Before that we’ve got a tremendous Thursday in store, with Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek bidding to set up a first grand slam final against each other – what a prospect that is – as they face the underdogs Amanda Anisimova and Belinda Bencic respectively. Do join Daniel for coverage of those matches, and I’ll be back on Friday. Thanks for your company, as always. Bye!
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The men’s semi-finals are set. And Friday can’t come soon enough:
Jannik Sinner v Novak Djokovic
Carlos Alcaraz v Taylor Fritz
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Djokovic’s numbers are ridiculous. It’s a 14th Wimbledon semi-final. A 52nd slam semi-final. Both are records. And of course he’s still chasing that elusive 25th major title, which would take him past Margaret Court and into sole possession of the all-time record.
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Tim Henman reckons it’s only a “six and a half or seven out of 10” for Djokovic today. But he got the job done. And, as long as there’s no hangover from that slip, I’d back him to crank it up against Sinner. Whether it’s enough, let’s see. But he’ll definitely need to play better against the world No 1.
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“Huge congratulations to Flavio for an amazing tournament and great battle today,” says Djokovic. “He’s such a talented and skilful player, definitely one of the guys we will be seeing more in the future so I wish him all the best and his team.”
Of his fall at the end, he says: “Well I finished the match. It was a nasty slip and that’s what happens when you play on grass. It came at an awkward moment but I managed to close it out. I will visit this subject with my physio and hopefully all will be well in two days.”
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Djokovic beats Cobolli 6-7, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4
An unreturned serve, 15-0. An ace down the T, 30-0. Cobolli offers some resistance with a Pete Sampras-style slam dunk. But another ace and it’s 40-15. Djokovic looks ready to celebrate on the first match point … but Cobolli’s crushing return lands just in! And Djokovic slips over on the worn baseline on the second match point, as Cobolli unleashes again with his forehand! Cobolli comes over to check if Djokovic is OK. He seems to be.
Amid all the drama, it’s deuce. And soon Djokovic’s advantage, a third MP. Djokovic has the easiest put away at the net and the seven-times champion sets up that blockbuster against Sinner! Djokovic applauds his beaten opponent off court; Cobolli’s breakout run is over. The Italian said before the match he watched videos of his idol every day. He may not want to watch this again for a little while.
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Despite the impending heatwave, Cobolli looks as if he may be about to get his coat, as he slides 30-40 down. Drop serve here and Djokovic will be serving for a place in the semi-finals. Djokovic does a few splits and stretches as he waits to receive … before defending superbly and getting the break when Cobolli inexplicably nets his volley! Djokovic leads 6-7, 6-2, 7-5, 5-4.
A collective Wimblegasp as an unfortunate net cord puts Cobolli 15-30 down. And a collective roar as he thunders a forehand winner on the next point. They want a fifth set. They may yet get it, as Cobolli holds from 30-all.
And here’s Gregory Phillips: “Surfaces make the GOAT thing harder in tennis. Sure, Djokovic has the numbers. But you can’t call him the GOAT when he isn’t the GOAT on clay, and clearly that’s Nadal. I’d argue Djokovic isn’t the GOAT on grass either; Federer took him to a final set tie-break at Wimbledon in 2019, when Fed was a decade past his best. No way Djokovic could have lived with him at Wimbledon in 2004-05. Federer is the grass GOAT. But it’s also unfair to call Federer or Nadal the overall GOAT as Djokovic has so many numerical records. I just think of them all as Supreme, Highly Exceptional Event Players (SHEEP). I’ll get my coat …”
Cobolli holds despite giving Djokovic a look at too many second serves. He should really then be 0-15 up on Djokovic’s serve, as he chases down the drop shot with relative ease, but he makes the wrong shot selection with an attempted lob, which Djokovic pats away. So instead it’s 15-0. And very soon 40-0. And game. At 3-3, there’s still nothing between them in this fourth set.
But back to the matter at hand. Cobolli gives Djokovic a glimmer at 15-30 but no more. Djokovic zips through to love. It’s 2-2.
