We’re going to wrap up the blog here. It’s been a strange day. Upsets have been few and far between, but there’s been no lack of retirements and that’s made it hard for a sense of drama and momentum to build. Hopefully there’ll be more flow tomorrow. We’ll be following Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Johanna Konta, Petra Kvitova and much, much more as the second round gets underway. Thanks for reading and emailing. Bye!
Now Tomas Berdych’s through. A cross-court backhand winner brings up three match points and the Czech only needs one. Jeremy Chardy nets a return and it finishes 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4.
Unbelievable! Rally of the day? #bbctennis #wimbledon pic.twitter.com/D8zv8vcESH
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 4, 2017
Dominic Thiem: through! He’s beaten Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. Grigor Dimitrov: through! He’s beaten Diego Schwartzman 7-6, 6-2, 6-2. John Isner: also through! He’s beaten Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-6, 6-2. Tomas Berdych: almost through! He’s about to serve for the match against Jeremy Chardy.
Caroline Wozniacki’s third ace brings up two match points. Her fourth, aimed down the middle, wraps up a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 win over Timea Babos for the fifth seed.
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Timea Babos look forlorn on Centre Court. A double-fault. A missed forehand. A break for Caroline Wozniacki. Another break. The Dane will serve for the match.
Another retirement. Though this one is more understandable. Janko Tipsarevic, who’s been dealt such a cruel hand with injuries down the years, trailed 0-5 when he decided to call it a day against the USA’s Jared Donaldson.
Frances Tiafoe’s closing in on a big win. It would be the young American’s first at Wimbledon. He leads by two sets to one against Robin Haase and has broken early in the fourth. What of the other Americans? John Isner’s two sets and a break up against Taylor Fritz; no surprises there. Ryan Harrison, meanwhile, has landed a handy win against Borna Coric, beating the young Croatian 7-6, 6-4, 7-6.
There’s a strange look to the final score on Court 18. Timea Bacsinszky’s beaten Monica Puig 6-1, 3-6, 6-0. It feels as though that one could have been concluded sooner. Here, have a set. I’ll beat you anyway.
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Roger Federer was asked about retirements in his press conference.
“A player should not go on court if he knows he should not finish. The question is, did they truly believe they were going to finish. If they did, I think it’s okay that they walk on court. Otherwise, I feel they should give up the spot.
In the process, I think maybe the tour - well, the ATP has adjusted its rule. But maybe the slams should maybe have a look at what they could do for the players to make it just a little bit easier.
Like you said, it’s a lot of money. For some it’s more, for some it’s less. It doesn’t matter. For some, they just want to be out there because they feel like miracles happen: maybe the other guy retires, or maybe the other guy is carrying an injury. If I win, I have a day off, maybe I will feel better on Thursday. All these things play into the equation as well. Don’t forget those things as well. Could be rain, come back the next day. You never know what the player’s motives are.
While Dominic Thiem’s cruising along on Court 1, two sets to the good against Vasek Pospisil, Caroline Wozniacki is being put through a much sterner test by Timea Babos on Centre Court. They’ve split the two sets there. As for Jeremy Chardy and Tomas Berdych, the latter’s a set away from the second round after winning a third-set tie-break.
A mighty performance from France’s Kristina Mladenovic has seen the 12th seed reach the second round at the expense of Pauline Parmentier. Mladenvoic allowed her compatriot only four games.
A break was coming. Sure enough, it arrives. The pressure on Vasek Pospisil tells. He lifts a forehand long and Dominic Thiem will serve for a two-set lead on Court 1.
Taylor Fritz, a young American qualifier, is struggling against the adept John Isner. The big server’s a set up on Court 14. As for Ryan Harrison, he’s two sets and a break up against Borna Coric. In other words, he’s wiping the floor with the young Croatian.
Anett Kontaveit, one of the game’s gifted tyros, marches on. The Estonian’s beaten Lara Arruabarrena 6-2, 6-4 despite a wee wobble in the second set.
Grigor Dimitrov uses his light touch to lure Diego Schwartzman forward before jabbing a volley down the line. Schwartzman can only rap a volley into the net and the first set goes to Dimitrov on a tie-break. Over on Centre Court, meanwhile, Caroline Wozniacki’s a set up against Timea Babos, but the Hungarian’s threatening to mount a fightback. Speaking of which, they’re level on Court 2. Jeremy Chardy and Tomas Berdych have split the first two sets and that one could be going on for a while.
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“I heard the other day that the ATP is thinking of changing things quite a lot, first and foremost by making the 5 sets have 4 games each, with possible tie breaks to decide them,” says Diana Badder. “Then trainers would be permitted to come down like they do in the WTA to give advice; also, which didn’t seem to be a good idea, that the crowd could walk about on the sides not at the top and bottom of the courts. In fact I did ask if I had dreamt all this in a Guardian forum the other day because there don’t seem to be any reactions to it.”
