Tuesday's headlines
And breathe. It’s been a relentless, action-packed day here at Wimbledon, with big names crashing out and British hopefuls wowing the crowds. We’ll do it all again tomorrow, when thankfully it won’t be as hot. Thanks for joining me. Goodnight!
Coco Gauff crashes out in loss to Dayana Yastremska
Jack Pinnington Jones leads historic British charge
Jack Draper eases past Báez to set up Cilic clash
Ice in short supply as SW19 temperatures reach 34C
Putintseva raises concern over ‘dangerous’ spectator
Krejcikova fights back to prolong her title defence
Mpetshi Perricard breaks serve record … but loses
Zverev, Pegula, Zheng all make first-round exits
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Key event
Here’s Barney Ronay on Jack Draper’s emergence as Britain’s new hope at Wimbledon.
Here’s Novak Djokovic: “It’s great to finish before the curfew, I want to thank everyone for staying this late. It was an amazing atmosphere, I hope you enjoyed it. I never take stepping out on this court for granted. I always enjoy it, maybe not in the second set!
“I went from feeling at my absolute best, to my absolute worst for 45 minutes,” he adds. “Maybe a stomach bug, I’m not sure, but I took some ‘doctor’s miracle pills’ and got some more energy. I knew something was off with the stomach, but I never thought about quitting. Credit to Alex for the battle.
“I think I served very well today and saved break points in the fourth set. Lots of positives to take into the next round. Do I think I can win? I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I had a chance,” he concludes, to huge applause. “It’s just the beginning, many great players in the draw, and a Brit [Dan Evans] next, that’s going to be a tough one.
Novak Djokovic beats Alexandre Muller 6-1, 6-7, 6-2, 6-2
This was a battle few expected when Djokovic breezed through the first set, but he had to overcome a gritty opponent and apparent medical issues before finally finding that extra gear. With the curfew 30 minutes away, he blazes through his final service game. That’s 20 first-round wins out of 20 here; next up, he’ll face Dan Evans.
Fourth set: Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-6, 2-4 Djokovic Can Muller get another game on the board? He’s deserved more than four games over these last two sets – but might not get them, Djokovic winning a slice rally on his way to 30-0 up. This time, there’s no fightback – and Djokovic will serve for the match after three hours and 15 minutes.
Fourth set: Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-6, 2-4 Djokovic No real sniff of a chance for Muller here, Djokovic winning a punchy final rally and holding to 15. Those stomach problems seem a distant memory.
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Fourth set: Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-6, 2-3 Djokovic Muller has saved some of his best shots for this fourth set, another muscular winner down the line edging him ahead. He misjudges a Djokovic return, though, letting it bounce in. Break point – saved with a delicate drop shot into play as Djokovic slips. Deuce, and Muller holds when his opponent goes wide.
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That break and hold is good news for the Djokovic children, now looking a bit tired and fidgety up in the players’ box. Their dad has won eight of nine games since the medical timeout, and could finish things very soon.
Fourth set: Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-5, 1-3 Djokovic Muller lashes a return winner on second serve at 30-0 down, though, and Djokovic gets his footwork wrong on the next point. A clubbed return earns break point, but two straight aces turn things around – only for Muller to pummel another clean winner down the line. He’s refusing to go away, but Djokovic is able to find the first serves he needs to cement his lead.
Fourth set: Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-6, 1-2 Djokovic A backhand volley winner from Djokovic, followed up by two unforced errors – and now Muller is in deep trouble. Three break points, but the Frenchman saves the lot. Has Djokovic ever passed up so many break opportunities in one match? He gets another with a powerful return – his 25th of the match – and this time, Muller nets, his resistance maybe finally at an end.
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Fourth set: Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-6, 1-1 Djokovic Muller has his first break point, a fierce return catching Djokovic off guard – but it’s rescued by an ace out wide that catches the line. He earns another at deuce but misses his chance, netting a forehand. Another decent chance at a winner goes begging, a cross-court shot flying wide, and Djokovic holds on.
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Fourth set: Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-6, 1-0 Djokovic Muller has to hold here to stop Djokovic running away with it. He starts off well, an overhead smash taking him to 30-0, but a couple of cheap errors let his opponent in. Muller wins the next rally, and holds as Djokovic nets a backhand.
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Muller has taken this match close to the three-hour mark, and even won a set, without ever earning a break point. Djokovic has had 21, converting just five.
Djokovic wins the third set 6-2, leads Muller 2-1: Djokovic races through his next service game, and he’s one set away. We’ve got about 70 minutes until the 11pm (BST) curfew – plenty of time for him to wrap this up, barring another Muller fightback.
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Here’s more on Jack Pinnington Jones’ big win earlier, part of a historic run of form for British players here.
Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-5 Djokovic Muller sees off another break point, but Djokovic converts the next, hitting the ball on the rise and finding the baseline. He’ll serve for the third set, and is slowly, painfully getting the job done.
Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-4 Djokovic A comfortable (in the circumstances) hold for Djokovic after Muller calls for the trainer to assess a tight hamstring.
Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-3 Djokovic He could scarcely look less comfortable on the baseline, but Djokovic edges a rally to earn a first break point in this set. Muller saves it with a lovely, deft slice volley at the net. Another break point chance, second serve … and this time, a double fault ends Muller’s near-two-hour resistance.
Djokovic is still puffing out his cheeks and mopping his brow, but his first serve stays rock solid and he holds to 15. Two sets all, one set all, 90 minutes until curfew.
Medical timeout: “I asked for the doctor,” Djokovic complains, only to find the doctor is right next to him. A medical timeout is then called, with Djokovic being given plenty of fluids before playing on.
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Djokovic is also looking in some discomfort during breaks, holding his stomach and trying to take deeper breaths. Then at 15-0, he prevails in an exhibition rally, pinging net cords and putting the pressure back on his opponent. Muller sees it off, holding as Djokovic nets a gettable backhand – and is now chatting to the physio.
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Whatever else has happened today – and there’s been plenty – Djokovic going home would surely trump the lot, particularly after he breezed through the first set. Now, he’s having to work harder than his opponent on serve, digging it out from deuce to level the third set with Muller at 1-1.
On Coco Gauff: her opponent was a difficult first-round draw, and played close to her best – but that was still a dispiriting defeat for a player who has just won at Roland Garros, and was seen by many as the pre-tournament favourite.
Her serve in particular went completely awry; maybe the late change of court played a part. Whatever the reason, she joins Jessica Pegula and Qinwen Zheng in going home today – that’s three of the top five seeds out in the first round.
Gael Monfils is through, beating Ugo Humbert in a five-set marathon on Court 12. In another five-setter, Marton Fucsovics has prevailed over Alex Kovacevic. All of which means that the last match in play is the one on Centre Court.
