Here’s today’s reports from Wimbledon from our writers.
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Carlos Alcaraz speaks: “He’s pushing you to the limit with every ball. I think I played very intelligent, very smart. It’s about belief in yourself. Tennis it can change in one point. You have stay strong mentally. The break in the second set turned around everything. I am going to play against a British player. I will try to enjoy as much as I can. It’s super special and it’s a gift. I know [Cam Norrie] well. He’s playing great.”
He then admits Andy Murray beat him at golf. “I let him win.”
Alcaraz beats Rublev 6-7 6-3 6-4 6-4
OK, 15-0, then 3-0 as Rublev cranks a forehand out of play. Rublev then prevails in a fine rally that sends Alcaraz to Putney Bridge and back. Then, an Alcaraz error for 30-30. Uh oh? An ace down the line, and match point arrives. He will need another as Rublev forces an error for deuce. Here it comes after a lob and smash routine plants the ball beyond reach. The serve skids in, and Rublev can’t return it. The champion is in the quarter-finals.
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An easy hold and, 3-5 down, now Rublev must serve to save himself. Two big shots take him to 30-0. His spirit remains undimmed and he thrashes home to make Alcaraz serve this out. He sits meditatively, deep breaths. Here goes nothing.
Alcaraz makes it 4-2 with a love hold, sealing it with a chopped drop. Rublev is asked to save himself by holding serve but here comes the relentlessness. 0-30 becomes 15-30 with a chopping volley. Then Rublev misses a winner and must face break point. He saves himself with some power hitting, winning a rally and then smashing a huge serve. He’s beaten by Alcaraz’s court speed, and is pegged back to deuce. But, but Rublev holds. That’s gutsy in the extreme.
Here comes the Alcaraz push. 0-30 as Rublev tightens up. Then comes a double fault for three break points. Rublev saves the first two, and then Alcaraz is fooled by a mishit second serve. Next, Rublev nets, and then, another second serve and Alcaraz steals in and doesn’t miss this time. Rublev is furious with himself. It’s 3-2, and Alcaraz will serve next.
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Rublev comes out, full of gusto after his comfort break. Some big hitting lands him the fourth set’s opening games, and he holds the third, too. Alcaraz is less of a server but is still launching bombs. He levels at 2-2 with some groundstrokes having to help him along.
Alcaraz takes the third set 6-4, leads 2-1
Alcaraz, with a couple of wobbles, sees out his service game. He’s hitting the lines with his shots and pushing Rublev to the limit. The Russian is still holding strong, and so Alcaraz is asked to serve out at 5-4 up in the third set. He does so in mere seconds.
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Alcaraz really turns it on in the seventh game, two unbelievable returns hand him break point, and then, even better, from the back of the court he shovels over a winner when Rublev had all but won the point. 4-3, and he’s a break up.
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The third set is going with serve but it feels like Rublev is piling on the pressure. At 2-3 down, Alcaraz faces a break point after some real court speed from Alcaraz. A huge serve means it’s deuce. Double fault from Alcaraz takes it back there, too. But he sees it out for 3-3.
Rublev’s serve is looking in decent nick, Alcaraz struggling until the Russian makes a mess of a volley at the net. Not his specialist subject. Suddenly it’s 40-30, but a well-worked point lands a 2-1 lead.
Rublev bites back, winning the first game to love then going 0-30 on the Alcaraz serve. Then there’s a break point on offer, two of them in fact. The first is saved, so is the second, and Alcaraz serves out.
Alcaraz levels the sets with Rublev
And then he finds it, Alcaraz steals in for 5-3, Rublev ruing a second serve he made a mess of. A looping drop shot takes Alcaraz, on his serve, to within two points of levelling. Make that one point. And he does it with a ridiculous stop volley that only he could hit. Rublev needs to keep his cool.
It’s 2-1 – going with serve in the second set. Then, 3-2. Rublev is playing very well, lots of speed around the court, and Alcaraz needs to find a way to level the match. He does so, serving to love, closing out with a chopping volley.
Over to Centre, where – what’s this? – Rublev just took the first set from Alcaraz. Does this mean we will be here all night? Almost certainly
Cam Norrie speaks to Annabel Croft: “Credit to Nico, and I didn’t want to let his game get the better of me. He said I was a little bit vocal. And I said he was competitive and I enjoyed it. He hung in there, I hung tough when I needed to. The atmosphere was so good. Beginning of this year I was struggling with confidence, I am enjoying the game now. So happy to go through at the best tournament in the world.”
Norrie beats Jarry 6-3 7-6 7-6 6-7 6-3
So then, now to serve out. 15-0, 30-0 with a serve to Jarry’s kidneys. A big one is non-returnable. Three match points. Surely now, Cam. He does it by winning an amazing rally, the best of the match, sprawling as he does so, and lying flat. Jarry is not happy, and has a go at Norrie. Why? Let’s find out. There is a rapprochement as Jarry departs the court to boos.
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Will Norrie need to serve this out? Jarry looks tired, and at 30-30, the plucky Brit spies victory. Huge serve, huge roar, ace No. 45, then ace No. 46.
