Paul MacInnes's report of Evans' dramatic exit
As a wail of discontent went around Court No 1, Dan Evans did his best to cover his eyes. The winner that had been there for the taking, the one that would have taken another game in this tense marathon to deuce, had flopped into the net. Evans, the last Briton in the men’s draw, was going home.
Neither of these players had ever gone beyond the third round at Wimbledon before. That privilege, and a daunting encounter with third seed Rafael Nadal tomorrow, will now go to João Sousa. Sousa is the first Portuguese player in history to reach the second week of Wimbledon and on balance he deserved this narrow victory 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. But yes, it was close, the margins as fine as one mis-hit shot.
Evans started the match in barnstorming form. The British No 3 looking to rebuild his career at 29 after a year out of the game, had looked handy enough in getting past Federico Delbonis and Nikoloz Basilashvili in straight sets to reach this point. He carried on as he left off, breaking Sousa in the opening game and subduing him with energy and some superb stroke play. One backhand that was played like a drop shot but flew over Sousa’s head as a lob, was a thrill in and of itself. He looked very much on top.
After breaking early in the second set the wind seemed set fair behind Evans. But out of nowhere, his mouth started to run, arguments with the umpire, others and perhaps himself. There was bad language and ultimately a warning. Amid all this Sousa broke back, and then did so again with the score at 5-4 to the Portuguese. Game back on.
In the third set it looked entirely as if the tables had turned. Sousa’s powerful forehand, which had been so effectively neutered early on, was now dictating proceedings. Evans looked to have less power than his opponent, but was maybe also fatigued, getting caught on the back foot, letting shots drift. Still he nearly closed out the set after breaking early, but at 4-5 Sousa pounced and went 2-1 ahead.
After having given so much already, an Evans comeback was not guaranteed. But it did arrive, the Solihull native claiming an epic 10 minute game to take the third and decisive break in the set. The crowd was up for it and, after a break to close over the roof, Evans looked refreshed. He broke Sousa again at 1-1, but the Portuguese hit back instantly. The set then ran according to serve until it effectively became a tie-break. Evans once again began to snip and it was clear the energy was running low again. Sousa stayed calm, leaned on his forehand and had the last laugh.
Earlier in the day on Centre Court there was also defeat for another Briton, Heather Dart. This loss was more comprehensive however, a 6-1 6-1 shellacking at the hands of No 1 seed Ashleigh Barty. There was little in the way of a contest between the two players, Dart lacking anything of the power necessary to impose herself on the Australian. There were cheers at least when she held her serve, but the match was over in 53 minutes.
Afterwards Dart, who had never made it beyond the first round of the singles at Wimbledon before, said: “I’m super happy with my performances this week. I think today is such a good learning curve for me. She played great. She didn’t let me in the match at all.
“I think it’s obviously a tough lesson to learn. Again, it’s been a great tournament for me. I should take a lot of positives from it.”
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That’s all from me today. It’s been eventful. Thanks for reading. See you again on Monday.
Joao Sousa beats Dan Evans 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4!
Dan Evans begins with a beauty of a backhand down the line for 15-0. Then he comes up with a sliced backhand winner on the run, as you do. Yet two errors let Sousa climb to 30-all - and he has a match point after running down a backhand and sending a splendid winner down the line. This could be it. Evans bangs a missile down the line. Sousa somehow chops it just over the net. Evans hurtles forward and looks to have made it - only to dink a drop shot into the net! Oh no! What a miss! That is gutwrenching. Evans, overwhelmed by disappointment, wastes no time stomping off Court 1 at the end of a match he’s thrown away. He was a break up in every set and fluffed his lines in sets two, three and five. Take nothing away from Sousa, though. He refused to give up and becomes the first Portuguese player to reach the fourth round. He faces Rafael Nadal next. Just what you want after a four-hour battle. As for Evans, his defeat means there are no British men left in the singles.
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You feel Evans has enough chances to get into the game, but too many mistakes allow Sousa a love hold and a 5-4 lead. We have approached the Business End of the match. Evans is now serving to stay in it. Evans is really annoyed with himself. He’s swearing at himself. Then he apologies. “Brainless,” he bellows. Then he swears again. He needs to get it together. This is a test of mentality.
Joao Sousa nets a forehand and Dan Evans holds to 30. It’s 4-4. It’s tight. I’m predicting 12-all and a tie-break.
A break point for Dan Evans; but Joao Sousa snuffs it out with a smash. Sousa holds. Another chance goes begging. Sousa leads 4-3.
Dan Evans holds to 15. Three-all - and your guess is as good as mine.
Dan Evans lies on the grass, smiling after a diving forehand drops just long at the end of another wondrous rally. This is such a good match. 15-all. Both players are playing some outstanding shots. The game goes to 30-all. Yet Sousa holds to 30 and leads 3-2 in the final set.