Yastremska starts by saying this court holds a lot of emotions for her; she played a junior final here before. “I was really on fire today,” she adds, pointing to flames painted on her nails. “She [Gauff] is a great player, we are good friends,” she adds, thanking the crowd for their support and her team for their “support and tough love”.
The Ukrainian, who lost the Nottingham final to McCartney Kessler, says “maybe now me and the grass can be friends. It’s a pleasure being here.” And off she goes, having announced herself as a potential major player in this tournament.
Dayana Yastremska defeats Coco Gauff 7-6 (3), 6-1!
A looping return catches the baseline and Gauff can’t retrieve it. It’s all over! In just under 80 minutes, Dayana Yastremska has sent one of the tournament favourites tumbling out.
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Yastremska powers through her next service game, and Gauff will serve to stay in the match. She starts in worrying fashion, a ninth double fault of the match, and despite a brief fightback, Yastremska has a match point at 30-40 …
The roof is now closing on Centre Court as the number of active matches keeps dwindling. Gael Monfils is a break up on Ugo Humbert in the fifth set, while Marton Fucsovics is serving for the match against Aleksandar Kovacevic.
The 29th seed, Brandon Nakashima, is 2-1 in sets up on China’s Bu Yunchaeokete, but that one has been suspended due to the light. And in the women’s draw, France’s Elsa Jacquemot has defeated the seeded Magda Linette in three sets!
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Gauff really unravelling now, slipping on the surface and looking totally despondent as her first serve deserts her – and Yastremska, who has played brilliantly, goes a double break up in the second set.
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Muller levels at one set all! Alexandre Muller has been under constant pressure in this set, but he hung on for so long, he ended up winning it. And in some style, a ripping cross-court backhand that only Djokovic could get back into play – but Muller races in to put away the winner regardless. Woof!
Gauff is struggling with her serve, but holds on as Yastremska moves 2-1 up in the second set. Meanwhile, Muller has seen off two set points – and now has one of his own after a big serve and clinical volley.
Djokovic edges 4-2 up at the change of ends, then gets the better of the next rally to move three points clear. Muller just won’t go away, though, rattling off three points in a row to tie it up – but looping a forehand wide to hand Djokovic a set point on serve.
Yastremska spent the break between sets stretching in front of her chair, but there are no ill effects as she immediately breaks Gauff again, the American offering up a badly judged drop shot that plops into the net.
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Muller is serving to force a tie break; at risk of forgoing impartiality, I’d like to see him get there. He’s taken to the challenge in front of him, which is an insanely hard tennis match, and he holds to 15. A breaker it is, Muller having seen off 11 break points in that set.
Yastremska wins the first set 7-6 (3)! The Ukrainian gets it done on the Gauff serve, putting away a close-range volley and managing to avoid crossing the net. The No 2 seed is in real trouble now – can she turn it around?
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Yastremska gets the first mini-break to lead 3-1, but Gauff hits back with a precise return to get back on serve – only to slip 4-2 down at the changeover. The Ukrainian gets 5-2 up on serve, the set in her palm again, only for Gauff to pull a point back with a daring lob on the run.
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Serving to stay in the set, Muller fights off two more break points – Djokovic now a rare 0/11 in this set. Got to admire the hustle from Muller, but he then nets at game point. No matter, an increasingly irritable Djokovic goes long, and we’re still on serve.
Gauff and Yastremska go to a first-set tie-break, while elsewhere, Victoria Azarenka is out, beaten 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 in a topsy-turvy encounter with Anastasia Zakharova.
Jack Pinnington Jones beats Tomas Etcheverry 7-6, 6-3, 7-5
Etcheverry had looked in total control of the third set at 5-2 up – but Pinnington Jones reels off five games in a row, and advances in straight sets! The world No 281, making his grand slam debut, has his first grand slam win.
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Muller keeps battling, but Djokovic earns another break point as Muller is forced into a tweener that flies wide. The Frenchman again fights back, an ace saving a fifth break point this set and a sixth chance also going begging for Djokovic. Seventh time lucky? No, Djokovic nets and this game rolls past the eight-minute mark. Muller finally holds, and it’s 4-4 in the second.
Yastremska gets to set point against Gauff but double-faults, handing her opponent new impetus. A cross-court winner brings up a break point, and another double means we’re back on serve. Ouch – that could be hard for Yastremska to get over.
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On No 1 Court, Yastremska backs up the break with another clean winner down the line, and Gauff will serve to save the first set. Muller wriggles out of his service game, and Djokovic promptly holds to love, edging 4-3 up in the second set.
Yastremska breaks Gauff to lead 4-2 in the first set, floating a lovely winner down the line to do so. Gauff is yet to hit a winner and is now in a spot of early bother. On Centre, Djokovic leads 3-2 and has Muller sweating again at deuce.
Here’s Tumaini Carayol on Jack Draper’s first step on the long road to competing for a Wimbledon title.
Elsa Jacquemot might have been the star of this year’s French Open – she lost in three sets to Lois Boisson, who went on to reach the semi-finals and steal Parisian hearts. Boisson didn’t get through the qualifiers here, but Jacquemot has taken Magda Linette, the No 27 seed, to a third set on Court 11.
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Elena Rybakina beats Elina Avanesyan 6-2, 6-1. It takes one minute over an hour for the 2022 champion to move into the second round. Meanwhile, Azarenka has levelled up against Zakharova, winning the second set 6-2.
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Muller has to fight tooth-and-nail to get a game on the board but he fends Djokovic off for now, and it’s on serve at 2-1 to the Serb in the second set. Over on No 1 Court, Yastremska and Gauff are locked at 2-2.
Wednesday’s order of play is out for Centre and No 1 Courts, with British hopes well represented. Emma Raducanu, Cam Norrie, Katie Boulter and Oliver Tarvet all get a show-court slot.
Centre Court (1.30pm BST start)
A Sabalenka (1) v M Bouzkova (Cz)
O Tarvet (GB) v C Alcaraz (Sp, 2)
E Raducanu (GB) v M Vondrousova (Cz)
No 1 Court (1pm BST start)
C Norrie (GB) v F Tiafoe (US, 12)
K Boulter (GB) v S Sierra (Arg)
T Fritz (US, 5) v G Diallo (Can)
Other courts to follow here
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard may have lost to Taylor Fritz, but the Frenchman hit the fastest serve in Wimbledon history, clocked at 153mph.
Elena Rybakina’s jaunt to Court 14 may be a short one – the former champ is leading Elina Avanesyan 6-2, 3-1. Etcheverry is fighting back against Pinnington-Jones, 3-1 up in the third. If he holds on to win that set, we might not see a finish tonight.