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Norrie, at 40-30, faces another big moment, but a serve to the outside line is clanked into the stands. He’s one game away, and changes his grip. He’s yet to be broken, and it’s 5-2 in the final set.
Has the fight gone from Jarry? At 30-40, Norrie has the chance for a break. Second serve, too. Jarry saves that at the net, just guiding the ball over the net. Norrie’s return is superb at deuce but the volleyed reply is yet better. Norrie’s whipped forehand is the main weapon and has Jarry fighting for his life. He forces another break point by smashing the ball down the line. Big serving, though, deals Jarry out of trouble for now. A huge grunt, and a big serve, and it’s a hold for 2-4.
Jarry’s next hold is quick, to love. The pressure back to Norrie at 3-1 on his serve. 0-15 is unpromising. 15-15 is better. A sliced drop for 30-15 is brave but timely. Skid serve forces and error, and Norrie looks calm. And calmer as Jarry goes for brute strength and misses his target for 1-4.
Andy Flintoff responds to a comment below: “If Jack Draper was kicking around the 200 mark on the world rankings, but still somehow got a wildcard into Wimbledon every year (despite not getting further than round 2 every year), then the ‘nepo baby’ insult would stick, but the rankings are more objective, and being better than 99% of the players on tour negates that completely. It was not until you posted it that I was aware that he was the son of the former head of the LTA.”
Norrie begins with a double fault. Too sloppy. Better as he serves and volleys the next to level. Jarry hits back for 30-30. The 40-30 comes with a punched volley to the back, and then a winner crashed into the abyss. A loose baseline hit is out, and it’s deuce. Then a missed forehand. Steadi-Cam this ain’t but a break point is saved. Another one comes after some huge hitting from the Chilean. That’s saved by a whipped forehand from close in. Jarry’s weaponry is impressive. A thrashing forehand, but another save. We go again, and again, and again. Until….huge, huge hold. 3-0 up.
A Jarry wobble. He misses a volley and it’s 30-30. Then comes a double fault. There’s been one break in this match, and Norrie needs to take it. And he does, as Jarry overcooks a baseline hit…2-0 to Norrie. Now to hold serve.
Rublev takes the first game from Alcaraz but the focus is here, Court No. 1. Both players take a break but are back soon enough. Norrie serves first, and holds, a good start.
Jarry levels the sets on a tie-break - it's 2-2 with Norrie.
Good evening. Has anyone done an Ubi Roi gag yet about Jarry? It feels like we’re running out of time to do. Jarry blasts into a two-point lead, and Norrie blasts back to win four straight, a mini-break, only to make a mess of a booming forehand. Jarry levels at 4-4, and takes in great gusts of air. Now 5-5, both going for the big shots. Why not? Then Norrie misses from the baseline to the other baseline. Jarry can serve for the set. An ace, and it’s done. Oh Norrie. oh no.
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Jarry nets a backhand as Alcaraz and Rublev arrive on to Centre, then hooks a forehand wide and we’re going to have out third breaker of the match; currently, the players have taken one apiece. Her’es John Brewin to bring it to you.
A tremendous backhand, inside-out to break the sideline, gives Jarry 0-15, but a poor return when offered a slow second serve, wastes a big opportunity. No matter: a fantastic return, down the line from out wide and right into the corner, takes us to 30-all, but when Norrie picks him out with a poor forehand from mid-court, he can’t seize the opportunity, hitting long … but nor can Norrie, netting for deuce. This is very tense now, and it’s joyous to behold.
Lovely work from Jarry, who holds to love and forces Norrie to serve once more to stay in set four at 5-6. But my watch is over, so here’s John Brewin to take you through to the close. Enjoy the rest of the weekend and peace out.
At 40-15, Jarry finds a brutal forehand down the line to give himself a sniff, but just misses the line with a hooked return, and at 5-5 in the fourth we’re back level.
Back on No 1, Norrie leads 6-3 7-6 6-7 4-4 with Jarry serving at deuce; he forces through for 5-4 and there’s still so little between these two. Both are playing really well, hitting it hard and accurately, and both look in absurd physical condition.
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Next on Centre Court: Andrey Rublev (14) v Carlos Alcaraz (2).
Sabalenka says it feels so good to feel all the support and today she got the crowd on her side. Mertens, a great player and person, always brings great tennis and she thinks about the game really well, offering a proper challenge today.
Wimbledon is only slam in which she’s yet to play a final and believes anything is possible with the support of the fans. She’s just trying to give her best, and prompted about her TikTok dances, says she scrolls, finds an easy one, and does that as she’s not a great dancer. But she can move!
Aryna Sabalenka (1) beasts Elise Mertens (24) 6-4 7-6(4)
Sabalenka only needs one, finishing a fine match between two old friends and doubles partners. Merterns can’t play much better than that, I don’t think; Sabalenka can, and will. Next for her, Laura Siegemund.
Back on Centre, Sabalenka retrieves the mini-break for 3-3, pushes to 5-3, and suddenly she’s very close to claiming the match. But a volley into the net – what an oversight that is – invites Mertens back into things, for as long as it takes for a weapons-grade inside-out backhand to raise two match points at 6-4. The first is on return, but if she needs it, she’ll have a second go on serve.
