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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Katy Murrells at Wimbledon

Wimbledon 2018: Muguruza, Cilic and Konta out, Edmund, Nadal and Halep win – as it happened

Garbiñe Muguruza
Garbiñe Muguruza was knocked out in the second round against Alison van Uytvanck. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Upset alert on the No 1 Court too, where Taylor Fritz has taken a tight third set against Alex Zverev with a super tie-break, 7-0. Fritz leads 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 but we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see if the young American can pull off the win. Play has been suspended in the fading light, which is probably a good thing, because I’m not sure how much more drama I can take today. I’m off to lie down in a darkened room. But perhaps I’ll get some dinner first. See you again tomorrow. Bye!

Updated

Apparently this is the first time in the Open era that only two of the top eight women’s seeds have made the third round here.

Garbine Muguruza's title defence ends with 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 defeat to Alison Van Uytvanck!

Van Uytvanck has been impossible to read during this match, her emotions have been the same whether she’s been behind or in the lead. But she must be feeling the nerves as she steps up to serve for a place in the third round. She must be feeling it even more when she drops 0-30 down.

But she comes back at Muguruza, winning the next three points for 40-30. She even allows herself a little smile after some Hawk-Eye confusion on match point. But it doesn’t distract her, she refocuses to complete victory over the defending champion! Muguruza can’t get off court quickly enough; Van Uytvanck stays to soak in her most unlikely of wins. This tournament of upsets has yet another to send shockwaves around the grounds of the All England Club. Today’s earthquake in Gatwick has nothing on this.

Alison Van Uytvanck beats the defending champion Garbine Muguruza.
Alison Van Uytvanck beats the defending champion Garbine Muguruza. Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

Updated

Van Uytvanck has two break points for a 5-1 lead. Muguruza saves the first but then chops wide after a draining duel on the second! Van Uytvanck will serve for victory against the defending champion!

Stat attack. If Muguruza goes out, only one of the top six women’s seeds, Simona Halep, will have made the third round. And it would leave Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Venus Williams and Serena Williams as the only women in the Open era to have successfully defended a Wimbledon title.

Updated

Muguruza is a mercurial talent, as capable of losing in the early rounds of slams as winning them. But this hasn’t been a poor performance from the Spaniard; Van Uytvanck is playing the match of her life. The Belgian holds and extends her advantage to 4-1.

A worrying moment for Muguruza when trailing 2-1 on serve, as she slips and tumbles into the net. The defending champion seems fine, though, and gets back up to move 40-30 ahead. But two netted shots later and Van Uytvanck has a break point. The Belgian attacks the second serve but rams into the net. Deuce. Advantage Muguruza. Deuce, as Van Uytvanck flashes a cross-court forehand which Muguruza can get only the frame of her racket on to. Deuce. Advantage Muguruza. Deuce. Advantage Van Uytvanck. She’s hitting the ball so cleanly out there. And there’s the break! Muguruza, the defending champion, trails 3-1 in the deciding set.

So what do we know about Van Uytvanck? The 24-year-old has been beyond the second round of a grand slam only once in 16 previous attempts, at the French Open in 2015 when she made the quarter-finals. Kim Clijsters is asked on the BBC commentary whether she’s surprised by her fellow Belgian’s performance. “She’s playing her best tennis right now and when she does she’s capable of beating anybody,” says Clijsters. “She just hasn’t been able to do it consistently on tour.”

Wow. Van Uytvanck doesn’t even need to wait for her service game to seal the set. The world No 47 breaks when the world No 3 makes a mess of chasing down a loose drop shot, and she deservedly forces a deciding set. It’s Muguruza 7-5, 2-6 Van Uytvanck.

Van Uytvanck takes the second set.
Van Uytvanck takes the second set. Photograph: Gerry Penny/EPA

Updated

It’s going with serve on the No 1 Court, Zverev 6-4, 5-7, 3-3 Fritz.

Muguruza has a match on her hands. Van Uytvanck breaks for 4-2. Muguruza has the chance to bite back in the following game at 30-40 but balloons long on break point. Deuce. Advantage Van Uytvanck. Game Van Uytvanck. The Belgian gets out of jail and leads 5-2 in the second set.

Muguruza certainly isn’t having everything her own way on No 2. Having broken early in the second set, she’s broken back. Van Uytvanck then holds to lead 3-2.

At least Fabio Fognini’s done the business, putting friendship aside for a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 win over Simone Bolelli.

Meanwhile in news that does my chances of getting dinner any time soon absolutely no good, Alex Zverev has lost the second set 7-5 in the battle of the young guns against Taylor Fritz. Zverev, remember, won the first 6-4.

Updated

How the draws look after today’s results:

Men

Khachanov v Tiafoe

Edmund v Djokovic

Kyrgios v Nishikori

Gulbis v Fritz or Zverev

Del Potro v Paire

Simon v Ebden

Vesely v Fognini or Bolelli

De Minaur v Nadal

Women

Halep v Hsieh

Cibulkova v Mertens

Ostapenko v Diatchenko

Gavrilova v Sasnovich

Muguruza or Van Uytvanck v Kontaveit

Barty v Kasatkina

Kerber v Osaka

Suarez Navarro v Bencic

The shadows are lengthening on the No 2 Court, where Muguruza has recovered from the disappointment of failing to serve out the first set. The Spaniard breaks Van Uytvanck – the third consecutive break – to ensure she’ll have another chance to get the set on the board. 15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game and set Muguruza 7-5.

Muguruza wins the first set 7-5.
Muguruza wins the first set 7-5. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Updated

Muguruza could be forgiven for treading rather cautiously on the No 2 court given the way the seeds have been tumbling this week, but the defending champion is moving with authority, serving for the opening set at 5-4. And there’s the commentator’s curse. Muguruza is broken and they’re back on serve at 5-5.

Edmund’s conqueror at the French Open, Fabio Fognini, is going well on Court 18. He leads Italian Davis Cup teammate and sometimes doubles partner Simone Bolelli 6-3, 6-4.

First, though, there’s the off-court interview:

Really happy to get the win. Second time I’ve played on Centre Court and first time I’ve got the win. I thought the match ... I broke in the first game and that helped with the nerves, though it was tentative in the second set. After the tie-break I really relaxed into it.