Djokovic wins the first set 6-1! It’s been an uncompromising start from Djokovic, throwing in a third break of serve to remind Muller who’s boss. This match will play to a finish, as will Gauff’s on No 1 Court – providing they don’t go past the 11pm curfew.
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Coco Gauff is out warming up under the roof on No 1 Court. Her opponent, Dayana Yastremska, is ranked 42nd in the world; the Ukrainian’s best grand slam run came at the 2024 Australian Open, where she reached the semis as a qualifier. Gauff has won their three previous meetings.
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As the sun dips over the lake, what else is happening around the grounds? Ugo Humbert has taken a 2-1 lead over Gael Monfils; Victoria Azarenka is in trouble against Anastasia Zakharova on Court 8, trailing by a set but breaking in the second; Sofia Kenin is closing in on victory over compatriot Taylor Towsend; Belinda Bencic has just defeated Alycia Parks 6-0, 6-3; and Rybakina has raced to win the first set 6-2 against Avenesyan.
Djokovic breaks again to lead 4-1, and the seven-time champ is looking in decent nick. The commentators have just declared this event his last chance to win another slam, which seems an outrageously premature thing to say.
Ben Shelton beats Alex Bolt 6-4, 7-6, 7-6: He had to fight for it, but Shelton advances in three sets, prevailing in two tie-breakers against his Aussie opponent. Grigor Dimitrov has also got the job done in three sets against Yoshihito Nishioka.
Out on Court 17, Jack Pinnington Jones is two sets up on Etcheverry, a famous upset within his grasp. Pinnington Jones has come through the US college system at TCU, where Cam Norrie and Jacob Fearnley also cut their teeth. He used to flat-share with Fearnley, and get lifts to training with Draper. Today could be his time to shine.
Djokovic doesn’t take long to make the breakthrough, cracking the Muller serve in the third game and backing up to lead 3-1 in the first set.
Draper’s early finish means that Coco Gauff’s match against Dayana Yastremska has been moved to No 1 Court. An entirely sensible decision, although I hope they’ll let this guy – who flew over just to watch Gauff on Centre – is allowed to switch venues.
Novak Djokovic is under way against Alexandre Muller. He has never lost his opening match in 19 previous trips to SW19; Muller starts with a hold, fending off break points.
Here’s Jack Draper: “I wanted to play a bit longer, in all honesty. I didn’t want to win like that, and I wish Sebastian all the best.” How does he feel about the pressure? “I don’t think about until people mention it! I just try to play the best tennis that I can. I’m really looking forward to this next week or so.”
Does he look ahead at the draw? “I’ve got to think about the next match ahead of me, everyone in this draw can play incredible tennis. They can all cause an upset.” That’s certainly true of his next opponent, Marin Cilic.
Jack Draper beats Sebastian Baez 6-2, 6-2, 2-1 (ret)
Draper breaks in the third game of the third set and Baez, who has been struggling with his movement, tells his opponent he’s calling it a day. It’s tough for him, and he looks upset as he leaves the court – but for Draper, it’s job done after 74 minutes.
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British wildcard Jack Pinnington-Jones has a tough first-round assignment against Tomas Etcheverry – but he’s taken the first set in a tie-break on Court 17. A few metres away, crowds on Court 14 are getting to watch a Wimbledon champion – Elena Rybakina’s match against Elena Avenesyan has been moved there from No 3 Court.
Draper wraps up the second set 6-2, and is looking good for a quick march into the second round. He hit 13 winners in that set – not that remarkable, until you consider that Baez hit zero.
“My legs are still shaking, I couldn’t do it any more,” says Rinderknech, who adds that he slept “about six hours” last night. Not bad in this weather, Arthur. “He’s been at the top for 10 years, it’s my first top-five win, in the biggest stadium in the world. I’m so happy to do it in front of my team, my family. They’re as exhausted as I am.”
Rinderknech beats Zverev 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4!
Another big name bites the dust, as Arthur Rinderknech eliminates the No 3 seed, Alexander Zverev, after a marathon battle across two days. After setting up three match points, he lets a couple slip away as nerves kick in – but he prevails in a nerve-jangling rally for what must be the biggest win of his career!
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Double break for Draper! At break-point down, Baez executes a cute diagonal drop shot but Draper just eats it up, fizzing away a forehand winner. He leads 6-2, 4-1. Now to see if Rinderknech can serve out against Zverev …
Rinderknech holds serve and is one game away; Zverev will make him serve it out, pounding through a service game to make it 4-5 in the fifth. Ben Shelton has come through a second-set tie-break with Alex Bolt to lead 6-4, 7-6 (1).
Jakub Mensik beats Hugo Gaston, the Czech teenager getting it done in four sets. He could be a dangerous opponent for Draper later in the tournament; the Briton’s next opponent, should he see Baez off, will be Marin Cilic. The former US Open champ and Wimbledon finalist has eased past Belgium’s Raphael Collignon in straight sets.
Rinderknech is serving at 4-3 up, a 135mph ace helping him edge ahead. As for Jack Draper, he’s 3-1 up in the second and looking very good.
Draper breaks to open the second set! The British No 1 lets his forehand loose to earn a break point, and Baez goes wide of the lines. Draper leads by a set and a break. Over on Centre, Rinderknech has backed up the break to lead 3-1 in the decider.
Rinderknech breaks Zverev in fifth set: You might have expected Arthur Rinderknech to wobble at the start of this decider, but instead, he strikes first, breaking to go 2-1 up. Zverev now has to break the Frenchman to stay in the tournament – no mean feat.
Draper wins the first set 6-2. It’s taken just 26 minutes, a very impressive start – although Baez hasn’t played a single grass-court match in the buildup to Wimbledon.
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Elsewhere, Grigor Dimitrov leads Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2, 3-2; Ugo Humbert is 4-1 up in the second set, looking to level against Gaël Monfils; and Jakub Mensik has taken the third set against Hugo Gaston, the Czech teenager now leading 2-1.
Draper is making quick work of this opening set – a second break puts him 5-1 up, with Baez serving to stay in the set.
Jack Draper backs up the early break, and now leads Baez 3-1 on No 1 Court. Zverev taking the match on Centre to a fifth set means that Novak Djokovic’s match will start even later – and I’d be surprised if Coco Gauff will start at all, if she stays on Centre.
A second-serve ace from Zverev brings up set point, against serve – and a low cross-court return is too hot, Rinderknech’s response slapping into the net. Zverev offers from strong words of encouragement to his coaching box, and we’re going to a decider.
Rinderknech’s serve is still looking clinical and he takes a 4-2 edge into the first changeover – but Zverev’s not done yet, and gets it back to 5-4 down, on serve, as his opponent tightens up. As for Draper, he’s made the perfect start, leading 1-0 after breaking Baez in the opener; I didn’t see it because BBC One cut to the news.