Oooh Mertens frames a return and Sabalenka can’t flick it back over the net, so that’s an immediate mini-break. Then Norrie, down break point and embroiled in the longest rally of the match, 25 strokes, finds a tremendous forehand to save himself. Jarry, though, nails a forehand down the line followed by a backhand down the line … only for Norrie to spirit for forehand of his own cross-court for a winner that brings back to deuce. Both players are at it and letting it all hang out; it’s great fun to watch and from there, Norrie secures a vital hold with an ace. Jarry is now 0-5 on break points.
Sabalenka chases, making Mertens play more balls, and eventually the error comes for 30-15. Then, at 40-15, the crowd, keen to see a decider, get behind the Belgian, Saba goes long on the return, and a second-set tiebreaker it is.
Again, Sabalenka holds; again, Mertens must hold to stay in the match, but this time the reward tantalising her is a second-set breaker. She’s playing well enough to earn it and take it, though the sense remains that the world no 1 will find a way.
Now then. Offered a look at a second serve, Norrie hits a deep return, Jarry errs, and at 15-40, here come two break points, the first in over an hour. One vaporised with an ace and a big serve plus one takes us to deuce, whereupon the Chilean powers to the hold which gives him 3-2 in the third.
Back with Nozza, he and Jarry are now 2-2 in set four; Mertens makes 40-0 then, when beaten by a murderous forehand, finds a first serve, plays a lovely point, and we’re back level in the second, Sabalenka leading 6-4 5-5.
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But Mertens clouts a forehand return wide, unable to force her nose in front, and Sabalenka secures her hold through deuce to lead 6-4 5-4. Pressure for the Belgian, who must now serve to stay in the match. She’s given a really good account of herself so far – I’m just typing this is the best I’ve seen her play when Martina says the same, which might be the best thing that’s happened to me today.
Three aces on the spin give Mertens 4-4 in the second, but can she hold herself together as we reach the business end of the set? A decent return, attacking Sabalenka’s second serve, makes her 15-all, and she’s in the game … all the more so at 30-all.
“The nation may have gone into this years Wimbledon with growing belief in a genuine title-tilt from Jack Draper, the son of the former head of the LTA,” writes Samuel Bates, “but in the end it was Sonay Kartal, daughter of a kebab vendor, whose spirited efforts won the nations heart. Less silver spoon, more plastic fork. All the salad, all the sauce.”
I’m not sure why we need to denigrate Draper to praise Kartal – both are great, and we can hardly diss the fourth-best player in the world for being a nepo-baby. Also, he’s fought through dreadful grief with injury to get to where he is, well ahead of schedule, and is, by all accounts, really sound lad.
But yup, Kartal is developing nicely and though I doubt she bothers the top-10 in the world, she’s great fun to watch and will, I’m sure, give us loads of joy over the next decade.
Nicolas Jarry wins the third set against Cameron Norrie to trail 3-6 (4)6-7 7-6(7)
Jarry’s played too well to lose in straights, and he’s not going to. This is intensifying.
Sabalenka does indeed snatch back that break to lead 6-4 3-3, and that might be Mertens’ last chance.
Brilliant from Jarry, a destructive backhand cross earning him set point and on his own serve; he thunders down a mahoosvie delivery but it’s out, just … then goes long! What an oversight that is! To 7-7 we go!
Jarry dives desperately to block back a Norrie forehand after doing too little at the net, leaves a big space, Norrie fires the ball through it and at 6-5 in the third-set breaker, he has match point … which Jarry, again at the net, saves well. Meantime, back in Centre, Sbalenka is hunting the break-back, at deuce on the Mertens serve trailing 3-2 in the second.
Twenty-two bounces before Norrie’s next service-point, and Jarry nets, but he can’t blame his opponent for missing a short ball. More bounces follow and this time Nozza interferes with his own rhythm, a double returning the mini-break and we wind up at 5-5.
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Norrie nabs the first mini-break for 4-2, and he’s three holds away from the last eight. He looks so confident out there now.
Back on No 1, we’re playing a third-set breaker while, on Centre, Mertens breaks Sabalenka, then converts for 3-1 in the second. This is a proper match now.
Siegemund says this was her toughest match so far as she’d not previously felt she had to win. But this time she was the favourite, against a great player not much more than half her age.
She and her team are doing the same thing they always do, staying with a family who’ve become friends – which is better than yet another hotel. She thinks she’s changed, deciding she can do better than lose second round, came with no pressure or expectation, and now is the oldest player left in the draw.
Asked about the usefulness of her psychology degree on court, she laughs it’s of none whatsoever. She’s just focusing on herself and says if you’re ready to accept a good match and a defeat, you’re ready to win. I’d love to hear more from her, and I’m looking forward to seeing her play again.
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Laura Siegemund beats Solana Sierra 6-3 6-2
Squeals and shrieks from a delighted Siegemund, into her first Wimbledon quarter at the age of 37; lovely stuff, problem being her likely opponent is Sabalenka, though Mertens is still fighting. Sierra has had a great tournament, announcing herself to the tennis world in the process, but she must now go home.