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Dan Evans despairingly put his hand over his face after failing to do enough with a forehand at 15-all, allowing Joao Sousa to win the point at the net. But he responds with a gorgeous, audacious, sliced backhand drop shot for 30-all. You never know what’s going to happen next, though. Even Evans doesn’t seem to know. As it turns out it’s a double-fault that hands Sousa a break point. And Evans goofs a dreadful slice, the crowd howling as the ball dribbles into the net. There goes the break. Again. Sousa breaks back for 2-2 in the fifth set.
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Dan Evans breaks on Court 1! The British No 3 pounds his forehand and Joao Sousa has no answer. Evans leads 6-4, 4-6, 5-7, 6-4, 2-1.
Andy Murray speaks. “I lost in the doubles earlier so all the energy is focused on the mixed. It’s a good start. I thought we returned well and served well.”
Serena Williams is asked who’s the boss on Team Murrena. “We’re a team,” she grins. “There’s no ‘I’ in team.” Murray adds: “We’re both the younger sibling so we’re used to being bossed. We’re taking it in turns.”
Murray finishes by saying that his hip is holding up after two matches in one day, while Williams is happy with the state of her knee.
Dan Evans responds with a comfortable hold for 1-1. “Let’s go, Dan!” the home fans cry.
Back to Court 1. Joao Sousa holds in the first game of the fifth set. It’s nip and tuck out there. Sousa’s a feisty competitor. You won’t see a lack of effort from him.
Andy Murray and Serena Williams beat Andreas Mies and Alexa Guarachi 6-4, 6-1!
Two match points are saved. A smash from Murray brings up a third. Guarachi’s race is run. A weak second serve is meat and drink for Murray, who stifles a yawn before plonking a forehand return the line. He shares a hug with Williams. They’re into the second round thanks to an easy win and everyone’s had a very good time, even the losing pair.
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The fifth set on Court 1 begins with Joao Sousa serving. It’s a very partisan and pumped up crowd now. Dan Evans will fancy his chances here.
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A hold for Andy Murray, a 6-4, 5-1 lead for him and Williams. The action on Centre Court is almost over.
The roof is shut on Court 1. Dan Evans and Joao Sousa will begin their fifth set soon.
Serena Williams saves three break points and holds over on Centre Court. It’s a 6-4, 4-0 lead for Wimbledon’s new dynamic duo.
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Serving for the fourth set, Dan Evans hits his heads with his racquet after a mistake makes it 30-15. Think, he’s saying to himself. Luckily Sousa isn’t think too clearly either. He misses a forehand and Evans has two set points. Sousa goes on the attack. Evans hangs in there with Murray-esque defence - I didn’t know he had it in him - and when his chance arrives he takes it with a superb forehand pass! What a shot! What a match. Evans wins the fourth set 6-4 and they’re going into a decider. First, though, it seems they’ll be shutting the roof. The skies are darkening over SW19.
On Centre Court Murrena/SerAndy lead by a set and a break against Guarachi and Mies. They should have linked up years ago. Years ago! Think of all the fun they could have had.
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Serving at 4-4 in the fourth set, Joao Sousa brilliantly saves three break points. But Dan Evans is proving hard to shake off. He earns a fourth - and takes it when a vicious slice forces Sousa to net a forehand. Evans breaks for 5-4 and will serve for a fifth set.
Murrena take the first set 6-4. It’s all going very well!
Dan Evans holds for 4-4 in the fourth set. It could yet go either way.
Dan Evans lets another break slip away. Joao Sousa breaks back for 3-3 in the fourth set.
On Centre Court Alexa Guarachi’s serve is being pulled apart by Andy Murray and Serena Williams. But she does manage to save a break point and force deuce. Luckily Andreas Mies is volleying well. So’s Murray, though. Delightful play at the net earns a second break point. Surprisingly, though, Murray misses a forehand return off a second serve. He hangs his head - and well he might. But he makes up for it with a vicious backhand that brings up another break point. Incredibly, though, Murray nets an easy forehand down the line. Eventually Guarachi holds. Murray and Williams lead 4-3. Just the one break.
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Dan Evans receives a warning for an audible obscenity. He chunters away at the umpire in response. The spirit of Nick Kyrgios lives on. Still, he holds to 15. Joao Sousa leads 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 0-2.
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They’re cheering on Court 1, urging Dan Evans on. He breaks in the first game of the fourth set when Joao Sousa nets a tame forehand. This might yet go to five sets. Meanwhile Murrena/SerAndy are skipping merrily along against Mies and Guarachi. They lead 3-1 on Centre Court, where everyone’s having lots of fun.