Thanks, Daniel. Draper and Baez are out on No 1 Court, with the Argentinian serving first. As for Zverev, he has forced a tie-break, which he needs to win in order to stay in the hunt this year.
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Righto, my watch is over. here’s Niall McVeigh to croon you through to the close. Rinderknech has guaranteed himself a breaker in the fourth … but Zverev must now serve to stay in the match. It’s getting real on Centre!
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On Centre, we’re at the business end of set four, Rinderknech up 5-4. The way he’s serving, Zverev has a very significant problem.
There are easier first-round matches than Baez, but you’d assume Draper’s modal level takes care of him. If he’s to go deep here, he’ll probably have to beat Mensik in round four, then Djokovic in the last eight and Sinner in the last four; I’m not certain he’s ready for that quite yet, but similarly, i’m not certain he isn’t.
Next on No 1 Court: Jack Draper (4) v Sebastian Baez.
While all that was going on, Shelton, shocked into action by being broken, responds by peeling off three games in a row to take set one 6-4 before holding for 1-0 in the second; Rinderknech leads Zverev 2-1 4-3; Monfils leads Humber 4-3; Mensik leads Gaston 6-1 4-5; and Dimitrov leads Nishioka 3-0.
Navarro then congratulates her on a brilliant career, wishing her luck for the future and saying it was weird to be on the other side of the net having bombs served against you. She thinks she played well today, won’t bore us with a rundown, and off she goes.
Kvitova thanks the crowd for making a beautiful occasion, saying it means a lot to have another chance to play on Centre Court. She’s had her best experiences here and could never have imagined she’d be a two-time champ. She’ll miss Wimbledon, tennis and the crowd, but is ready for the next chapter of her life and can’t wait to return as a member.
She thanks all those who’ve helped her improve as a player and a person, citing her dad, in the crowd today, and her husband. Her mum is looking after her son, and she’s pretty keen on them too, thanking the former in Czech for all the sacrifices made on her behalf.
Otherwise, though, that’s it; well bloody done and mazal tov on a great career, champ; it’s been an honour to watch you.
Navarro stops to applaud Kvitova, who waves to the crowd, tears in her eyes, while, in comms, Martina has absolutely gone. As you might imagine, the work of a Czech Wimbledon champ means something to her – probably more so than to any other human on the planet. I can’t for a second imagine what’s going through her mind as she considers her own, very different, experience of the same.
Emma Navarro (10) beats Petra Kvitova 6-3 6-1
Next for her it’s Zhu or Kudermetova V, but this is now Kvitova’s moment. What a career!
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Navarro holds for 5-1 and the 2011 and 2014 champ will soon have hit her final ball at Wimbledon. On Centre, we’re 2-2 in the fourth, Rinderknech by two sets to one, and on no 2, Bolt breaks Shelton for 4-3 in set one.
Kvitova survives a couple of double-break points, but eventually Navarro, who’s playing nicely, makes 6-3 4-1 and this one is accelerating away from the two-time champ.
I should have said, by the way, that Dan Evans did indeed serve out, beating Jay Clarke 1, 5 and 2; next for him it’s Muller or Djokovic.
Machac is nearly there, leading Dzumhur 6-3 6-2 4-3 with a break; Starodubtseva now leads Jones 3-1 in the third; and Moutet leads Comesana 6-4 6-4 1-1.
Mirra Andreeva (7) beats Mayar Sherif 6-3, 6-3
Next for her it’s Bronzetti.
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Down advantage, Zverev powers an ace down the T, closes out, and now trails 2-1 1-1; Kvitova wins her forst game in eight to trail Navarro 3-6 1-2; Shelton and Bolt are 2-2 in the first; and De jong has beaten DEubanks.
De Jong and Eubanks are playing a fifth-set breaker, the former up 7-2, while Navarro is all over Kvitova now, leading 6-3 2-0. But what an ovation there’ll be at the end, and rightly so.
On No 3, Andreeva M is nearly there, up 6-3 5-2 against Sherif. She’s another whose game is elite but may lack the elite weapons which wins slams … but if you’re asking me and even if you’re not, my sense is she’ll get there, able to compensate for a lack of power with her tennis brain.
Zverev’s hands cost him again! He allows Rinderknech to come in and pass having laid a poor drop then, on set point, a net-cord takes a forehand long! Rinderknech leads buy two sets to one and the no 3 seed, who’s looked lethargic today, has work to do!
Meantime, on Centre, Navarro fights back from 0-30 down to hold for a 6-3 set. Those three straight doubles changed the flow of this match.
Serving to stay in the second set, Zverev doesn’t do enough with an overhead, allows Rinderknech deuce … then is passed on return! Naturally, he resolves the immediate danger with an ace while, on Centre, Navarro now leads Kvitova 5-3 in a topsy-turvy first set.
For those busting to know what I’m watching, as well as Zverev v Rinderknech and Kvitova v Navarro, I’ve just stuck on De Jong v Eubanks – one of the heroes of Wimbledon 2023 – as they’re 5-5 in the fifth, And I’ll also watch Shelton v Bolt, those two having just arrived on to No 2 Court.
Sakkari has beaten Blinkova 4 and 4, so faces Avanesyan next; Kvitova serves three straight doubles to hand Navarro break-back point, then dumps a forehand into the met. We’re back level at 3-3.
On Court 12, Evans is serving for the match against Clarke, leading 6-1 7-5 5-2; Andreeva leads Sherif 6-3 1-0; Kvitova leads Navarro 3-2; and Rinderknech leads Zverev 4-3 in the second, with a break.
Swiatek says she needed to focus on adjusting and she’s happy her game clicked in the second set. She’s also happy there was a bit of cloud coverage, before saying she improved in every game.
Otherwise, asked about her towel-snaffling antics, she advises that people at home like them and so does she, but if she plays another 15 years her house will be full of them.
Iga Swiatek (8) beats Polina Kudermetova 7-6 6-1
The shape of that match was not unfamiliar: close until it wasn’t. Next for Swiatek: Caty McNally.
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Come on Petra! She breaks Navarro immediately and a backhand swatted to break the sideline gives her 2-0 0-40; meantime, Swiatek breaks Kudermetova again, so is now serving for the matc h at 7-5 5-1.
Yeah, time’s up. Swiatek breaks Kudermetova to lead 3-1 in the second, while Rinderknech achieves the first break in two hours 17 minutes of play, and leads Zverev 1-1 2-1. Trouble for the no 3 seed, whose self-belief might just’ve been irreparably damaged by the hiding he took off Sinner in the Aussie Open final.
Jaume Munar beats Alexander Bublik (28) 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2
Munar continues the good form he showed at Queen’s, and faces Marozsan next.
