Match report
Time to sign off from another thrilling, relentless day of action at the All-England Club. I’ll leave you with Tumaini Carayol’s report from Centre Court. Thanks for joining me. Bye!
Saturday's order of play
Centre Court (1.30pm BST start)
Jannik Sinner (1) v Pedro Martínez
Iga Swiatek (8) v Danielle Collins
Miomir Kecmanovic v Novak Djokovic (6)
No 1 Court (1pm BST start)
Mirra Andreeva (7) v Hailey Baptiste
Barbora Krejcikova (17) v Emma Navarro (10)
Ben Shelton (10) v Marton Fucsovics
No 2 Court (11am BST start)
Clara Tauson (23) v Elena Rybakina (11)
Alex de Minaur (11) v August Holmgren
No 3 Court (11am BST start)
Daria Kasatkina (16) v Liudmila Samsonova (19)
Grigor Dimitrov (19) v Sebastian Ofner
Court 12 (11am BST start)
F Cobolli (22) v Jakub Mensik (15)
Zeynep Sonmez v Ekaterina Alexandrova (18)
Singles matches/selected courts only; full schedule here
Today's headlines
Sabalenka denies Raducanu in epic battle
Kartal sweeps past Parry to reach last 16
Norrie marches on with win over Bellucci
Siegemund shines, Keys and Osaka go out
Shelton finishes off match in 70 seconds
Australia’s Thompson sets up Fritz clash
Draper claims line calls ‘not 100% accurate’
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Raducanu might feel disappointed at the way things unravelled from 4-1 and break point up – but she can take a lot of positives from her performance. She found ways to rattle the world No 1, and showed tremendous mental toughness to repel seven set points in the first set. In the end, though, Sabalenka wasn’t to be denied.
Emma Raducanu left Centre Court prior to that interview, cheered to the rafters. Her defeat means that two British players remain in the singles draws – Sonay Kartal and Cam Norrie.
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Let’s hear from Aryna Sabalenka now. “She played such incredible tennis, I had to fight for every point like crazy. I’m happy to see her healthy and back on track, I’m pretty sure she can get back to the top 10. I just tried to put the pressure on her.”
She thanks the crowd for the atmosphere. “I just pretending you were cheering for me,” she jokes. “I’ve had recent experiences where I completely lost myself, and I just kept telling myself, ‘don’t make that mistake again.’”
Her verdict on the match? “I’ll just say wow – unbelievable.” Which is fair enough.
Aryna Sabalenka beats Emma Raducanu 7-6, 6-4!
Raducanu misses a half-chance at a return down the line, and Sabalenka moves 30-0 up with a backhand winner. An unreturnable forehand brings up three match points, a missed winner and double fault get the crowd murmuring again, but Raducanu sends the next serve into the net. It’s all over, and the world No 1 prevails!
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Second set: *Sabalenka 7-6, 5-4 Raducanu (*denotes next server) One break point is fended off but Sabalenka is simply too good on the next, a skidding, low return down the line sealing the break. Fifteen minutes ago, a decider looked certain – now Sabalenka can serve it out.
Second set: *Sabalenka 7-6, 4-4 Raducanu (*denotes next server) Raducanu lets Sabalenka stay in the point too long, then skews an awkward volley wide. A wild forehand, and another unforced error into the net, and suddenly Raducanu is staring at three break points …
Second set: Sabalenka 7-6, 4-4 Raducanu* (*denotes next server) So, from double-break point up, Raducanu has let her level drop slightly and been punished by the world No 1. Sabalenka is back on top, crouching to find the line with a backhand and drilling down a 110mph ace. And now, the pressure drops back onto Raducanu’s shoulders …
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Second set: *Sabalenka 7-6, 3-4 Raducanu (*denotes next server) Having looked second-best for the last few games, Sabalenka unleashes a cross-court winner to earn break point – but Raducanu rescues it by changing direction after a net cord almost throws her off balance. Sabalenka is locked in again now, though, and has too much in the next two rallies, Raducanu sending the ball long.
Second set: *Sabalenka 7-6, 2-4 Raducanu (*denotes next server) Sabalenka looks furious with herself after netting from a presentable chance. She’s not rediscovered her first-set level, but from 40-15 up, Raducanu nets a shot down the line, and then can’t get up to a drop shot in time. It’s another deuce …
Second set: Sabalenka 7-6, 2-4 Raducanu* (*denotes next server) Sabalenka outlasts Raducanu in the next rally, and digs out the hold with an ace down the middle. Still, it’s advantage Raducanu in this second set.
Second set: Sabalenka 7-6, 1-4 Raducanu* (*denotes next server) Raducanu is coping with Sabalenka’s pace now, and a lovely backhand down the line gets her 0-30 in front. Sabalenka fights back with big body serves, but despite slipping in the next point, Raducanu gets to the net and sets up a double-break point. She goes long, much to the crowd’s dismay, and it’s deuce.
Second set: *Sabalenka 7-6, 1-4 Raducanu (*denotes next server) Raducanu was pegged back after breaking in the first set, mainly because Sabalenka quickly upped her level. She stays in the rally here, all 14 shots of it, to go 0-30 up.
Raducanu needs to break this pattern, and gets back to 30-all with a sliced second serve, then game point with a body serve. Suddenly it’s Sabalenka on the back foot, and a tidy volley backs up the break!
Second set: Sabalenka 7-6, 1-3 Raducanu* (*denotes next server) Elise Mertens awaits in the next round for the winner; the Belgian has won two doubles slams alongside Sabalenka. But never mind that – Sabalenka’s forehand radar has gone awry again, a fourth unforced error helping Raducanu edge ahead. Two break points earned as Sabalenka misreads a bounce, and an excellent return gets it done!
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Second set: *Sabalenka 7-6, 1-2 Raducanu (*denotes next server) Raducanu has her first serve working well, holding to 15, Sabalenka’s only point coming from a double fault.
Second set: Sabalenka 7-6, 1-1 Raducanu* (*denotes next server) If Raducanu is to turn this match around, it might take until tomorrow – the curfew is around 95 minutes away. Sabalenka appears to be cruising at 40-15, but mistimes a drop shot. No matter – a Raducanu forehand sits up and is drilled into the corner.
Second set: *Sabalenka 7-6, 0-1 Raducanu (*denotes next server) After battling so hard to stay in that set, then missing a chance to serve it out, Emma Raducanu now has to hold in order to keep Sabalenka in her sights. She gets a welcome bit of luck here, Sabalenka’s slice missing the line by a hair’s breadth, and holds to 15.
“This doesn’t feel like a third-round match,” says Tracy Austin on the BBC, and I’m inclined to agree. Austin also notes that Raducanu got ahead in the set by stepping back from the baseline, only for Sabalenka to wrest it back by coming in to the net.
Sabalenka wins the first set 7-6 (8-6)!
Sabalenka finds her fastest serve yet to earn an eighth set point – and this time, she leaves Raducanu no room at the net and feathers a volley to finally settle a titanic, 74-minute set!
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First-set tie-break: Sabalenka 6-6 Raducanu On second serve, deep into the rally, Sabalenka digs out an outrageous spinning drop shot. We change ends again; I can’t quite believe someone will lose this set, but there we are.
First-set tie-break: Sabalenka 5-6 Raducanu Sabalenka has been a touch too keen on a couple of big points, going for a volley which flies wide after racing up to the net. Five-all, on Raducanu’s serve, and she has her first set point as Sabalenka nets her return …
First-set tie-break: Sabalenka 5-4 Raducanu A chance for Raducanu to go down the line with Sabalenka at the net, but she opts to try and go across her opponent, and is picked off. Another mini-break, cancelled out by a strong Raducanu return – but the world No 1 then finds the sharpest of angles to edge back in front …
First-set tie-break: Sabalenka 3-3 Raducanu On second serve, Raducanu goes for the corner but sends it just wide. She gets the better of the next rally, though, and it’s 3-3 at the changeover.
