Finally, here’s Paul MacInnes’ report of Marin Cilic’s fantastic win over Jack Draper.
But otherwise, join us again tomorrow for more of the same … but different. Peace out people.
Righto, that’s almost us, so let’s go around the courts one last time:
Ben Shelton leads Rinky Hijikata 6-2 5-5
Gaël Monfisl leads Marton Fucsovics 4-6 6-1 6-4 5-6
And Daria Kasatkina has just beaten Irina-Camelia Begu 6-2 4-6 6-1
Lorenzo Sonego beats Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1 6-3 (3)6-7 7-6(4)
Basilashvili gave it everything, but Sonego gets it done. Next for him it’s Brandon Nakashima.
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Sinner is very happy as Vukic is a difficult opponent with a huge serve. He struggled to serve it out but it’s great to play on Centre and he thanks the crowd for sticking around at the end of a long day.
He’s happy to finish with the roof open – conditions are very different with it closed – and he’s happy he played that “lucky” backhand that helped him win in straights.
Jannik Sinner (1) beats Aleksandar Vukic 6-1 6-1 6-3
Sinner seals it with an ace, and looks far too good to lose to anyone bar the obvious.Next for him it’s Pedro Martínez.
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After saving five match points, Vukic sees Sinner net and he now has break point. So he sends Sinner to the forehand corner, advancing to the net … only to be passed cross-court by an absolute beauty. I fear that may be that.
Go on! Basilashvili, who I thought had had his moment beating Musetti in round one, breaks Sonego to stay in the match. We’ll now play a fourth-set breaker, while Vukic saves another match point.
…and Vukic saves two match points. The comeback starts here!
There aren’t many players it’s more fun to watch than Bel Shelton – no wonder his old fella wants to coach him – but while I’m doing that, Sinner breaks Vukic and is now serving for the match…
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Eeee, Sonego breaks Basilashvili for 6-5 in the fourth, and is now serving for the match…
I said earlier in the week that Sinner must be enjoying the Wimbledon dress code, given in Paris, Nike had him looking like Luigi. But a button-down sports shirt is still very weird gear.
Vukic is making a better first of set three, trailing 2-3 on serve, and we see footage of Sinner suffering a proper Bambi on ice moment that I guess happened when I had eyes elsewhere; in comms they’re wondering if it’s affecting him.
Also going on:
We’ve now lost 19 seeds in the men’s competition – that is ridiculous, but also evidences just how deep the talent runs. It’s worth noting that Sinner, Alcaraz and Djokovic still remain, and I can’t see how they’re not going to be three of the four semi-finalists, but I daresay lots in the draw will be wondering if this might be their time.
Shelton takes the first set off Hijikata 6-2, and Tauson sees off Kalinskaya 6-3 7-6(10) so faces Rybakina next.
Thinking back to the Draper match, I guess Cilic is one of not that many left on tour used to playing the big four – and who won a slam during their era. Which is to say that he was never going to fear Draper, and perhaps the key factor in the match was his grasp of the angles of a court.
Ah, apologies to Kasatkina, who leads Begu 6-2 4-5; Monfils does indeed serve out to lead Fucsovics 2-1.
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Sinner has taken the second set against Vukic and now leads 6-1 6-1; Shelton leads Hijikata 3-2 with a break; Monfils is serving for a 2-1 lead against Fucsovics; Tauson has three match points against Kalinskaya; and Basilashvili is fighting back against Sonego, winning set three to trail 2-1 and it’s now 2-2 in the fourth.
It’s been a long journey, says Cilic. “Emotions are just incredible,” he says. It’s been a long journey but he never doubted, and to come back to play this level in front of this crowd is incredible, and he thanks people for their sportsmanship.
He’s been really dedicated all his life, and is delighted to see his three young kids in his box – they’re one of the reasons he kept his passion and he loves them cheering him on and showing him their fists. Oh man, what an effort from him to get to this moment.
Next for Cilic, who now has the no 4 seed’s path through the draw, it’s Jaume Munar. He’ll fancy that.
Marin Cilic beats Jack Draper (4) 6-4 6-3 1-6 6-4
An amazing win for the 36-year-old Cilic, who’s battled back from dreadful injury to record what must be one of the most meaningful wins of his career. He played brilliantly today, dominating the contest then sticking in it, sending Draper chasing about while taking the centre himself – exactly how he secured the final point. Biggup and hold tight old man.
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…then Cilic sends him to the corner and he can’t respond! Match point to the Serb!
Oh dear. Cilic nets a simple putaway, but at 15-0 and serving to stay in the match, Draper then nets a forehand of his own and at 15-30 he’s two points from defeat…
Sebastian Ofner beats Tommy Paul (13) 1-6 7-5 6-4 7-5
Next for him, it’s Griggzy Dimitrov.
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Ben Shelton, seeded 10, has begun his match against Rinky Hijikata – it’s 1-1 in the first – but hang about, yet another seed has gone!
Righto, from 0-30 Draper makes 30-all … but Cilic wins the next two points for 5-4 while, on Centre, Sinner has broken Vukic in set two to lead 6-1 2-1.
Ahahaha, Draper makes advantage annihilates an ace down the T, and this match is once again showing what Coach Calv told us long ago: he’s born to compete at this level. Cilic leads 2-1 4-4.
…and the second when he hangs in the rally, just – he frames another one but it loops in – he goes after the next backhand, and Cilic nets! Draper is nails.
…but Draper saves the first with an ace…
Oooh, at 3-4 15-all, Draper slaps a forehand into the net, and these are dangerous times … all the more so when he frames a further forehand! Cilic has two break points, and if he converts he’ll then serve for the match…
Sinner secures a 6-1 first set against Vukic, and I’d not be surprised if this match finishes before Draper v Cilic.
Amazing behaviour from Cilic, who fights back from 40-0 and seizes deuce with a glorious get at the net, his pick-up sending the ball across the face to break the sideline. For all the good it does him, Draper powering through advantage to seal his hold for 3-3 in the fourth.
Back on No 1, Cilic is, as you’d imagine refusing to go away. He leads 3-2 in fourth, but is on longer dictating in the same way.
Meantime, Sinner has taken command against Vukic, up 4-1 in the first. He’s now at that level where it’s hard to imagine him losing to anyone other than Alcaraz – but his potential semi with Djokovic looks tasty in the extreme.
On 18, Monfils has just levelled with Fucsovics at a set apiece, taking the second 6-1; Tauson leads Kalinskaya 6-3 2-1; Kasatkina leads Begu 6-2 0-1; Sonego leads Basilashvili 6-1 6-3 5-4; and Ofner leads Paul 1-6 7-5 6-4 3-4.