Djokovic holds to 30, after a fun game of cat and mouse on the final point, as my mind wanders to the thought of Djokovic v Sinner in the semi-finals. Sinner has beaten Djokovic in their past two grand slam meetings, at this year’s French Open and last year’s Australian Open, but Djokovic has got the better of Sinner twice at Wimbledon before, in 2022 and 2023. But that was before the Italian turned into a winning machine and numero uno. With Sinner near the peak of his powers (as long as his elbow holds up) and Djokovic seeing this tournament as his greatest chance to get that elusive slam #25, it could be an absolute cracker.
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Cobolli is the first to serve in the fourth set, and this is surely a game that he can’t afford to lose, as Fabio Fognini, his fellow Italian who announced his retirement from tennis today, looks on from the box. Only 10 days ago Fognini was on the court, taking Alcaraz all the way. How quickly life can change. Fognini is applauding his protege when Cobolli survives from deuce; Djokovic is ramming his racket into his foot. He wanted the break.
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And here are the highlights:
Fancy a match report on Sinner? Sure you do.
Djokovic wins the third set 7-5
15-0, 30-0, as Djokovic drags Cobolli around the court on a piece of string, before reeling him in with a drop shot that the Italian can’t reach. 40-0. Djokovic opts to serve-volley on set point but plants his volley into the net! But an ace settles matters. Djokovic leads 6-7, 6-2, 7-5. This is the first time Cobolli’s been behind in sets this fortnight. And it’s a long. way. back. from here against the seven-times champ.
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Djokovic, never one to be outdone, replies with a love hold of his own. It’s 5-5. Cobolli dealt so well with the clutch moments in the first set, but perhaps he’s mentally tiring here in his first grand slam quarter-final (it’s Djokovic’s 63rd!!!), because it’s soon 15-40, two break points, as Cobolli goes for a low-percentage shot down the line and misses. Cobolli then flings a forehand well wide and Djokovic, the coolest man in the stadium, strides back to his chair to grab an ice towel. He’ll shortly serve for the third set.
Cobolli nudges ahead to 5-4. Though nudge perhaps isn’t the right word given he’s just held to love. The 23-year-old has got a spring in his step as he runs back to his chair at the changeover; the 38-year-old Djokovic is trudging to his and has a face of thunder, even though there’s still a splash of evening sun on Centre Court. Djokovic, having been a break up in this third set, must hold serve to stay in it.
“Novak GOAT talk is recency bias, how can all sports in the world have a goat within the last 20 years, hmmmm,” ponders Jeff Peters. I agree it can be easier to acclaim what’s most recent in our memories, but I think the only fair way to settle the debate is with numbers. Everything else seems too subjective. So personally I’d give Novak his GOATness, with his 24 (maybe 25 pending) slams … but that doesn’t mean he’s the greatest in my eyes in terms of the emotions stirred, the beauty of his play etc. For me that would be Federer. But you could call that recency bias too. Meanwhile, from 3-2 Cobolli, it’s now 4-4, with Cobolli serving at 15-0.
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After Cameron Norrie’s exit yesterday, here’s Tumaini’s assessment of the British players’ performances this fortnight:
Cobolli is seeing the tennis ball like a football now. Perhaps no surprise, given he’s also a fine footballer and was once in Roma’s academy. He rattles through his serve to love, pinging three winners past Djokovic in the process.
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The longest rally of the match – 20 shots – and Cobolli emerges victorious! Centre Court rises to salute the Italian underdog. He’s 0-30 ahead. But Djokovic’s serve is stinging and Cobolli can’t respond. On the next point Djokovic rolls in a slow second serve but Cobolli is punished for being too passive. 30-all. 40-30. And another lung-busting rally, to rival the one earlier in the game, again ends in Cobolli’s favour! Even elastic (or plastic?) man at full stretch can reach breaking point. And Cobolli clobbers a return winner on break point to break back! It’s 2-2.
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Djokovic asserts his authority with a hold to love. Cobolli, commendably, steadies himself to do the same. But it’s Djokovic who still has the break, leading 6-7, 6-2, 2-1.
Djokovic wins the second set 6-2
While all this was going on, Djokovic broke Cobolli again on his way to a 6-2 second set – which took not even half the time of that 68-minute opener. Cobolli walks off court – but when he returns he looks rather lost, immediately dropping serve to 15. Djokovic could be about to do to Cobolli what he did to De Minaur in the previous round: give his opponent a head start and then dominate from there.