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Munar is now serving for the match against Bublik, leading 5-2 in the fifth; Swiatek leads Kudermetova 7-5 2-1; Andreeva leads Sherif, who was 2-0 up, 5-3; Evans now leads Clarke 2-0 2-1, with a break; McNally has beaten Burrage 3 and 1; Collins leads Osorio 6-3 3-1; Machac leads Dzumhur 6-3 1-0; Jones leads Starodubtseva 6-1 2-2; and Moutet leads Comesana 6-4 3-0.
On Centre, Kvitova has come out for potentially the final time – the two-time champ will retire after the US open. Navarro is not a pleasant first-round draw, but after a year or two of improvements, she’s dropped off a little lately, thrashed by Bouzas Maneiro in the first round at Roland Garros before losing to Anisimova at Queen’s. She’s another hindered by the lack of a serious weapon, but should have enough here.
Immediately, Rinderknech raises break point, diddling Zverev with a drop, and though it’s soon saved, a similar shot then saves game point. From there, Zverev is again asked to respond when down advantage – he does – this time he serves out, sealing the deal with an ace down the T. He leads 1-1 1-0.
On Rinderknech, now knocking up with Zverev, Coach Calv messages with the following insight: “Good looking [redacted] with a massive serve. Meantime, a double on 30-all means Swiatek has set point … and Kudermetova sends a backhand into the net! How often do we see that, that being the better player hanging in there until the errors finally come?
Swiatek holds for 6-5, but can she find a way to break the Kudermetova serve?
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Obviously I’ll be watching those, along with Swiatek 5-5 Kudermetova; on my final screen, and especially as Evans has just taken a 2-0 lead over Clarke, I’m going for the final set of Bublik v Munar, Munar up 2-1 with a break.
Coming up next on No 1 Court: Petra Kvitova v Emma Navarro (10)
Coming up next on Centre Court: Arthur Rinderknech 7-6 6-7 Alexander Zverev (3)
Thanks Niall and hi again everyone. It don’t stop!
Iga Swiatek is being kept on serve by Kudermetova on No 2 Court, while Dan Evans has set points to go 2-0 up against Jay Clarke – and takes them! With that, I’ll hand back to Daniel …
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Alex Bublik is back in trouble against Jaime Munar – he’s lost the fourth set breaker and is now an early break down in the fifth. And another potential contender struggling is Mirra Andreeva, an early break down to Egypt’s Mayar Sherif.
Fritz beats Mpetshi Perricard 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-4!
On the first match point, a huge second serve is dinked back over the net, and the Frenchman sends a wild forehand wide. Fritz pounds his chest in delight, having come from two sets down – and 5-1 down in the fourth – to advance!
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A chance for Fritz to get the job done? He’s got a sniff at 0-30, 5-4 up in the delayed decider with Mpetshi Perricard – and digs out a return to claim three match points …
“I would like to start with giving credit to Alex, what the hell, how she plaed in the first set,” says Krejcikova. “She is going to come up and will be really good in a couple of years. Big credit to her.”
“I’ve been in a lot of pain with my back, and I’m super happy and excited that I could be here, on such a great court. I was really excited for today, counting every minute to the match. It was just very special, I’m really happy I can be here and experience this.”
Barbora Krejcikova beats Alexandra Eala 3-6, 6-2, 6-1!
A backhand winner down the line secures an impressive comeback win for the defending champion, who was on the ropes in the first set but turned things around in style.
33.4C – that’s the temperature recorded at the All-England Club about half an hour ago. No extreme heat rules are in force yet, as far as I’m aware.
Krejcikova looking to get the job done, 4-1 up and at 30-all on Eala’s serve. A wild mishit brings up break point and while Eala saves it, a neat cross-court winner earns Krejcikova another. Her opponent nets a forehand, and the defending champ will serve for the match.
Could Taylor Fritz join that club? His fifth set against Mpetshi Perricard is still on serve at 2-2, perhaps unsurprising given both players’ service power.
Zheng’s defeat means that three of the top 10 seeds have gone out in both the men’s and women’s draws. Jessica Pegula and Paula Badosa have gone out, along with Lorenzo Musetti, Holger Rune and Daniil Medvedev.
Eala is able to get on the board in this decider, holding for 3-1 down but still struggling with errors. Krejcikova, whose season has been disrupted by back and thigh injuries, is closing on a welcome win.
Katerina Siniakova beats Qinwen Zheng 7-5, 4-6, 6-1!
Another top-10 seed tumbles in the first round, losing in three sets to Siniakova, generally a doubles specialist but able to take out a big name in the singles draw here.
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Brit watch: Jay Clarke had struck back in the second set, breaking to lead 3-1, but Dan Evans has broken to get back on serve. On Court 16, George Loffhagen is two sets to one down against Pedro Martinez. Over on Court 18, Jodie Burrage faces Caty McNally, with the American leading the first set 4-2.
Xinyu Wang beats Karolina Muchova 7-5, 6-2: The No 15 seed is out, losing in straight sets – it’s her fourth straight defeat at SW19 after reaching the 2021 quarter-finals. Another seed going home early is Denis Shapovalov, beaten in four sets by Argentina’s Mariano Navone.
It’s not often that the patrons of No 2 Court get to watch a five-time grand slam champion – but that’s where Iga Swiatek is about to face Polina Kudermetova. Swiatek has never hit top gear at Wimbledon, having yet to reach the semi-finals. Maybe this year?
Neither player really enjoying themselves on Centre, but it’s Krejcikova who digs in and grinds out a break to lead Eala 2-0 in the deciding set.
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Next up on No 1 Court, it’s the conclusion of Taylor Fritz’s match with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The Frenchman led 2-0 but Fritz had fought back to level before play was suspended last night – so it’s a one-set shootout to advance.
Siniakova is a break up in the decider against Zheng, who has been below her best in an error-strewn performance. Muchova, meanwhile, is in all sorts of bother against Wang, trailing 4-1 in the third set.
Krejcikova levels at 1-1! Eala fought to keep the set alive but the defending champion gets over the line to win it 6-2, and will look to keep the pressure on in the decider.
Dan Evans has breezed to the first set against Jay Clarke, winning it 6-1. The prize/punishment for the winner of that one is a likely second-round meeting with Novak Djokovic.
Liudmila Samsonova defeats Maya Joint, the Eastbourne champion, 6-3, 6-2. A run of eight winning games from nine pretty much got the job done for the No 19 seed.
Nikoloz Basilashvili beats Lorenzo Musetti 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
The No 7 seed is a surprise early casualty as Basilashvili, a veteran who had to qualify this year, seals a four-set win out on No 2 Court.