Thanasi Kokkinakis had his say on Bernard Tomic in his press conference. “It’s crazy he’s 24 because he was been around so long. He was so good young. I think personally he’s like a top 5 talent in the world. But I don’t know. It’s tough for him. There is a lot of pressure on him obviously. He came up being so good. Hopefully he can get it together because he’s a really good player, especially when he’s switched on. He’s so skilful. But yeah, I don’t know. For me, yeah, I feel a bit of pressure, but it’s different now. I’m trying to get back. People kind of know the name and know like some wins I can have. But it’s about being consistent and staying healthy for me.”
Grigor Dimitrov found himself in a spot of bother over on Court 12, where Diego Schwartzman is giving as good and he’s getting, but he’s broken back in the 12th game of the first set to force a tie-break. Schwartzman really could do with a better serve, though I’m not sure how a man of his height is going to manage that.
Dominic Thiem only required one break of serve to snatch the first set off Vasek Pospisil. The eighth seed’s been impressive so far, hitting five aces and 11 winners, making only three unforced errors along the way,
Timea Bacsinszky is tearing Monica Puig apart on Court 18. The 19th seed won the first set 6-1. Anett Kontaveit is also looking in fine shape, although the 21-year-old Estonian’s just let go of a break in the second set against Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena
“Ryan Harrison?” asks Diana Ely. Ask and you shall receive. The American leads Borna Coric by a set and a break.
Novak Djokovic was asked about early retirements in his press conference after a day they’re calling Quitter’s Tuesday.
I think it’s a fair point. Maybe it should be addressed. I think the new rule that the ATP has reinforced allows players who deserve already, who have made it to the Grand Slam main draw, to get what they deserve, but at the other hand allow someone else to play if they can. I support that kind of rule.
It’s really odd that Roger’s result and my result more or less was the same. We had a little joke about it in the locker room, saying we should maybe play a practice set on the Centre Court, have the crowd stay. But they had another match.
It doesn’t happen often really. This tournament has a special place in players’ careers. In this sport, there’s so much weight behind it and significance about it. The aura of Wimbledon has probably always been the strongest of any other tournament.
I’m sure that most of the players on the tour, if not all, feel that. Especially if you walk out on the Centre Court, there is a responsibility. I’m sure they tried their best, but it is what it is.
Frances Tiafoe, of whom great things are expected in America, finds himself a set up against Robin Haase. The 19-year-old won it 6-3 on Court 6. Shelby Rogers, meanwhile, has triumphed 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 against her fellow American, Julia Boserup. And Jack Sock, seeded 17th, jas just beaten Chile’s Christian Garin 6-3, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3.
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An early breakthrough for Dominic Thiem on Court 1. He breaks to lead 3-2 against Vasek Pospisil. On Court 18, meanwhile, Timea Bacsinszky is a break up against the Olympic champion, Monica Puig.
A result I meant to mention but didn’t but am mentioning now: 29th seed Daria Kasatkina beat Zheng Saisai 6-2, 6-4.
Sloane Stephens’s comeback is over quickly. She’s lost 6-2, 7-5 to her fellow American, Alison Riske, but will just be glad to be back in grand slam action after so much time away.
On Court 1, Dominic Thiem’s up and running against Vasek Pospisil. This could be a searching examination for the eighth seed. Pospisil’s a former quarter-finalist and a big server who could do some damage on grass.
Tomas Berdych, a finalist in 2010, is a set up against Jeremy Chardy. The Czech, seeded 11th this year, won it 6-3 against the experienced Frenchman. Elsewhere more Brits have fallen: Brydan Klein has lost in straight sets to Yuichi Sugita and James Ward suffered a similarly grisly fate against Marcos Baghdatis.
A little piece of tennis history.
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2017
The moment @rogerfederer became the third man to serve 10,000 career aces...#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/CPtlE2HA6u
No problems for Alex Zverev. The exciting young German’s beaten Evgeny Donskoy 6-4, 7-6, 6-3. How far can he go?
Caroline Wozniacki and Timea Babos have been moved on to Centre Court. Consider the disgruntled punters appeased.
Christina McHale beats Katie Boulter 3-6, 7-5, 6-3!
The British wild card has a bright future on this evidence, but her American opponent was too wily for her in the end. Boulter was in front at the start of the third set, but she couldn’t hold on and it’s McHale who goes through instead. They’re dropping like flies, these Brits.
Karolina Pliskova beats Evgeniya Rodina 6-4, 6-1!
A fine performance from the third seed on Court 1. She was never in danger.
Roger Federer wins 6-3, 3-0 after Alexandr Dolgopolov retires!