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro beats Sofia Kenin (28) 6-1 7-6(4)
She made hard work of closing it out, missing match points, but it never seemed like she wouldn’t get there in the end. Next for her is the conqueror of Coco Gauff, Daria Yastremska.
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August Holmgren beats Tomas Machac 7-6(5) (8)6-7 (5)6-7 7-5 7-6(5)
Oh man, another seed goes and Holmgrena 27-year-old qulifier, runs to sob with his parents. What a beautiful moment, and next for him it’s De Minaur. Well done old mate, you deserved that.
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Up a mini-break at 4-2, Bouzas Maneiro nets when she shouldn’t; she’s struggling to get this won, but an error from Kenin restores her advantage at 5-3.
On Centre, Sinner and Vukic are under way; the world no 1 leads 2-1, on serve.
Obviously I big her up, then she’s broken back; Bouzas Maneiro, now dead to me, and Kenin, are playing a second-set tiebreak.
Draper and Cilic swap holds at the start of set four and the crowd are into the match now. One of the things I most like about Draper is his composure under pressure; his certainty that he can do what it takes to win any match, and this is what we’re seeing here.
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Holmgren and Machac have done what looked entirely possible several hours ago: set up a fifth-set match tiebreak.
On 2, Bouzas Maneiro is serving for the match against Kenin at 6-1 5-4; she’s growing into a really fine player, the 0 and 1 hiding she gave Emma Navarro in Paris one of my favourite performances of the tournament. I think she’s made of the right stuff mentally too, and I’m interested to see how she grows from here.
A second serve ace raises set point at 40-30, a shanked return secures it, and Draper is at base camp. I said earlier that, win or lose, he might well come to view this as a seminal contest in his career, and I was talking about a mental and tactical context. But the emotional is just as important, and the backing Andy Murray got when playing at home was not just a reflection of him going deep at Wimbledon, but of the memorable evenings he gave us all when he was developing. This could be one of those for Draper.
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I wonder if Draper thought he’d just play his normal game and win this one – a not unresonable assumption. But in this set, what he’s done better is keep Cilic moving, making it harder for him to hit his spots, and he secures that break to lead 5-1 in the third.
What colour do we reckon the colour chart calls Cilic’s hair, by the way? I’m going for Laboratory Squirrel; while I do, the man himself saves a point for a second break point with an ace.
OK, we’re back once more. Draper consolidates for 4-1 in the third; Bouzas Maneiro leads Kenin6-1 5-4 and will shortly serve for the match; Offner has just taken the third set tot lead Paul, seeded 13, 201; and Holmgren and Machac are 5-45 in the fifth.
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Next on Centre Court: Jannik Sinner (1) v Aleksandar Vukic.
Yes he can! I don’t know how, not because he did something wonderful, but because my net dies on me again, but every journey starts with a step, and Draper is now up a break at 3-1 in the third, Cilic by two sets to love.
Back with Draper, he makes 0-15 with a terrific forehand cross, soon arrives at 0-40, but Cilic quickly saves the first two break points. Can Draper convert the third?
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In her post-match interview, Swiatek recalls a defeat to McNally at Roland Garros as her most painful as a junior – citing that in victory is one reason she’s a champion. She likes McNally and her family, who make you feel like you’re not rivals, so she’s glad to see her back and fit.
She took confidence from how she played in Bad Homburg before coming to Wimbledon, though the courts aren’t similar, and she doesn’t mind playing a long match today as it gave her more time on Centre Court.
Otherwise, back to her towel-snaffling antics, she says it’s not as much fun now everyone knows she’s doing it, but all her team have one so they’re happy.
Tell you what, win or lose I bet Draper looks back at this match as an important one in his career. It’s not often a player as good as he is takes a lesson, but that’s what this has been so far, Cilic’s experience and grasp of angles showing him what’s missing from his game. The old man holds for 1-1 in the third.
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Iga Swiatek (8) beats Caty McNally 5-7 6-2 6-1
A scare for Swiatek, but she handled it well and faces Danielle Collins next.
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Elsewhere, Bouzas Maneiro leads Kenin 6-1 1-1; Holmgren trails Machac 2-3 in the fifth, on serve; Ofner leads Paul 1-6 7-5 4-2; Fucsovics leads Monfils 5-3; Sonego leads Basilashvili 6-1 4-2; and Nakshima has beaten opelka 7-5 6-2 6-7 6-3.
Yup, Cilic serves out to lead Draper 6-4 6-3. Meantime, Swiatek is serving for the match at 5-7 6-2 5-1, but McNally is making her work for it…
A booming forehand down the line gives Draper 0-15, and the rally-ball that facilitated it perhaps evidenced a little tightness; we shall see. Er, a terrific backhand from corner to corner makes 15-all, and the ace that’s behind it takes Cilic to within two points of a two-set lead.
In the meantime, he holds for 3-5, so Cilic must serve out the set, and the crowd are getting into now, elevating the pressure, but this is a man who’s seen it all before.
The break did, though, give me a chance to work out that tactical plan for Draper: play better.
A belated thanks again Katy and hi again everyone – my internet decided the precise moment we agreed handover, my net forsook me. But we’re back and bad now, Draper serving at 4-6 2-5.
Cilic holds. Draper holds. Cilic holds. It’s Cilic 6-4, 4-1. Draper could do with coming to the net more to interrupt Cilic’s rhythm. Bafflingly he’s done it only twice so far. But my watch is over now, so here’s Daniel to figure out how Draper can get himself out of this mess. I’ll leave you with this. Bye!
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Swiatek is getting closer to round three. She leads McNally 5-7, 6-2, 4-0. Waiting in the last 32 is Danielle “You pay my bills” Collins.
Machac has been taken to a fifth set. The always entertaining Gael Monfils is under way against Marton Fucsovics. And Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, who accounted for Coco Gauff in the first round, is into a final-set tie-break against Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova.
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A stunned silence on No 1 Court as Cilic makes Draper pay for missing that chance, by breaking to 15 in the next game. The Croat’s returning has been outrageously good. He’s won four games in a row. And he’s making Draper look as if he’s the 36-year-old. Cilic leads 6-4, 2-0. The longer the match this goes on, the more it should favour the younger and fitter Draper, but at the moment Cilic is running away with it.
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Draper can’t convert a break point at the start of the second set. But Swiatek does strike early in the third against McNally. The former world No 1 now leads 5-7, 6-2, 2-0.
Moutet may have lost to Dimitrov earlier, but the Frenchman went down in style.