I’m looking forward to it [facing Djokovic]. I’ve never been to the third round at Wimbledon. Novak’s one of the best players in the world, he’ll go down as one of the best players of all time. I don’t know when the match will be, it’ll be interesting with the football.

Updated

Kyle Edmund beats Bradley Klahn 6-4, 7-6 (0), 6-2!

Klahn has checked out. 0-15. 0-30. 0-40. Edmund, on the stretch, nets a backhand return on the first match point. But he nails a backhand return on the second, which sets up the point for him, and he finishes with a forehand for symmetry’s sake. Edmund advances to a Saturday blockbuster with Novak Djokovic, so perhaps he’ll be heading straight to the referees’ office to request a 1pm start so he can squeeze in a bit of England v Sweden afterwards.

Kyle Edmund beats Bradley Klahn 6-4, 7-6 (0), 6-2.
Kyle Edmund beats Bradley Klahn 6-4, 7-6 (0), 6-2. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Updated

Edmund breaks Klahn for the first time since the opening game of the match and he’s in complete control, 6-4, 7-6 (0), 4-2. I feel a bit ungrateful saying this given Edmund is surely going to win, but I’m missing Andy Murray. This is all too business-like. Where’s the drama? Where’s the chattering and chuntering between points? Where’s the glares at the players’ box? Edmund backs up the break and Klahn must hold serve if he’s to continue his misery for any longer.

Updated

Strike Ostapenko v Flipkens from that list. The big-hitting 21-year-old has thwacked, whacked and cracked her way to a 6-1, 6-3 win over the 2013 semi-finalist.

Updated

There are only five singles matches remaining this evening: Edmund v Klahn, Zverev v Fritz, Muguruza v Van Uytvanck, Ostapenko v Flipkens and Fognini v Bolelli.

Among the late starters on this fourth day: two grand slam champions and surely a future major winner. Garbine Muguruza, the defending champion here, is about to get going on the No 2 Court against Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanck. Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open winner, leads another Belgian, Kirsten Flipkens, by a set to love on the No 3 Court. And Alex Zverev, the man who could be tennis’ king, has a break in the opening set against the American Taylor Fritz on No 1.

Updated

Neither Edmund nor Klahn have been able to secure a break in this second set, so it’ll be decided by a tie-break. Edmund ekes out a 3-0 lead. He affords himself a fist pump, as well he might. Edmund is at it again after the next point, having sprinted across the court and forced Klahn to play the extra shot, which the American inexplicably misses. 4-0. Make that 5-0. 6-0. 7-0. There’s the tie-break whitewash. Edmund is well on his way, 6-4, 7-6.

Edmund takes the second set.
Edmund takes the second set. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Updated

The importance of being Ernests. The enigma that is Gulbis is through to the third round. Having been taken to five sets by Britain’s Jay Clarke in the first round, the Latvian’s gone the distance again today, defeating the in-form Bosnian Damir Dzumhur 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. Dzumhur was seeded 27th here, and his departure means half of the men’s seeds are out.

That result means the Australians end the day with five players advancing and two going home. Through: Kyrgios, De Minaur, Ebden, Barty and Gavrilova. Out: Tomic and Stosur.

Kyrgios v Tomic in the third round was not meant to be. Kei Nishikori has come from a set down to defeat Tomic 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7), 7-5. It’s still been a relatively positive week for Tomic, who snuck into the draw as a lucky loser and leaves on much better terms than he did last year when he was fined a record $20,000 for feigning injury and saying he was “a little bored” during his first-round exit.

Nishikori celebrates winning his second round match against Tomic.
Nishikori celebrates winning his second round match against Tomic. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Updated

At 4-4 it’s getting towards the business end of the second set on Centre, so Edmund decides it may be time to strike. He has a break point on Klahn’s seve and then another. But Klahn stands firm. It’s Edmund 6-4, 4-5.

It’s all go for Delpo. The fifth seed completes the most straightforward of straight-sets wins, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 over an ailing Feliciano Lopez.

It’s going with serve in the second set of Edmund v Klahn. This match hasn’t really sparked into life yet, but if Edmund wins I doubt he’ll care about that. The Brit is quietly going about his business on serve, and hasn’t faced a break point. Edmund leads 6-4, 2-2.

Youth has prevailed over experience on Court 18 though, with Karen Khachanov outlasting Marcos Baghdatis, a semi-finalist here 12 years ago, 7-5 in the fifth set. Khachanov had led by two sets to love.

Denis Shapovalov’s time is coming but not quite yet. The 19-year-old Canadian is out, losing 0-6, 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (3) to France’s Benoit Paire.

Edmund doesn’t seem at all bothered by the increased attention he’s getting in Andy Murray’s absence. “I mean, it’s not like I’m a big deal or anything like that,” he said in his typically understated manner this week. He’s certainly a different character to Murray, and perhaps he needs to put the Centre Court crowd through the ringer in true Murray style in order for them to fully embrace him. At the moment they’re clapping politely as Edmund serves for the opening set at 5-4. Though a few spectators allow themselves a whoop and a cheer as Edmund serves it out to 30. Edmund has the first set 6-4.

Edmund takes the first set 6-4.
Edmund takes the first set 6-4. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA

Updated

There have been no more breaks since that opening game on Centre, with Edmund leading 4-2. But look, Edmund has the chance for a double break at his advantage on Klahn’s serve. The pair exchange cross-court shots, before Edmund decides to change tack with an attempted backhand down the line. But he nets. Deuce. And from there Klahn holds. It’s 4-3 Edmund.

Anyone fancy a double hotdog? Sure you do.

Novak Djokovic has been facing the hacks in the press conference room and actually seemed quite happy about his No 2 Court scheduling. “No, it doesn’t bother me,” he said. “It doesn’t bother me actually. I was enjoying it. I’ve never played on this new Court 2.

“It was interesting. I think what was different is the walk to the court. Obviously the crowd, everybody cheering you on, wishing you luck, after the match congratulating you. That was quite special, quite different. I haven’t experienced that in a while in Wimbledon.”

Edmund holds. Klahn holds. Edmund holds. It’s 3-1 Edmund. Meanwhile Diego Schwartzman, the Argentinian who gave Rafael Nadal a scare in the Roland Garros quarter-finals, has gone out in straight sets to the Czech Jiri Vesely.