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“The feelings are definitely different [to the great escape against Dimitrov],” says a smiling Sinner. “I’m very happy with this performance, playing against him is so difficult. We play each other more and more, we get to know each other a little bit better, and I’m looking forward to these kind of battles. My elbow has improved a lot from yesterday to today.”
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So it’s a fourth consecutive grand slam semi-final for the US Open and Australian Open champion, and a second semi at Wimbledon. Sinner said after Dimitrov’s retirement in the fourth round that it didn’t feel like a win. This will. He’s made the most of his reprieve and that match now looks like a brief blip. And despite the heavy strapping to protect his elbow injury, he didn’t look too troubled physically. He’ll be ready for Djokovic or an all-Italian affair with Cobolli in the last four.
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Sinner beats Shelton 7-6, 6-4, 6-4
Djokovic has broken Cobolli for 3-2 in the second. Not that I really saw any of it; I’m too busy watching Sinner v Shelton. The perils of live blogging concurrent quarter-finals. At least it’s the right decision on my part, because Shelton rams into the net and Sinner has a match point at 30-40. A huge serve from Shelton out wide … and a winning forehand to t’other side! What a way to save a match point. Shelton’s dad Bryan, who reached the Wimbledon fourth round 31 years ago, looks impressed. But here’s a second match point at Sinner’s advantage. Shelton’s girlfriend Trinity Rodman can’t bear to watch. Shelton saves it again, but here’s a third. He just can’t shake Sinner off. And Sinner completes victory when Shelton’s forehand goes well long!
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A final fling from Shelton – or is this the start of something? He’s got 0-30 on Sinner’s serve at 4-4. But Shelton fires a forehand long, Sinner jams him with a body serve, and here’s another error from Shelton’s racket. Sinner rounds off his mini revival with a backhand pass down the line. The world No 1 leads 7-6, 6-4, 5-4 and Shelton must hold serve to stay in this quarter-final.
Djokovic certainly isn’t playing like the GOAT right now, even though in my humble opinion he is, because GOATness can really only be measured on numbers; everything else feels too subjective. But Djokovic does regroup after letting that opening set slip through his fingers, holding serve at the start of the second for 1-1.
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Richard Hirst has an email for Daniel, even though he’s now departed. As I imagine Shelton will soon be, even though he’s refusing to wave the white flag in the third set, trailing 7-6, 6-4, 3-3 against Sinner. “Are you being deliberately provocative with your repeated GOAT references to Djokovic? Well, you have succeeded, I am provoked. I’d reckon on Rod Laver being his match with today’s equipment and fitness regimes. And counting the number of victories in the slams doesn’t do it, given the amateur/open hiatus. Just saying.”
Cobolli wins the first set 7-6 (6)
Djokovic holds. Cobolli holds. They’re into a tie-break. Though Hugh Grant looks as if he’s falling asleep in the Royal Box. Not sure about Queen Camilla, she’s not in the camera shot, though this is Djokovic’s time to hold court. The seven-times champion is surely going to step it up now against the Italian upstart? Cobolli has other ideas, charging to 5-2 and then 6-5, set point. Djokovic reigns supreme with a darting backhand winner down the line, but a fizzing forehand pass from Cobolli and it’s a second set point! Cobolli clobbers down a serve and Djokovic can’t get it back!
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Shelton must absolutely hate the sight of Sinner, who’s well on course for a sixth win on the spin against the 10th seed. Sinner looked so vulnerable against Dimitrov in the previous round before his unexpected reprieve, but Dimitrov had more variety/spin to trouble Sinner; Shelton is trying to fight power with power here and it’s not working. In the battle of the composed Italian’s metronomic consistency v the charismatic American’s unpredictability, there looks to be only one winner.
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Sinner wins the second set 6-4
Sinner holds to love for 5-4, and once again is piling the pressure on Shelton’s serve at 30-40. Djokovic also has a set point at 30-40, as he attempts to make amends for dropping serve in the last game. While Sinner seals the set as Shelton’s backhand misfires – it’s the 14th consecutive set he’s won against the American – Djokovic can’t get the job done. Cobolli holds from deuce and they’re level at 5-5.
Everywhere I look there are break points. There’s one for Sinner at 4-3, 30-40, but Shelton absolutely smokes a 93mph forehand to save it. And the American holds from there. Meanwhile Djokovic, serving for the first set after breaking Cobolli in the previous game, veers away from the script as he falls 0-40 down, with Cobolli crunching a couple of winners to get there. Djokovic rams a forehand wide and he’s broken to love! They’re back on serve with Djokovic leading 5-4.