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…and Sierra saves both. She’s having far too fun a time to simply disappear, but a delicious drop from Siegemund earns advantage and another go at closing it out.
Excellent from Jarry, who holds to love to make 5-5 in the third. If Norrie wants to win this, he’ll have to take it. Meantime, on No 2, Siegemund has match points…
On No 2, Siegemund is almost home, up 6-3 4-2 on Sierra, while a comfy hold from Norrie means Jarry must soon serve to stay in the match at 3-6 6-7 4-5.
Aryna Sabalenka wins the first set to lead Elise Mertens 6-4
A tamley netted forehand leaves Mertens down set point, and though she gets a first serve in, Sabalenka carts a flat backhand cross that breaks the sideline, a devastating stroke perhaps beyond anyone else on the tour. That’s the set, and Mertens will know she can’t play much better than she has, yet still she trails.
Norrie is still looking good on No 1, up 2-0 4-3. He’s not hitting loads of winners, but he’s only made 11 unforced errors versus 39 for Jarry, the difference between them more than an entire set.
On Centre, Mertens is playing nicely against Sabalenka, visibly growing in confidence as she realises she can respond to the power. But it’s the world no 1 who leads, 5-4 on serve in the first.
When it comes for unforced errors on the forehand side, Jarry “leads” Norrie 20-5; if he’s to have any chance, he must sort that. Meantime, it’s 2-2 in the third, Nozza by two sets to love.
Meantime, Mertens breaks Sabakenka back for -04, and she’s paying pretty well while, on No 2, Siegemund converts break point and now leads Sierra 6-3 2-0. She’s in sight of her first Wimbledon quarter-final.
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Caught at the net, Jarry stretches to connect with Norrie’s forehand pass, but he only prolongs the rally by a shot, and at 30-40, he must now face a break point; it’s saved with an ace. But we go backwards and forwards, deuce-advantage, Jarry under all sorts of pressure, before eventually he secures a vital hold. Nozza leads 6-3 7-6 2-2.
She’s not playing today, but I’ve been impressed with Iga Swiatek so far in this competition. Losing her French Open title will have hurt her deeply, but she’s responding really well and wouldn’t have to play Sabalenka until the final. Her potential semi with Mirra Andreeva, though, looks extremely tasty.
Leading 2-1 in the first set, Sabalenka makes 15-40 and, offered a short second serve, massacres a forehand return down the line. Mertens gets it back but the putaway is emphatically clobbered, and that’s the break at 3-1.
We soon be back under way on No 2, where Siegemund leads Sierra 6-3 1-0.
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Thanks Tom and his again everyone. On Centre, Sabalenka holds for 1-0 in the first against Mertens; on No 1, Jarry is grousing to the umpire bout Norrie’s ball-bouncing, but the umpire says there’s nothing going on which contravenes any rules.
Norrie wins second set against Jarry 7-6 (5)
A lovely drop shot out of nowhere gets Norrie on the board after a Jarry ace but he gives up a minibreak stretching for a forceful return from the Chilean. The immediate breakback comes when Jarry hits too long and then another means they change ends with Norrie 4-2 and a mini-break up. A deep backhand forces Jarry to net again. A fine second serve from Jarry cuts the lead to 5-3 and he follows it with a ripping angled forehand winner. Another wide Norrie serve sets him up to win the next rally and earn two set points. A gruelling rally ensues but Norrie clinches it with an extra assertion of power in a forehand winner. That was a tough set for Norrie and he did really well to dig in and win it. He leads 6-3, 7-6.
And on that bombshell, I’ll hand you back to Daniel.
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After Jarry storms through his service game to love, he puts some pressure on the Norrie serve with a deft backhand slice and another winning return for 15-30. But he blunders a return on Norrie’s second serve and nets, which Norrie follows up with an ace, then works his opponent round the baseline to hold and take us to a tiebreak. 6-3, 6-6 to Norrie.
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Back on Court No 1, Norrie, a set up, and serving at 4-5 in the second, sends down a lazy second double fault of the match for 15-15, which gives Jarry the confidence to dominate the next rally and force Norrie to hit long. A mis-hit off Jarry’s frame brings us back to 30-30 and Norrie goes on to seal the hold with a clever wide-angled serve. 5-5.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, now through to her second Wimbledon quarter-final at 34, says she’s “impressed and proud of myself to compete at this level against these younger players. I think my mental toughness is getting better, I think everyone knows I thought I was crazy in my head. I want to say thank you guys [to the crowd] for the great energy even if you were cheering on the local player.” She signs off to an appreciative, magnanimous crowd with “sorry guys”.
Next up for her: the USA’s Amanda Anisimova or Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic.
And during that post-match interview, the crack of thunder overhead is followed by another outside-courts suspension of play.
Pavlyuchenkova beats Kartal 7-6 (3), 6-4
Pavlyuchenkova begins with an ace down the middle that Kartal barely sees, and another booming serve makes it 30-0. A double fault keeps Kartal interested but Pav’s nerves are blown away in a brilliant rally that falls her way when Kartal’s backhand drifts out. It brings two match points, and she needs only one of them, spearing a forehand winner into the corner to seal a deserved win that ends Kartal’s hugely entertaining run.