This is deflating. The second successive match on Centre Court ends with an early retirement, Alexandr Dolgopolov following in the hobbling footsteps of Martin Klizan, who came a cropper against Novak Djokovic in similar circumstances. It is Federer’s 85th Wimbledon win and it’s one of his easiest.
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Bad news from a British perspective. Katie Boulter’s lost four successive games to trail 4-2 in the third set against Christina McHale, James Ward’s down 6-4, 6-4, 3-1 to Marcos Baghdatis and Brydan Klein trails by two sets and a break to Yuichi Sugita.
Alex Zverev should be heading into the second round sooner rather than later. The 10th seed isn’t having it all his own way against Evgeny Donskoy, but he’s got too much for the Russian in the crucial moments and leads 6-4, 7-6 (3). As for that chap who walloped Zverev in the Halle final, he’s also having a smooth ride. Roger Federer’s enjoying his afternoon on Centre Court, as he has done on so many occasions, and finds himself a set and a break up against the fading Alexandr Dolgopolov.
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Issue of players pulling out mid-match in R1 of slams with pre-existing injury keeps coming up - time for slams to do something about it
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) July 4, 2017
Feminism’s Gilles Simon is through. He’s easily accounted for Chile’s Nicolas Jarry, winning 7-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Katie Boulter looks aggrieved after seeing a Christina McHale backhand drift past her and into the open court. There goes Boulter’s break at the start of the third set. It’s 2-2 with McHale to serve.
Here, Jelena Jankovic didn’t take losing that first-set tie-break well. She’s been absolutely walloped by Agnieszka Radwanska, who’s won 7-6, 6-0. That escalated quickly.
Roger Federer wins the first set 6-3!
Alexandr Dolgopolov isn’t disgracing himself, but he isn’t strong enough or consistent enough to trouble Federer, who seals the set when the spindly Ukrainian nets a backhand on set point.
“Marry me, Roger!” shouts a comedian in the crowd. Federer chuckles and, I assume, declines. Then he holds to lead 5-3. Dolgpolov will serve to stay in the first set.
Five things we learned from day two at Wimbledon
- Roger Federer is quite good at this tennis business...
Christina McHale has forced a decider against Katie Boulter after taking the second set 7-5. The American will feel this is her match to lose now, although the British wild card is unlikely to give up with a strong fight.
Sloane Stephens, back on the tour after recovering from foot surgery, is taking on a fellow American this afternoon. Stephens has made a slow start, however, which isn’t surprising given her rust. Alison Riske leads 2-0 early on. On Court 1, meanwhile, Karolina Pliskova’s in a hurry. The Eastbourne champion’s sailed away with the first set against Evgeniya Rodina, taking it 6-1.
Agnieszka Radwanska, the ninth seed, was in trouble against Jelena Jankovic, the former world No1, on Court 2. Jankovic served for the first set. But Radwanska kept plugging away and broke back before snatching it on a tie-break. On Court 18, meanwhile, Britain’s James Ward’s a set down against Marcos Baghdatis.
Then again. A searing forehand winner from Federer brings up a break point in the first game and Dolgopolov duly nets to drop his serve straight away. Start as you mean to go on, Roger.
Over on Centre Court, Roger Federer received a rapturous reception from the crowd as he made his entrance. The seven-times champion is the favourite to win the men’s title and with good reason given his form in 2017. He’s got a tricky assignment first up, however, against Alexandr Dolgopolov.
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Daria Gavrilova, the 20th seed, has lost a marathon match to the Croatian qualifier, Petra Martic. It finished 6-4, 2-6, 10-8. Phew!
Alex Zverev’s looking as cool as you’d expect of a young buck sporting that haircut. The German’s taken the first set 6-4 against Evgeny Donskoy and he’s playing some dreamy tennis.
Jordan Thompson beat Andy Murray at Queen’s and he’s gone out in the first round here after losing 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 to the 25th seed, Albert Ramos-Vinolas. On Court 3, meanwhile, Alex Zverev is a break up against Evgeny Donskoy in the first set. And on Centre Court, they’re readying themselves for the arrival of a certain Swiss gentleman.
Novak Djokovic wins 6-3, 2-0 after Martin Klizan retires!
The Slovakian can’t continue. Restricted by a sore left calf, he’s had to call it a day. What a boon for Djokovic, who’s heading back to the locker room in double quick time. Gauging Djokovic’s level from that non-event isn’t easy. It wasn’t a contest. He wasn’t tested at all. There will be tougher matches down the line.
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Katie Boulter wins the first set 6-3!
That’s a very accomplished set of tennis from a 20-year-old who’s making her grand slam debut. Christina McHale of the USA managed little in the way of resounding responses.
Martin Klizan has called for the trainer. He was moving very gingerly throughout the first set and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him retire.
Novak Djokovic wins the first set 6-3!
Crisis over! He’s back!