Thanks Daniel. Before I get stuck into the men’s quarter-finals, here’s a recap of what happened earlier in the women’s matches, in case you, like me, are just getting started today:
Back on Centre, Cobolli again finds himself down 15-30, but Djokovic lands his return just beyond the baseline. An ace follows, but a backhand down the line goes into the net, taking us to deuce, then a backhand shovelled wide means break point Djokovic. Cobolli, though, handles it well, only to then face advantage a second time, doing brilliantly to stay in the rally then, when the chance arises to whip a forehand down the line – really, he’s forced into it by Djokovic’s excellence – he curls just wide, and at 5-3, the greatest of all timewill now serve for the first set. That’s how quickly it can be taken from you against the best; here’s Katy Murrells to let you now how things proceed from here.
I’m not sure what Shelton can do to discomfit Sinner, but he might want to try and shorten the points – against a hitter as consistent and powerful, it makes no sense to thrash away, especially when you consider his ability to create angles. He’s playing solidly enough, just not really displaying the flair that took him to this point. Of course, that partly reflects the level of his opponent, but seeing how this is going, he’s got to forcer the issue. Sinner leads 7-6 3-3.
Superb work from Cobolli, who wins three points in a row from 0-30. But he then nets a forehand down the line, then another, and the first break point of the match goes to Djokovic, whose return – of a really good serve under pressure – goes wide. From there, the youngster closes out, and he’ll feel much better now, having survived his first proper scare. It’s 3-3 in the first, as it is in the second on No 1, Sinner up on Shelton by a set.
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Shelton’s worked hard on his background, but it’s no surprise when we’re shown diagram telling us that Sinner is targeting it. We’re still on serve in set two, but another love hold is further evidence that the world no 1 is in control.
A sumptuous forehand return, hammered cross-court, gives Cobolli 15-30; naturally, Djokovic finds two nasty first serves, quickly sealing a hold for 3-2 in the first.
Earlier on, I wondered how Sinner would respond to his lucky escape the other night. Might the slapping he was getting affect his confidence? Er: no. Against another opponent bringing it, he’s playing very nicely, though it’s also the case that Dimitrov is a cannier operator than Shelton, with a better command of angles and spins. Shelton leads 7-6 2-1.
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It surely can’t only be me who thinks of this exact Panini sticker every time every time they hear the name Shelton? The hue of blue is so ethereally beautiful, the neck and crest also tremendous.
And from there, Sinner closes the game out for 7-6 1-0; so far, every time Shelton has asked him a question, he’s come up with the answer.
Cobolli then holds for 1-1, and as well as being a loverly tenniser, he’s also a long-awaited rival to Roberto Bautista Agut as the best footballer on the tour, having had trials with Roma; Bautista Agut was at Villarreal. Meantime, Shelton forces two break points at 6-7 0-0; Sinner saves both in short order.
Jannik Sinner (1) takes the first set against Ben Shelton (10) 7-6(2)
Shelton put so much into that set, and it earned him precisely nowt. A ridiculously solid breaker seizes Sinner the advantage, and he’s playing much better than he did against Dimitrov.
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Sinner stretches to make Shelton play one more ball, in the event he’s asked to play several more, goes long, and at 6-2 this first set looks over.
On Centre, Cobolli opts to receive and Djokovic holds to love for 1-0. Already, the youngster is under pressure.
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Ach, Shelton disburses a double, both his serves lost, and at 3-2 Sinner has the advantage; I doubt he’s as loose with it as his opponent.
Now then! Three excellent forehands in a row, the third of them a drop, allow Shelton to hare in and finish down the line; he snaffles an immediate mini-break at 2-0, but Sinner then sends a backhand down the line for 1-2.
Another hold for Shelton, meaning that at 5-6, Sinner must serve to stay in the set, and he holds to love, of course he does. Here comes the tiebreaker, and this should be a lot of fun.
On Centre, out come Djokovic and Cobolli, who’ll never have felt the mystical, mythical presence of tennis’ most storied arena. I doubt he’s daunted by it – he’s spent much of his life preparing for it – but that doesn’t mean he’ll be comfy from the off.