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Pavlyuchenkova pulls back to 30-30 before a nerveless serve from Kartal forces an error, and a lovely forehand winner clinches the hold. It’s 5-4 and the Russian will now serve for the match.
On Court 2, Siegemund has won the first set against Sierra, 6-3.
Whatever happens here, Kartal’s been one of the most watchable players of the past week, her doggedness in long rallies a particular delight. And one such gives her an opening at 15-30, but Pavlyuchenkova romps back to 40-30 in short order and seals the hold when Kartal hits long. She’s a game away from the last eight at 5-3.
On Court No 2, Laura Siegemund has a break, 5-3 up against her fellow 100+ ranked non-seed Solara Sierra, and Norrie v Jarry’s gone with serve thus far in the second set. Norrie leads 6-3, 2-2.
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Just as Kartal was beginning to look demoralised, she cheers the crowd up with a delicious delicate back-spinning backhand down the line but it’s the only point Pavlyuchenkova concedes in an otherwise flawless service game. She then pegs Kartal back to deuce on the latter’s serve. Kartal’s first double fault of the match brings her back to a second deuce but a more assured point gives her another advantage, which she converts. An essential hold but she needs a break at 6-7, 3-4.
Pavlyuchenkova romps to 0-40 on Kartal’s serve. The first break point is saved but not the second, as the Briton blooters an angled forehand carelessly wide. The Russian has the break – the ninth of the match overall – and is looking the better player here now. She leads 7-6, 3-2.
Meanwhile Mimi Xiu, doubling up in the girls’ and main compeition this year, has won her first round match in the former, beating Thea Frudin of the US in straight sets.
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Norrie wins first set against Jarry 6-3
Cameron Norrie squanders the first of two set points against Jarry with a wayward backhand but not the second, a confident serve out wide that his opponent can’t return cleanly. And the British player continues to summon the spirit of his 2022 run here. He’s good value for his one-set lead here.
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Something of a golden minute for British hopes: Kartal holds serve with uncharacteristic ease for 2-1, second set, as Cam Norrie breaks for a 5-3 lead against Jarry.
Kartal v Pavlyuchenkova’s second set continues the trends of the first. Kartal is broken by Pavlyuchenkova in the first game of the second set, but then takes advantage of some errors from her opponent to get two break points, which she converts when Pavlyuchenkova nets tamely. An instant break point – 1-1.
Let’s have a scoot around shall we. Over on Centre Court, Nicolas Jarry produces another smooth service game against Cameron Norrie to keep their tie level at 3-3 in the first set And on Court No 2, the fourth-round tie between Laura Siegemund of Germany and Argentina’s Solana Sierra has gone with serve so far at 2-1 to Sierra.
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Pavlyuchenkova wins first set against Kartal, 7-6 (3)
Pavlyuchenkova, beginning to look quicker and stronger, wins two points on Kartal’s serve to move 3-0 up in the breaker. An overcooked forehand gifts Kartal her first point but she’s outpointed in the next rally for 4-1. Kartal has the tenacity to stay in long rallies she has no right to win though, and she does so again and then follows it up with a firm wide serve to cut the gap to 4-3. Her opponent still has the breaks though, and two dominant points on serve bring her three set points. Pavlyuchenkova converts the first of them when Kartal clangs a long forehand wide.
That was a wild, breathless first set and you can’t help but sense that that line call injustice has done Pavlyuchenkova a favour. She’s upped her game since then.
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We got ourselves a tiebreak as a similarly authoritative service game from Kartal takes us to 6-6, first set. Norrie leads Jarry 2-1, with serve in the first set, and they’ve resumed on the unroofed courts after a rain delay.
And now Pavlyuchenkova moves 6-5 up with a rare emphatic service game in this match – to 15. While Norrie has held serve in the first game against Jarry.
Pavlyuchenkova breaks back for 5-5. Pavlyuchenkova, possibly riled by injustice, works her way to break points, the first of which at 30-40 is saved by a fine Kartal save, and the second saved when the Russian nets her return. All of a sudden, it’s set point to Kartal, but she squanders it with a booming, too-long forehand that is called out this time. Pavlyuchenkova then wins her third break point, which she converts this time with a fine firm forehand winner into the corner.
Play is suspended on the outside courts due to rain by the way, but Cameron Norrie and Nicolas Jarry are knocking up under Court No 1’s roof
A long confusing game marred by technical failure that gifts Kartal the break at 5-4. Kartal draws Pavlyuchenkova forward to fine effect to get to 0-30 on the Russian’s serve, then a double fault gives Kartal two break points, which are retrieved. The first is saved when the Briton skews a backhand wide, the second saved through a forceful serve. Another break point comes Kartal’s way when a drop shot drifts wide but Pavlyuchenkova saves this too with an artful drop from the net. A smash gives the Russian the advantage and then …
… Techno confusion, as Kartal’s long shot is not called out by the robots, prompting the “stop stop!” injunction. The umpire gets on the blower for confirmation from officials. As with the infernal VAR in football it takes an inordinate amount of time – and they have to replay the point as the electronic line calling system malfunctioned. Ridiculous, as the old-fangled video system would have called it out. Pavlyuchenkova duly loses the replayed point, and Kartal ends up getting another break point that she this time converts when her opponent nets. But she’s been robbed there.