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Jannik Sinner beats Luca Nardi 6-4, 6-3, 6-0
The first set was a tough battle but Sinner did what the big boys do, breaking late to win it and then running away with things. He faces Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic in the second round.
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Zheng Qinwen has levelled up against Siniakova, winning the second set 6-4. Another seed in trouble on Court 15 – and another China v Czechia contest – as Wang Xinyu leads Karolina Muchova by a set. Wang is the highest-ranked unseeded player in the draw, though, so it’s a tough opener for the No 15 seed.
Alexander Bublik is not enjoying the sweltering conditions on Court 14 (and frankly, who would), but he has eked out a 2-1 lead over Jaime Munar. Lorenzo Musetti, though, is 5-0 down in the fourth set against Basilashvili – after reaching the semis here last year, the No 7 is set for a disappointing early exit.
Krejcikova, not at full fitness and a set down on Centre, has struck back in style, forcing errors from Eala and breaking twice to race 4-0 up in the second set. The defending champ is far from done yet.
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Dan Evans leads Jay Clarke 3-1 in the all-Brit match-up on Court 12, while on Court 16, Martinez has levelled with Loffhagen and broken the Briton early in the third set.
Sinner is closing on the finish line, winning the second set 6-3 and breaking Nardi early in the third. Their compatriot, Lorenzo Musetti, is in big trouble on No 2 Court, 2-1 and a break down to Basilashvili.
Eala is one of the game’s brightest new stars, but she’s still very new to this level. If she can get it done, this would be her first ever grand slam singles win. Krejcikova, always a crafty and skilled opponent, makes experience count with a break of serve early in the second.
Alexandra Eala wins the first set! Krejcikova battled hard on serve to stay in the first set, but Eala has served it out, winning 6-3. The defending champion has her work cut out here.
Australia’s Maya Joint, who beat Eala in the Eastbourne final, is a set down to Liudmila Samsonova. On Court 14, a seed falls as Alex Michelsen (No 30) loses in five to Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic.
Here’s Sean Ingle’s verdict on the first day of Wimbledon.
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Botic van de Zandschulp has beaten Matteo Arnaldi in straight sets out on Court 12; next up over there, an all-British battle between Dan Evans and Jay Clarke. Alexander Bublik, a dark horse in the men’s draw, has levelled at a set all against Spain’s Jaime Munar.
Britain’s George Loffhagen, ranked 293rd in the world, has won the first set against Spain’s Pedro Martínez (ranked 52nd), but has slipped a break down in the second. Christopher Eubanks, a former quarter-finalist here, has levelled at 1-1 against Dutchman Jesper de Jong.
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Trouble for Qinwen Zheng on No.3 Court – she’s lost the first set to Katerina Siniakova, and is 2-1 down on serve in the second. As for Musetti, he’s levelled at 1-1 against Basilashvili, and we’re at 3-3 in the third.
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On Centre, Eala has broken to lead Krejcikova 4-2 – this could be a very tough battle for the defending champion, who is recovering from an injury.
Thanks, Daniel. How are we all doing? Hot enough for you, etc? Sinner is clicking through the gears now, breaking Nardi early to lead 2-0 in the second set.
Righto, I’m off for a little break, also known as a fever-sleep, but fear not: Niall McVeigh is here to chill with you for the next couple of hours. See you shortly.
A humdinger of a forehand gives Sinner 15-40 and two set points; Nardi saves the first, but then bangs a forehand wide and Sinner leads 6-4, his opponent served a strong dose of reality.
Katie Volynets beats Tatjana Maria 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1
Volynets was a rotten first-round draw for Maria, but we can remember her 2025 the joy she gave us in winning Queen’s. Next for Volynets: Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
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Nardi is giving Sinner plenty at 4-4 in the first, but can he hold it down now there’s a set within reach?
Eala holds against Krejcikova for 1-0, while Basilashvili, seeking to stay in the second set, forces Musetti to 30-all. From there, though, the Italian closes out to level the match, and I’d expect him to take charge of it from here: he’s seen his opponent’s best stuff and advised him it’s not going to be enough unless he can sustain it.
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Oh, and please forgive me, I know now what I do; please forgive me, I can’t stop loving you. Don’t deny me, this pain I’m going through. I forgot to note that Musetti has broken Basiashvili in the second and now trails 2-6 5-4.
On which point, Cazaux leads 6-3 7-6 4-5 – but Walton is now serving for set three. Elsewhere, Sinner leads Nardi 3-2 in the first, on serve; Kecmanovic leads Michelsen 2-1 in the fifth; De Jong leads Eubanks 6-3 3-4; Munar leads Bublik 6-4; Shapovalov leads Navone 6-3 2-2; and Volynets leads Maria 4-1 in the decider.
Alex de Minaur (11) beats Roberrto carballes Baena 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (2)
De Minaur – who, remember, was devo’d to withdraw injured from last year’s quarter-final meeting with Novak Djokovic – moves into round two. Next for him: Cazaux or Walton.
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This is the thing about Wimbledon: I’m not sure there’s a major sporting arena anywhere in the world that allows the crowd so close to the players and it’s amazing. Problem being, there’ll be some members of it who shouldn’t be allowed so close to anyone.
We’re only 10 minutes away from action on Centre Court. Our day there begins with Barbora Krejcikova, who faces Alexandra Eala, and even now it feels crazy that she’s a two-time grand slam champ. When she won in Paris, we might’ve said well, clay-courter, or well, women’s tennis is notoriously unpredictable, but now she has two majors, we should probably salute someone who knows how take advantage of an opportunity: to win the title, she beat Ostapenko, Rybakina and Paolini, all excellent in their own way, but as a quarter- semi and final, you’d take it.
Clara Tauson (23) beats Heather Watson 2-6 6-4 6-3
That’s her first-ever win at Wimbledon – remarkable, really. Next for her: Kalinskaya or Stojanovic.
Roberto Carballes Baena does not respect our plans. He breaks De Minaur to love and now trails 2-6 2-6 5-5.
Sinner holds for 1-0 against Nardi; at 3-5 0-40, Watson finds herself down three match points against Tauson…
On 18, De Minaur leads Carballes Baena 6-2 6-2 5-4 and will shortly serve for the match; if he converts, we’ll move to Michelsen v Kecmanovic who will, most likely, soon be playing a fifth set.
Sinner must be delighted to be in whites, given in Paris Nike had him dressed up as Luigi.
Meantime, Tauson pastes a forehand return cross-court for a winner, secures the break, and leads Watson 4-3 in the third.
Watson ploughs through her first taxing hold of set three to lead 3-2, while an inside-out forehand to the corner secures a 6-2 set for Basilashvili, who can’t play much better than he currently is. Thinking to do for Musetti.
We, though, will be moving to No 1 Court, where Jannik Sinner meets Luca Nardi. They should be out in five minutes or so.