First-set tie-break: Sabalenka 2-2 Raducanu Aryna Sabalenka has won her last 12 tie-breaks, by the way, and she takes the first point with an overhead smash. Raducanu finds an ace, but misses the baseline again with a backhand. A smooth slice and a nice change of direction gets Raducanu back level …
First set: *Sabalenka 6-6 Raducanu (*denotes next server) The first is cheaply surrendered as Sabalenka nets, and then an ambitious backhand down the line flies wide. But just as Raducanu looks to be back in the game, a forehand drifts long. A tie-break it is …
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First set: *Sabalenka 5-6 Raducanu (*denotes next server) Sabalenka eats up a second serve – just 4 of 13 points won by Raducanu so far – to go 30-0 up. A drop shot and a perfectly judged lob earn her three break points. Can she convert this time?
First set: *Sabalenka 5-6 Raducanu (*denotes next server) Exceptional fortitude from Raducanu in the last two games – and now she’s serving for the first set. Will it be straightforward? Probably not. After putting an ice pack on her hip at the changeover, the British No 1 is welcomed back with a venomous return winner from Sabalenka …
First set: Sabalenka 5-6 Raducanu* (*denotes next server) Raducanu wins the next to earn two break points, cheered on by her friends, who have packed out the players’ box. Sabalenka gets a fortunate net-cord bounce, but in the next rally, it’s Raducanu who takes charge – and breaks again!
First set: Sabalenka 5-5 Raducanu* (*denotes next server) Raducanu, reinvigorated by that remarkable game, floats a winner down the line – and then another, this time hit flat and leaving Sabalenka on her heels. 0-30. What a set this is. But then Raducanu, trying to chase down a drop shot, slips and lands heavily. Sabalenka is up to the net to check on her, but thankfully, she seems OK.
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First set: *Sabalenka 5-5 Raducanu (*denotes next server) We’re past the eight-minute mark, and a ferocious return earns set point No 6. A spinning second serve is wildly mishit. Sabalenka drills a 90mph forehand to earn set point No 7 … but the backhand return flies long on second serve!
Raducanu finally earns her first game point, spin and slice helping her dictate the point. But then a drop-slice fails to make it over the net. Twelve minutes … and Raducanu wisely goes back to Sabalenka’s backhand on serve to win the next point. The world No 1 then skids an effort long and Raducanu holds! Seven set points, seen off.
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First set: *Sabalenka 5-4 Raducanu (*denotes next server) A big test of nerve here, serving to stay in the set – and she absorbs a big forehand, steering it into the open court. Sabalenka is really unleashing her power now though, and earns a break and set point – saved by an ace down the middle.
Another break/set point is won in a rally, and saved with an accurate first serve – but Raducanu is struggling to keep the length on her shots, and loses her footing to offer up another break point. Again, it’s rescued by her first serve – and she repeats the trick on Sabalenka’s fourth set point. What next? Oh, a double fault – but Sabalenka then sends her attempted winner wide …
Raducanu was checking her strings after struggling to control the ball in the last couple of games – but it’s Sabalenka who gets a new racket, freshly restrung, delivered by her hitting partner. She looks a bit confused, having turned the set around with her current choice of racket, but eventually accepts it.
First set: Sabalenka 5-4 Raducanu* (*denotes next server) Sabalenka has made a few uncharacteristic errors and looked a little downbeat, but she’s finding her groove now, making it nine points in a row before Raducanu finds the baseline at 40-0 down. It’s a brief reprieve, Sabalenka smashing down an unreturnable serve.
First set: *Sabalenka 4-4 Raducanu (*denotes next server) One surprising early stat is that Raducanu is winning more of the longer rallies. She’s played a solid defensive game so far, but is in a bit of trouble here at 0-30 down, a second serve belted back down the line by Sabalenka.
The slice that’s been serving Raducanu so well drifts long, and Sabalenka has three break points. She takes the first, Raducanu again unable to keep the ball in court as her opponents finds an extra gear.
First set: Sabalenka 3-4 Raducanu* (*denotes next server) Raducanu queries a call with the umpire, with Hawk-Eye suggesting the ball was in by 0.4mm. It helps Sabalenka to 40-0, and while a delicate Raducanu drop shot prolongs the game, she grinds her way through the next rally.
First set: *Sabalenka 2-4 Raducanu (*denotes next server) A long way to go, of course, but this is about as good a start as Emma Raducanu could have hoped for. An ace and a smashed volley make it 10/10 first-serve points won and when she lets Sabalenka back into a point, the world No 1 sends a floating shot a fraction wide. The fine margins going Raducanu’s way, so far.
First set: Sabalenka 2-3 Raducanu* (*denotes next server) Sabalenka is the world’s top player by a distance, but has suffered painful defeats in two slam finals this year. At 30-all, there’s another test of mettle as Raducanu hits a winner down the line despite a stumble.
A mighty ace down the middle takes care of that, but Sabalenka then mistimes a forehand. Break point, saved neatly at the net, but Raducanu gets another chance. She somehow returns a brutal first serve, and Sabalenka eventually nets!
First set: *Sabalenka 2-2 Raducanu (*denotes next server) An encouraging service hold for Raducanu, holding to love with two aces in the mix. Now she changes rackets to return, an interesting tactic that we also saw Laura Siegemund use effectively earlier on today.
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First set: Sabalenka 2-1 Raducanu* (*denotes next server) I should add that the roof was closed in the break between matches, to avoid any further delay later on. Sabalenka has made some early unforced errors but shows signs of finding her range here, a fizzing backhand securing the game.
First set: *Sabalenka 1-1 Raducanu (*denotes next server) A big moment for Raducanu after a strong opening game – there’s an early double fault, a bold ace out wide and a miss from Sabalenka as she holds to 15.
First set: Sabalenka 1-0 Raducanu* (*denotes next server) A couple of missed shots early on from Sabalenka bring up our first deuce – and Raducanu punches an 82mph return for break points. A pair of huge first serves turn things around, and Sabalenka comes in behind her serve to secure the hold.
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Emma Raducanu and Aryna Sabalenka are out on court, ready for battle. There are a few empty seats around Centre Court, but they still get a rapturous reception.
Karen Khachanov beats Nuno Borges in five sets!
After one final, punishing rally, both players chasing from side to side, Khachanov puts a winner just out of his opponent’s reach, and slumps to the floor. He’ll face Kamil Majchrzak next and will be favourite, not that it means much at this year’s Championship.
Khachanov takes charge early on, and leads 8-3 in a first-to-10 race. Borges fights back, though, saving two match points on serve to trail 9-8. But now his opponent has ball in hand …
Just one live singles match still ongoing – Borges and Khachanov are locked in a super-tie-breaker, after the Russian broke back to deny Borges victory. That match has been going on for three hours and 45 minutes.
Carlos Alcaraz chats to Annabel Croft. “I knew this would be very difficult, his game is very well-suited to grass. I try to take the opportunities that he brought to me, and I’m just pleased to get the win in four sets. It was stressful! Any time he could push me, he did it. It was just a case of trying to survive. Then he missed that volley – I can’t believe I’m standing here now.”
He’s also asked about playing golf with Andy Murray recently – he says they played twice recently, and won a round each. “We need a decider,” he adds, and everyone on Centre Court chuckles gently, because this is Wimbledon.