Thanks Daniel, greetings all. This Kartal-Pavlyuchenkova match continues to twist and turn like a twisty turny thing. And Kartal is made to work hard to put her service game away, being pegged back to deuce four times before finally inducing her opponent to hit too long. 4-4, first set.
Righto, I’m off for a little break – Kartal, trailing 3-4, is serving at deuce – so here’s Tom Davies to hang with you for the next couple of hours. Enjoy!
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On No 1, we’re not getting Jarry v Norrie quite yet – I guess we’re regularising the service after Fritz v Thompson ended so early. Other hand, the covers are off on two, so we should soon have play out there.
Aha, at 3-3 and deuce, Pavlyuchenkova sprints in to address a job, nets, and now faces break point; she saves it well, via booming forehand, then secures the hold for 4-3 in set one.
“I’m a contemporary of John McEnroe who comprehensively destroyed me in junior tennis,” writes AJ, who need us offer no more to acquire our adulation. “In those days — to address your point re respite from the sun — we wore shirts with the collars up like the great Lew Hoad did. Frankly, it was more fashion than health.
Notwithstanding global warming and London as hot as Seoul during its post-monsoon season, I’m a bit sceptical as to the young men at Wimbledon being concerned with skin cancer. Ergo, I concur with your apparent hypothesis re that cap-wearing style is ‘mere’ fashion or a hip-hop attitude.”
I ask Coach Calv if he’s any light to shed on the backwards cap situation, and he does but he doesn’t: “It’s mad. Especially for those over the age of 23.”
So there we have it.
Pavlyuchenkova makes break-back point and sends Kartal nashing from side to side; she does it brilliantly. But eventually, it gets too much, Pavlyuchenkova finishing the point to bring us back level at 3-3 in the first.
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“Growing up as I did in the hot climes of the Levant,” writes Jonathan Ginzburg, ‘it was always emphasised to us that avoiding heat stroke depends critically on protecting the nape of the neck from the sun. This is what a keffiyeh does perfectly and a backwards baseball hat does so too.”
Sure, we discussed that below, but it’s not sunny today. Or are we saying Khachanov wears the backwards cap for when it’s sunny, keeping it on when it isn’t because he’s trained his brain to feel comfortable that way?
On Centre, Kartal has come from a break down to lead Pavlyuchenkova 3-2, with a break. She’s not got loads of power, but she’s got very nice hands and a head for the big occasion.
Next on No 1 Court: Nicolas Jarry v Cameron Norrie.
Fritz says it’s not the way he wanted to got through – he was excited to play some good tennis – but he respects Thompson for coming out, having played two five-setters, then a long doubles match yesterday.
Asked how he’ll spend the rest of the day now, he reckons his coaches will want him to rest but he’d like to hit a bit – they’ll discuss it.
Otherwise, he says Wimbledon has a feel you can’t get anywhere else, then discusses how he and his coaches look at future opponents, looking for patterns and focusing on a couple of things. He doesn’t like to plan too much as he wants to mainly think about what he’s doing, but he has options in the back of his mind.
Finally, he says that he and Khachanov have similar styles, so it’s about which of them plays the better and he’s playing well. And as he’s superstitious, he likes to keep doing the same thing in the same order when everything’s working well.
Taylor Fritz (5) beats Jordan Thompson 6-1 3-0
What a shame that is – for Thompson and for us. He looks absolutely devastated, understandably so, but will hope he can manage a doubles match tomorrow. Fritz, for his part, gets a rest after two five-setters and will face Khachanov in the last eight. He’d’ve took that.
Kartal quickly makes 0-40 and when Pavluchnkova slices into the net, the break-back is secure. Oh, and as that eventuates, Thompson returns, but I’m afraid it’s no good. He’s not going to be able to continue.
Thompson goes off for treatment and a medical timeout, while it looks like the rain has stopped – they’re sweeping water off the covers on No 2. Back on Centre, meantime, Kartal is struggling to secure her first hold, down advantage, and when she she comes in to tickle a lob, Pavlyuchenkova responds with a backhand overhead that somehow develops into a return lob … and a winner. She leads 2-0.
Frtiz breaks again to lead 6-1 3-0 and Thompson calls the trainer, but it’s hard to see what there is to do here – he’s crook. It won’t be an easy call, but he’ll surely know this match is beyond him, so it surely makes sense to call it and hope he can get ready for the doubles tomorrow – he and Pierre-Hughes Herbert meet Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara, the defending champs.
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On Centre, Kartal and Pavlyuchenkova have begun, the latter holding to love in game one. Outside, it’s absolutely clattering down.
