the very worst!
On his day, of course, the 28-year-old Gulbis can be the very best on a tennis court. So it proved when he walloped Federer at Roland Garros three years ago, before losing to Djokovic in the semis, and when he crushed the colossal Juan Martin del Potro in the second round here. Expect Fognini-esque fireworks when he faces Djokovic, who would be unwise to focus too much on the 585 places separating them in the ATP rankings.
As for the sainted Roger, he has a potentially awkward assignment against the serve-and-volley throwback, Mischa Zverev, the 27th-seeded German who stunned Murray at the Australian Open. Then again, Federer absolutely destroyed Zverev in Melbourne.
Before all that, first on Centre are Agnieszka Radwanska, the 2012 finalist, and Timea Bacsinszky, the 19th seed. Radwanska’s seeded ninth and she’s strong on grass, but she’s struggled in 2017 and hasn’t looked comfortably physically. That one’s hard to predict.
As are so many women’s matches. Caroline Wozniacki is the fifth seed, but she’s never been past the fourth round here and could easily lose to the promising Estonian, Anett Kontaveit. Angelique Kerber is the world No1, but will you be surprised if she loses to Shelby Rogers? Might Romania’s Sorana Cirstea shock the inconsistent former French Open champion Garbine Muguruza? As Johanna Konta says whenever it’s put to her that she’s the favourite, it’s anyone’s title to win and let’s take each match as it comes and just process the process of being in a process.
Middle Saturday and there’s so much to be settled. Sam Querrey and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga return to settle their third-round dust-up, which couldn’t be finished last night; Querrey, conqueror of Djokovic at this stage last year, leads 6-5 in the fifth, with Tsonga to serve. Dominic Thiem plays unseeded American Jared Donaldson last on Court 1, where the action opens with Milos Raonic, who’s not convincing at the moment, against the dangerous Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas, who beat him in the French Open last year. Grigor Dimitrov, flying under the radar, meets Dudi Sela. Tomas Berdych faces David Ferrer. Alex Zverev, Mischa’s younger brother, faces Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofneur.
Time for tennis!
Play begins at 11.30am on the outside courts and 1pm on the show courts.