Outrageous from Moutet! 😍
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2025
This tweener lob by Corentin Moutet is the Play of the Day, presented by @BarclaysUK ✨#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/q7ZOjRanZ6
Cilic has Draper reeling at 0-40 for the second successive game on the British No 1’s serve. But the difference is they’re not only break points, they’re set points. And the even bigger difference this time is that Cilic capitalises, drilling a backhand winner down the line to break Draper to love. It’s game and first set Cilic. The 36-year-old has bloodied the nose of the 23-year-old – how will Draper respond?
Swiatek surges through the second set 6-2 to set up a decider. Those notes seem to have helped; her error count was well down in that set and her forehand found its range.
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And here’s Tumaini’s take on that Djokovic win:
For nearly two decades, Novak Djokovic has spent his time on the tennis court crushing the hopes and dreams of all of his adversaries while in pursuit of his own lofty goals. He did so again on Centre Court, ensuring that there would be no fairytale ending to Dan Evans’ encouraging grass-court season as he marched into the third round of Wimbledon with a devastating performance and dominant 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 win.
“He can be causing a lot of trouble for you if you’re not on the top of your game, which I think I was from the very beginning,” said Djokovic, the sixth seed, afterwards. “I was preparing well for the match. Technically, tactically, I knew exactly what I needed to do. I executed perfectly – sometimes you have these kinds of days.”
In a tournament that has hosted 23 British singles players, the most in a generation, Evans has surprisingly been one of the most interesting British stories of all. Having spent a large part of the past seven years firmly inside the top 50, rising to a career high of 21, last year the 35-year-old tumbled down the rankings. He fell as low as No 217 last month.
For most of the past year, Evans has been forced to compete on the ATP Challenger circuit, but he continued to struggle even against much lower-ranked opponents. Before the tournament, he spoke with great emotion about his doubts and struggles during this period, particularly the feeling that he was letting his family and team members down.
On a lovely summer afternoon on Centre Court against the greatest player of all time, there were no miracles to be uncovered here. From the beginning of the match, Evans employed all the trickery and hand skills that, with his diminutive frame, he has used so effectively throughout his career. He dragged Djokovic into endless, protracted rallies with his wicked backhand slice, he flitted forward to the net whenever he could and he kept himself in complicated points with his improvisational brilliance.
Click here for the rest.
But look here: it’s three break points for Cilic as Draper slumps 0-40 down. Draper gets out his spade and digs himself out of a big hole, recovering to deuce, and it’s five straight points as he takes the game when Cilic clunks long. It’s 4-4. And credit to Cilic – I saw this going the way of Djokovic v Evans, but Cilic has made this very tough for Draper so far.
Not much giving between Draper and Cilic. One break point apiece, no breaks and it’s 4-3 to Cilic.
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Machac and his short shorts are close to round three. The 21st seed leads the Danish qualifier August Holmgren 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 5-4 on serve.
Next up for Krejcikova: another American opponent, in the form of the 10th seed Emma Navarro.
“I’m really happy I can play matches,” Krejcikova says. “The last six months were really difficult for me. I just appreciate it more. I’m so grateful I’m here and can play tennis. The match was really up and down, and I’m extremely happy I’m through and can play another match.”
Krejcikova defeats Dolehide 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
There’s something about this place that brings out the best in Krejcikova. She’s had a forgettable 2025 because of a back injury that stopped her from playing until May. She then picked up a thigh problem at Eastbourne last week. But the Czech’s title defence continues as she defeats Dolehide 6-2 in the decider – a convincing finish after an up-and-down first two sets.
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Swiatek and Krejcikova back up their breaks. Draper v Cilic is going with serve at 2-2.
Swiatek, trailing 7-5, 0-1, is pushing on McNally’s serve and here’s a sixth break point as the game clock ticks past eight minutes. Swiatek is jumping up and down on the baseline and throws in some air shots for good measure, and it does the job, as she goes on to force the error from her American opponent. Swiatek has the break for 2-0, just as Krejcikova breaks in the deciding set against Dolehide. Krejcikova leads 6-4, 3-6, 4-2.
The British No 1 is on No 1, with Jack Draper up against the 2017 Wimbledon finalist and 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic. You’d be forgiven if you thought Cilic had retired; the 36-year-old is playing his first Wimbledon in four years because of multiple knee surgeries. He found his way back by working his way up from the Challenger Tour (and won the recent event in Nottingham), and credits Andy Murray for inspiring him to take that path. But beating the current British No 1 and world No 4, who’s playing the tennis of his life, may well prove to be a step too far. Let’s find out …
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Swiatek returns to court clutching a notebook, presumably with her match instructions in it. Let’s see if it does the trick.
From 4-1 up in the first set against McNally, Swiatek has lost it 7-5. Her forehand is all over the place. And her head probably is too, as she scurries off court to try to recover some composure. She seems unwilling to stay in the points and has been going for too many winners that haven’t come off. We’ve already lost 16 of the women’s seeds, and another is in serious peril.
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Our man Tumaini Carayol’s been looking ahead to Emma Raducanu’s big date with Aryna Sabalenka tomorrow:
Hours after Emma Raducanu’s latest convincing defeat to Iga Swiatek just a few weeks ago at Roland Garros, the 22-year-old was understandably still seething. Once again, she had given herself an opportunity to face one of the best players in the world, and once again she simply could not keep up.
Her uncomfortable afternoon on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the end of May was reflective of a pattern that has defined her recent months on court. Raducanu has performed admirably when facing the players she should defeat, compiling a 14-3 record against lower-ranked players over the past year. Against the elite players, however, she has consistently been flattened.
“I think I have done a pretty good job of staying with and getting some good wins over players not in the top 10,” she said, sighing. “But there is a big difference as you go up into the top five and then playing, like, slam champions. It is a completely different ball game.”
There have been times when those top players have almost appeared to be playing a different sport. Raducanu’s 6-1, 6-2 defeat to Swiatek at Roland Garros had actually marked an improvement following her 6-1, 6-0 loss in their Australian Open third-round match. She has also suffered convincing defeats to Coco Gauff and Zheng Qinwen in recent weeks and she is 1-9 against top-five players in her career. The common theme in those performances was how underpowered Raducanu’s game appeared against players who are capable of completely overwhelming her with their superior pace and weight of shot.
Now she will take on the very best, and most powerful, adversary of all in Aryna Sabalenka, the undisputed women’s world No 1. Over the past few years, Sabalenka’s evolution has become one of the most impressive sights in the sport. After arriving on the tour as a wildly inconsistent shotmaker who entered every match with the sole intention of bashing the ball as hard as possible while having no control over her emotions, the 27-year-old has evolved into a more refined, well-rounded player who has learned how to harness her power into consistently devastating tennis.
You can read the rest here.