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Fritz breaks Thompson, who looks pretty forlorn out there, and you’ve got to feel for him. This is the best he’s ever done at Wimbledon, at 31 he may never get to this stage again; sport is cruel, man. The American leads 6-1 2-0.
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Yup, Fritz serves out to love, sealing a 6-1 set with an ace but will Thompson stick with it? He’s not moving well and has a doubles match tomorrow.
Meantime, on 2, the covers are on and you can hear thunder rumbling. The forecast for later in the week is excellent, but it’ll be a while until we’ve play outdoors today.
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However, we’re almost ready to go on Centre, where Kartal and Pavlyuchenkova are imminent. Meantime, Fritz is serving for set one at 5-1, and it doesn’t look like Thompson has much for him.
Fritz takes control of set one, breaking Thompson then consolidating to lead 4-1, and we see the roof shut; on No 2, though, it’s raining heavily, so off the players trot.
Thunder and rain on No 2, where Sigmund and Sierra were almost ready to get going; let’s hope it’s a storm in a champagne glass. It looks to be – they’re preparing to commence.
Thompson is best known as a doubles player – he and his partner, Max Purcell, won last year’s US Open, but Purcell is currently serving an 18-month doping ban. Anyroad, Fritz leads 3-2 in the first, on serve.
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Thompson is, though, struggling with back-knack. Fritz might want to get him running and stretching.
We’ve swapped holds on No 1, so Fritz and Thompson are 1-1 in the first.
Next on No 2 Court: Solana Sierra v Laura Siegemund.
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Khachanov praises “a really great performance” and says he didn’t like grass last year but now he’s back into it. His last two matches have gone the distance and in the one prior to this he rebounded from 2-5 down in the fifth, but he recovered well and though sometimes you can feel more tired, you might also be excited. He was ready to play five today, but is glad he didn’t have to.
Karen Khachanov (17) beats Kamil Majchrzak 6-4 6-2 6-3
Another break secures an extremely impressive win for Khachanov. Majcrzak did superbly to reach this point, but he was overmatched and his opponent was not minded to cede the opportunity of a lifetime. Next for him it’s Thompson or Fritz.
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Back on No 2, Khachanov, who not long ago slipped and slid under the net, breaks for 4-3 in the third and consolidates to 15. He’s nearly into the last eight.
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We’re not far off a start on No 1 Court. We open in five minutes, with Taylor Fritz (5) v Jordan Thompson.
Now under way:
And we’re now playing at Edgbaston:
“Assuming it’s a serious question,” begins AJ, “some attribute the popularity of the hat on backwards to Ken Griffey Jr, a famous baseball player in the 1990s. That fashion trend later spread throughout the hip-hop community and other sports, thereby making backward hats a fashionable look for (almost) anyone.”
Sure – I’m wondering if there’s a reason a tennis would ape it for a reason related co competing, or if it’s strictly fashun, dahling.
Go on! Majchrzak raises a fifth break point and this time Khachanov larrups a forehand long! At 4-6 2-6 1-2 he’s still in dis ting … which, I’m afraid, is more than can be said for Nouza and Rikl, who’ve lost the breaker 15-13. Arevalo and Pavic, the no 1 seeds, move on – though, earlier today, Krawietz and Puetz, seeded three, lost to Hijikate and Pel.
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But Majchrzak makes advantage … then swats a backhand into the net. He just can’t get it done while, in the dubs, Arevalo and Pavic now lead 13-12 in the breaker, but Nouza and Rikl are serving. This is terrific stuff, it really is. We’re encouraged to watch the big singles players – see the below disgrace – but what you really want is the experts, and these are those.
Now then. Majchrzak makes 15-40 … so Khachanov slaps down an ace, his sixth of the match … then another, his seventh. Ouch.
Back in the dubs, it’s now 8-8 in a thrilling tiebreak; Nouza and Rikl are giving it everything.
Yeah, this is almost over. We go backwards and forwards, deuce to advantage, before an error from Majchrzak secures Khachanov his break and a 6-4 6-2 2-1 lead. It’s been really impressive stuff from the Russian.
Why do tennisers – like Khachanov – wear their baseball hats backwards? This isn’t a do you not think you’re too old for that point, rather I get why Majchrzak has his on the right way – when it’s sunny, it protects your eyes, and also creates a kind of tunnel vision. But I’ve not a clue as to why backwards is helpful, assuming the reason isn’t to protect the neck.
A hold apiece and we’re at 1-1 in the third, Khachanov by two sets to love; in the dubs, we do indeed have a second-et breaker.
Back in the dubs, Nouza and Rikl must again serve to stay in a set at 5-7 5-6. Can they force a breaker?
It’s been the definitive shot of this match so far, and it seals set two: Khachanov spirits a backhand winner down the line and he leads 6-4 6-2.
Majchrzak holds, forcing Khachanov to serve for set two at 6-4 5-2. There’s no sense whatsoever than he won’t see it out.
Khachanov endorses the break to 15 and Majchrzak must now serve to stay in the second set. The crowd try to lift him…
Same same on No 3: it’s tight, 3-3 in the second, but you feel that, at some point, Arevalo and Pavic will find a break.