After a nine-minute opening game, Kyle Edmund breaks Bradley Klahn, the 27-year-old left-hander from California. It’s 1-0.

Edmund in action.
Edmund in action. Photograph: Tony O'Brien/Reuters

Updated

Juan Martin del Potro is in charge on the No 1 Court, that frightening forehand of his helping him to a 6-4, 3-0 lead over Feliciano Lopez, a rare breed of Spaniard who has his best results on grass. This is Lopez’s 66th consecutive slam, breaking Roger Federer’s record. So the GOAT isn’t top of the charts in everything.

Edmund is looking to reach the Wimbledon third round for the first time in his career, with the prize (or perhaps punishment given the way Novak Djokovic played today) a meeting with the former world No 1 on Saturday, when England play Sweden in the World Cup. Edmund has a Swedish coach in Fredrik Rosengren. Though judging by this tweet, the two are still on speaking terms before the quarter-final:

Konta’s exit means that for the fourth slam in a row, Kyle Edmund is the last Brit left in the men’s and women’s draw. And he’s up next on Centre, against the American qualifier Bradley Klahn.

“It was a tough draw today,” says Cibulkova. “Tough first round, tough second round. The crowd were really nice to me, it was a really fair game. I don’t really think about it anymore [the seeding situation]. I’m just really focusing on myself and doing the right things.”

Really ...?! Wimbledon may have done Cibulkova a favour, though. She looks so determined to do well.

Updated

Johanna Konta knocked out 6-3, 6-4 by Dominika Cibulkova

So Cibulkova is serving at 6-3, 5-4. After the tortuous previous game, the Slovak isn’t in the mood to hang around here. 15-0. 30-0. 40-0. Three more match points, and this time they’re all in a row. Just the one will do as Konta nets her return. Cibulkova is jumping up and down on her way to the net, she’s delighted after a comprehensive win. Her crusade to prove the Wimbledon seeding committee wrong continues, while Konta’s slump goes on.

Konta beaten by Cibulkova.
Konta beaten by Cibulkova. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Updated

... and Konta finally wraps up the game with an ace from her second advantage, having saved four match points! What character.

Updated

Konta is on the brink. She trails 6-3, 5-3 and is serving to stay in the championships. An inauspicious start as she falls 0-15 down. Which turns into 15-30. And then 15-40, two match points. The crowd try to urge Konta on, perhaps more out of loyalty than belief that the Brit is going to turn this around. But Konta saves both match points, and then another at Cibulkova’s advantage. Konta really should make it her advantage but a wild forehand goes long. A fourth match point. Cibulkova spoons a return well over the baseline. And so they go on ...

Elsewhere, Juan Martin del Potro, seeded fifth this year, is just getting started against Feliciano Lopez; Bernard Tomic leads Kei Nishikori 6-2, 3-3 as he attempts to set up a third-round meeting with Nick Kyrgios; the young Canadian Denis Shapovalov is a set down to Benoit Paire; the explosive Russian Karen Khachanov leads Marcos Baghdatis by two sets to one; and Belinda Bencic, Switzerland’s biggest female talent since Martina Hingis, has advanced with a three-set victory over the American Alison Riske.

Updated

Konta confidently hits to one corner and then the other for the winner. It’s her first break point of the match. But she nets while attempting to chase down a drop shot. Deuce. Advantage Cibulkova. Game Cibulkova, as the Slovak drills a backhand winner down the line. It’s 6-3, 4-2.

There’s some suggestion Konta’s beef with the umpire may have been the way Cibulkova is moving around while receiving serve. I don’t really see how Konta can complain about that. She’s fired up, though, and after holding serve gets to 30-all on Cibulkova’s ...

Cibulkova is is the zone. 15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game. It’s 6-3, 3-1.

Konta is broken to trail 6-3, 2-1 and takes it out on the umpire at the changeover. “I think you’re wrong,” the British No 1 says. ““My job is to stay focused, your job is to notice these things.” Though it’s not immediately clear what Konta’s issue is. Konta did have a run-in with the umpire in the Birmingham final last month, when she blew up over a line call and lost.

Updated

No such problems for Simona Halep, who’s ripped through the last 10 games to advance 7-5, 6-0 against Zheng Saisai. Halep is playing here with a grand-slam sized weight off her shoulders, having won her first major at the French Open last month in her fourth major final. She should go far this fortnight.

Updated

Konta maybe caught a few opponents out with her rapid rise in 2016 and 2017, but they now seem to have more idea of how to play her. Konta needs a Plan B when the hard, flat hitting isn’t working. Because she’s defending so many ranking points from her run to the semi-finals last year, she’s expected to drop from 24 to outside the world’s top 40 if she loses today. That would leave her unseeded in the slams. It’s 1-all in the second set.

Updated

Cibulkova’s serve has been outstanding today, no mean feat when you’re only 5ft 3in. The Slovak gets her first set point when Konta squats down to a shot and slaps into the net. 40-30. Konta clobbers a backhand return long and Cibulkova secures the first set 6-3 in 34 minutes.

Cibulkova takes the first set 6-3.
Cibulkova takes the first set 6-3. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Updated

Simona Halep, having trailed Zheng Saisai 5-3, has not lost a game since. The French Open champion and world No 1 is in lockdown mode, leading 7-5, 4-0.

The Centre Court patrons are still returning to their seats having taken a break after Nadal’s win. If they’re not quick they’ll miss the first set. Konta is serving to stay in it, and Cibulkova is pushing at 30-all. A strong serve gets Konta out of trouble. And an ace down the middle makes it game. Konta trails 5-3.

Cibulkova consolidates the break with the first love game of the match. That’s three games in a row. 5-2. Konta glances anxiously at her coach at the changeover.

The perils of playing on the No 2 Court:

Konta is facing the first break point of the match in the sixth game, and shows tremendous retrieval skills to get to Cibulkova’s drop shot and put away an angled winner. However Cibulkova carves out a second break point and strikes for 4-2.

Konta fell off a cliff after reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2017, and has suffered opening defeats at 10 events over the last 12 months. There have been some green shoots of recovery, however, on the grass this summer and this match will give us a good idea of whether she’s ready for another run here.