Serving to stay in the third set, it’s jittery for Dan Evans when he knocks a forehand long for 15-30. Joao Sousa makes him run and Evans sends a forehand long. Two set points for Sousa. The Portuguese misses a forehand on the first. 30-40. But he turns up the heat on the second, spanking a backhand, and Evans can only send a slice long. Sousa leads 4-6, 4-6, 5-7. Evans has thrown the last two sets away. He’s off for a comfort break.
Joao Sousa holds to love and leads 6-5 in the third set. Dan Evans will serve to force a tie-break.
The Murrena partnership is going well. They’ve broken immediately.
An inauspicious start for Serena, who played the first two points with her accreditation still around her neck #wimbledon
— Jonathan Veal (@jonathandveal83) July 6, 2019
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Serving for the third set, Dan Evans quickly finds himself trailing 15-30. Then a piercing return from Joao Sousa is too good for Evans’s attempt to serve and volley. It’s 15-40. The tension goes up a notch. But Sousa stays cool and belts a forehand down the line to make it 5-5.
Joao Sousa holds. Dan Evans will serve to lead by two sets to one.
Dear Andy and Serena.
— judy murray (@JudyMurray) July 6, 2019
I’m ready............
@Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/rzMf9N6It1
Dan Evans comes through another tricky service game and holds for 6-4, 4-6, 5-3 on Court 1. Joao Sousa will serve to keep the third set alive. It’s very exciting over there.
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Serena Williams spoke about her partnership with Andy Murray after beating Julia Goerges earlier.
Andy and I both love the competition. I know we both want to do well. We’re not here just for show. We want to play well. We both have been champions at Wimbledon. It’s like we want to continue to do that. I always play the forehand side. If you want to play with me, I play forehand. It’s just the only rule I have. I feel like I always play doubles, and the doubles really is able to help my singles game. That’s super, super important for me. We don’t feel pressure. Like I said, we really want to win. We’ll see what happens. We know what it’s like to win. We also know what it’s like not to win. Obviously we want to do our best to get there.”
Andy Murray and Serena Williams - must we call them Murrena - are grinning before their entrance on Centre Court. Murray lost his men’s doubles match earlier, but he looks happy enough as he chats away to Williams. Oh, there are two other players taking part here. Andreas Mies, a 28-year-old German, and Alexa Guarachi, a 28-year-old Chilean. The roar from the crowd is huge as they emerge. This should be fun.
Inspired by my Tim Henman stat, Dan Evans breaks to love to lead Joao Sousa 6-4, 4-6, 4-3. They’re loving him on Court 1.
And so with the scheduled matches on Centre Court wrapped up, it is no doubt with a heavy heart that All England Club officials move Andy Murray and Serena Williams versus Andreas Mies and Alexa Guarachi there. Over on Court 1, meanwhile, Dan Evans has heard my Tim Henman stat and reacted by losing his serve. Joao Sousa breaks back in the sixth game of the third set. Rafa Nadal might not be terrified if he’s watching this.
Roger Federer beats Lucas Pouille 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (4)
The punters on Centre Court are happy. Another stroll for the No 2 seed, whose next
victim
opponent is Matteo Berrettini on Monday. Pouille gave it his best shot and had a small chance of winning the first set but there was never any genuine sense he could win this one.
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If Dan Evans wins he will be the first British man outside of Andy Murray in the fourth round here since Tim Henman in 2004. What a glorious tennis nation!
Lucas Pouille saves a match point and holds for 6-6. Roger Federer will need to win a tie-break to wrap it up in straight sets.
“Come on!” Dan Evans yelps after converting a second break point to lead Joao Sousa 6-4, 4-6, 2-1. “Use your brain,” he adds. He’s pumped up today. After all the winner faces Rafa Nadal.
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Roger Federer holds to 15 and leads 7-5, 6-2, 6-5. Lucas Pouille’s best hope is a tie-break now.
Matteo Berrettini has beaten Diego Schwartzman 6-7, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3. The 17th seed awaits Roger Federer or Lucas Pouille in the fourth round. Pouille has held for 5-5 in the third set.
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In a rather less dramatic affair on Centre Court - for now, anyway – Roger Federer leads 7-5, 6-2, 5-4 against Lucas Pouille, who’s serving to stay in it. It’s been a big old snooze on Centre Court today.
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The failure to secure the double break has come back to haunt Dan Evans, with Joao Sousa holding for 5-4 and immediately turning the screw as the British No 3 serves to stay in this see-sawing second set. Sousa is two points from levelling it after smashing for 0-30. Sousa is playing some superb tennis and he races to net to put a volley away for three set points. Evans saves the first with a granite volley for 15-40, drawing anxious cheers from the crowd. Then he polishes off a point at the net for 30-40. Attacking tennis pays off and Evans seizes the initiative on the next forward, charging forward to force deuce with a volley. He’s found some grit here. But then, when Sousa forces another set point, Evans loses his focus. A double-fault hands Sousa the second set. Evans is livid as he returns to his chair. He’s chuntering away about something or other.