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Carlos Alcaraz beats Jan-Lennard Struff 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4!
From being mired in a real battle, Alcaraz has the chance to serve out and get off court. He does so in style, holding to love – and Struff will be left to rue an easy volley on game point just a few moments ago. Too late now: the defending champion is through.
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“It was nerve wracking at the end,” Mertens says. “I didn’t know what the score was … I lost to her a week ago [at Bad Homburg], she’s an incredible player so I’m very happy with the win.” What was different this week? “It’s Wimbledon! It’s special.” Mertens has a great doubles record here, having reached at least the semis for the last four years – and she has a match tomorrow.
A double-fault from Struff, his ninth of the match, and at a pivotal moment, 40-30 up on serve. He fights back to earn another game point, then coughs up another double. It’s a puzzling game, with both players hitting lovely shots and making weird mistakes, but Alcaraz finds the line with a cross-court winner for break point … and takes it when Struff nets!
Elise Mertens beats Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-6 (4)!
The tie-break momentum swings Mertens’ way and Svitolina can’t fight back, netting a forehand as her opponent books her fourth-round place. The first set took 26 minutes, the second 72 minutes, but the crucial detail is that Mertens won them both.
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On No.1 Court, Svitolina takes a 3-0 lead but Mertens pegs it back to 4-2 at the changeover, and then 4-4 as she looks to get the job done in two sets. The winner of this match, incidentally, will play Sabalenka or Raducanu next …
Alcaraz can’t shake Struff off, slipping 0-30 down on serve and holding his wrist between points. A delightful drop-shot and big first serve down the middle get him back in the game, and he wraps up the hold as Struff skids an effort long.
Can Svitolina take the second set to a tie-break? A fifth double-fault doesn’t help her cause, and she then goes long to slip 15-30 down. Mertens sends an attempted winner wide, though, and her opponent holds with a winner deep into the corner.
Alcaraz living on the edge, some scruffy shots allowing Struff a break point – but he closes down a cross-court volley, lifting the ball back just inside the baseline. He holds to make it 3-3 in the fourth, while Mertens battles to stay on serve in the second set against Svitolina.
Struff v Alcaraz passes the two-hour mark, still on serve in the fourth set with the German leading 3-2. On No 3 Court, Portugal’s Nuno Borges – wearing a black ribbon in a tribute to Diogo Jota – has broken Khachanov in the decider. Is another seed on his way out?
What a day for Laura Siegemund – having stunned Madison Keys in singles earlier, she’s just won her doubles opener alongside Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia. The pair defeated the American duo of Hailey Baptiste and Caty McNally 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.
Just over a year ago, Jarry was ranked 16th in the world – but has been struggling ever since with vestibular neuritis, a nerve disorder which causes vertigo and dizziness. Having fallen outside the world’s top 200, he battled through qualifiers to reach here and has now beaten Holger Rune and Fonseca to reach the last 16.
“Every day is a battle,” the Chilean told the ATP website. “Every month it’s a bit better. I have to reteach my body and my eyes to do certain things. While I improve in my tennis, the other skills also are improving on the same path. Right now I’ve been able to have a good all-around package to be able to compete at this level.”
Nicolás Jarry beats João Fonseca 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6! Fonseca’s hopes of a deep run at his first Wimbledon are over as qualifier Jarry seals victory in the fourth-set tie-break – and sets up a last-16 meeting with Cameron Norrie.
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Elina Svitolina is hanging on, saving break points at 6-1, 4-3 down and levelling the set with a forehand that clips the very edge of the line. On Centre, Struff has held firm early in the fourth set, and leads 2-1 on serve.
More tennis players in songs: “Another mention for the dynamic duo (Venus and Serena) courtesy of Ludacris – My Chick Bad. Wouldn’t advise listening to it though,” writes Tor Turner.
Meanwhile, Brad Elliott informs me that “If Loving You Is Wrong, from Faithless’ debut album, had a somewhat raunchy reference to Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.”
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More from the women’s draw, where Madison Keys and Naomi Osaka both went out earlier today.
Alcaraz wins third set, leads Struff 2-1! Carlitos gets the job done and is a set away from the fourth round. After this match on Centre Court, there’s still Aryna Sabalenka v Emma Raducanu to come …
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Speaking of Borges and Khachanov – the Russian has taken the fourth set 6-3, and they’re going to a decider on No 3 Court. Svitolina broke Mertens to open the second set, but the Belgian immediately hit back, and leads 3-2 in the second set.
Here’s our report on Cam Norrie, something of a forgotten figure to British tennis fans, who has bounced back in style to reach the last 16.
Kamil Majchrzak beats Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 7-6, 7-6! Disappointment for Rinderknech, who couldn’t follow up his shock win over Zverev – instead it’s his Polish opponent, currently ranked No 109 in the world, who advances to face either Nuno Borges or Karen Khachanov in the last 16.
More tennis players in songs: “Conchita Martinez” by Saint Etienne, nominated by Gavin Broad; and Chris Fagg points out that rapper Lil Wayne loves a tennis reference, sampling Elena Dementieva’s grunts and name-dropping Roger Federer, Steffi Graf and others.
Some strong words from coach Goran Ivanisevic for Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has drifted down to 24th in the world rankings and only played two sets at this year’s tournament before retiring.
“He’s too good a player to be out of the top 10. He wants, but he doesn’t do anything. I was shocked, I have never seen a more unprepared player in my life. With this knee, I am three times more fit than him. This is really bad.”
Struff immediately slips back into bad habits on serve, three double faults in one game allowing Alcaraz an early break in the third set. The Spaniard quickly backs it up to lead 3-0.
Mertens has wrapped up the first set against Svitolina, winning it 6-1. If the Ukrainian can’t turn things around, that will leave just six of the top 16 women’s seeds remaining in the draw.
“Kendrick Lamar notably mentioned Serena Williams in his Drake diss-track, ‘Not Like Us’,” writes Jack Synnott. “And she appeared on stage with Kendrick at this year’s Super Bowl!” Of course. And another mention for the legendary sisters from Super Furry Animals, courtesy of Paul Turner.
Struff levels with Alcaraz at 1-1: Despite a quite brilliant diving volley to save a point, Alcaraz can’t stop Struff from serving out the set – and the defending champion is in a match here.
Jordan Thompson beats Luciano Darderi 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3! The Australian is into the fourth round here for the first time – which is something of a surprise, given that he’s a decent grass-court player. Next up, the No 5 seed, Taylor Fritz.
Struff is growing into this match, a deft volley putting Alcaraz under pressure on serve, and he has a break point when his opponent fails to land a winner down the line under pressure. He converts it, too, nailing a backhand return – and will now serve for the second set!
On tennis players in songs, David Dyte writes: “You mean Michael Jackson wasn’t singing about Billie Jean King?”
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Alcaraz promptly drops out of the zone, handing back the break to Struff. The German leads 3-2 on serve in the second set. On No 1 Court, Mertens has an early break against Svitolina.
On a random topic: which tennis players are mentioned in songs? I can only think of John McEnroe (in “Jump Around”) and a “Venus and Serena” mention in Snoop Dogg’s Signs (feat. Justin Timberlake). There must be more, surely?
Jan-Lennard Struff (or JLS, if you prefer) has tried to switch things up in this second set, but Alcaraz is in the zone and quickly breaks to move 2-1 up. Elsewhere, João Fonseca has got a set on the board but trails Nicolas Jarry 2-1, while Nuno Borges is 5-1 up on Khachanov in the third set, looking to edge in front.
Alcaraz serves out the set, and Struff will need to up his game – particularly on serve – if he’s to make this much of a contest. Next up on No 1 Court after Norrie’s win, a rare match between two seeds as Elise Mertens (24) takes on Elina Svitolina (14).
Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak is two sets up against Arthur Rinderknech, the conqueror of Sacha Zverev in the last round. Majchrzak had never won a singles match here before this year and in his grass-court warm-ups, he went out in the first round in Birmingham, Ilkley and Eastbourne. Then he turned up here and beat the former finalist Matteo Berrettini.
Thanks, Katy. Carlos Alcaraz isn’t messing around – he’s raced into a 5-1 first-set lead over Struff, who’s been edgy and error-prone, and is serving for a 1-0 lead.
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With that, it’s time for me to take my leave. Niall is back to guide you through the rest of the day …
“You guys were amazing today,” Norrie tells the crowd. “It definitely changed the momentum of the match. I wasn’t thinking [about being the last British man standing] but I’ll take it. I started a bit over-confident, he started great, and I stole the first set. He was a bit up and down [after that] and I tried to stay as solid as I could. It was a lot of fun. Hopefully I can play my next match on Court 1 too.”
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Norrie beats Bellucci 7-6, 6-4, 6-3
Bellucci brings up his advantage, but again makes a messy mistake. And another. Norrie has match point … and Bellucci biffs long! Norrie, Britain’s last remaining man, is into the last 16 for the second time, having gone all the way to the semi-finals in 2022. This is now the joint-furthest he’s gone at any slam since then. He’ll face the winner of Fonseca v Jarry, with Jarry, the Chilean qualifier, still two sets to love up in that.
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Norrie is serving for the match at 7-6, 6-4, 5-2. He’s swiftly broken to 15. At least he’s got the comfort of another break – but if Bellucci holds here the pressure will only rise. From 15-all, Bellucci swats away a forehand winner. Now that the pressure is off for the Italian, he’s swinging freely. Another fierce forehand and Norrie nets. 40-15. But out of nowhere Bellucci makes two errors and it’s deuce!
Fonseca falls two sets down, 6-3, 6-4, against Jarry. Which has silenced the Brazilian fans a little on No 2 Court. And Arthur Rinderknech, the Frenchman who’s played on every day of the championships so far and saw off Alexander Zverev in five sets in the first round, may finally be getting a day off, because he’s close to dropping two sets down against Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak.
Here comes Carlitos. Fritz’s victory means that the defending champion is up next on Centre, against the 35-year-old German Jan-Lennard Struff, who stretched Alcaraz to five sets in the first round back in 2022. But that was before Alcaraz turned into a Wimbledon winning machine. Alcaraz hasn’t lost a match here since that year. And he hasn’t lost a match anywhere since April, with his 20-match winning streak taking in the Rome, French Open and Queen’s titles.
The court is shrinking for Bellucci, as Norrie, with the break in the third set, moves 7-6, 6-4, 3-1 ahead. Bellucci has some choice Italian words for his team as she falls 0-30 behind on serve, but looks resigned to his fate as it becomes 0-40. Norrie gets the double break with a cute volley … and quickly reaches for an ice towel at the changeover, but at 7-6, 6-4, 4-1, he’ll probably be in a post-match ice bath instead fairly soon.
… we do get to find out what Fritz makes of his victory, though. Unsurprisingly, he’s very happy. And remarkably he says that his body is feeling better as the rounds go by, despite two five-setters and a four-setter today, in which he also had two medical timeouts for blisters and an elbow problem.
“Hello Katy,” emails Michael Cosgrove. “D-Fok is indeed a convenient way of typing Davidovich Fokina’s name, but always remember the golden rule which stipulates that one should never precede ‘D-Fok’ by ‘what’.”
So I probably shouldn’t ask what D-Fok makes of his defeat then …
Fritz beats Davidovich Fokina 6-4, 6-3, 6-7, 6-1
Hands are being shaken on Centre Court, because Fritz has zoomed through the fourth set 6-1, and will be mightily relieved to have avoided another five-setter. The fifth seed has been the most successful player on grass this season, winning the Stuttgart and Eastbourne titles. But will the 14 sets he’s played already in three matches here catch up with him? He’s likely to play Australia’s Jordan Thompson in the last 16. Thompson is two sets to the good, 6-4, 6-4, against Italy’s Luciano Darderi.
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Back on No 1 Court, Norrie is serving for the second set at 7-6, 5-4, 30-all. He duly brings up set point, but then goes for a little bit too much on his forehand. Deuce. Advantage Norrie, a second set point. Game and second set Norrie, courtesy of an ace. The spectators on his lucky No 1 Court rise in appreciation; the Brit has a 7-0 career record on this court, and is well set to make it eight. Bellucci has never come from two sets to love down.
Niall wrote earlier about how the All England Club has relaxed its all-white dress code to allow Portuguese players to pay tribute to their countryman and footballer Diogo Jota after his death yesterday. Nuno Borges is wearing a black ribbon on his cap during his match against Karen Khachanov. The score is 5-5 in the opening set.
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Though Simon Cambers is daring to challenge the All England Club and has decided on 70 seconds. Here’s his report:
When you’ve had to wait a whole night to finish your match, what’s another 70 seconds between friends? Three aces and an unreturnable kick serve did the job for Ben Shelton as he sealed his place in the third round at Wimbledon on Friday with a 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 win over Rinky Hijikata, the smile on his face a far cry from the understandable frustration he showed when the match was suspended late the previous evening.
The match had been controversially suspended at 9.29pm on Thursday night, with Shelton due to serve for victory. The two players had been in discussion with the umpire, Nacho Forcadell, earlier in the set to see if the match could be suspended because the court was becoming slippery, but the pair played on until the announcement was made at 5-4, prompting jeers from the crowd.
The All England Club told the Guardian that the match had been called off because of fading light, while Shelton said he had been given a “five-minute warning until the Hawk-Eye was going down”. “That was including the changeover, so [he said] there wouldn’t be enough time to complete the game. I was telling him, ‘I only need 60 seconds’. That’s kind of what my goal was when I went out there today.”
Shelton said the umpire had told him he did not want the line-calling system to go down in the middle of a game. “At that point I’m not as upset about that decision. It was a difficult decision that was forced because of what they did earlier.”
The rest is here.
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Gone in 69 seconds. Here’s how Ben Shelton finished the job against Rinky Hijikata earlier:
It’s fiesta time for the fans on No 2 Court, where the brilliant Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca is taking on Chile’s Nicolas Jarry in a noisy South American derby. The 18-year-old Fonseca will be the youngest man to reach the last 16 since 2011 if he wins, but has lost the first set 6-3.
Bellucci already looks like a young Roger Federer, and now he’s self-combusting like a young Roger Federer, as he hands an early break to Norrie in the second set. Norrie leads 7-6, 2-1.
Fritz recovers to 5-5, D-Fok gets a set point at 6-5 … and a backhand from Fritz flops into the net! Fritz has been hauled back to 6-4, 6-3, 6-7, having served for the match only moments ago.
Davidovich Fokina, or D-Fok as I may call him from now on, holds. So Fritz will need to win a tie-break if he’s to settle this in straight sets. The first six points are shared, so it’s 3-3 at the change of ends. And a Fritz double fault gives D-Fok the mini break for 5-3! That’s an inopportune moment to throw in a first double.
Kamilla Rakhimova’s run is over. The conqueror of last year’s runner-up Jasmine Paolini has lost 7-6, 7-5 to the Czech 30th seed Linda Noskova, who’ll face Anisimova next.
Fritz is broken serving for the match at 6-4, 6-3, 5-3. After two medical timeouts, for blisters on his feet and an issue with his elbow, the marathon man could really do with getting the job done in straight sets. The last thing he wants to do is get dragged into a third successive five-setter.