And Adam Hirst emails with his thoughts on Cilic crashing out. “Cilic clearly isn’t risking having to work a week on Sunday, just in case Croatia make the final.”

Updated

It’s going with serve between Konta and Cibulkova, with Konta trailing 2-1. The world No 1, Simona Halep, was 5-3 down to Zheng Saisai on the No 1 Court but has taken four games on the spin to steal the set 7-5.

Konta is up against Dominika Cibulkova, a feisty fighter who is all of 5ft 3in and has something of a point to prove after losing her place in the seedings to make way for Serena Williams. The Slovak, like Konta, is a former world No 4 who has reached the quarter-finals here twice in her career, most recently in 2016 when she was considering cancelling her own wedding because it clashed with the final. This will be a very tricky encounter for Konta.

Updated

Johanna Konta is warming up on Centre Court. It’s unclear whether the British No 1 has baked Djokovic his gluten, dairy and sugar-free cake yet. But I’m sure he’d be more happy feasting on the Centre Court grass on Sunday week, as he has done after winning his three previous titles here. Djokovic has had a testing 12 months but appears to be gathering momentum.

Updated

Australia’s two most controversial tennis talents could go head-to-head in the third round. Kyrgios awaits the winner of Bernard Tomic v Japan’s Kei Nishikori.

Updated

The results are coming in thick and fast. Novak Djokovic has breezed past Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos 6-1, 6-2, 6-3. Perhaps he is getting his mojo back. And Nick Kyrgios is also through in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 against the Dutchman Robin Haase.

Rafa’s thoughts:

He played very well. I’m happy to be through, I think I played much better today. I went on court with the determination to play at the right intensity. Happy for the victory and happy with way I played. I feel ready to compete.

Up next for Nadal: the 19-year-old Australian Alex De Minaur, described by Daniil Medvedev as the “future of tennis”.

Updated

Rafael Nadal defeats Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4, 6-3, 6-4!

Nadal’s close to doing the business on Centre. The world No 1’s serving for the match at 6-4, 6-3, 5-4. From 15-30 down, he jumps into action, getting to 30-all and then 40-30 when Kukushkin clunks a return into the net. Match point. And the net once again denies the Kazakh, as Nadal raises his arms in the air, clenches his fists and takes the applause after a straight-sets win. After his early stumbles at Wimbledon in recent years, he’ll be pleased with that. It’s only the second time he’s reached the third round in the past four years.

Nadal defeats Kukushkin 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
Nadal defeats Kukushkin 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Updated

Despite the prices, Marin Cilic may be hitting the bar to drown his sorrows after that exit to Guido Pella. I don’t think anyone saw that coming. Last year’s Wimbledon finalist won the Queen’s title the other week and was so comfortable in the first round; the Croat was considered Roger Federer’s biggest challenger for the title. It makes the decision to carry on last night look even more bizarre; had Cilic come off when leading by two sets to love, at the point when the other matches were called off because of the rain, he would most likely have returned today and advanced in straight sets.

Thanks Michael. I’ve just come back from a walk around the grounds, where I was carrying out some important research. A glass of Pimm’s will set you back £8.50 (£8.50!), while a glass of champagne is yours for the princely sum of £22.50.

Going to hand back to Katy now, enjoy the rest of the day. Cheers!

Simona Halep has started her match against Saisai Zheng on Court 1, she’s already 2-0 up.

The 2014 finalist Eugenie Bouchard’s exit came despite her leading the second set 5-2 – at one point she had set point. The Canadian obviously loves Wimbledon, winning three qualifying matches to be here, so that will be a disappointment, even against an opponent she was expected to lose to.

She can now try tomorrow, if she wants.

Updated

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, everything else seems to be going to plan: Novak Djokovic is two sets and a break up against Horacio Zeballos whilst Nick Kyrgios is in a similar position, two sets up and on serve in the third set.

A big surprise then. It’s a long way back for Kukushkin against Nadal, but the Kazakhstani has broken the Spaniard in the third set. Nadal, 15-40 down in the fourth game, had saved one break point with a ridiculous second-serve ace but he sends a loose forehand just wide and Kukushkin has the break. He trails two sets to love, but is 3-1 up in the third set.

That’s the biggest shock of the men’s draw so far. Guido Pella comes from two sets down in his rain-interrupted second-round tie with Marin Cilic, prevailing 3-6, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6, 7-5. It’s the first time he’s reached the third round of a grand slam event after winning his first slam tie in the first round. It’s also the first time he’s beaten a top-five player. “I felt much more confident in my game, I served better and I felt so pumped,” says Pella. “In the fourth set he broke my serve, but I was calm … I think I was playing better than beforehand.”

Updated

Guido Pella shocks Marin Cilic in five sets

And the No 3 seed is out.

Guido Pella soaks up the applause of the crowd after his victory over Marin Cili.
Guido Pella soaks up the applause of the crowd after his victory over Marin Cili. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

Updated

Another match point for Pella – it’s his fourth – against Cilic …

Pella whistles through his service game. He now leads 6-5 and Cilic will again serve to stay in the tournament.

And Cilic holds, coming back from 15-40 down and those two match points. Two more won points and it’s 5-5, with Pella now serving against the third seed.

Over on Court No 1, it’s deep into a final set between Marin Cilic and Guido Pella, and the Argentinian has two match points. Both are saved and it’s deuce at 4-5 for Cilic.

Updated

Katy is just getting lunch, so in the interim and update from Centre, where Rafa Nadal has just gone two sets up against Kukushkin.

Updated

Nadal now leads 6-4, 4-1 on Centre, Cilic is 2-all in the final set against Pella, while Djokovic seems to be enjoying his No 2 Court experience. He’s 4-1 up against Zeballos after 18 minutes.

Updated

Kyrgios has claimed the first set 6-3 against Haase, with 10 aces so far, including a 138mph missile. Hope the ball boys and girls, sorry BBGs, are ducking for cover.

Updated

And let’s get to the Greek, because the 19-year-old talent Stefanos Tsitsipas has also advanced in five sets, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 against Jared Donaldson.

News on John Isner, who saved two match points at 5-4 down, broke Ruben Bemelmans at 5-5 and then served it out for a 6-1, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-7 (3), 7-5 win to reach the third round, serving 64 aces along the way.