They’re in a fifth set in a rather overlooked match on Court 17. Matteo Berrettini, the 17th seed, is 4-2 up in that decider against the diminutive Diego Schwartzman.
Joao Sousa is really starting to give it some. He earns his first break point, but can’t take it, netting a forehand. But he has another quickly enough and finally breaks when Evans nets a backhand. “Fucking shit,” Evans moans. Evans leads 6-4, 4-4 and he’s under some pressure now.
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Evans forces more break points from Sousa, but didn’t manage to convert it. Sousa has saved 10 break points, while Evans has saved none. More demonstrative stuff from the Portuguese but all he has done is stopped himself being broken. Evans is not as comfortable as he might like in the second set.
Pouille is not playing too badly, and has shown off a decent array of shots. Federer looks a little weary, perhaps, and has been sent round the court rather more than he might like. It’s going with serve in the third set, at 2-2,
“Let’s go, Roger, let’s go,” sings some Pimm’s-ed up poltroon in the Centre Court cheap seat. Chanting never really did take off at SW19.
Sousa is doing a lot of shouting. Is it helping? A little. He did play one sumptuous winner to stop a break point to go 1-4 down in the second but then concedes another break point. Evans makes a mess of that one, then undercooks a backhand. Sousa saves himself from going a double break down.
Federer’s wobble did not last long and he wins two set points on Pouille’s serve. And takes the second with a whipped, top-spin forehand that Pouille cannot dig out. Nice and easy. He wins the second set 6-2.
Evans breaks an angry Sousa, who is calling upon the heavens, and goes 2-1 up in the second set. A Tim Henman-style fist pump in the direction of his coaches denotes his satisfaction.
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Federer was serving to go 5-0 up in the second set under the watchful eye of Amelie Mauresmo but is broken by Pouille. Drama, of sorts.
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Evans wins the first set 6-4! Dan Evans serve for the first set, and charges into a 30-0 lead. Just as it looks as if Sousa is set to level it at 30-30, Evans whistles a backhand winner past his opponent. And then, with a skidding serve, forces Sousa into an error. How does he celebrate? By reaching for the paracetamol.
I’m going to take a quick break and hand over to John Brewin for a bit. Be nice.
Jay Clarke and Cori Gauff are out of the mixed doubles. They’ve lost 6-1, 6-4 to Jelena Ostapenko and Robert Lindtstedt, who finishes it with a killer forehand return. Oh Jay. A penny for Harriet Dart’s thoughts.
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Roger Federer picks a good moment to turn on the style. Lucas Pouille picks a bad moment to doze off. Pressure from Federer unsettles the Frenchman, who’s facing two set points after a double-fault. He saves the first. He knocks a forehand wide on the second and Federer takes it 7-5.
Dan Evans’s still a break up against Joao Sousa. He leads 3-2. Sousa has started to offer more, though.
Roger Federer finds himself in a spot of bother serving at 5-5. He has to smash to save a break point. Lucas Pouille’s threatening here. But Federer gees himself up and holds to lead 6-5.
Lucas Pouille is still holding his own against Roger Federer. It’s 5-5 on Centre Court.
Reports here.
No sign of a break on Centre Court yet. It’s 3-3 between Federer and Pouille.
Dan Evans is going to win Wimbledon. Maybe. The British No 3 has made a cracking start on Court 1, breaking Joao Sousa in the first game with a truly excellent forehand.
On Court 2 Cori Gauff and Jay Clarke have lost the first set of their mixed doubles 6-1 to Jelena Ostapenko and Robert Lindstedt. I wonder if Clarke will come to regret jumping on the Gauff bandwagon at the expense of poor old Harriet Dart. Gauff, who plays Simona Halep on Monday, must be a bit exhausted after her singles exertions. Should have stuck with Dart, Jay.
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Not to disrespect Lucas Pouille, a flamboyant and enjoyable player, but the men’s draw could really do with Roger Federer winning here. State of the fourth round at the moment. When are the so-called Next Gen stars going to step up?
Roger Federer and Lucas Pouille are going through their final preparations on Centre Court. Federer leads their head-to-head 1-0.
Play will resume in the match on Court 12 at 5pm. It was suspended because a spectator required emergency medical treatment. An ambulance has since entered the grounds.
Johanna Konta beats Sloane Stephens 3-6, 6-4, 6-1!