… which turns into 5-3, which should really then be 6-3, but Norrie makes a total mess of his volley! Instead they’re back on serve, with Norrie 5-4 ahead. At 5-5, an attritional rally between the two left-handers ends with a brilliant backhand pass from Norrie! Set point. And Norrie nabs the set 7-5 in the breaker, having earlier been 4-2 down in games, when Bellucci shanks his forehand!
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It’s tie-break time between Norrie and Bellucci. Norrie begins the breaker with some old-school chip and charge, and it’s a tactic that comes off. 2-0. And 3-1, when Norrie unloads with a forehand cross-court winner after a lengthy exchange. Bellucci, who looks like an early-days Federer with his ponytail and headband, looks a little rattled, and they change ends at 4-2 …
And here’s Yara El-Shaboury’s report:
Sonay Kartal reached the fourth round at a major for the first time with a dominant 6-4, 6-2 victory over the French qualifier Diane Parry.
Kartal started the third-round match on No 1 Court aggressively, putting Parry on the defensive, and unleashing an overhead smash winner to lead 30-15 in her opponent’s opening service game. Parry rallied with a beautiful forehand down the line before Kartal brought the game to deuce and earned a break point. Parry, undeterred, saved it with a well-placed volley winner and ultimately held serve after a hard-fought six-minute game.
The world No 103 then broke in Kartal’s first service game. The British No 3 fired down two successive aces before seeing her efforts negated by a double fault, pushing the game to deuce. Parry’s willingness to approach the net paid off handsomely, as a deft backhand volley winner earned her a break point and she secured it with a forehand into the corner.
Parry held serve to 30 in the third game, with an inch-perfect slice from her single-handed backhand, putting the pressure firmly on her opponent. The Frenchwoman continued to dominate at the net, executing a brilliant stretch volley winner off a backhand pass. However, after 21 minutes of play, Kartal finally got on the board, holding serve to 30, much to the appreciation of the Court No 1 crowd.
The tide began to turn in the sixth game of the first set with Kartal holding serve with an ace to finish the job. The atmosphere on Court No 1 was tense as she then surged to a 0-40 lead in the next game, earning three break points. Parry bravely saved the first two but the crowd roared their encouragement for the home player. Cue a tense, cat-and-mouse rally: Kartal attempted a drop shot, Parry dug out a shot to the baseline, and Kartal, opting for a down-the-line backhand instead of a lob, netted the shot. Parry’s second double-fault of the match presented Kartal with a fourth break point and her low slice forced Parry to net a forehand, and secured the break back.
You can read the rest here.
Norrie nudges 6-5 ahead on serve in the opening set. And Fritz is moving closer to the finish line, now 6-4, 6-3, 5-2 ahead against Davidovich Fokina.
Rublev’s asked on court about the positive reaction to the ATP documentary Breaking Back, in which he reflects on trying to gain a new outlook on life and tennis. He says the reaction has meant a lot to him. It’s such an absorbing watch:
Rublev beats Mannarino 7-5, 6-2, 6-3
While Siegemund was completing her victory, Norrie has been zooming through the games to get back to 4-4 in the opening set, but let’s go to No 3 Court first, because Andrey Rublev is serving for the match at 7-5, 6-2, 5-3 against France’s Adrian Mannarino. The normally self-combustible Rublev has been calm and composed today … but slips break point down. But Rublev recovers to deuce, his advantage and settles matters with an ace. Rublev’s prize (or punishment): a likely fourth-round meeting with Carlos Alcaraz.
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Thanks Niall. So another seed bites the dust. The 37th of these championships, to be exact. Having finally got her hands on a grand slam title, at the Australian Open this year, the feeling was that it could free Keys to win more majors, but it’s the 30-year-old’s earliest Wimbledon exit since 2019. For Siegemund, though, she now has a tremendous chance to reach the quarter-finals, because up next is the lucky loser Solana Sierra.
Laura Siegemund: “I’m really happy – you have to be when you beat a great player like that – it was a tough match, very windy out here today.”
Was she nervous at the end? “Yes, if you’re not nervous then, you’re probably dead. But pressure is a privilege, and I try to remember that. I only play for myself, I don’t need to prove myself to anyone – my boyfriend often reminds me of that. I know what I can and cannot do, and if I do well I win, but I stay the same person.”
Very philosophical stuff. Siegemund will next face Solana Sierra, the “lucky loser” tearing up the draw, in the last 16. And here’s Katy …
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Laura Siegemund beats Madison Keys 6-3. 6-3!
Keys moves 0-30 up,suddenly threatening to turn the match around – but Siegemund turns to her trusty drop shot, then finds the line with a lob to leave Keys shaking her head. A fourth match point – and this time, the return goes wide! Laura Siegemund, the oldest player in the women’s draw, is into the last 16 after a terrific old-school grass court performance – and another big game is out.
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Maybe it’s because Bellucci’s headband and ponytail are giving Federer vibes, but Norrie hasn’t got going yet – he’s 3-1 down and finding every service game a bit of a struggle. Meanwhile on Centre Court, Fritz has taken the second set against Davidovich Fokina but also needed a medical timeout to treat blisters on his foot.
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Keys lets out a scream of frustration as she slips 0-40 down, handing over three match points. She saves the first two with some ferocious hitting – and finally wins a point on second serve. We’re back to deuce, and two big first serves keep her in the game – but Siegemund will now serve for the match.
Norrie is made to work to get on the board, but holds serve in the third game. As for Madison Keys, she’s serving to stay in the tournament, 5-2 down against the irrepressible Siegemund.
In a year with a record number of seeds falling early, it’s almost a surprise to see Andrey Rublev still in the draw. He’s as prone to a baffling defeat as any other top-16 player, but is easing to victory against Mannarino, two sets and a break up. Unfortunately, his fourth-round opponent will probably be Carlos Alcaraz.
Here’s Yara El-Shaboury on Sonay Kartal’s landmark victory:
Bellucci breaks Norrie in the opening game, sapping the feelgood vibes somewhat. Norrie then races to 40-0 up on the Italian’s serve, but gets pegged back to deuce. Bellucci holds on to back up the break and go 2-0 up in the first set.
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Siegemund has rallied from a break down in the second set to lead 4-1, and Keys is on the brink of going out. If anything, her opponent is getting stronger, dominating at the net and punishing Keys for weak second serves.
Earlier today, Portuguese doubles player Francisco Cabral wore a black ribbon on his shirt as a tribute to his countryman, footballer Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident on Thursday. The All-England Club has relaxed its dress code to allow Cabral, and other Portuguese players, to wear a ribbon on court.
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Next up on No 1 Court, another home hopeful – it’s Cameron Norrie, taking on Mattia Bellucci. The Italian had never won a main-draw match here before this week, but defeated Jiri Lehecka in the last round while Norrie was taking care of Frances Tiafoe.
Keys is still having issues on serve – despite breaking in the first game of the second set, she’s quickly broken back as Siegemund reads an attempted serve-volley, charging up to the net and whipping a winner down the line.
On No.3 Court, Andrey Rublev has grabbed the first set from Adrian Mannarino, winning it 7-5 and breaking early in the second to take charge. Taylor Fritz is also a set and a break up in his Centre Court match with Alex Davidovich Fokina, while Linda Noskova has won her first set against Kamilla Rakhimova in a tie-break.
Madison Keys has lost the first set to Laura Siegemund, who is in the third round here for the first time at the age of 37. It wasn’t pretty from the Australian Open champ – 16 unforced errors, and no points won on her second serve.