It wouldn’t be a Milos Raonic match without at least one tie-break. Today he’s served up two for the denizens of Court 1 and he’s won them both, helping the sixth seed to wrap up a 7-6, 6-2, 7-6 win over Jan-Lennard Struff. Are we going to see any upsets today?
Martin Klizan appeals to Hawkeye after a forehand’s called wide, but to no avail. It was miles out. Novak Djokovic, playing patient tennis, breaks for a 5-3 lead on Centre Court.
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Zarina Diyas, who can be a tricky customer on her day, is through to the second round. The Kazakh has a decent record at Wimbledon and is looking to keep that going after beating Han Xinyun 6-3, 6-4.
On Court 12, it’s been a lightning start from the British wildcard, Katie Boulter. The 20-year-old from Leicester has a tough assignment against the USA’s Christina McHale, but she leads 4-1 in the first set.
Martin Klizan is acquitting himself well on Centre Court for the time being. He’s not given Novak Djokovic a sniff of a break yet. Meanwhile 15th seed Gael Monfils is through after beating Daniel Brands 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
Here’s a great little nugget from my colleague, Simon Cambers: Ernests Gulbis’s win was his first tour level win since last year’s French Open. He plays Juan Martin del Potro next. That’s bound to be fascinating.
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Fourth of July, an all-American duel on Court 8. And it’s not gone the way of the seeded player. Lauren Davis, the 28th seed, has lost 6-4, 7-5 to Varvara Lepchenko.
Coco Vandeweghe’s press conference turned into a discussion about fashion, headbands and Pat Cash, her new coach.
Q. Could you ever see yourself wearing a checkered headband?
COCO VANDEWEGHE: It’s not allowed here at the All England Club. I was told by Pat it wasn’t allowed here. Too much colour. I have dabbled with the idea of a headband to try out that look, but I don’t know if I’ll ever succeed in that.
Q. How would you describe Pat’s personality?
COCO VANDEWEGHE: I would say he’s actually on the side of dorky a little bit sometimes. I mean, he’s just -- it’s a different generation. So for me, it’s like sometimes the things that he says are like references he goes to, it’s like, Dude, that’s a dorky reference. It’s a fun, jovial light he has to himself.
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Garbine Muguruza beats Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-2, 6-4!
A confident start from the former French Open champion and 14th seed.
“I felt a little bit bored out there,” Bernard Tomic said after losing to Mischa Zverev. He was asked if he’d consider giving back his appearance fee. “If you ask Federer to give back $500 million, would he do that or not?” he replied. “We all work for money. At 34, maybe I can donate to charity. If you ask Roger if he’ll do it, I’ll do it.”
How about donating it to charity? “If Roger and Novak, these guys will, no problem,” he said. “There is a lot of good tennis players out there that, in my opinion, will not win slams. It was just won by a lot of these top guys, and I believe, you know, there are many, many good players that will not win slams. Hopefully maybe I can win one in my career. Maybe not. We’ll see.
Yes, maybe not, Bernard. Anyway, on he went. “I’m 24. I have done, came on tour at 16, 17. I have been around and feels like I’m super old, but I’m not. So, you know, just trying to find something, you know, this is my 8th Wimbledon or 9th I think. I’m still 24, and it’s tough to find motivation, you know. Really, me being out there on the court, to be honest with you, I just couldn’t find any motivation.To me, this is one of the biggest tournaments in the world that I have done really well in my career, and, yeah, I just couldn’t find anything. It’s happened to me a lot. Just can’t find anything on the court. I think I don’t respect it enough. I just believe playing many years on tour now has sort of come, taken a toll. You need to find that sort of energy. I’m just trying to find something. Now heading into the U.S. maybe play well in some tournaments there. Nothing to lose. Just try and enjoy it.”
Told that an online commenter said that he should be deported from Australia, Tomic said: “Well, that’s his opinion. I’m sure he’s on the computer somewhere making $50 an hour.”
What do our Australian readers make of this? Does Bernard Tomic have an obligation to be interested in tennis?
Bernard Tomic says he felt "bored" in his defeat by Mischa Zverev at #Wimbledon. Says he doesn't respect tennis enough, lacks hunger for it
— John Skilbeck (@JohnSkilbeckPA) July 4, 2017
Just been at the most extraordinary press conference. Bernard Tomic says he is bored, slammed critics as only earning $50 an hour.
— Jacquelin Magnay (@jacquelinmagnay) July 4, 2017
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On Centre Court, Novak Djokovic is warming up. So’s Martin Klizan. But it’s Djokovic who we’re interested in, isn’t it? Sorry, Martin. But it’s true. That said, Klizan is a big hitter. He could cause Djokovic a few problems, but it’s five years since his last win at Wimbledon.
Juan Martin del Potro beats Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4!