Konta looked lost midway through the second set. Defeat looked inevitable. She was swearing at herself and remonstrating with her box. She could barely do anything right. Somehow, though, she hung in there and her resilience allowed her to turn the match on its head. And here we are with her serving for the match against the ninth seed and former US Open champion. She moves into a 30-0 lead. An ace makes it 40-15, at which point Stephens, who lost the plot long ago, sends a forehand long. “Come on!” a beaming Konta cries after securing a monumental win that takes her into a fourth-round meeting with Petra Kvitova, the sixth seed and two-time Wimbledon champion.
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It’s brilliant from Johanna Konta! She pounds her forehands to get Sloane Stephens on the run. She brings the American forward with a volley. Stephens, always quick off the mark, scampers forward and flicks a forehand from right to left - but Konta knows what she’s up to and is there with a volley that brings her a break and a 3-6, 6-4, 5-1 lead! What a turnaround on Court 1!
Rafael Nadal beats Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 6-3, 6-2
A few years ago this would have been a good match. Not now, though. Tsonga, 34 years old, is the world No 79 for a reason. He was no match for Nadal, who reaches the fourth round with an ace out wide. That was thoroughly uneventful. Nadal plays Dan Evans or Joao Sousa next.
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On Court 12 play has been suspended in the match between Jan-Lennard Struff and Mikael Kukushkin, who leads 6-3, 7-6, 4-6, 2-2, due to a spectator requiring medical attention. The crowd have left their seats.
Franko Skugor and Nikola Mektic beat Andy Murray and Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
Andy Murray’s dream of doubles glory dies in the second round, two solid Croatians refusing to play by the script. Over to the mixed doubles and Serena Williams, then. Maybe this doubles lark isn’t that easy.
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And just like that Johanna Konta breaks to lead 3-6, 6-4, 2-0 on Court 1. Maybe that burst of anger midway through the second set has woken her up. It could be a turning point in her career.
Johanna Konta seemed to be sinking midway through the second set, but she grew stronger as it wore on and pounced in the ninth game, lashing a forehand past Sloane Stephens to level it up on Court 1. On Court 2, meanwhile, Andy Murray and Pierre-Hugues Herbert are sinking towards a four-set defeat against Franko Skugor and Nikola Metic.
Fabio Fognini’s in his interview now. His fingers are on his right hand are bloody after he decided it would be a good idea to punch his racquet during his defeat to Tennys Sandgren. There’s extra interest here because Fognini, unhappy to be put on Court 14, was caught saying “a bomb should explode here”.
He laughs when he’s asked about it all. “The court was not really good. Most of the time when you are on court you are frustrated. I was not happy with my performance. It was a good chance to win. If I offended someone I say sorry. No problem.” He goes on to brush aside questions from the English media about his conduct during his defeat to Tennys Sandgren.
Interestingly the combustible Italian was fined a provisional $94,000 and banned for two grand slams after verbally abusing an umpire at the US Open in 2017 - however the ban only applied if he committed a “major offence” in the next two years.
Rafael Nadal breaks to love to lead Tsonga 6-2, 6-3, 2-1 on Centre Court. The punters there aren’t getting much value for money today. Most unexciting.
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Jo Konta allows a break point to slip from her grasp and Sloane Stephens holds to lead 6-3, 4-4. Konta still looks out of sorts.
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It could all be on the mixed doubles for Andy Murray soon. Franko Skugor and Nikola Metric have taken the third set on Court 2, giving them a 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 lead over Murray and Herbert.
Rafa Nadal leads 6-2, 6-3 against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. As it happens this is their first meeting since Shanghai in 2015. Tsonga won that one.
The last time there were only four of the top 10 in the men’s fourth round here was 2008. They were Richard Gasquet, Marcos Baghdatis and a couple of chaps called Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. And Gasquet would lose from two sets up to a bicep-flexing Andy Murray, Baghdatis lost 8-6 in the final set to Feliciano Lopez, and Federer and Nadal went on to play their classic final.
A huge hold for Johanna Konta. She saves three break points and finds enough resolve to keep Sloane Stephens at bay. Stephens leads 6-3, 2-3 and will serve.
This is a surprising sight. It’s not often you see Johanna Konta show her emotional side on court. But she isn’t happy with how she’s playing at the moment and at one point she bellows at her box, gestures unhappily and appears to let out an expletive. Jo! I didn’t know you had it in you. Still, perhaps letting it all hang loose is what the British No 1, down a set and desperately trying to hang in there against Sloane Stephens, needs...
It really wasn’t Fabio Fognini’s day. The Italian also needed a medical timeout after punching his own racquet.
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Andy Murray’s just dropped his serve. The Croatian pair of Franko Skugor and Nikola Metic lead 6-7, 6-4, 3-1 on Court 2. It’s not going to plan.
Fabio Fognini appears to have come out with an outrageous comment during his defeat to Tennys Sandgren. The Italian is due to speak to the media at 3.55pm.