It is, in fact, the world No 50 who awaits Kartal – Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, currently ranked one spot above her. The Russian eliminated Naomi Osaka earlier today, and has a wealth of grand-slam experience under her belt – although this is her first run to the second week at Wimbledon for nine years.
Sonay Kartal: “I started off very nervous, it’s the biggest stage I’ve played on. I appreciate you guys sticking behind me through every point, it really helps.”
“I feel like I’m growing with confidence every game,” she adds, and confirms she wants to get another tattoo to celebrate her run. “If anyone has any creative ideas, let me know.” As for the next match, “I’ll just try and play the opponent, not the occasion – whether I’m playing the No 1 or No 300 in the world, I respect them.”
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Sonay Kartal beats Diane Parry 6-4, 6-2!
Parry holds and Kartal will have her first chance to serve it out. She recovers from a mishit on the first point and an ace brings up match point … and victory is sealed as Parry’s return drifts long. She’s into the fourth round, and Wimbledon has a new hero.
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Fritz takes the first set against Davidovich Fokina, holding out to win it 6-4. On No 2 Court, Laura Siegemund leads the No 6 seed, Madison Keys, 4-2 in a match with plenty of early breaks of serve.
Parry ends the losing run, holding serve and then getting a sniff at 30-all on Kartal’s serve, but more clinical hitting gets the British No 3 through, and she’s now one game from the last 16.
Kartal wins her ninth game in a row, backing up a double-break with a comfortable hold as Parry nets, looking a little defeated. From 4-1 down in the first set, Kartal has hit a completely different level.
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Here’s this week’s big sports quiz. I got 12, since you ask.
Thanks, Katy. On Centre Court, Sonay Kartal breaks Parry to open the second set, and backs up the break when a looping forehand clips the line. The Briton is in charge of this match now.
Right, I’m off to get some lunch, so here’s Niall McVeigh to take good care of you …
Meanwhile in the men’s doubles, Britain’s defending champion Henry Patten, along with his Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara, have got the better of the British pair Billy Harris and Marcus Willis, winning the second-round match 7-6, 6-3.
Kudos to Kartal. Serving for the first set she looks so composed and calm. 15-0. 30-0. 40-0. Game and set. The British No 3 is a set away from a first appearance in the Wimbledon fourth round. It would be her first appearance in the last 16 of any slam.
Fritz, who already has 10 sets on the clock after two rounds, clearly fancies a quicker match today. He’s 3-1 up against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, a name you don’t want to be saying in a hurry.
Kartal holds and from 3-0 down, she’s level at 4-4. Parry is, for the first time, looking rather unsettled, and gives Kartal another sniff of a break when she double faults for deuce. The Frenchwoman’s forehand flies wide and it’s break point. Parry should really save the break point, when she lands a big serve and has a chance to bury the next shot … but nets! Kartal will serve for the first set at 5-4.
A fourth break point for Kartal … and this time she wins it when Parry nets! The crowd are screaming. Kartal looks like the calmest person in the house as she slowly strolls back to her chair. They’re back on serve, with Parry leading 4-3.
Kartal, with her retro Adidas look, still trails by that early break. But the British No 3 has got the No 1 Court crowd cheering as she sends down an ace to hold for 4-2. And she then gives Parry a taste of her own slicing medicine to get to 0-30 on the Frenchwoman’s serve. And now it’s 0-40. The longest rally of the match, 17 shots, follows … Kartal charges to the drop shot … but her forehand whistles wide. And the next two break points vanish too.
Shelton beats Hijikata 6-2, 7-5, 6-4
Make that two American winners, because Big Ben Shelton, so unhappy after being hauled off court because of bad light when he was serving for his second-round match against Rinky Hijikata last night, has slammed down three aces and one unreturned serve to complete a 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 win in 70 seconds.
Next up for the 10th seed is Marton Fucsovics, who also had to come back today, to finish off a five-set victory over Gael Monfils. Fucsovics took the decider 6-4.
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Speaking of the Americans, Taylor Fritz is due on Centre Court any minute now. And Anisimova, the Queen’s runner-up, has just edged through, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 against Galfi.
10 years ago here, #Wimbledon memorably made us another birthday cake, cutting it into small pieces and charging for it.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 4, 2025
This sort of passive aggressive behavior is why we had a revolution, tbh. pic.twitter.com/4mtS2UDFYC
Not too well is the answer, because the French qualifier Parry has already broken and it’s 2-0. Kartal is 51 in the world, Parry 118, but the rankings are a little misleading because Parry’s had some injury problems and has been as high as 48. And has a very dangerous backhand slice, which skids so viciously low on the grass. It’s giving Kartal all sorts of problems early on.
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Pavlyuchenkova beats Osaka 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
And just as Sierra finishes her on-court celebrations, Pavlyuchenkova’s are starting, because she’s come from a set down to defeat Osaka, holding for 5-4 and then breaking Osaka to 30 when Osaka sends a forehand long! So Osaka’s wait to get beyond the third round goes on. Osaka looks crushed. Kyrgios too. And me three. But no time to dwell on it, because we’ve got to get over to No 1 Court and see how Kartal’s getting on.
Sierra beats Bucsa 7-5, 1-6, 6-1
Sierra is lying on the grass on Court 12, because Argentina’s lucky loser has won the topsy-turvy battle of the underdogs and is into the fourth round! A fifth accommodation change may well be needed. Lovely scenes as she celebrates with her mum. The 21-year-old had never won a grand slam match before; now she’s into the last 16 and could face Madison Keys next.
Osaka holds to 30 for 4-4. Kyrgios is on his feet applauding. And the first balls are being struck on No 1 Court between Sonay Kartal and Diane Parry.
On Court 18, the 38-year-old Gael Monfils, perhaps playing his last Wimbledon (though I’m sure I wrote that last year too), has resumed his second-round match against Marton Fucsovics. And Fucsovics has a break in the decider, leading 4-2.
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Osaka’s resurgence continues as she sprints to 15-40 on Pavlyuchenkova’s serve. The Russian saves the first break point with a stinging serve … and the second with the calmest of backhand winners! Osaka didn’t even move to that. Deuce. Advantage Pavlyuchenkova. Deuce. Advantage Pavlyuchenkova. Deuce – how crucial could the outcome of this game prove to be? – advantage Pavlyuchenkova. Game Pavlyuchenkova. A gritty hold. Pavlyuchenkova leads 4-3 on serve in the final set.
Come on Naomi! A break out of nowhere to 15, and then she charges 40-0 ahead on serve. Cue a huge “C’MON!” And an even bigger one when she holds for 3-3. Game on.
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It’s been impressive from Pavlyuchenkova, from a set down, but how I’d love to see Osaka break new ground/grass by reaching the second week here for the first time. I want her to succeed in that same way I want Elina Svitolina to; their stories makes them so easy to root for. Osaka does at least hold for 3-1. Just as Galfi strikes a stunning backhand down the line to level the match at one set all against Anisimova!
Trouble for Osaka at deuce on her serve. Big trouble for Osaka at advantage Pavlyuchenkova. And even bigger trouble when Osaka double faults. Ach. It’s 2-0 in the decider. And four consecutive games for Pavlyuchenkova.
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The winner of Osaka v Pavlyuchenkova will face Britain’s Sonay Kartal or the French qualifier Diane Parry in the last 16. They’re up first on No 1 Court in about 20 minutes’ time. And Sierra v Bucsa is also going the distance, because Bucsa has bagged the second set 6-1.
Sierra is getting treatment for a blister. Not surprising given the amount of tennis she’s played over the last week, having competed in three matches in qualifying, before reaching the main draw as a lucky loser. Osaka, meanwhile, is set point down at 30-40 … and Pavlyuchenkova lets rip on the return! We’ve got ourselves another set of this to enjoy.