Of course No 2 Court’s notoriety goes back much further than that. Remember Sampras v Bastl in 2002? It was a match that turned out to be the seven-times champion’s last at Wimbledon.
A shift in momentum on No 2 Court, where Krejcikova, having led Dolehide 6-4, has conceded the second set 6-3. The defending champion may not want to be reminded that this is the scene of Jessica Pegula’s and Lorenzo Musetti’s downfalls on that tumultuous Tuesday for the seeds.
Strike that. Swiatek is broken. It’s 4-3. Swiatek has gone under the radar a little so far here, now she’s dropped from world No 1 to the eighth seed and conceded her French Open title, but having the pressure off may just suit the Pole. Despite being a junior Wimbledon winner, she’s never been beyond the quarter-finals, with her extreme racket grip perhaps not helping her on a quick surface that takes away time. And her timing is totally off now, as McNally holds before even getting a chance to break at 4-4. Swiatek steadies herself and holds from deuce for 5-4.
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Rybakina and Krejcikova are the only former women’s champions left in the draw, while the woman who would be champion, if she could solve the riddle of grass, is Iga Swiatek. She’s a break up, 4-2, in the opening set on Centre Court against the American Caty McNally.
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Dimitrov beats Moutet 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5
Dimitrov, meanwhile, has three match points against Moutet at 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-5, 40-0. Moutet attempts the pass .. and is thwacking and whacking his racket on the grass when it doesn’t come off. The not-so-baby Federer is through to round three 11 years after he made the semi-finals here.
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Rybakina routs Sakkari 6-3, 6-1
Thanks Daniel. Yes let’s stay on No 1 Court, where Rybakina is serving for the match at 6-3, 5-1, 30-all. The 2022 champ gets match point when Sakkari hits long, and an unreturned serve settles matters. That’s a comprehensive, controlled and composed victory over the former No 3. Is there a better grass-court player in the draw? Probably not. Staying fit and healthy hasn’t always been easy for the 26-year-old – but on her day she can beat anyone here. Next up on No 1 will be Jack Draper v Marin Cilic.
Krejcikova serves out that first set and she now leads Dolehide 6-4 1-0, while Rybakina is absolutely rousting Sakarri, up 6-3 5-1. But my watch is over for now – Katy is back to guide you through the next couple of hours, after which I’ll be back to bring it home.
McEnroe, though, what a total hero. How lucky we were to have him and Martina dominating at the same time, two amazing players with principles, character and genius. I coujldn’t and still can’t get enough of either.
Also 40 years ago today, Back to the Future was released, so here’s something on the space-time continuum. Not much is perfect, but that film is perfect.
Oh man, I appear to be old. Forty years ago today, one of the first sporting shocks I can remember.
Rybakina breaks Sakkari back immediately and now leads 6-3 2-1, while Krejcikova will soon serve for set one at 5-4 against Dolehide.
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Wrists! An amazing backhand winner, hit cross-court to break the sideline, earns Machac set point, then he stays in the next rally despite almost losing his footing, before a drop-pass combo secures a tiebreak in which he trailed 4-1. He and Holmgren are level at 1-1.
Alreet, Krejcikova breaks Dolehide for 4-3, while Sakkari does likewise to Rybakina at the start of set two so trails 3-6 0-1. Otherwise, Alexandrova leads Lamens 6-4 3-0 and Jacquemot is up 6-4 on Bencic.
“I’m sorry,” begins Martin, “but Andy Murray’s greatness is a bit like the Special Relationship. Sometimes foreigners pretend that it’s real it just to be polite, but nobody outside the UK really thinks that Andy Murray is on a par with Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic.”
Does anyone actually think that? I’ve not met anyone who does.
Griggzy Dimitrov now leads MC Moutet 2-1 3-2, while there’s a potential shock brewing on Court 12, where Holmgren leads Machac 7-6 and they’re locked at 6-6 in the second set tiebreak.
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Krejcikova breaks Dolehide back immediately, while Rybakina breaks Sakkari a second time to seal a 6-3 first set.
On No 2, the champ is in action, and Krejcikova has been broken early doors by Dolehide who leads 3-1 in the first.
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“Good afternoon, everyone, thanks for coming out on the Centre Court again,” begins Djokovic, laughing away. He knew there’d be a special atmosphere and that Evans has a great touch, but he was at the top of his game from the beginning and had prepared a good tactical plan which he executed perfectly, then adds this was a note for his coach – and without getting all conspiracist, could it be one for his former coach too?
Told this was his 99th win at Wimbledon and the 19th time he’s made round three, he notes that almost as long as Sinner and Alcaraz have been alive. This is his favourite tournament and he’s hoping to do well again, but he doesn’t pause to reflect because he doesn’t have time. He’d like to but being at the top of professional tennis requires dedication on a daily basis; that’ll have to wait until he’s retired and sat on the beach drinking margaritas with Federer and Nadal.Again, I don’t want to read into that something that isn’t there, but was there a deliberate omission from that scene?
Novak Djokovic (6) beats Dan Evans 6-3 6-2 6-0
Djokovic enjoyed that – you can see he’s happy with his level there. Next for him is Kecmanovic.
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Djokovic breaks Evans for a third time and at 6-3 6-2 5-0 is now serving for the match. He’s played supremely today.
Obviously Djokovic is already up a double break in set three against Evans, leading 6-3 6-2 3-0. But can he beat Sinner followed by Alcaraz, because if he wants to win, that’s probably what’ll be asked of him.
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On No 1, Rybakina and Sakkari are under way, Martina insighting that the 2022 champ has really good shot-selection and doesn’t go for too much, which is necessary on grass. She breaks immediately., consolidates, and leads 2-0.
Looking around the courts, then, some latest scores:
Dimitrov 7-5 4-6 5-4 Moutet
Holmgren 7-6 1-2 Machac
Baotiste 7-6 5-2 Mboko
Colins 6-4 Erjavec
Luciano Darderi beats Arthur Fery 6-4 6-3 6-3
Pretty simple for Darderi, who meets Jordan Thompson next.
Back to Felix, I remember the first time Coach Calv saw him play because he messaged to tell me he’s seen something special – a 16-year-old he mentions in the same breath as Becker and Nadal. Problem being he hasn’t improved his weaknesses – volleying, returning and second serve – and granted the break of the pandemic, he still didn’t. It’s never too late, but when is he going to get so much time ever again?
While all that was going on, Djokovic continues assaulting Evans, taking set two 6-2 and losing just two points on serve this time. If he continues impriving through the rounds, he’s a very serious threat here.
Jan-Leonard Struff beats Felix Auger-Aliassime (25) 3-6 7-6(9) 6-3 6-4
At 24, it’s beginning to look like Felix isn’t going to realise the full extent of his talent.