Next on No3 Court: Katerina Siniakova v Qinwen Zheng (5).
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Paul says the score lies a bit as Monday was well in some of his service-games. But he played better as the match wore on, he loves playing on grass and, though he’s not played loads so doesn’t know where his level is, h e’s been practising hard.
Tommy Paul (13) beats Johannus Monday 6-4 6-4 6-2
An impressive start from Paul, who made the last eight last year. Next for him, it’s Ofner or Medjedovic.
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Tauson does indeed hold, but Watson now leads 2-1 in the third; Basilashvili has broken Muasetti a second time for 3-1 in the first; and paul, having broken Monday a second time in the third, now has three match points…
“There’s nothing worse than getting a cold in summer,” reckons Elle in Vienna. “My mother swears on a cup of ginger tea with a dash of cinnamon a day. Nasty stuff but at least you won’t get to taste as much? Drinking loads of water and remaining horizontal remain the best ways to treat a cold however.”
My mother-in-law also recommends ginger tea, which works is you’re congested, but is less efficacious if your problem is more the sense that your brain is full of pig sweat.
De Minaur now leads Carballes Baena 6-2 6-2 1-1 and, after an iffy period – in Paris, he lost to Bublik from 6-2 6-2 up, then at Queen’s he was beaten 4 and 2 by Lehecka – he’ll hope he’s back playing as he can. Otherwise, Paul us nearly home, up 6-4 6-4 3-2 – with a break – against Monday, who can’t get anywhere near breaking himself; Musetti, having burned two break points against Basilashvili, is then broken himself to 0-2; and Tauson saves break point at 0-1 in the third against Watson, but back at deuce, there’s work still to do.
Lemsip aside, anyone got any suggestions for alleviating cold symptoms? Hit me up please!
Tauson easily closes out set two to 15, so she and Watosn will now plays a decider, while Musetti and Basilashvili will soon be under way. The Italian, of course, reached the last four last term and did likewise at Roland Garros; the question is whether he’s the firepower to beat the very best. Everything else, though is in place – including the style points.
Watson makes Tauson serve for it, holding for 6-2 4-5; Lamens has beaten Jovic 1 and 1, so meets Hon or Aelxandrova next.
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On No 3, Paul has served out to lead Monday 6-4 6-4, while Tauson has broken Watson to trail 2-6 5-3. De Minaur, meanwhile, leads Carballes Baena 6-2 4-1; Michelsen and Kecmanovic are now level at 1-1 2-2; Cazaux leads Walton 6-3 4-4, Sonego leads Faria 6-3 6-4; Marozsan leads McCabe 6-1 6-4; and Maria leads Volynets 6-3 3-3.
Next on No 2 Court: Nikoloz Basilashvili v Lorenzo Musetti.
Oh man, Cocciaretto is smiling so widely you fear for her if the wind changes. “Hi everybody!” she begins, then pauses to luxuriate in the subsequent cheers. She was really excited to play today, having worked really hard, and beat a great champion who’s an example to so many. Against the best players, you have to play the best you can and take the little chances they give you. She tried to do the opposite of what she does usually, being aggressive and not thinking about winning or losing the point – remember what we said earlier about elite mentality? – and she was really pumped to play Wimbledon having missed it last year with illness. “The journey of tennis is long,” she says. “You have to adapt yourself, enjoy … too much philosophy, I’m sorry!”
Ah, that was lovely. The extent to which these people want it is moving, such that when they get it it can be hard for us to process emotions, never mind them.
Elisabetta Cocciaretto beats Jessica Pegula (3) 6-2, 6-3
A fantastic win for Cocciaretto, who won’t have often played better than she did just there. She served well, was aggressive off the ground, and now has the no 3 seed’s path through the draw. Next for her: Volynets or Maria.
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Cocciaretto endorses her break and, at 6-2 5-3, Pegula will now serve to stay in the match. What a shock this could be! And Cociarretto races to 0-4 and three match points!
“Rather than ensuring a full day’s play,” says John Burton of the staggered-start conundrum, “I always assumed it was to allow for a full luncheon for the royal poshbox invitees, as the preamble to their day’s entertainment.
Surely if matches finished earlier than expected, they could draft in a match that’s waiting to play on another court. That is something that has certainly happened in the past, as has the reverse towards the end of the tournament, with schedule deadlines approaching.”
You might be right, but they can’t take matches off non-show courts when they’ve sold tickets for them.
Paul has again broken Monday early in a set, to lead 6-4 3-1, while Cocciaretto has forced a break point at 6-2 3-3 against Pegula … and she’s not far off converting it, running in to flick a backhand marginally long. No matter: she soon forces another with a cunning drop, and this time Pegula nets a backhand. Cociarretto leads 6-2 4-3 and Pegula is in danger of exiting a slam in round one for the first time since the Roland Garros 2020.
i just nipped downstairs to grab a drink, returning to hear the commentator on Court 18 – where De Minaur leads Carballes Baena 6-2 – lamenting “sweaty underwear”. It’s not even midday.
Tauson breaks Watson to trail 2-6 1-0, while Monday secures a necessary hold, through deuce, at the start of set two against Paul, who leads 6-4 0-1.
Otherwise, in our non-feature matches, it is:
Lamens 6-1 1-0 Jovic
Faria 3-6 1-1 Sonego
Volynets 3-6 1-0 Maria
Kasatkina 5-3 Arango
Erjavec 3-6 Kostyuk
Hon 26 1-0 Alexandrova
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Paul has served out to take a 6-4 set against Monday, on whom we learn this from Calvin Betton, our resident coach. “As a kid he was a touch player with no power, but now he’s got these massive weapons, serve and ground, which he struggles to control. he doesn’t hit spots, he’s not always sure where the ball’s going. Very intense lad.”
It took him a while, but De Minaur has Carballes Baena’s number now, breaking him a second time to lead 5-2 in the first. Otherwise, Cazaux leads Walton 5-2, and I’m keen to se how he gets on here. At 22, it’s time for him to take a step up, if he’s going to take a step up, and we can be sure it won’t be confidence holding him back.
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Watson wins her fifth game in a row to take the first set off Tauson, the no 23 seed, 6-2. Her ability to produce her best work on these courts is remarkable.
A brilliant set (of tennis) from Cocciaretto! She serves out 15 and leads Pegula, the no 3 seed, 6-2. Thinking to do for the American, who’s been out-served and outplayed.
Kecmanovic did indeed serve out to lead Michelsen 6-2 while, on Court 3, Cocciaretto has broken Pegula a second time; at 5-2, she’ll shortly serve for set one, while Watson l=is up 5-2 on Tauson.