Fabio Fognini, down two sets to Sandgren, is NOT happy that #Wimbledon put him on Court 14.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 6, 2019
"A bomb should explode here." pic.twitter.com/EBnLwGHOPP
Bring your daughter to work day at Serena’s press conference, with Olympia watching her mom from the back. #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/i1xXfqILBu
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 6, 2019
I note that Tennys Sandgren has beaten Fabio Fognini, the 12th seed, in straight sets. The men’s seeds have been awful this year. The only ones left from the top 10 are Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Nishikori, who’s seeded eighth. And below that it’s not much better. When I get a moment I’m going to have a proper look at the stats, but it doesn’t make for encouraging reading as far as the state of the game goes.
Eveyone spoke about how hard Rafa Nadal’s draw was at the start of the tournament. I was never sold on that, though. His path to the semis looks kind to me. The Spaniard’s looking rampant against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who isn’t the force of old, and has won the first set 6-2.
Thanks Alex. And as I return Andy Murray and Pierre-Hugues Herbert lose the second set of their doubles match to Franko Skugor and Nikola Metic. The Croatian pair level the match after taking it 6-4. Another Murray epic on the way, then.
And with that, here’s Jacob. It’s been a pleasure.
First blood to Sloane Stephens, who’s made to work for it by Konta until the Briton slices into the net at 40-30. She’ll need three sets if she’s to win a game that’s shaping up very nicely indeed.
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…and she only needs one. Konta lashes wildly wide to go 5-3 down and Stephens, who’s coming into this game with real purpose, will serve for the set.
Nadal breaks Tsonga and holds to go 4-1 up in the first, celebrating with little more than a neurotic twitch of the lips. Tsonga squints, apprehensive, and retires to the sideline for a snack. Two break points for Stephens on No 1 Court.
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Barbora Strycova has gone from Bertens to Mertens, with a straight sets win (7-5, 6-1) win over Kiki Bertens booking her place in the fourth round, where Elise Mertens awaits.
No breaks yet in the second set of the Murray/Herbert doubles, which is at 2-2. Konta v Stephens is already shaping up nicely, with a couple of rallies exchanged, both looking grimly focused and the American holding her serve to love for 3-2. On Centre Court, Rafa Nadal batters his way through his second service game, bronzed quadriceps bulging ominously.
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And here’s our report from Ashleigh Barty’s win against Harriet Dart:
Konta sends a double-handed return wide, and that’s the first game to Stephens. But the Briton responds with vigour, dropping just one point in her first service game, her serving already looking laser-guided. 1-1. And we’re under way on Centre Court, where Rafael Nadal makes short work of the opening game. A long afternoon lies ahead for Wilfried Tsonga.
Afternoon all. And as Stephens and Konta limber up on Centre Court, the Skurgor/Metic pairing hold their serve in the first game of the second set despite a scything forehand down the line from Murray to bring it back to 40-30. And the nominally-determined Tennys Sandgren has gone two sets to the good against Fabio Fognini, 14-12 on the tie-break.
And with that I’m going to find some lunch and leave you in the capable hands of Alex Hess. Johanna Konta and Sloane Stephens have arrived on Court 1 and Rafael Nadal and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are out on Centre Court.
A stunning, vintage backhand return from Andy Murray helps him and Pierre-Hugues Herbert take control of a first-set tie-break against Franko Skurgor and Nikola Metic. Before long they have three set points. They can’t take the first, but they take the second, a firm Murray forehand doing the job.
Serena Williams beats Julia Goerges 6-3, 6-4
Much like when they met in the semi-finals last year, Williams has far too much firepower for her German opponent. The American sails through to the fourth round and a match against Carla Suarez Navarro, the 30th seed. I think that was her best performance of the week and it leaves her free to rest up for her mixed doubles match with Andy Murray later today.
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Ashleigh Barty’s 53-minute win over was Harriet Dart was the second quickest women’s match this week. Elise Mertens only needed 48 minutes to beat Fiona Farro 6-2, 6-0 in the first round (the second set lasted 19 minutes). Barty’s in a hurry, though. Her last two matches have both lasted under than an hour.
Ashleigh Barty beats Harriet Dart 6-1, 6-1
It’s all over in 53 minutes. Dart sends a final backhand long and wide to confirm a simple victory for Barty, who was in no mood to let the young Brit get into the match at any point. Dart’s Wimbledon adventure is over and Barty goes through to face Alison Riske on Monday.
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All of a sudden Harriet Dart leaves 0-40 on Ashleigh Barty’s serve. Three break points seem to offer her a way back into this one-sided match. But that’s the cue for Barty to play some of her very best tennis, with a spinning backhand slice that faded away from an exasperated Dart for 15-40 a particular highlight. A few crunching forehands later, Barty leads 6-1, 5-1.