Isner celebrates.
Isner celebrates. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters

Updated

Meanwhile Nick Kyrgios is under way against the Dutchman Robin Haase. Kyrgios was business-like in the opening round - not something that can often be said about the temperamental talent - so let’s see if he’s on his best behaviour today. Though he may have annoyed Haase in the build-up to this match by calling his opponent “an old guy who knows how to win tennis matches”. Old? He’s 31. Which is positively youthful given the standard the 36-year-old Federer is currently setting.

Novak Djokovic has just finished warming up in the unfamiliar surroundings of the No 2 Court, and he’s stepping up to serve against Pella’s compatriot, Horacio Zeballos.

It’s tie-break time on the No 1 Court, where Marin Cilic is in danger of blowing a two-set lead. The No 3 seed had been 6-3, 6-1 up at one point yesterday - but the slippery conditions last night knocked him out of his stride. Resuming a break down in the third set today, Cilic has been very much second best. Pella took the third set 6-4 and here he is with four set points at 6-3 in the breaker. Cilic saves the first with an ace but the Argentinian attacks and this one is going to a fifth set!

As for Kukushkin’s family set-up: the 30-year-old is coached by his wife.

Uncle Toni looks pleased in the players’ box. He’s no longer Nadal’s main coach but is here to support his nephew at Wimbledon.

Kukushin, who took the first set in his meeting with Nadal here in 2014 before losing in four, is serving to stay in the opening set at 5-4 down. The Kazakh blinks at 30-all and Nadal has a set point. But the world No 1 chops into the net. He’s furious with himself. Deuce. However he gets a chance to make amends when a second set point arises. Kukushkin goes for broke with a thunderous forehand ... it flies back off the net on to the Kazakh’s side of the court! Nadal takes the first set 6-4 - but it wasn’t straightforward.

The 2017 US Open runner-up is through, Kevin Anderson winning his rain-interrupted match against Italy’s Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4.

Angelique Kerber has put the young upstart Claire Liu in her place, coming from a set down to defeat the American teenager 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

They’ve been going for 35 minutes on Centre and there are only seven games on the board. Nadal saves a break point to hold for 4-3.

What of Rafa, you say? Well after that opening 10-minute game he looked very comfortable charging 3-0 ahead against Kukushkin. But he’s now been pegged back to 3-3. Which pretty much sums up the way his career has gone at Wimbledon. After reaching five finals in six years, winning two titles, he hasn’t been beyond the fourth round since 2011.

Rafael Nadal returns a shot against Mikhail Kukushkin.
Rafael Nadal returns a shot against Mikhail Kukushkin. Photograph: Tom Jenkins Guardian

Updated

Stan Wawrinka beaten by Thomas Fabbiano 7-6 (7), 6-3, 7-6 (6)

Wawrinka is playing on one good leg after knee surgery but still appears to have the heart of a champion as he brings up two set points at 6-4 in the tie-break. But he misses the first. It’s all set up for him on his favoured backhand side on the second, but his footwork is all wrong and he wallops well wide. 6-6. And then Fabbiano has a match point on his serve at 7-6. Another error on the backhand side from Wawrinka and that’s that. Fabbiano advances and Wawrinka’s revival, after Monday’s surprise win over Grigor Dimitrov, is over.

Thomas Fabbiano celebrates his win over Stan Wawrinka.
Thomas Fabbiano celebrates his win over Stan Wawrinka. Photograph: Sean Dempsey/EPA

Updated

Wawrinka, meanwhile, two sets down to the Italian qualifier Thomas Fabbiano, must win a third-set tie-break if he’s to continue his stay here. The three-time grand slam champion did lead 3-1 in the breaker but has been pulled back to 3-3.

Stan Wawrinka is finding it hard going against Thomas Fabbiano.
Stan Wawrinka is finding it hard going against Thomas Fabbiano. Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

Cilic had been in complete control against Argentina’s Guido Pella yesterday, leading by two sets to love, but after a bizarre attempt to continue on the No 1 Court when play had been suspended elsewhere, Cilic slipped on the greasy grass and Pella broke for 3-2 in the third set. Pella, on today’s resumption, has taken that set 6-4.

Marin Cilic, Stan Wawrinka and Kevin Anderson are all resuming their respective matches, which were halted last night because of the rain.

Rafa watch. We’ve had the obligatory jumping up and down at the net during the coin toss ™, the sprinting to the baseline like a raging bull ™ and the lining up of the water bottles ™, so he’s now ready for some tennis. But perhaps not entirely ready, because he allows the Russian-born Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin three break points in the opening game. Nadal eventually holds after 10 minutes.

Barty decides it’s time to finally get serious on the fifth match point. Bouchard prods into the net and the Australian 17th seed completes a 6-4, 7-5 win. She’s joined in the third round by her compatriot, Daria Gavrilova, but that 6-4, 6-1 victory has come at the expense of a third Australian, Sam Stosur.

Updated

Barty no longer has two match points. It’s deuce.

Osaka will play the winner of the Angelique Kerber v Claire Liu match in the third round. Kerber has forced a decider after securing the second set 6-2 on Court 12.

There had been a momentum shift on the No 3 Court, too, where Eugenie Bouchard was 5-2 up in the second set against Ashleigh Barty and even had a set point. But Barty now has two match points at 6-4, 6-5.

Updated

And after his usual jumping up and down in the corridor, here comes Rafa. Thankfully there was no repeat of this from last year.

Katie Boulter beaten by Naomi Osaka 6-3, 6-4

So Osaka is serving for the match at 6-3, 5-4. The thought crosses my mind that Boulter should do the honourable thing and lose now so we can concentrate on Rafa. But that is perhaps a little unpatriotic. Go Katie! It doesn’t work. 40-15, two match points, and Osaka wraps things up by hitting into the open court.

A big moment at 30-all on Boulter’s serve. She looks a little nervous when she aborts her ball toss, but gets it right the second time and wins the point. 40-30. Game Boulter. Steely stuff.

Anything Boulter can do ... Osaka replies with a love hold of her own. The Japanese is a game away from the third round. She leads 6-3, 5-3.

Boulter checks Osaka’s momentum by holding to love. If the Brit’s going to lose this afternoon, she’s going to do so fighting.