The loveable Argentinian gets there in the end, converting his seventh match point to reach the second round at the expense of the impressive Kokkinakis, who will surely go on to bigger and better things if he continues to produce that kind of tennis. That was great entertainment, but Del Potro was a touch too strong for his 21-year-old opponent.
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Kokkinakis has saved six match points! On it goes.
Juan Martin del Potro is serving for the match on Court 2. But Thanasi Kokkinakis isn’t going quietly. The Australian’s saved a few match points. Can he break back?
Richard Gasquet was a semi-finalist two years ago. He’s out in the first round today. The 22nd seed has lost 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to David Ferrer, who will be delighted to have claimed that scalp.
Angelique Kerber beats Irina Falconi 6-4, 6-4!
Not the most convincing of starts from the world No1, but a searing forehand winner on match point means she’s safely through to the second round. It’s safe to say there’s room for improvement, though.
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“Appreciating your mention of Nick Kyrgios despite his elimination...I hope he does become a top 5 player in the future, just to keep things interesting,” says Ronan Scott. “On that note...who do you think will be the top 5 men’s players in, say, five years time or so? Zverev seems certain, hopefully Kyrgios...Thiem is a nice player...probably an american (Tiafoe?). After that I’m a bit stuck.”
How about Khachanov and Medvedev? Hyeon Chung’s nifty. So’s Denis Shapovalov.
Canadian cyborg Milos Raonic has a commanding lead over Jan-Lennard Struff on Court 1. He’s up 7-6, 6-2. Garbine Muguruza’s looking good, too, having won the first set 6-2 against Ekaterina Alexandrova on Cout 3.
Richard Gasquet’s stay looks like it’s going to be a short one. David Ferrer, 35 years old and still scrapping away, is serving for the match at 5-2 in the fourth set against the 22nd seed.
On the BBC, Martina Navratilova doesn’t sound impressed with Angelique Kerber’s level so far. Irina Falconi, who came through qualifying, has been dictating play a lot and she holds to lead 4-3 in the second set.
Angelique Kerber’s a set up, but she isn’t having it all her own way on Centre Court. She was a break up in the second set, but no more. Irina Falconi’s forehand return clips the tape and leaves Kerber stranded. They’re back on serve and the world No1 still has work to do.
Mischa Zverev was asked about his old-school volleying tactics after his win over Bernard Tomic. Here’s what the German throwback had to say.
I feel like the groundstrokes have improved so much over the last 10, 15, 20 years. It’s different, yeah, because the grass is a little slower and balls are little slower.
But the racquets and the strings, the players, they are so much stronger, they can hit the ball harder. So I feel like the ball travels faster through the air but slows down after the bounce, which makes it tougher for a volleyer.
But I think if you serve really well like some people do these days, I think it’s still possible to do it. But for a serve-volleyer to do really well at a tournament like Wimbledon you need to serve and volley for 36 months straight to get the feel for it, to get the rhythm.
And that’s not very easy to do, because every time you want to serve and volley you have to be ready. You either going to get past or you’re going to miss an easy volley or you’re going to win the points.
It’s like flipping the coin every day 365 days a year, you have to flip a coin 200 times a day and then hopefully you win the majority of those coin tosses. To me, that’s how it is when you serve and volley because you never know what’s going to happen, and the point is going to be over in a split second.
I think it’s possible but you need to be able and ready mentally to do it for months and months at a time and be okay with, like maybe lose 2 and 2 to someone, get passed 75 times, but then still be okay the next day you do it.”
Garbine Muguruza has slipped down to 14th seed after an indifferent 2017, but the 2015 finalist and former French Open champion has made a superb start on Court 3. She leads 3-0 against Ekaterina Alexandrova. Milos Raonic, meanwhile, is cruising against Jan-Lennard Struff, who’s struggling to bounce back from losing that tie-break, dropping his serve twice at the start of the second set. Raonic leads 7-6, 3-0.
VICTORY FOR AUSTRALIA! WHAT A GLORIOUS TENNIS NATION!
Facing a fourth match point, Anastasia Pavyuchenkova knocks a forehand wide and Arina Rodionova completes an unlikely win, beating the 16th seed 3-6, 7-6, 9-7. She’s delighted and disbelieving. She can’t have seen that win coming when she lost the first set. But she kept plugging away and finally, after six matches, an Australian has reached the second round.
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On Court 17, we might be able to see the first Australian victory at this edition of Wimbledon. Arina Rodionova is 8-7 up in the third set against 16th seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia. The Russian-born Australian has seen three match points come and go, though...
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Hello. Face suitably stuffed, I’m back and brimming with energy again. Thanks to Tom for stepping in.
A brilliant cross-court passing shot from out wide secures the first service game of the second set for Falconi while on Court One last year’s beaten male finalist, Milos Raonic, has won the first set of his match against Jan-Lennard Struff on a tiebreak. Richard Gasquet, the No22 seed, has pulled a set back against David Ferrer and now trails 3-6, 4-6, 7-5.