And you know what? Should Rinderknech move on, he’ll fancy himself against Borges or Khachanov too – rightly so – and the big seed he’d meet in the quarters would probably be Fritz, someone he’s also capable of berating. We shall see…
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Arthur Rinderknech beats Christian Garín 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-3
He’s made to fight through deuce, but he forces it to happen and, with the no 3 seed’s passage through the draw, will fancy himself to see off Majchrzak, who he faces next.
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On 17, Rinderknech is serving for the match against Garin; I’m not sure I’ve seen a player whose action is as face-on as his. It works, though.
Next on No 1 Court: Maria Sakkari v Elena Rybakina (11).
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We must, though, credit Bronzetti, who forced Andreeva play the tiebreak that she did. If she can keep hitting that level, she’ll move up the rankings, but of course the difference between those at the top and the rest isn’t just how well they can play but how they play most often.
Mirra Andreeva (7) beats Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 7-6 (4)
When she needed to lift it, she launched it into the stratosphere; Mirra Andreeva knows, and next for her it’s Baptiste or Mboko.
Djokovic has been putting Evans under constant pressure, so it’s no surprise that there’s an early break in set two. Elastic Man leads 6-3 2-1.
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Yeah, Mirra Mirra on the charge. She doubles that mini-break for 4-1, sticks in the next point when it’s tough, switches momentum, takes the point, and this is near-perfect behaviour, a gorgeous combination of class, intensity and certainty.
Andreeva holds easily, so here comes the breaker. I’d love to get a deciding set – we deserve it – but I’d not be shocked if she finds something. And, as I type, a sensational backhand cross-court earns her an immediate mini-break.
Elsewhere, Darderi has taken the second set against Fery; Dimitrov and Moutet are level at a set apiece; and Auger-Alissime trails Struff 1-2 2-3.
Wowwee! Down 30-40, Bronzetti saves break point with a glorious drop; had she missed it, she’d have had one chance to break, else she’d have been gone. And from deuce, she quickly closes out, so Andreeva must now serve to stay in the set at 6-1 5-6.
Munar, who leads Morzsan by two sets to love, has broken in set three. At 3-1, he’s nearly there.
Evans made him work for it, but Djokovic would not be denied. He only lost three points on serve the entire set and is looking pretty good out there, I must say. It’s almost as if he’s a seven-time champion.
Andreeva eventually holds for 5-5 in the second, while Evans saves a break point but can’t get out of the game; Djokovic breaks him for 5-3 in the third and quickly makes 30-0.
Jakub Mensik beats Marcus Giron 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4)
Next for Mensik it’s Cobolli (22), and my advice is that you don’t miss it.
Elisabetta Cocciaretto beats Katie Volynets 6-0 6-4
Next for her, Jacquemot or Bencic, and I wonder if she might be the surprise hero of this year’s competition.
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Andreeva is so mentally solid, saving both while, on 16, Cocciaretto has match point against Volynets…
Rinderknech, memorably described as a “handsome [redcated] with a huge serve” – you’d take it – by Coach Calv Betton on Tuesday’s blog, has broken Garin for 2-0 in the fifth. That’ll sting the Chilean badly, given how hard he had to work to win set four. Meantime, Bronzetti has made 15-40, securing two points! Here they come…
Ach, Bronzetti overhits a forehand that means she’s down 15-30, and when she misses her first serve, the pressure intensifies. Can she shut it out? Well Andreeva plays a terrific point, finishing with an overhead that, a little spooked by earlier failures, she ends up faking and instead pats away, then Bronzetti nets a forehand and there’s the break back. I couldn’t say with any certainty that she got tight, but I’m surer Andreeva found something extra when she needed it, which is one of the major differences between the best and the rest.
On No 1, Bronzetti is playing beautifully, but how are her nerves? Andreeva has just held, so she’ll need to hold to force a deciding set.
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I’m watching: Evans 2-3 Djokovic, Andreeva 6-1 2-5 Bronzetti, Garin 6-3 3-6 6-7 6-4 0-0 Rinderknech and Volynets 0-6 4-3 Cocciaretto.
Thanks Katy and hi everyone. There’s so much going on I don’t really know where to begin, but let’s get on with it.
Right, with that settled, I’m off for some lunch. Daniel Harris is here to guide you through the next couple of hours …
De Minaur beats Cazaux 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-0
De Minaur has got himself three match points on No 2 Court, where he leads Cazaux 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 5-0. And the 11th seed gets the job done when Cazaux miscues a forehand. After a slow start, he was locked in, and avoids going the way of Zverev, Musetti and all the others. The Aussie fanatics are happy. And so is De Minaur, who has a winnable match against Tomas Machac or qualifier August Holmgren next.
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Djokovic thunders another forehand winner or two to get himself to deuce on Evans’s serve. And here’s a first break point. Evans averts the danger, but a loopy forehand goes well long and here’s a second BP. This time Evans cuts Djokovic up with his backhand slice, before conceding a third BP. And a fourth. Evans eventually holds. But Djokovic has shown the Brit what he’s up against, as if he needed any reminder. It’s 2-2.
Some lunchtime (well, if you’re in the UK) viewing:
Despite never going beyond the third round at Wimbledon, Evans’s game is well suited to the grass, with his backhand slice that stays low, his serve and volley and his variety of pace. But he doesn’t have Djokovic’s power, and the seven-times champion comes out swinging to seize a 2-1 lead on serve.
Andreeva has the opening set 6-1 against Bronzetti. Dimitrov leads Moutet 7-5. Cocciaretto has claimed a first-set whitewash over Volynets. And the Canadian winning machine Victoria Mboko, who began the year ranked No 333 in the world but is now in the top 100 and is playing here as a lucky loser, has an early break against the American Hailey Baptiste, leading 2-0.
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Evans has had an emotional summer so far, beating two top-20 players in Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe, as the world No 154 bids to regain his best form at the age of 35. Djokovic, of course, at 38 is raging against the dying of the light too, and sees Wimbledon as his best chance to claim that elusive record-breaking grand slam No 25, having won No 24 two years ago. Djokovic credited a doctor’s “miracle pills” for helping him get through his first-round match when he was struggling with stomach problem, so let’s see what kind of condition he’s in today.
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Here comes Dan Evans, as the rejuvenated Brit gets the Centre Court billing he so wanted against Novak Djokovic … a man he actually has a winning record against and has never lost to, which is something even Federer, Nadal and Murray can’t boast. Looking closer, they’ve only played each other once before, on the clay of Monte Carlo four years ago.
Alex de Minaur has come back brilliantly in his match against the French qualifier Arthur Cazaux. Having lost the first set 6-4, Demon has won the next two 6-2, 6-4.