Updated

Osaka strikes with the first break of the second set. She then takes a stranglehold on the match by holding to 15 for 6-3, 4-2. It’s a long way back for Boulter from here.

Naomi Osaka lines up a return to Katie Boulter.
Naomi Osaka lines up a return to Katie Boulter. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

Updated

Bethanie Mattek-Sands was overlooked for a singles wildcard this year, but it’s fantastic to see the American playing doubles on Court No 5 at the moment, a year after she suffered a horror injury here.

Boulter holds for 2-1 in the second set, saving a break point in the process. This is quite a performance from the Brit considering she’s giving away 104 places in the world rankings. Osaka leads 6-3, 1-2.

So what of the whippersnappers? Claire Liu is finding it tougher going in the second set against Angelique Kerber and trails 3-1 having taken the first 6-3; Alex De Minaur is looking strong, leading Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-2, 2-2; and Frances Tiafoe is a set down to Julien Benneteau, 6-4, 2-2.

A chance for Boulter to break for a 2-0 lead in the second set. Osaka is screaming in frustration. It proves cathartic, because the 20-year-old calmly puts away a forehand winner to repel the break point and get back to deuce. Osaka quickly brings up her advantage, but Boulter’s, erm, bolt of a forehand lands right on the baseline and Osaka is forced into the error. Deuce. Advantage Osaka. And Osaka squeezes through to lead 6-3, 1-1.

Gilles Simon, who didn’t exactly endear himself to the female players and many others here in 2012 with his thoughts on equal prize money, has lost the opening set 6-3 to the Italian Matteo Berrettini.

Ashleigh Barty has the first set in the bag on the No 3 Court. She leads Eugenie Bouchard 6-4, 1-1.

Ashleigh Barty stretches for a return.
Ashleigh Barty stretches for a return. Photograph: Javier Garcia/BPI/Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

Gutsy from Boulter, who holds serve and is asking questions on Osaka’s serve as the Japanese attempts to close out the set. Boulter fizzes a fine forehand winner but Osaka stands firm, taking a high-quality set of tennis 6-3 after 37 minutes. Which is almost as long as the whole of that Birmingham meeting last month.

Updated

Frances Tiafoe is another player the United States has high hopes for. The 20-year-old gave Roger Federer quite a scare at the US Open last year. He’s trailing 5-4 on serve against France’s Julien Benneteau.

Liu is one for the future. The 18-year-old won the girls’ title here last year and is a former junior No 1. Though Liu is doing her best to make sure her future is now. She takes the first set against Kerber 6-3.

Claire Liu serves whilst on her way to winning the first set against Angelique Kerber.
Claire Liu serves whilst on her way to winning the first set against Angelique Kerber. Photograph: Steven Paston/PA

Updated

Angelique Kerber, the 2016 runner-up and former world No 1, is in danger of going a set down. The German trails the American qualifier Claire Liu 5-3.

But it’s a case of two steps forward, one step back for Boulter. Having won two consecutive games to recover from 3-0 to 3-2 down, she’s broken for 4-2. Osaka then holds to 30 and Boulter must hold serve to stay in the first set at 5-2 down.

Updated

The Australian players have made a flying start to these championships after their poor showing here last year. Seven are in singles action today, and four are already on court. Along with Ashleigh Barty, who now leads Bouchard 5-4 with the break, there’s the all-Australian clash between Daria Gavrilova and Sam Stosur, who won the US Open title in the eye of a Serena Williams storm back in 2011. Gavrilova and Stosur are 3-3 in the opening set. Meanwhile the 19-year-old Alex De Minaur has an early break, leading France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert 3-2.

Boulter breaks back! What a response from the Brit after being 3-0 down. It’s now 3-2.

At least Boulter has listened to her fellow Brit Katie Swan’s advice. Boulter and Swan played in the doubles yesterday, hours after Swan had lost 6-0, 6-3 in her second-round singles match. Asked if she had any tips for her friend, Swan replied: “Well, it would help if you don’t lose the first set 6-0.” Boulter duly holds to 15 against Osaka to reduce her arrears to 3-1.

Osaka is 3-0 up against Boulter after 12 minutes. Hopefully this will last longer than their Birmingham meeting, which was over in 46 minutes.

Updated

It’s the battle of the former junior Wimbledon champions on the No 3 Court, and it’s going with recent form. Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, who’s at a near career-high 17 in the world rankings, leads Eugenie Bouchard, the 2014 runner-up who is now down at 188 after a terrible few years, 4-2 in the opening set.

Osaka beaks Boulter to 30. Boulter really will be kicking herself now for those missed opportunities in the opening game. Osaka leads 2-0.

Boulter has her eye in early and gets to 15-30 on Osaka’s serve. Boulter then rips a return winner down the line. 15-40, two break points in the first game. But Osaka, slightly going against Wimbledon convention by wearing shorts and a loose top that is flapping in the breezy conditions, recovers to deuce. A third break point for Boulter at her advantage, but her return sails beyond the baseline. A fourth break point, but this time Boulter nets! A strong first serve sets up Osaka’s first game point and she takes it after a Boulter error. Boulter will be encouraged by her start but annoyed she couldn’t take advantage of those break points.

Updated

They’ve finished warming up and are about to get under way on the No 2 Court, where the 21-year-old British wildcard Katie Boulter takes on the 20-year-old 18th seed Naomi Osaka, who was fittingly born in Osaka but is now based in the US. Osaka is regarded as one of the game’s brightest potential stars, and claimed her first WTA title at Indian Wells earlier this year. Osaka won comfortably when the two met last month in Birmingham. Victory for Boulter today may seem unlikely but as the Wimbledon programme points out, she does support Leicester City.

The players have weaved and wound their way to the outside courts, the umpires, line judges and ball kids are taking their positions while the spectators jostle for theirs, so we’re almost ready for some tennis.

So what of the weather? The forecast is similar to yesterday: hot, humid, with a risk of showers this afternoon.

If it gets too hot, this pair might regret their choice of costume.
If it gets too hot, this pair might regret their choice of costume. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

Updated

Here’s the soothing tones of the Voice of Wimbledon. In the past he’d simply give a weather forecast and wish the spectators a lovely day. But this year he’s going all millennial by plugging Wimbledon’s website, official app and social media.