And with that, I’ll hand you back to Jacob, whom I trust has now filled his face. Bye.
Angelique Kerber wins first set against Irina Falconi 6-4. There’s almost a sense, with the women’s draw, that the No1 seed winning the title would actually be a shock. She looks fallible today, certainly, but grinds out the first set, and steps up to clinch it with an excellent back-of-court forehand winner.
Juan Martín del Potro wins third-set tiebreak 7-2. The Argentinian has come through another highly competitive set to go 2-1 up against Thanasi Kokkinakis.
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On Centre Court, Kerber, having broken twice straight away has lost some of her early control against Falconi, conceding one break-back and being made to work very hard to win the eight game of the first set, but the No1 seed has edged closer to winning it by holding from deuce for a 5-3 lead.
Kyle Edmund beats Alexander Ward in four sets!
Edmund races to three match points on Ward’s serve and seals the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 with an easy smash at the net. He made a properly wobbly start but showed his superiority in style by the end.
On Court Two, Kokkinakis saves a set and break point to level the third set at 5-5
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Ward looks a bit resigned now, lolloping about with a weary look before serving, though he’s still taking part in the odd decent rally, and from one such a neat top-spun drop shot helps him recover from 15-40 to hold. He’s a mere 1-4 down now. Meanwhile, it’s 5-4 to Del Potro against Kokkinakis and back with serve in the third set. And one set all.
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Afternoon everyone. Tom Davies here, sneaking into Jacob’s chair for a bit (not his actual chair mind – he’s in Wimbledon, I’m in King’s Cross), with the news that Edmund is showing no signs of letting up, and is swiftly two breaks up in the fourth set, moving into a 3-0 lead with a rasping forehand return of serve down the line.
The women’s No1 seed, Angelique Kerber, meanwhile, has an early break against Irina Falconi – the German leads 3-2 in the first set.
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Time for me to grab some lunch. Fear not, though, for one of my colleagues will be sure to step into the breach while I head off to stuff my face.
Coco Vandeweghe’s made smooth progress into the second round, beating Mona Barthel 7-5, 6-2. The 24th seed hasn’t just got a brilliant name, she’s got an excellent game on grass and she won’t be underestimated by anyone over the next fortnight.
Kyle Edmund wins the third set 6-2 to lead 4-6, 6-3, 6-2!
Foot on the accelerator, Edmund’s beginning to speed away from Alex Ward.
Thanasi Kokkinakis is really beginning to find his groove now. Having taken the second set, he’s broken Del Potro to 30 to lead 2-1 in the third. Could we finally be about to see an Australian winner in the first round at Wimbledon? Whatever next?
Ernests Gulbis, the enigmatic Latvian who’s never short of a controversial opinion or two, has decided to string together a few accomplished sets today. It’s a nice day for it, after all. Why not stretch the old limbs for a couple of hours? The former French Open semi-finalist, who can be very good when he puts his mind to it, has beaten Victor Estrella Burgos 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.
Magdalena Rybarykova hasn’t been detained long by Monica Niculescu on Court 15. The Slovakian’s beaten the Romanian in two short and sharp sets, 6-4, 6-1, to reach round two.
Farewell, then, Bernard Tomic. Thanks for coming. You provided us with ... nothing memorable, to be perfectly frank. Mischa Zverev’s beaten him 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. We’re yet to see an Australian win a match. Five have fallen already. It’s not good. I blame Guardian Australia. This is Russell Jackson’s fault.
Thanasi Kokkinakis wins the second set 6-3 to level the match!
Facing two set points, Del Potro chips and charges. So Kokkinkia simply pings a backhand down the line to raise the excitement levels on Court 2!
Juan Martin del Potro bossed Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first set, but there’s been a mood change in the second set on Court 2. The Argentinian plays a woeful drop shot to gift Kokkinakis two break points and then he drags an awful forehand wide. The Aussie fans cheer and with good reason - Kokkinakis is going to serve for the second set at 5-3.
Kyle Edmund’s in total control now. He has the double break in the third set. Alex Ward’s put up a good fight, but it seems he might not be around much longer.
Future mayor of London Sol Campbell has taken his seat in the Royal Box on Centre Court. Angelique Kerber and Irina Falconi will be on court shortly.
I’ll level with you: there’s a distinct lack of drama at the moment. They should let Nick Kyrgios do cameos just to spice things up. Mooch around the place, sulk a bit, glare. I’d pay to watch that.
Weight of shot is making a difference for Kyle Edmund now. He breaks to love in the first game of the third set. Alex Ward’s in danger of fading here.
Kyle Edmund wins the second set 6-3 to level his match!
Edmund had to deal with a break point, but he’s beginning to move through the gears against Alex Ward. That’s more like it.