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Osaka, after holding for 4-4, has her eye in, and it’s 0-30. Pavlyuchenkova has her heart in her mouth on the next point, as she leaves the ball, which only just drops long. 15-30 becomes 15-40, two break points. Take one of these and Osaka will be serving for the match. But Pavlyuchenkova produces three huge, gutsy serves to bring up game point and holds from there. Instead of serving for the match, Osaka must hold to stay in the second set at 6-3, 4-5.
There’s nothing between Anisimova and Galfi in the second set. It’s 3-3. And Bucsa breaks Sierra for 3-1.
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Pavlyuchenkova doesn’t look impressed with that code violation, demonstrating to the umpire that she didn’t hit the grass hard. The umpire is immoveable. But Pavlyuchenkova doesn’t lose focus, holding to 15. It’s Osaka* 6-3, 3-4 Pavlyuchenkova.
Osaka, from 0-30 down, nails another forehand winner down the line. That shot is working so well for her today. A mis-hit from Pavlyuchenkova and it’s 30-all. A pin-point inside-in forehand from Osaka and it’s 40-30. But Osaka’s second double of the day gives Pavlyuchenkova a reprieve, and soon it’s break point. Pavlyuchenkova goes long, Osaka rattles off the next two points for a huge hold and Pavlyuchenkova gets a warning for giving the grass a little whack with her racket.
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Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, both Pavlyuchenkova and Osaka love to hit a hard ball, and Osaka makes another loud thump as she hits a forehand winner down the line for deuce on Pavlyuchenkova’s serve. She then drills another winning forehand down the line after successfully chasing down a drop shot. So here’s a break-back chance … and Pavlyuchenkova goes wide! Osaka, having been a point from dropping 4-0 down, is now back in the second set, trailing 3-2 on serve.
Sierra edges an absorbing opener against Bucsa 7-5.
No sooner than Osaka takes the first set, she’s in a bit of trouble, sliding 3-0 down in the second, as Pavlyuchenkova holds, breaks and then holds, finishing with a one-two punch straight out of the tennis textbook. Has Osaka’s focus waned or has Pavlyuchenkova upped her level? A bit of both, I’d say. Pavlyuchenkova even has points for a double break at 15-40 but this time Osaka holds firm. That could prove to be a key hold if Osaka is to win this in two sets. It’s Osaka 6-3, 1-3 Pavlyuchenkova*.
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Sierra can’t shake Bucsa off. Twice she’s broken and twice she’s been broken back, this time when serving for the set at 5-4. It’s now 5-5.
Osaka sends down back-to-back aces from deuce and that’s that, 6-3. She’s one set away from reaching the fourth round for the first time.
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It’s a similar story on No 2 Court, where Osaka is broken back, before seeing Pavlyuchenkova’s new level and raising it, immediately breaking for a 5-3 lead. Osaka looks as if she’s going to win the first set of the third round, but blinks on her two set points from 40-15, just as Anisimova wins her fifth game on the spin to take the opening set 6-3 against Galfi.
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As for Sierra, the Argentinian who lost in the third round of qualifying before being called up as a lucky loser and beating Britain’s Katie Boulter in round two, she’s just been broken back and it’s 3-3 against Bucsa. The world No 101 has already had to change her accommodation in London four times because of her unexpected run. “It’s a good problem to have,” she said after that win over Boulter. And move No 5 could be in the offing when she swiftly breaks again to lead 4-3.
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The RSI-inducing Pavlyuchenkova (let’s hope Osaka gets the business done quickly because my fingers/wrists are already hurting enough five days into the tournament without having to type the Russian’s name too often), is shaky on serve again, and has already hit three double faults, but she squeezes through from deuce to win her first game and reduce her arrears to 3-1.
A few venerable tennis observers have spoken of Amanda Anisimova as a possible champion here given the carnage in the women’s draw, especially in her quarter. The 23-year-old American started her campaign by serving up a double bagel to a distracted Yulia Putintseva, and won in straight sets in the second round too, but she’s been broken in the early exchanges against Galfi and trails 3-1.
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Make that 3-0 Osaka. Nick Kyrgios, who will play alongside Osaka at the rebooted US Open mixed doubles event next month, is watching on with Osaka’s team, and will be impressed with what he’s seen so far.
Osaka, the ultimate hard-court specialist who’s finally found her feet on grass, is attempting to reach the fourth round for the first time in her career. I’d love for her to have a deep run here; the former US and Australian Open champion has been so hard on herself for not quite hitting the heights since returning to tennis after the birth of her daughter, Shai, who turned two on Wednesday. Osaka opens with a comfortable hold, and then breaks to 15 when Pavlyuchenkova, the 34-year-old Russian who reached the French Open final in 2021, opens serve with an error-strewn game. It’s 2-0 to Osaka.
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On No 2 Court: Naomi Osaka v Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
On No 3: the 13th seed Amanda Anisimova v Hungary’s Dalma Galfi
On No 12: Argentina’s lucky loser Solana Sierra v Spain’s Cristina Bucșa
The gates are open. The players are warming up on the outside courts. The spectators are finding their seats. The sun in shining. A high of 27C is forecast. Let’s play!
Today's full order of play
Centre Court (1.30pm UK time)
(5) Taylor Fritz (US) v (26) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (Spa)
Jan-Lennard Struff (Ger) v (2) Carlos Alcaraz (Spa)
(1) Aryna Sabalenka (Blr) v Emma Raducanu (GB)
Court 1 (1pm)
Diane Parry (Fra) v Sonay Kartal (GB)
Mattia Bellucci (Ita) v Cameron Norrie (GB)
(24) Elise Mertens (Bel) v (14) Elina Svitolina (Ukr)
Court 2 (11am)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Rus) v Naomi Osaka (Jpn)
Laura Siegemund (Ger) v (6) Madison Keys (US)
Nicolas Jarry (Chi) v Joao Fonseca (Bra)
Court 3 (11am)
Dalma Galfi (Hun) v (13) Amanda Anisimova (US)
(14) Andrey Rublev (Rus) v Adrian Mannarino (Fra)
Nuno Borges (Por) v (17) Karen Khachanov (Rus)
Court 12 (11am)
Solana Sierra (Arg) v Cristina Bucsa (Spa)
Kamilla Rakhimova (Rus) v (30) Linda Noskova (Cze)
Kamil Majchrzak (Pol) v Arthur Rinderknech (Fra)
Court 18 (11am)
Lloyd Glasspool (GB) & Giuliana Olmos (Mex) v Jack Withrow (US) & Irina Khromacheva (Rus)
Hao-Ching Chan (Tpe) & Barbora Krejcikova (Cze) v (3) Sara Errani (Ita) & Jasmine Paolini (Ita)
Luciano Darderi (Ita) v Jordan Thompson (Aus)
Court 5 (11am)
Francisco Cabral (Por) & Lucas Miedler (Aut) v Petr Nouza (Cze) & Patrik Rikl (Cze)
Rafael Matos (Bra) & Marcelo Melo (Bra) v (8) Nikola Mektic (Cro) & Michael Venus (Nzl)
Hailey Baptiste (US) & Catherine McNally (US) v (11) Beatriz Haddad Maia (Bra) & Laura Siegemund (Ger)
Court 6 (11am)
Fernando Romboli (Bra) & John-Patrick Smith (Aus) v Guido Andreozzi (Arg) & Marcelo Demoliner (Bra)
Quinn Gleason (US) & Ingrid Martins (Bra) v (5) Mirra Andreeva (Rus) & Diana Shnaider (Rus)
Robert Cash (US) & JJ Tracy (US) v Rinky Hijikata (Aus) & David Pel (Ned)
Court 8 (12.30pm)
(3) Kevin Krawietz (Ger) & Tim Puetz (Ger) v Matthew Romios (Aus) & Ryan Seggerman (US)
(1) Katerina Siniakova (Cze) & Taylor Townsend (US) v McCartney Kessler (US) & Clara Tauson (Den)