Elise Mertens, the 21st seed, has knocked out China’s Wang Qiang, the 15th seed. The Belgian triumphed 6-2, 6-7 (9), 6-4. On Court 1, meanwhile, aggressive tactics are working for Serena Williams, who breaks the struggling Julia Goerges for a 6-3, 3-2 lead. She’s surely getting this done in straight sets, leaving her nice and rested for her mixed doubles match with Andy Murray later.
It’s relentless from Ashleigh Barty, who breaks yet again to lead Harriet Dart 6-1, 3-0. Meanwhile Andy Murray’s serve is coming under pressure in his doubles match on Court 2. However he digs in to hold for 4-3 in the first set.
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The suffering goes on for Harriet Dart, who’s down a break in the second set already. There’s no stopping the brilliant Ashleigh Barty today.
At least it wasn’t a bagel. But it’s still an ugly scoreline from Harriet Dart’s perspective. She saves a set point with a lovely forehand pass down the line, but Ashleigh Barty responds with her fifth ace so far and takes the opener 6-1.
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It’s looking grim for Harriet Dart, broken twice already by Ashleigh Barty, who leads 5-0 on Centre Court. Barty is all over the British pretender at the moment. It’s a mauling. Oh dear.
Serena Williams earns a set point with a swinging ace out wide. Then she nets a forehand. Deuce. She earns another one with a clever, lofted forehand. She wastes it with another poor forehand. A third chance arrives. She takes this one with an excellent forehand. Got there in the end. The first set’s over. 6-3.
It’s not taken Ashleigh Barty to break through. With Harriet Dart understandably feeling the nerves on her Centre Court debut, the world No 1 breaks to lead 2-1.
Serena Williams lands the first blow, a few thumping returns earning her a break for 4-2 on Court 1. Julia Goerges nets a forehand and drops her serve to 15. Williams is looking very strong indeed.
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Well that’s a surprise. Belinda Bencic looked to be on her way to victory against Alison Riske, but the Swiss has found managed to throw it away. She was a break up in the third set, but the 13th seed has gone down 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to the unseeded American, who goes through to face the winner of Barty-Darty.
A comfortable early hold for Ashleigh Barty, sealed with an ace out wide. The Australian leads 1-0 against Harriet Dart. “Come on Harriet!” someone cries.
Where to look, where to look? While Harriet Dart’s about to get going against Ashleigh Barty on Centre Court, Andy Murray’s arrived on Court 2 for his first doubles match of the day. He partners Pierre-Hugues Herbert against Croatian pair Franko Skugor and Nikola Metic.
I spotted Fabio Fognini wandering around the grounds yesterday. The Italian is very handsome, he’ll be pleased to hear. However is tennis isn’t looking too hot today. The 12th seed has lost the first set of his third-round match to Tennys Sandgren, who took it 6-3.
On Court 1 Julia Goerges saves a break point with an ace and manages to keep Serena Williams at bay in her opening service game, holding for 1-1. Meanwhile Ashleigh Barty and Harriet Dart
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have arrived on Centre Court. It’s a tall order for Dart against the French Open champion but she’s come a long way since her drubbing by Maria Sharapova in the first round of the Australian Open in January. Can she pull off an unlikely shock? I say no, not a chance. But it’s sport. Anything can happen.
Kei Nishikori and Sam Querrey are both safely through to the fourth round. Nishikori made it five from five against Steve Johnson, while Querrey recovered from an early wobble to see off John Millman in three sets. It’s worth keeping an eye on Querrey. He could play Rafael Nadal in the last eight and his big serve would be a threat.
They’re heading out on Centre Court and Court 1. Serena Williams and Julia Goerges are there too. On Centre Court the first match is Harriet Dart, the 22-year-old Londoner, against Ashleigh Barty, the world No 1. First, though, they’re celebrating all the athletes in the Royal Box there. Eric Dier’s the main draw, no doubt. Gareth Southgate’s there too. Plenty of cricketers. Mo Farah. Carl Froch. Seb Coe. Rod Laver. Laura Davies. Chris Hoy. Billie Jean King. Anne Keothavong. So many legends.
Belinda Bencic has been taken into a third set on Court 12. However the 13th seed leads 6-4, 4-6, 3-0.
Kei Nishikori is speeding along to victory. He leads 6-4, 6-3 against Steve Johnson. There’s better news for Americans on Court 17. Sam Querrey’s using his big serve to good effect against John Millman. He leads 7-6, (3), 7-6 (8).
Lauren Davis stunned Angelique Kerber in the previous round, but she’s run out of gas against Carla Suarez Navarro. The 30th seed has won in straight sets and plays Serena Williams or Julia Goerges next.