Coco Vandeweghe is looking like a contender. The American’s a set and a break up against Mona Barthel on Court 18. But it’s all over on Court 5. Tatjana Maria is through after Anastasia Potapova’s retirement early in the second set.
Bernard Tomic’s record in 2017: 9-14. Ouch. He actually beat Mischa Zverev in Eastbourne last week, but it seems unlikely that he’s going to beat the 27th seed today. Zverev leads 6-4, 6-3 on Court 14. It feels like a long time since he played so well as a teenager against Djokovic here...
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The fightback from Kyle Edmund begins. He breaks in the second set against Alex Ward to lead 4-2. He really doesn’t want to be losing this match.
Kiki Bertens, the 23rd seed, was in control at first on Court 8, but she’s just lost a first set tie-break to Romania’s Sorana Cirstea. How frustrating for the former French Open semi-finalist.
Remember Marcus Willis? Of course you remember Marcus Willis. He’s not here this year. But the player he beat in the first round last year is – and Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis is a set up against Belgium’s Steve Darcis on Court 7. As for the Marcus Willis of 2017, Alex Ward is still acquitting himself well against Kyle Edmund. He’s a set up and they’re on serve in the second.
Richard Gasquet flaps a tame forehand return into the net and David Ferrer takes the first set 6-3. On Court 5, Tatjana “Tia” Maria is a set up against Anastasia Potapova, but a break down in the second.
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Juan Martin del Potro wins the first set 6-3!
The Argentinian is too strong for Thanasi Kokkinakis at the moment.
That is wonderful from David Ferrer! He carves out a break point, advances to the net and volleys beautifully when Gasquet tries to pass him! The Spaniard will serve for the first set at 5-3. Over on Court 17, meanwhile, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is dominant. The 16th seed leads 6-3, 1-1 against Arina Rodionova, an Australian qualifier.
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Despite being seeded 22nd, Richard Gasquet has been handed a pretty nasty first-round draw. David Ferrer isn’t as dangerous as he was a few years ago and the former world No3 has slipped to 39 in the rankings, but the stubborn Spanish veteran is still a pretty tough nut to crack. They’re still on serve on Court 12 and it’s an unsurprisingly tight match.
Alex Ward goes a set up!
Trailing 4-5 on Court 3, Kyle Edmund lets off some steam at last, ripping a forehand return past Alex Ward to earn a break point. He can’t take it, though, sending a backhand long off a second serve. Deuce. From there, Ward earns his first set point with more heavy serving and Edmund promptly drags a forehand wide. The first set goes to the underdog!
Magda Linette of Poland is cruising along against the US wildcard Bethanie Mattek-Sands. She’s taken the first set 6-1 on Court 11.
Employing the canny serve-volley tactics that so unnerved Murray in the Australian Open, Mischa Zverev comfortably wraps up the first set 6-4 on Court 14. He earns three set points with an ace and converts the first with another ace, Tomic barely bothering to go after it.
Mischa Zverev, Alex’s older brother and the man who rocked Andy Murray in Melbourne, has slowly risen up the rankings this year and the 27th seed is looking good against the ever disappointing Bernard Tomic. The German’s about to serve for the first set at 5-4 on Court 14.
Thanasi Kokkinaki is under severe pressure on Court 18. Juan Martin del Potro has broken already to lead 3-0 and he’s threatening to break again. The Argentinian means business. But Kokkinakis saves two break points with some fine tennis and holds to get himself on the scoreboard at last.
Coco Vandeweghe might be seeded 24th, but she’s a potential champion on grass, especially in the absence of Serena Williams. The powerful American, a quarter-finalist two years ago, has started assertively on Court 18. She has an early break against Germany’s Mona Barthel.
Alex Ward’s wearing a support on his right ankle, but he’s looking confident early on. He consolidates the break to lead 2-0, Edmund unable to return well enough despite taking the game to 30.
What a start for Alex Ward on Court 3. The qualifier’s broken in the very first game against Kyle Edmund, who probably didn’t see that coming. It’s worth remembering that Edmund’s preparations haven’t been great. He lost in the first round at Queen’s and Eastbourne, so he hasn’t had as much time on grass as Ward.
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Juan Martin del Potro and Thanasi Kokkinakis could treat ys to a wonderful spectacle on Court 2. They both have so much talent. They’ve both lost so much time to injuries. Life can be unfair. But here they are. Del Potro, who pushed Novak Djokovic to the limit in a thrilling semi-final four years ago, boasts the stronger pedigree. The big Argentinian with the monstrous forehand is a US Open champion and a double Olympic medalist and he undoubtedly has the game to go far if he’s fit, although the 29th seed is due to face Djokovic in the third round. Kokkinakis is still mostly potential. But it’s great to see the 21-year-old Aussie back on court after recovering from his shoulder issues. He made the most of a wild card at Queen’s by upsetting Milos Raonic to offer a reminder of his skill, so this one could be good. Kokkinakis might be a bit rusty, though, so don’t hold me to that.