One of the seed slayers, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, the Italian who took out the third seed Jessica Pegula in the first round, is out on Court 16. She’s facing the aptly named Katie Volynets (geddit?), who defeated Tatjana Maria, the 37-year-old former semi-finalist who had that fairytale run at Queen’s a couple of weeks ago. Cocciaretto is charging ahead and leads 4-0 in the opening set.
One could write a sociolinguistics dissertation about the way #Wimbledon haphazardly shortens surnames on the scoreboard. pic.twitter.com/q2hZE3wnao
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 3, 2025
It’s show time on the show courts, with the Russian wonderkid Mirra Andreeva, already seeded seventh at the precocious age of 18, taking on Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti on No 1 Court. Andreeva stirs memories of Martina Hingis with her natural talent, high tennis IQ and varied all-court game – but she’s got more power than the 1997 runner-up, and she demonstrates that as she thunders to a 3-0 lead. Shortly on Centre Court it’ll be Novak Djokovic v Dan Evans.
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Pinnington Jones’s defeat leaves us with six British players remaining from the 23 that started the tournament. Up next for Cobolli, meanwhile, is a third-round meeting with most likely Mensik, who now leads Giron by two sets to one.
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Cobolli beats Pinnington Jones 6-1, 7-6, 6-2
The biggest match of Pinnington Jones’s life is drawing to a close, as Cobolli serves at 6-1, 7-6, 5-2. PJ saves a match point at 40-30, but Cobolli soon has another at his advantage, and the Brit errs with his backhand. Cobolli, like so many Italians these days, was a pleasure to watch, but Pinnington Jones will rue that set point he couldn’t take in the second set. Cobolli ran away with it after that.
Moutet also knows how the cause a stir. The volatile and mercurial Frenchman, who’s ranked 69 in the world, is no stranger to controversy, having been disqualified from a match in 2022, when the Federation of French Tennis expelled him and cut all his funding. He’s also clashed with various opponents, including Alexander Bublik in March, when the umpire had to separate them, before the pair almost ended up taking it outside. He’s behaving so far today, though, but trails 4-1, so may self-combust yet.
Navarro’s win means Grigor Dimitrov, the 2014 semi-finalist, and Corentin Moutet have made their way to No 3 Court. Not sure if the New Yorkers are sticking around for this one. But Moutet knows how to put on a show.
Navarro speaks. “I’m feeling really good. I played on this court back in juniors so it was good to be back here today. It’s intimate, I feel the energy from the crowd, I had some New Yorkers back here cheering me on. It’s a really fun court so I am happy to survive and advance and see another day.”
She’s then asked about being one of the surviving seeds. “I wasn’t on site yesterday so it didn’t affect me. It is kind of anyone’s tournament so we will see what happens.”
Just to rub salt into the wounds, Cobolli breaks at the start of the third set.
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PJ regroups to grab another mini-break and it’s 5-4 … but Cobolli makes sure the Brit doesn’t get a set point as he puts away a forehand volley at full stretch, Boris Becker style. 5-5. But Cobolli can’t do anything to stop PJ securing a set point at 6-5! PJ blinks and nets, though, and it’s 6-6. Cobolli nudges ahead to 7-6 and a long, long point ensues, it’s getting tenser and tenser … and PJ eventually nets again. Ach. He’d done all the hard work to get back into the set, and had that set point, but now he’s two sets down. The fine margins. Having never played five sets before, it’s almost impossible to see a way back for him from here. Cobolli leads 6-1, 7-6 (6).
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De Minaur, always up for an attritional battle, just like his mentor Lleyton Hewitt, has charged back to win the second set 6-2 against Cazaux. So it’s one set apiece. And Pinnington Jones and Cobolli are into a second-set tie-break, with PJ pegged back from 3-0 to 3-3 as they change ends …
Navarro beats Kudermetova 6-1, 6-2
Navarro has a second chance to serve out the match at 6-1, 5-2 and become today’s first player to put a W by their name. This time, last year’s quarter-finalist maintains her focus, easing to 40-0 and three match points. Kudermetova nets and Navarro takes out the former top-10er, with an assured and accomplished performance. Given all the seeds who’ve tumbled out, it’s a shame the world No 10 could face the defending champion Barbora Krejcikova next … though given Krejcikova’s injury problems, I’d make Navarro the favourite for that. The American has found real consistency over the past year, reaching the US Open semi-finals and Australian Open quarter-finals, and although she may not be the must talked-about Emma at Wimbledon, she could go deep here.
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Pinnington Jones takes a leaf out of Kudermetova’s book by breaking Cobolli when the Italian is serving for the second set. It’s back on serve, with PJ trailing 6-1, 5-4.
Let’s get back to Court No 3, where Navarro, the American 10th seed, is serving for the match against Kudermetova, leading 6-1, 5-0. The Russian offers some late resistance, getting to 15-40, but concedes her two break points with two meek shots into the net, which take her unforced error count to 30. Deuce. Advantage Kudermetova, a third break point. And Navarro’s forehand is out! It may only be a brief reprieve, but at least Kudermetova has avoided the bagel.
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And no sooner than PJ nearly breaks, the Brit is broken himself, to 15. There’s a collective sigh on Court 18, though the small Italian contingent cheer loudly. Cobolli is 6-1, 4-2 ahead.
What of Pinnington Jones, you say? Well he’s finally found a way to live with Cobolli and has a break point at 30-40, 2-2 in the second set. But his shot selection is all wrong on the break point as he goes for a low-percentage backhand down the line, when hitting cross-court would have been smarter. Cobolli punishes him with two quick points to hold. And the Italian 22nd seed leads 6-1, 3-2.
The scattered seeds so far:
Gauff (2), Pegula (3), Paolini (4) Zheng (5), Badosa (9), Shnaider (12), Muchova (15), Ostapenko (20), Haddad Maia (21), Vekic (22), Frech (25), Kostyuk (26), Linette (27), Fernandez (29), Kessler (32).
Zverev (3), Musetti (7), Rune (8), Medvedev (9), Tiafoe (12), Cerundolo (16), Humbert (18), Popyrin (20), Lehecka (23), Tsitsipas (24), Shapovalov (27), Bublik (28), Michelsen (30), Griekspoor (31), Berrettini (32).
Having already lost 31 seeds, De Minaur, the 11th seed, is two points from conceding the first set against Cazaux. The Australian miscues with a backhand and it’s 0-40, three set points. A long rally plays out … De Minaur scurries forward to put away the short ball … but misses! What a horribly error-strewn game. The French qualifier leads 6-4 and we could be witnessing another uprising from the depths of the Wimbledon draw.