Updated

It’s a scene of destruction here this morning. Metaphorically, of course, because the grounds look as pristine as ever. Twenty four of the 64 seeded players - 12 men and 12 women, including five of the top 10 women - are already out, with Caroline Wozniacki the biggest casualty yesterday.

The full order of play

CENTRE COURT - SHOW COURT - 13:00 (BST) START

1 Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 126 vs Rafael Nadal (ESP) [2] 128

2 Johanna Konta (GBR) [22] 9 vs Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 12 3

Kyle Edmund (GBR) [21] 73 vs Bradley Klahn (USA) 76

No.1 COURT - SHOW COURT - 13:00 START

1 Marin Cilic (CRO) [3] 33 vs Guido Pella (ARG) 36 T/F 6/3 6/1 3/4

2 Simona Halep (ROU) [1] 1 vs Saisai Zheng (CHN) 3

3 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) [5] 97 vs Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 99

4 Taylor Fritz (USA) 94 vs Alexander Zverev (GER) [4] 96

No.2 COURT - SHOW COURT - 11:30 START

1 Katie Boulter (GBR) 53 vs Naomi Osaka (JPN) [18] 56

2 Andreas Seppi (ITA) 30 vs Kevin Anderson (RSA) [8] 32 T/F 3/6 7/6(5) 3/6 1/1

3 Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 78 vs Novak Djokovic (SRB) [12] 80

4 Bernard Tomic (AUS) 85 vs Kei Nishikori (JPN) [24] 88

5 Garbine Muguruza (ESP) [3] 33 vs Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) 35

No.3 COURT - SHOW COURT - 11:30 START

1 Ashleigh Barty (AUS) [17] 41 vs Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) 44

2 Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) 62 vs Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 63 T/F 7/6(7) 6/3 5/6

3 Nick Kyrgios (AUS) [15] 81 vs Robin Haase (NED) 84

4 Benoit Paire (FRA) 101 vs Denis Shapovalov (CAN) [26] 104

5 Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) [12] 17 vs Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 20

COURT 12 - SHOW COURT - 11:30 START

1 Angelique Kerber (GER) [11] 49 vs Claire Liu (USA) 52

2 John Isner (USA) [9] 49 vs Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) 52 T/F 6/1 6/4 6/7(6) 6/7(3) 3/4

3 Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 46 vs Daria Kasatkina (RUS) [14] 48

4 Damir Dzumhur (BIH) [27] 89 vs Ernests Gulbis (LAT) 91

COURT 18 - SHOW COURT - 11:30 START

1 Daria Gavrilova (AUS) [26] 25 vs Samantha Stosur (AUS) 28

2 Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [31] 57 vs Jared Donaldson (USA) 60 T/F 6/3 6/2 3/6 3/4

3 Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 66 vs Karen Khachanov (RUS) 68

4 Simone Bolelli (ITA) 118 vs Fabio Fognini (ITA) [19] 120

COURT 4 - 11:30 START

1 Romain Arneodo (MON) / Jamie Cerretani (USA) 53 vs Kevin Krawietz (GER) / Andreas Mies (GER) 54

2 Luke Bambridge (GBR) / Jonny O’Mara (GBR) 63 vs Lukasz Kubot (POL) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) [2] 64 T/F 4/6 3/6 4/3

3 Sander Arends (NED) / Matwe Middelkoop (NED) 51 vs Austin Krajicek (USA) / Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (IND) 52

4 Polona Hercog (SLO) / Bernarda Pera (USA) 63 vs Andrea Sestini Hlavackova (CZE) / Barbora Strycova (CZE) [2] 64

5 Oksana Kalashnikova (GEO) / Makoto Ninomiya (JPN) 11 vs Arina Rodionova (AUS) / Maryna Zanevska (BEL) 12

COURT 5 - 11:30 START

1 Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR) / Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) [16] 57 vs Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) / Lucie Safarova (CZE) 58

2 David Marrero (ESP) / Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 3 vs Leonardo Mayer (ARG) / Joao Sousa (POR) 4

3 Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) / Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) [15] 41 vsDaria Gavrilova (AUS) / Vera Lapko (BLR) 42

4 Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN) / Yifan Xu (CHN) [6] 49 vs Alison Riske (USA) / Olga Savchuk (UKR) 50 T/F 6/7(5) 6/2 2/3

COURT 6 - 11:30 START

1 Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) / Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 31 vs Juan Sebastian Cabal (COL) / Robert Farah (COL) [6] 32

2 Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) / Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 35 vs Anna Blinkova (RUS) / Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) 36

3 Timea Babos (HUN) / Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) [1] 1 vs Eri Hozumi (JPN) / Miyu Kato (JPN) 2

4 Raluca Olaru (ROU) / Yafan Wang (CHN) 15 vs Latisha Chan (TPE) / Shuai Peng (CHN) [5] 16

5 Irina Bara (ROU) / Alize Cornet (FRA) 47 vs Andreja Klepac (SLO) / Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP) [4] 48

COURT 7 - 11:30 START

1 Ryan Harrison (USA) / Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 19 vs Philipp Petzschner (GER) / Tim Puetz (GER) 20

2 Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) [9] 9 vs David Ferrer (ESP) / Marc Lopez (ESP) 10 T/F 7/6(3) 6/4 2/1

3 Kiki Bertens (NED) / Johanna Larsson (SWE) [9] 9 vs Monique Adamczak (AUS) / Renata Voracova (CZE) 10

4 N.Sriram Balaji (IND) / Vishnu Vardhan (IND) 21 vs Marcus Daniell (NZL) / Wesley Koolhof (NED) 22

COURT 8 - 11:30 START

1 Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 85 vs Barbora Strycova (CZE) [23] 88

2 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) [25] 25 vs Gilles Muller (LUX) 27 T/F 7/6(6) 6/6

3 Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) [27] 57 vs Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) 59

4 Diego Schwartzman (ARG) [14] 113 vs Jiri Vesely (CZE) 115

COURT 9 - 11:30 START

1 Petra Martic (CRO) / Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 45 vs Lesley Kerkhove (NED) / Lidziya Marozava (BLR) 46

2 Raquel Atawo (USA) / Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) [11] 25 vs Xenia Knoll (SUI) / Anna Smith (GBR) 26 T/F