And ... play! Day two is underway. Serves are being struck, balls are fizzing back and forth and line judges are making weird noises. It’s time for tennis!
The courts are filling up and the players are walking out. Play will be underway shortly. On Court 5, Russian qualifier Anastasia Potapova faces a T Maria of Germany. It’s with great regret that I report the T stands for Tatjana.
The sun’s disappeared behind the clouds for now, but the forecast remains dry. Hip hip! The players will be out soon on the outside courts. It’s almost time for the start of day two!
It’s not often you see a match between two British players in a grand slam, but that’s what we’ve got on Court 3 soon. You’ll have heard plenty about Kyle Edmund, a Davis Cup stalwart who reached the fourth round of the US Open last year, but less about Alex Ward, who’s made it into the main for the first time as a qualifier. This isn’t his Wimbledon debut - he had a wild card last year and lost to David Goffin in the first round - but he’s delighted to have made earned his spot by right this time after four previous unsuccessful runs in Roehampton. He’s done it the hard way, too. He almost quit tennis because of a wrist injury last year and has struggled since his return, slipping to 885 in the rankings. He’d lost seven straight matches before Roehampton, lost in pre-qualifying and only got a second chance after being given a wild card reprieve. How he made the most of that good fortune. He’s unlikely to win today, but just being here is a victory.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,” the voice of Wimbledon says. “We will shortly be opening the gates. Please do not swear run.” It’s a hot, sunny day here in SW19, though there are a few clouds in the sky. Let’s hope we aren’t hit with more unexpected rain delays. Who wants that?
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Day one was all about sore hips, knacked knees and thoracic spines. Such is life in the grinding world of tennis and don’t deal with the sport’s increasing physical demands better than others, so while Andy Murray soothed concerns over his sore hip to begin the defence of his title with a fun win over a Russian prankster, Nick Kyrgios was in too much pain against Pierre Hugues-Herbert. As for the knees, Stan Wawrinka was hobbled in more ways than one by fearless Centre Court debutant Daniil Medvedev (did it count as a shock?), but Rafael Nadal’s sometimes untrustworthy joints held up on his return to grass. Johanna Konta, meanwhile, showed no signs of strain after last week’s injury scare in Eastbourne.
All those bumps and bruises, though. It’s no good at all! What this lot need to do is take a long look at Roger Federer; it’s never a bad idea. After all, if there’s one tennis player who can show the rest of us how to look after our bodies, it’s surely him. For much of last year, he was plagued by doubt caused by physical concerns. Time catches up with all of us in the end, even the greatest tennis player of all time. Early in 2016, he hurt his knee while running a bath for his kids. He returned in time for Wimbledon, fell during his semi-final defeat to Milos Raonic and missed the rest of the season. Few people expected much when he returned to action at the start of this year. Good work, everyone.
Now he starts this tournament as the slight and in no way sentimental favourite to win a historic eighth Wimbledon title, having moved up to 18 majors by beating Nadal in Melbourne, but only after taking the wise decision to skip the European clay season, reasoning that to play at the French Open would have been an unnecessary gamble. Judging by his stunning performance in the final at Halle the other week, the break seems to have worked. He might make life miserable for Alexandr Dolgopolov later.
That match is third on Centre Court. Before then, peace and love’s Novak Djokovic takes on Martin Klizan, who seems to get no luck in grand slam draws, and it will be intriguing to see whether a productive week in Eastbourne has pushed that shocking capitulation at the French Open out of the deposed world No1’s system when he meets the fiery Slovakian.
What you need early in a grand slam is a few shocks. Not too many, but enough to build excitement and uncertainty. Djokovic, who has added Mario Ancic to his coaching team, is a potential victim. But a more likely big name to make an early departure is Angelique Kerber, who opens the action on Centre Court against Irina Falconi. A losing finalist last year, the German has had a wretched time of it lately. She might not be world No1 for much longer if her funk continues.
But watch out if she builds momentum. The women’s draw is so enticingly open. Karolina Pliskova, Coco Vandeweghe, Kristina Mladenovic and Garbine Muguruza are amongst the players in action today who will feel that they could win this tournament - either that or they crash out in the first round.
The men’s draw still feels more predictable, with the Big Four still the top four, but there are a few fine talents waiting to pounce on any signs of decay. Milos Raonic, Dominic Thiem, Alex Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov are the challengers to watch – and keep an eye on events on Court 2, where the action begins with a tussle between two men who’ve had no luck with injuries at all: Juan Martin del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, and Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis. What those two would give for just a sprinkling of Federer’s longevity.
Play begins at 11.30am on the outside courts and 1pm on the show courts.
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