Oh dear. I nip to get a drink, return to see Majchrzak is down a point for a double-break, and when he tamely nets the second set is almost gone. Khachanov, who’s playing really well, leads 6-4 4-1.
And Khachanov then consolidates comfortably. Thus far, Majchrzak has nothing for him; he needs to get out of these baseline rallies because they just aren’t working for him.
Our players swap holds at the start of set two, then at 30-all on the Majchrzak serve, Khachanov coaxes yet another winner down the line. He’s winning the battle from the back and, shonuff, at 30-40 a backhand into the net hands him the break. It’s looking very, very good for him at 6-4 2-1.
In typical fashion, Arevalo and Pavic break Nouza and Rikl at the final time of asking in set one, taking it 7-5. These are very, very solid lads.
An ace gives Khachanov advantage, Majchrzak then nets a slice, and that ends set one. Khachanov leads 6-4.
At 15-0, Khachanov overhits, and finds himself in trouble in the next rally, sent chasing to the forehand corner as Majchrzak comes in … but from way back, he conjures a terrific winner down the line. Majchrzak, though, dominates the next point and this time makes it count; Khachanov responds with an ace and at 40-30, the first set is almost his … but he swipes a forehand wide, and is he tightening? To deuce we go.
Khachanov holds for 5-3, asking Majchrzak to serve to stay in set one … which he does with ease. Save that early break, he’s been impressive too, but he needs something quickly to avoid going behind.
Khachanov is playing nicely. There’s no complexity about what he’s doing – he’s hitting it well from the back, able to plant his feet while his opponent scurries, and I wonder if Majchrzak might try a few drops – he’s a clay-courter, so should have them is his armoury. In the meantime, he remains a break down at 3-4 in the first.
Khachanov consolidates nicely, and he’s in control of this set at 3.1 On No 3, it’s 2-2 in set one, Npiza and Rilk holding their own against Arevalo and Pavic.
At 30-all, Majchrzak swats a backhand wide, handing over break point, and Khachanov plays a fine rally, sending his man chasing from corner to corner, in the process opening an angle for a backhand winner down the line. He lets it go … and gives it too much! No matter: he soon forces another opportunity, converts, and leads 2-1.
Majchrzak holds comfortable for 1-0, then Khachanov does likewise, and that’s good see. Both men know what a chance this is for them – the winner meets Fritz or Thompson in the last eight, and it’s not too much to say they might never get such a goods one again.
And off go! Oh, and by the way, I’m also watching a men’s doubles match – Arevalo and Pavic, seeded one, are playing Nouza and Rikl.
Our players are out and knocking up.
Our first match, then. Khachanov has a good power game, but not much feel – his hands are hard, which makes him a hard-court specialist. Majchrzak, meanwhile, is a victim of the system: he took a drink that turned out to be contaminated and didn’t have the money to get proper legal assistance so took the strict liability and a year’s ban. Shortly afterwards, Jannik Sinner failed a doping test in similarly blameless circumstances, and accepted a three-month ban that entailed him missing almost nothing.
As a player, Majchrzak is solid – he’s fit and makes a lot of balls, with no massive strengths or weaknesses. He’s more of a clay-courter than a grass specialist, but the cosmos owes him one and, Coach Calv assures me, he’s a good lad, so.
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Also going on:
Preamble
Good morrow one and all and welcome to Wimbledon 2025 – day seven!
Anyone remember the 2002 World Cup? Allow me to refresh your memories, given it appears it was, in fact, quite some time ago. Anyhow, we had terrific group stages with shocks all over the show, problem being that when we got into the knockouts, we missed those whose elimination we’d thrilled to earlier on. Well, we’re kind of there now … and yet we’re still set up for another banger of a day.
On the men’s side of things, though, it almost doesn’t matter, so slim do the chances seem of players outside of Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz – who plays Andrey Rublev this evening – failing to comprise three of the last four and both final slots. Nevertheless, though, others will be sensing opportunity. Taylor Fritz, seeded five, will fancy himself to see off Jordan Thompson; Cam Norrie knows a fourth-round tie with Nicolas Jarry is pretty decent state of affairs; and Karen Khachanov could scarcely ask for more than a match against Kamil Majchrzak – on the way back following the misery of a contaminated supplement and accordant doping ban – to make the last eight.
In the women’s competition, meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka will have been cackling at the carnage – while sailing into the last 16 without losing a set. There’s not much about Elise Mertens’ game that suggests another shock is likely today, but having lozzed Elina Svitolina in Friday, she’ll be feeling herself.
Otherwise, the surging Sonay Kartal meets Anastasia Pvlyuchenkova, with the winner facing what’ll feel like a winnable quarter-final too – Linda Noskova meets Amanda Anisimova, so disappointing in the final at Queen’s, to decide who that’ll be. Add to that Solana Sierra – the 21-year-old qualifier having the time of her life – against the 37-year-old Laura Siegemund, who binned Madison Keys in round three – and it’ll be no surprise to once again read the words women’s tennis is the most unpredictable sport in the world. Let’s get involved!
Play: 11am BST No 2 Court, 1pm BST No 1 Court, 1.30pm BST Centre Court
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