3 Chen Liang (CHN) / Shuai Zhang (CHN) 27 vs Tatjana Maria (GER) / Heather Watson (GBR) 28

4 Mike Bryan (USA) / Jack Sock (USA) [7] 49 vs Daniele Bracciali (ITA) / Andreas Seppi (ITA) 50

5 Elise Mertens (BEL) / Demi Schuurs (NED) [8] 33 vs Sorana Cirstea (ROU) / Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) 34 T/F 4/4

COURT 10 - 11:30 START

1 Divij Sharan (IND) / Artem Sitak (NZL) 59 vs Radu Albot (MDA) / Malek Jaziri (TUN) 60

2 Dalila Jakupovic (SLO) / Irina Khromacheva (RUS) 55 vs Vania King (USA) / Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) [17] 56

3 Eva Hrdinova (CZE) / Giuliana Olmos (MEX) 13 vs Alicja Rosolska (POL) / Abigail Spears (USA) 14

4 Rohan Bopanna (IND) / Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) [12] 25 vs Alex De Minaur (AUS) / John Millman (AUS) 26

5 Max Mirnyi (BLR) / Philipp Oswald (AUT) [16] 57 vs Julio Peralta (CHI) / Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 58 T/F 1/6 3/2

COURT 11 - 11:30 START

1 Nicholas Monroe (USA) / John-Patrick Smith (AUS) 23 vs Ben McLachlan (JPN) / Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) [14] 24

2 Ysaline Bonaventure (BEL) / Bibiane Schoofs (NED) 31 vs Hao-Ching Chan (TPE) / Zhaoxuan Yang (CHN) [7] 32 T/F 4/3

3 Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) / Katerina Siniakova (CZE) [3] 17 vs Alexa Guarachi (CHI) / Erin Routliffe (NZL) 18

4 Marius Copil (ROU) / Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 43 vs Marcelo Demoliner (BRA) / Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) 44

5 Mandy Minella (LUX) / Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 37 vs Georgina Garcia Perez (ESP) / Fanny Stollar (HUN) 38

COURT 14 - 11:30 START

1 Alex De Minaur (AUS) 122 vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) 123

2 Stephane Robert (FRA) 110 vs Matthew Ebden (AUS) 111

3 Jennifer Brady (USA) 37 vs Anett Kontaveit (EST) [28] 40

4 Jay Clarke (GBR) / Cameron Norrie (GBR) 5 vs Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) / Hans Podlipnik-Castillo (CHI) 6T/F 3/2

COURT 15 - 11:30 START

1 Julien Benneteau (FRA) 69 vs Frances Tiafoe (USA) 71

2 Sachia Vickery (USA) 14 vs Elise Mertens (BEL) [15] 16

3 Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) / Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 21 vs Danielle Collins (USA) / Jessica Moore (AUS) 22 T/F 0/1

4 Julien Benneteau (FRA) / Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 27 vs Frederik Nielsen (DEN) / Joe Salisbury (GBR) 28

5 Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) / Nicolas Jarry (CHI) 47 vs Henri Kontinen (FIN) / John Peers (AUS) [3] 48

COURT 16 - 11:30 START

1 Katerina Siniakova (CZE) 114 vs Ons Jabeur (TUN) 116

2 Alison Riske (USA) 61 vs Belinda Bencic (SUI) 63

3 Taylor Townsend (USA) 30 vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) 31

4 Belinda Bencic (SUI) / Kateryna Kozlova (UKR) 19 vs Lara Arruabarrena (ESP) / Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) 20 T/F 3/6 0/3

5 Nikola Mektic (CRO) / Alexander Peya (AUT) [8] 33 vs Jurgen Melzer (AUT) / Daniel Nestor (CAN) 34

COURT 17 - 11:30 START

1 Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 106 vs Gilles Simon (FRA) 107

2 Lara Arruabarrena (ESP) 6 vs Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) 7

3 Sofia Kenin (USA) 21 vs Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) 23

4 Alex Bolt (AUS) / Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 7 vs Raven Klaasen (RSA) / Michael Venus (NZL) [13] 8 T/F 5/7 2/6 6/3 1/4

MATCHES TO BE ARRANGED

NOT BEFORE 17.00

1 Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) / Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) 61 vs Harriet Dart (GBR) / Katy Dunne (GBR) 62

2 Oliver Marach (AUT) / Mate Pavic (CRO) [1] 1 vs Federico Delbonis (ARG) / Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela (MEX) 2

NOT BEFORE 18.00

3 Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) / Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 15 vs Jamie Murray (GBR) / Bruno Soares (BRA) [5] 16

Preamble

Hello and welcome to day four of our coverage from Wimbledon, where one seems to be the magic number. Both the world No 1s, Rafael Nadal and Simona Halep, are in action, along with the British No 1s Kyle Edmund and Johanna Konta.

On paper the first three should win fairly comfortably - although with Nadal’s record on grass in recent years you can never be quite sure - while Konta faces perhaps the toughest match against Dominika Cibulkova, whose Wimbledon challenge is being fuelled by indignation after she was bumped out of the seeding positions to accommodate Serena Williams. “There’s nothing positive about playing Johanna Konta in the second round,” the seething Slovak said after her opening win. “It would have been easier if we had played in the third or fourth round but the draw is what it is.”

Perhaps Konta could appease Cibulkova with some of her home baking; after all her cakes have already caught the eye of a certain Novak Djokovic. He plays today (out on the No 2 Court, perhaps he’ll have something to say about that later), while another esteemed member of the old guard, Juan Martín del Potro, is also in second-round action. But they better watch out because the new guard are rising in their numbers in this half of the draw with Alex Zverev, Nick Kyrgios, Denis Shapovalov, Frances Tiafoe and Karen Khachanov all looking to impress.

On the women’s side today there’s the defending champion, Garbiñe Muguruza, the 2016 finalist Angelique Kerber, the former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and an intriguing contest between two players on different career trajectories, the ascending Australian Ashleigh Barty and the fallen finalist of 2014, Eugenie Bouchard. And I haven’t even mentioned yet the British 21-year-old Katie Boulter, who’s first on the No 2 Court against Naomi Osaska, one of the game’s brightest talents.

There’s also last night’s unfinished business, with Marin Cilic, Stan Wawrinka, John Isner and Kevin Anderson all returning to complete their matches.

Phew. It’s going to be a busy one. Sit tight.

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