Navarro emulates Cobolli, taking the first set 6-1. And Mensik is serving for the opening set against Giron, leading 5-4. Mensik, the 19-year-old rising Czech, has generated much chatter this season as the youngest player in the world’s top 20 and is a possible fourth-round opponent for Jack Draper. The 15th seed seals the set with an ace.
De Minaur gives Cazaux a, erm, cadeaux, as the Australian drops serve to 30 in an error-strewn sixth game. Having watched his fiance Katie Boulter lose in the second round yesterday, the 11th seed will be hoping it’s not contagious. And he does recover quickly, breaking back immediately, when Cazaux’s forehand fails. It’s 4-3 Cazaux, make that 4-4 as De Minaur holds with the new balls.
Set point Cobolli at 30-40 on PJ’s serve, and they’ve only been going 22 minutes. Cobolli nails a backhand down the line and that’s that. But it’s Cobolli’s forehand that’s caused the most damage so far, with PJ simply unable to read it. Cobolli leads 6-1. Court 18 was the scene of that Isner-Mahut marathon 15 years ago, but this could be over in double quick time, unless PJ is able to steady himself.
The grass is already turning into quicksand for Pinnington Jones, who falls a double break down and will soon have to serve to stay in the first set, trailing 5-1. Navarro’s charge, meanwhile, has been checked by Kudermetova after a game of deuces, with the American serving at 3-1, while De Minaur is 2-2 against Cazaux.
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If you’re wondering who Pinnington Jones is, he’s another British product of the US college tennis system, and he only left Texas Christian University (also Cameron Norrie’s alma mater) in May after ditching his last year of studies to turn pro. The 22-year-old wildcard beat world No 53 Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the opening round to claim his first grand slam match win and has described today’s meeting with the 23-year-old Cobolli, who’s part of the Italian renaissance in tennis, as the “biggest match of my life”. PJ is also good friends with Jack Draper, having trained together as youngsters.
Navarro isn’t messing around. Twelve minutes in, the 10th seed leads 3-0, and has hit only once unforced error.
Pinnington Jones, looking like the 2002 champ Lleyton Hewitt with his backwards cap and diminutive frame, has begun his match too, but it’s been an inauspicious start. The Brit is broken in the opening game, to 30, after three successive errors: on the forehand, the backhand and then a double fault. Cobolli consolidates the break and it’s 2-0.
Tik, tok, tikity, tok, the players are warming up, but Navarro is in a hurry, she’s already under way on No 3 Court and looks set to hold in the opening game, before being hauled to deuce. But Navarro, who ended the Wimbledon career of the 2011 and 2014 champion Petra Kvitova in the first round, holds when Kudermetova clunks her shot into the net.
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Do remember: you can get in touch with any predictions or general musings here. Let’s talk!
The clock has struck 11, so the players’ first challenge of the day is to battle through the crowds to get to the outside courts. Which is no easy task. Among the early starters: 11th seed Alex de Minaur v France’s Arthur Cazaux, 10th seed Emma Navarro v Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova, Britain’s Jack Pinnington Jones v the Italian 22nd seed Flavio Cobolli and 19-year-old shooting star Jakub Mensik v the American Marcos Giron.
And some pre-play viewing:
I posted this yesterday too, but it’s fun to watch again. If only the powers that be could construct a chain-reaction machine on Centre Court each day to get play under way …
Some pre-play reading:
Weather watch. Yesterday’s rain has done one, so play will get under way on time. The Wimbledon sauna of the first two days has also definitively departed, with a much-more-bearable high of about 25C forecast today.
Today's order of play
Centre Court (1.30pm UK time)
Daniel Evans (GB) v (6) Novak Djokovic (Ser)
(8) Iga Swiatek (Pol) v Catherine McNally (US)
(1) Jannik Sinner (Ita) v Aleksandar Vukic (Aus)
No 1 Court (1pm)
(7) Mirra Andreeva (Rus) v Lucia Bronzetti (Ita)
Maria Sakkari (Gre) v (11) Elena Rybakina (Kaz)
(4) Jack Draper (GB) v Marin Cilic (Cro)
No 2 Court (11am)
(11) Alex De Minaur (Aus) v Arthur Cazaux (Fra)
(17) Barbora Krejcikova (Cze) v Caroline Dolehide (US)
(28) Sofia Kenin (US) v Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (Spa)
(10) Ben Shelton (US) v Rinky Hijikata (Aus)
No 3 Court (11am)
Veronika Kudermetova (Rus) v (10) Emma Navarro (US)
(19) Grigor Dimitrov (Bul) v Corentin Moutet (Fra)
Sebastian Ofner (Aut) v (13) Tommy Paul (US)
(16) Daria Kasatkina (Aus) v Irina-Camelia Begu (Rom)
Court 12 (11am)
Marcos Giron (US) v (15) Jakub Mensik (Cze)
August Holmgren (Den) v (21) Tomas Machac (Cze)
(23) Clara Tauson (Den) v Anna Kalinskaya (Rus)
Court 18 (11am)
(22) Flavio Cobolli (Ita) v Jack Pinnington Jones (GB)
Suzan Lamens (Ned) v (18) Ekaterina Alexandrova (Rus)
Yuliia Starodubtseva (Ukr) v (19) Ludmilla Samsonova (Rus)
Marton Fucsovics (Hun) v Gael Monfils (Fra)
Court 4 (11am)
Alexander Erler (Aut) & Constantin Frantzen (Ger) v Jenson Brooksby (US) & Adam Walton (Aus)
Quinn Gleason (US) & Ingrid Martins (Bra) v Alexandra Eala (Phi) & Eva Lys (Ger)
(11) Sadio Doumbia (Fra) & Fabien Reboul (Fra) v Zizou Bergs (Bel) & Gabriel Diallo (Can)
Emily Appleton (GB) & Heather Watson (GB) v (5) Mirra Andreeva (Rus) & Diana Shnaider (Rus)
Court 5 (11am)