(7) Kevin Krawietz (Ger) & Ellen Perez (Aus) v Nathaniel Lammons (US) & Alexandra Panova (Rus)
Court 14 (11am)
(10) Timea Babos (Hun) & Luisa Stefani (Bra) v Hanyu Guo (Chn) & Alexandra Panova (Rus)
(11) Sadio Doumbia (Fra) & Fabien Reboul (Fra) v Alexander Erler (Aut) & Constantin Frantzen (Ger)
(4) Su-Wei Hsieh (Tpe) & Jelena Ostapenko (Lat) v Marta Kostyuk (Ukr) & Elena Gabriela Ruse (Rom)
Sadio Doumbia (Fra) & Fang-Hsien Wu (Tpe) v Neal Skupski (GB) & Desirae Krawczyk (US)
Court 15 (11am)
Eri Hozumi (Jpn) & Aldila Sutjiadi (Ina) v (14) Ekaterina Alexandrova (Rus) & Shuai Zhang (Chn)
(1) Marcelo Arevalo (Esa) & Mate Pavic (Cro) v Pedro Martinez (Spa) & Jaume Munar (Spa)
Sander Arends (Ned) & Demi Schuurs (Ned) v Joshua Paris (GB) & Eden Silva (GB)
(3) Andrea Vavassori (Ita) & Sara Errani (Ita) v Julian Cash (GB) & Heather Watson (GB)
Court 16 (12.30pm)
Maria Camila Osorio Serrano (Col) & Alycia Parks (US) v (15) Nicole Melichar-Martinez (US) & Ludmilla Samsonova (Rus)
Jamie Murray (GB) & Emily Appleton (GB) v David Stevenson (GB) & Maia Lumsden (GB)
Yuki Bhambri (Ind) & Xinyu Jiang (Chn) v Christian Harrison (US) & Nicole Melichar-Martinez (US)
Court 17 (12.30pm)
Billy Harris (GB) & Marcus Willis (GB) v (2) Harri Heliovaara (Fin) & Henry Patten (GB)
Polina Kudermetova (Rus) & Zeynep Sonmez (Tur) v (2) Gabriela Dabrowski (Can) & Erin Routliffe (Nzl)
Henry Patten (GB) & Olivia Nicholls (GB) v Andres Molteni (Arg) & Asia Muhammad (US)
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And a few other pieces for your perusal:
And Tumaini’s thoughts on the task facing Raducanu:
Hours after Emma Raducanu’s latest convincing defeat by Iga Swiatek just a few weeks ago at the French Open, the 22-year-old was understandably still seething. Once again, she had given herself an opportunity to face one of the best players in the world, and once again she simply could not keep up, losing 6-1, 6-2.
Her uncomfortable afternoon on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the end of May was reflective of a pattern that has defined her recent months. Raducanu has performed admirably when facing the players she should defeat, compiling a 14-3 record against lower-ranked players over the past year. Against the elite players, however, she has consistently been flattened.
“I think I have done a pretty good job of staying with and getting some good wins over players not in the top 10,” she said, sighing. “But there is a big difference as you go up into the top five and then playing, like, slam champions. It is a completely different ball game.”
There have been times when those top players have almost appeared to be playing a different sport. Raducanu’s 6-1, 6-2 defeat by Swiatek at Roland Garros had actually marked an improvement after her 6-1, 6-0 loss in their Australian Open third-round match. She has also suffered heavy defeats against Coco Gauff and Zheng Qinwen in recent weeks and is 1-9 against top-five players in her career. The common theme in those performances was how underpowered Raducanu’s game appeared against players who are capable of completely overwhelming her with their superior pace and weight of shot.
Now she will take on the very best, and most powerful, adversary of all in Aryna Sabalenka, the undisputed women’s world No 1. Over the past few years, Sabalenka’s evolution has become one of the most impressive sights in the sport. After arriving on the tour as a wildly inconsistent shot maker who entered every match with the sole intention of bashing the ball as hard as possible while having no control over her emotions, the 27-year-old has evolved into a more refined, well-rounded player who has learned how to harness her power into consistently devastating tennis.
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Here’s Paul MacInnes’s report on Draper’s premature exit:
The question that sprang into Jack Draper’s mind after this chastening defeat was simple: how did Andy Murray do it? Draper, the new hope of British men’s tennis, had come into these championships with expectations that he would leave his mark. Instead he was taught a grand slam lesson by the veteran Marin Cilic and leaves Wimbledon with fresh lessons to take on board in his burgeoning career.
There has been distinct excitement at Draper’s prospects in SW19 this summer after his heady ascent up the rankings and victory at Indian Wells in the spring. That this was only his fourth Wimbledon appearance and that none of his previous outings had gone beyond the second round was not given much weight. But perhaps a lack of experience told here, at least in how Draper managed the match, while the 36-year-old Cilic, a Wimbledon finalist in 2017, revelled in his own on-court Indian summer.
“It makes me think that Andy’s achievement of what he did, winning here twice, was just unbelievable,” Draper said, having collected his thoughts after the 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 reverse. “I wasn’t going out there thinking I was under so much pressure. I just didn’t play good enough today. I lost to a better player. I wasn’t able to find the level I wanted.”
It seems, too, fair to imagine there’s an element of deflection in that answer. Part of Murray’s great triumph was to rise above the clamour of expectation that met him every time he set foot in the All England Club. And Draper did look tight in the match, particularly the opening two sets. But there were other obvious factors: he points to a struggle to find his feet on grass, and then there was the form of Cilic.
The Croat’s strength of serve is well known and his whipped forehand a deadly weapon. What was less clear was how able he would be to summon those powers after more than two years out of the game dealing with a knee injury that required two rounds of surgery. An omen was to be found in Nottingham last month, when the 36-year-old won the grass-court tournament and became the oldest winner ever of an ATP Challenger event (usurping Murray). Here he looked a player who had emerged fully from rehabilitation, and was the more mobile player on court.
You can read the rest here.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to our coverage of Wimbledon, where there’s a mixture of shock and awe early on day five: shock after Jack Draper’s chastening exit last night and awe at how Marin Cilic – at the age of 36, with only one good knee and without a win at Wimbledon since 2021 – so comprehensively took out the leader of Britain’s pack. Oasis’s isn’t the only comeback making headlines this morning.
Draper’s exit means that of the 23 British players who started in the singles, we’re left with only three as the third round begins. Emma Raducanu will have to play the match of her life later on Centre Court to oust the world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the only survivor among the women’s top five seeds, but the way in which Raducanu relished the challenge against the 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova in the previous round was encouraging.
Sonay Kartal and Cameron Norrie are both on No 1 Court: Kartal, Raducanu’s childhood rival, has a (dare I say it) very winnable match against the French qualifier Diane Parry, while Norrie, finally playing with a smile on his face again after problems with injury and illness, starts as the favourite against Italy’s Mattia Bellucci.
Also in action: Carlos Alcaraz, Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka, Andrey Rublev and Joao Fonseca, along with Jasmine Paolini Kamilla Rakhimova and Alexander Zverev Arthur Rinderknech, while marathon man Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova are the American force in action on the fourth of July.
Play begins at: 11am UK time on the outside courts, 1pm on No 1 Court and 1.30pm on Centre Court. Don’t be late!
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