Petra Kvitova beats Magda Linette 6-3, 6-2
On match point Linette comes up with an absolute fluke, a mishit forehand return that hangs in the air somehow drops on the line with Kvitova stranded. Linette has the good grace to look embarrassed. But her reprieve is momentary. Kvitova has another match point and she takes this one when Linette sends a forehand return long.
Kei Nishikori is motoring along on Court 3. He’s up a set and a break now.
Kei Nishikori might have a weak serve, but the boy can return. The eighth seed was down an early break to Steve Johnson, but he’s just won the first set set 6-4 and looks good to maintain his 100% record against the honest but limited American.
Sam Querrey, who thumped world No 4 Dominic Thiem in the first round, has recovered from a clunky start to win a first-set tie-break against John Millman on Court 17. It was more straightforward for Elise Mertens, the 21st seed, on Court 18. The Belgian won the first set 6-2 against China’s Wang Qiang, the 15th seed. And Belinda Bencic is proving a touch too skilled for Alison Riske, who’s a set down against the promising Swiss,
But Petra Kvitova doesn’t have to wait long. She allows herself a little celebratory hop on the baseline as she watches Magda Linette send a return long; that’s the first set in the bag. 6-3 Kvitova, who’s looking fit and focused on Court 2.
Solid serving helps Magda Linette save four set points and keep Petra Kvitova waiting. Linette holds and Kvitova will serve for the first set at 5-3. Over on Court 16, meanwhile, Carla Suarez Navarro is proving too good for Lauren Davis at the moment. The 30th seed has just won the first set 6-3 against the American lucky loser.
Breaks come, breaks go, and Kei Nishikori has got it back on serve against Steve Johnson on Court 3. Johnson leads 3-2.
Over on Court 12 Belinda Bencic, the 13th seed, is enjoying herself against the USA’s Alison Riske. The Swiss leads 3-1. Meanwhile Petra Kvitova has just broken for a 3-1 lead against Magda Linette, while Carla Suarez Navarro, the 30th seed, has also started well against Lauren Davis, conqueror of defending champion Angelique Kerber. But breaks come and breaks go. Nothing can be taken for granted. Sam Querrey is back on level terms with John Millman on Court 17.
A fine start for Steve Johnson on Court 3. That worrying head-to-head record isn’t holding him back. The American has broke early to lead 2-0 against Kei Nishikroi. Things aren’t going so well for another American, though. Sam Querrey, a semi-finalist in 2017, trails by a break in the first set against Australian scrapper John Millman on Court 17.
The players have arrived on the outside courts. We’ll have play soon. First up on Court 2, Petra Kvitova takes on Magda Linette. Kvita, the No 6 seed, has only played Linette once before and beat her in Montreal in 2016. Meanwhile Kei Nishikori is looking to extend his dominance over Steve Johnson on Court 3. Nishikori has won all four of his previous meetings with the unseeded American, who had a good five-set victory over Alex de Minaur in the second round.
Eric Dier is in the Royal Box today. I suppose he does bear a passing resemblance to Prince Harry.
Coco-mania has taken Wimbledon by storm. When I left the grounds last night the hill was packed and everyone was transfixed as they watched Gauff’s win over Polona Hercog. I’ve rarely seen it so busy for a third-round match.
Preamble
Hello. The sun’s beating down on SW19, everyone’s suffering from a Cori Gauff hangover (what a kid!) and we’ve got another packed schedule ahead of us. For a start we have the grandees of the sport, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams, all in singles action. While Williams has a rerun of last year’s semi-final when she faces Julia Goerges in the first match on Court 1, Nadal will hope not to suffer any after-effects from his weird evening with Nick Kyrgios when he faces the experienced Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and when that’s done Federer gets to have a go at another Frenchman, Lucas Pouille, the 27th seed.
But that’s not all! Because what a day it is to be British! Harriet Dart, snubbed in the mixed doubles by the treacherous Jay Clarke, is through to the third round for the first time and plays Ashleigh Barty, the world No 1, in the first match on Centre. Then there’s Johanna Konta, moving along without much fanfare, in an intriguing tussle with the USA’s Sloane Stephens, the ninth seed and former US Open champion, in the second match on Court 1, where the singles action finishes with the resurgent Dan Evans taking on Portugal’s Joao Sousa, who’ll be riding high after his thumping second-round win over Marin Cilic.
And that’s still not all! Because Andy Murray is playing not one but two doubles matches after his adventure with Serena had to be postponed because of the Gauff show last night. First Sir Muzz plays alongside
Some Other Bloke
Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the second round of the men’s doubles - they face Franko Skugor and Nikola Metic – and then he gets down to business with Serena in a match that still needs a court and won’t start before 5.30pm. They play Andreas Mies and Alexa Guarachi.
Play begins at: 11am BST.