Yi Fan Xu (Chn) & Zhaoxuan Yang (Chn) v (7) Lyudmyla Kichenok (Ukr) & Ellen Perez (Aus)
(10) Timea Babos (Hun) & Luisa Stefani (Bra) v Jaqueline Cristian (Rom) & Magali Kempen (Rom)
(13) Nathaniel Lammons (US) & Jack Withrow (US) v Pierre-Hugues Herbert (Fra) & Jordan Thompson (Aus)
Billy Harris (GB) & Marcus Willis (GB) v Alexander Bublik (Kaz) & Flavio Cobolli (Ita)
Court 6 (11am)
Maria Camila Osorio Serrano (Col) & Alycia Parks (US) v Alicia Barnett (GB) & Eden Silva (GB)
Guido Andreozzi (Arg) & Marcelo Demoliner (Bra) v (9) Christian Harrison (US) & Evan King (US)
(10) Hugo Nys (Mon) & Edouard Roger-Vasselin (Fra) v Benjamin Bonzi (Fra) & Gregoire Jacq (Fra)
Victoria Azarenka (Blr) & Ashlyn Krueger (US) v Greet Minnen (Bel) & Monica Niculescu (Rom)
Court 7 (11am)
Aleksandar Kovacevic (US) & Learner Tien (US) v N.Sriram Balaji (Ind) & Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela (Mex)
Marie Bouzkova (Cze) & Anna Danilina (Kaz) v Katarzyna Piter (Pol) & Mayar Sherif (Egy)
Matthew Romios (Aus) & Ryan Seggerman (US) v Luciano Darderi (Ita) & Diego Hidalgo (Ecu)
Miriam Skoch (Cze) & Marketa Vondrousova (Cze) v Polina Kudermetova (Rus) & Zeynep Sonmez (Tur)
Court 8 (11am)
Petr Nouza (Cze) & Patrik Rikl (Cze) v (15) Matthew Ebden (Aus) & John Peers (Aus)
(4) Su-Wei Hsieh (Tpe) & Jelena Ostapenko (Lat) v Oksana Kalashnikova (Geo) & Elena Pridankina (Rus)
Cristina Bucsa (Spa) & Miyu Kato (Jpn) v (3) Sara Errani (Ita) & Jasmine Paolini (Ita)
Lui Maxted (GB) & Connor Thomson (GB) v (8) Nikola Mektic (Cro) & Michael Venus (Nzl)
Court 9 (11am)
Yunchaokete Bu (Chn) & Ray Ho (Tpe) v (4) Marcel Granollers (Spa) & Horacio Zeballos (Arg)
Shuko Aoyama (Jpn) & Ena Shibahara (Jpn) v Magda Linette (Pol) & Bernarda Pera (US)
(9) Tereza Mihalikova (Svk) & Olivia Nicholls (GB) v Kamilla Rakhimova (Rus) & Anna Siskova (Cze)
Lucia Bronzetti (Ita) & Ann Li (US) v Olivia Gadecki (Aus) & Desirae Krawczyk (US)
Court 10 (11am)
Ajla Tomljanovic (Aus) & Viktoriya Tomova (Bul) v Eri Hozumi (Jpn) & Aldila Sutjiadi (Ina)
Ella McDonald (GB) & Mingge Xu (GB) v Linda Noskova (Cze) & Rebecca Sramkova (Svk)
(8) Veronika Kudermetova (Rus) & Elise Mertens (Bel) v Hannah Klugman (GB) & Mika Stojsavljevic (GB)
Adam Pavlasek (Cze) & Jan Zielinski (Pol) v Santiago Gonzalez (Mex) & Austin Krajicek (US)
Court 11 (11am)
(6) Asia Muhammad (US) & Demi Schuurs (Ned) v Leylah Fernandez (Can) & Lulu Sun (Nzl)
Hanyu Guo (Chn) & Alexandra Panova (Rus) v Giuliana Olmos (Mex) & Renata Zarazua (Mex)
Robert Cash (US) & JJ Tracy (US) v Sander Arends (Ned) & Arthur Rinderknech (Fra)
Robin Haase (Ned) & Jean-Julien Rojer (Ned) v Nuno Borges (Por) & Marcos Giron (US)
Court 14 (11am)
Francisco Cabral (Por) & Lucas Miedler (Aut) v Jamie Murray (GB) & Rajeev Ram (US)
Fabian Marozsan (Hun) v Jaume Munar (Spa)
Anastasia Zakharova (Rus) v Dayana Yastremska (Ukr)
Johannus Monday (GB) & David Stevenson (GB) v Mattia Bellucci (Ita) & Fabian Marozsan (Hun)
Court 15 (11am)
Miomir Kecmanovic (Ser) v Jesper De Jong (Ned)
Hailey Baptiste (US) v Victoria Mboko (Can)
Pedro Martinez (Spa) v Mariano Navone (Arg)
(1) Katerina Siniakova (Cze) & Taylor Townsend (US) v Anna Bondar (Hun) & Moyuka Uchijima (Jpn)
Court 16 (11am)
(5) Julian Cash (GB) & Lloyd Glasspool (GB) v Vasil Kirkov (US) & Bart Stevens (Ned)
Katie Volynets (US) v Elisabetta Cocciaretto (Ita)
Danielle Collins (US) v Veronika Erjavec (Slo)
(29) Brandon Nakashima (US) v Reilly Opelka (US)
Court 17 (11am)
Xin Yu Wang (Chn) v Zeynep Sonmez (Tur)
Elsa Jacquemot (Fra) v Belinda Bencic (Swi)
(6) Joe Salisbury (GB) & Neal Skupski (GB) v Charles Broom (GB) & Joshua Paris (GB)
Lorenzo Sonego (Ita) v Nikoloz Basilashvili (Geo)
Preamble
Hello and a warm welcome to our coverage of Wimbledon day four. Which almost feels as if it’s day eight given we’ve lost nearly half the seeds already – 16 on the women’s side and 15 on the men’s, to be exact – including four of the top five women, which has happened only once before at a grand slam in the open era. The courts may still be looking fairly pristine, but it’s really been messy out there. And the second round isn’t even over yet.
Among the names attempting to avoid the contagion today are the leader of the British pack Jack Draper; world No 1 Jannik Sinner; our seven-times champion Novak Djokovic, who head-scratchingly has a losing record against Dan Evans going into his match against the rejuvenated Brit; defending champion Barbora Krejcikova; 2022 winner Elena Rybakina; Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva and towel-snaffling Iga Swiatek. Maybe she’s keen to take as many mementos as she can before the seed-itis strikes.
Alex de Minaur is also in action, along with the hugely talented teen Jakub Mensik and the old-timers Grigor Dimitrov and Gael Monfils, who at 38 is twice the age of Mensik, while Draper and Evans are joined by the most British sounding of British tennis players Jack Pinnington Jones, plus Arthur Fery, who resumes two sets down against Italy’s Luciano Darderi.
And it’s as if the fourth of July has come a day early, with Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, Emma Navarro, Sofia Kenin, Danielle Collins and the best name in tennis Katie Volynets among the 12 Americans in singles action. And all of this after the fifth seed Taylor Fritz dragged himself through a second successive five-setter last night to reach the third round. At least that’s one leading name who’s still (just about) standing.
Play gets going at: 11am UK time on the outside courts, 1pm on No 1 Court and 1.30pm on Centre Court.