De Minaur is another who seems a little stuck. He improved massively in 2023 and 2024, but seems now to have hit the wall, having reached the limits of his athletic capacity. He might well be the quickest player on tour – Paul is another who’d contest that title – but he doesn’t hit the ball hard enough to do anything but scurry against the best. He is, it’s fair to say, not the most beloved of tournament organisers, given his ability to beat the bigger names in the rounds, only to lose 3 and 4 in finals.
Meantime, Paul has broke Monday and leads 3-1, while Watson has broken Tauson back and now leads 3-2. Otherwise, Kecmanovic is serving for the first set at 5-2 against Michelsen, seeded 30, De Minaur and Carballes Baena are 2-2, and Cazaux leads Walton 3-2.
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I guess Pegula and Paul are of similar ilk, with Taylor Fritz another: members of the elite, who you’re almost 100% certain will never win a slam. I’ve often wondered how that works mentally: the knowledge that you’re one of the top few in the world, but have almost no chance of improving on that.
On 2 and 12, we’ve had early breaks, Cocciaretto, having opted to receive, up 2-1 on Pegula, and Tuason leading Watson by the same score.
Paul, yet to settle, hands Monday two break points … which he hands straight back. From there, the hold is quickly secured.
Thinking of Paul more generally, though, he’s in the same section of the draw as Sinner. There’s not loads else there, so he’ll be wondering if, finally, he can beat someone better than him on the biggest stage.
I’m not overly familiar with Johannus Monday, but what I think we saw yesterday – via the medium of British victories – is the depth in the game. There are so many players who can play great tennis, or who have potentially definitive weapons, that we should never be surprised when someone less heralded wins a match we didn’t expect them to. Monday, say, has a a big swinging lefty serve, and he holds in game one to lead Paul 1-0.
Email! “Why do they not start until 1:00 and 1:30 on the main courts?” wonders Ben Duxbury. “Every year they end up with matches not finishing - why not just start at 12:00? I’d be pretty miffed if i’d paid £100 for a ticket and didn’t get three matches. Even Test cricket manages to start at 11:00.”
I guess it’s too allows those with show-court tickets to make a day of it, arriving to watch matches elsewhere in the knowledge that the play won’t be over by late afternoon.
Our players are out around the grounds. It’s a beautiful sight to behold.
Will Pegula ever win a major? I fear the answer is no, and there’s no shame in that. What will rankle, though, is how many inferior players have managed one, and we can’t even make the excuse that her problem is the lack of definitive weapons. I mean, that’s part of it, of course, but does Emma Raducanu have one? Sofia Kenin? Bianca Andreescu? And so on…
But back to the immediate future, which are the matches I’ll watch when play gets under way at 11am? I think we’ll go with:
Cocciaretto v Pegula (3)
Monday v Paul (13)
Tauson (23) v Watson
De Minaur (11) v Carballes Baena
We may, though, swap in Michelsen (3) v Kecmanovic at some point.
Of course, he might not have to: if Alcaraz doesn’t play better than he did yesterday, he’ll be making no finals. Except we know he’s almost certain to improve, the win over Fognini simply reminding us how brilliant he is at finding a way to impose his will. Which is to say that Sinner will have seen what happened, tantalised himself with hope and, now it’s been extinguished, must ensure he’s as focused as he needs to be.
Jannik Sinner, then. One thing we know about elite sportsfolk is that mentally, they’re different to the rest of us, able to deliver the best of themselves under the most intense pressure. But after losing from a seemingly impregnable position in the French Open final we can be certain he’ll be feeling a way: having lost his last five matches against Carlos Alcaraz, will he really believe he can beat him on grass?
It’s a million degrees outside, and some moron has come back from Glastonbury with a minger of a head-cold. What a world.
On the other hand, Shaboozey covering Bob is worth every litre of sweat.
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Preamble
Wotcha and welcome to Wimbledon 2025 – day two!
After yesterday’s frankly ridiculous opening dig, it’s my solemn duty to announce that awaiting us over the next 12 hours is nothing other than more of the same … but different.
The Clash once sung about being lost in the supermarket and that’s how today feels: so many potential choices it’s hard to know where to begin. Perhaps with Johannus Monday against Tommy Paul, or Clara Tauson versus Heather Watson … except what of Alex de Minaur, who meets Roberto Carballes Baena, or Alex Michelsen who takes on Miomir Kecmanovic? And that’s just the opening set of outside-court matches!
Otherwise, we’ve got Barbora Krejcikova beginning the defence of her title; Jannik Sinner returning after his Roland Garros desolation; two bangers – Arthur Rinderknech v Alexander Zverev and the final set of Taylor Fritz v Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard – held over from yesterday; Alexandre Muller v Novak Djokovic, Jack Draper v Sebastian Baez, Daria Yastremska v Coco Gauff; and potentially the funnest match of the lot between Petra Kvitova and Emma Navarro.
And if, to that, we add Jessica Pegula, Ben Shelton, Lorenzo Musetti, Mirra Andreeva, Qinwen Zheng, Dan Evans v Jay Clarke, and Iga Swiatek seeking to right herself after a miserable season, we have some sense of the glorious chaos just waiting to absorb us.
Play: outside courts 11am BST, No 1 Court 1pm BST, Centre Court 1.30pm BST
Centre Court (1.30pm BST start)
B Krejcikova (Cz, 17) v A Eala (Phi)
A Muller (Fr) v N Djokovic (Srb, 6)
D Yastremska (Ukr) v C Gauff (US, 2)
No.1 Court (1pm BST start)
J Sinner (It, 1) v L Nardi (It)
P Kvitova (Cz) v E Navarro (US, 10)
J Draper (GB, 4) v S Baez (Arg)
No.2 Court (11am BST start)
E Cocciaretto (It) v J Pegula (US, 3)
N Basilashvili (Geo) v L Musetti (It, 7)
I Swiatek (Pol, 8) v P Kudermetova
B Shelton (US, 10) v A Bolt (Aus)
No.3 Court (11am BST start)
J Monday (GB) v T Paul (US, 13)
M Andreeva (7) v M Sherif (Egy)
G Dimitrov (Bul, 19) v Y Nishioka (Jpn)
E Avenesyan (Arm) v E Rybakina (Kaz, 11)
Court 12 (11am BST start)
C Tauson (Den, 23) v H Watson (GB)
D Evans (GB) v J Clarke (GB)
G Monfils (Fr) v U Humbert (Fr, 18)
S Kenin (US, 28) v T Townsend (US)
Court 18 (11am BST start)
A de Minaur (Aus, 11) v R Carballes Baena (Sp)
M Joint (Aus) v L Samsonova (19)
C McNally (US) v J Burrage (GB)
H Gaston (Fr) v J Mensik (Cz, 15)
Selected courts only; full order of play here.
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