Now Sinner holds comfortably for 5-5, and this set is moving inexorably towards a tiebreak. Should that eventuate, it makes sense to pick the Italian to win it – he’s more experienced at handling the pressure and the more reliable server and hitter, but the drama and one-off moments Shelton is so adept at creating mean it’d be no surprise were it to go to him.
Shelton and Sinner swap holds and it’s now 4-4 in the first set, the standard a serious one. In the two biggest matches of Shelton’s career – his two grand slam semis – he lost in straights, once to Djokovic and, earlier this year in Australia, to Sinner. He’s already played better today than he did in those and there’s been a different confidence about him these last 10 days. Like Andreeva, I get the sense he thinks he’s ready and, as I type, he holds again for 5-4.
Back to Andreeva, she will, of course, be back. But she’ll know she missed a big opportunity today: fine player though Bencic is, there are more daunting quarter-final opponents, and had she played close to her best, she’d probably have won. Which isn’t to say she played poorly, she didn’t, just that she can hit a level that Bencic cannot, and she wasn’t close to it today. She’ll be hurting, all the more so because this felt like the first time she and her coach considered her ready to win.
From what i’ve seen so far, Sinner looks in decent health. Both he and Shelton have started well, and we’re 3-3 in the first.
Next on Centre Court: Flavio Cobolli (22) v Novak Djokovic (6). Oooh yeah!
Bencic shares her respect for Andreeva, saying she spent time last evening looking to find a plan in a very solid game. It’s so magical to play on Centre Court, she says, and asked about the “small edge” she says her scouting gave her, she can’t pinpoint what it was, saying that when it gets tight you just play on instinct.
Asked about her injury, she confirms it’s a cracked toenail – “the life of a tennis player” – joking that she didn’t take a timeout to save us all from seeing it. “I’m speechless,” she concludes, which of course she is not – she loves to chat and it’s great to listen to her.
Finally, she thanks her team and family, noting that “it’s beautiful to create these moments together – I’ll bet – then off she goes. What a lovely person she seems to be; imagine how proud her nipper will be when she’s old enough to know how brilliant her mum is.
Before we go to Bencic’s interview, a quick note: Shelton leads Sinner 2-1 in the first, on serve. We’l be back with them soonest.
Belinda Bencic beats Mirra Andreeva (7) 7-6(3) 7-5(2)
Wow! Just 15 months after giving birth, Belinda Bencic reaches the semi-final of Wimbledon! She played really well today, especially after the disappointment of failing to serve out the match, handling it with equanimity. Mums are the greatest!
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Ach, a double hands Bencic 6-2 and four match points; ultimately, she’s played the breakers better and that’s why we are where we are though, more generally, she’s also played closer to her best than Andreeva, who’s done OK but hasn’t asserted herself as the superior talent of the two, though she is.
Not for the first time, Bencic hits a testing pass as Andreeva comes in, the volley doesn’t do enough, and the ensuing winner restores the mini-break. And this time, Bencic wins the next point too, holding thereafter for a 5-2 lead. For the second time, she’s two points away from the match.
Again, Bencic gets an immediate mini-break, this time when Andreeva misses a volley. But Andreeva retorts immediately, hitting hard to the corner before putting away a volley, running in; Bencic then places a forehand into corner for 2-1, on serve.
Andreeva is the better player now, making deuce from 40-15 thanks to what is – for her – the ideal combination of a fine backhand and a Bencic error. Bencic, by the way, was grimacing a while ago and perhaps has a problem with her toe, but she cloes out when Andreeva makes consecutive forehand errors. For the second set in a row, we get to enjoy a tiebreak while, on No 1, Shelton holds in game one against Sinner.
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Has Andreeva hit a seam at the crucial moment? She holds for 6-5 in the second, and Bencic will, for sure, be feeling a way about her failure to serve the match out.
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On No 1, Sinner and Shelton are out and knocking up. I can’t wait for this one – is Sinner fully fit after hurting his elbow; mentally, how does he feel after what happened in Paris was compounded by his undressing the other night? Like Griggzy Dimitrov, Shelton serves huge and has a colossal forehand, though I guess he lacks the same consistency.
Andreeva unloads on a backhand to the corner, it’s too good, and she breaks back! We’re back level at 5-5 in the second set, Bencic by one set to love. Will she be able to recover from spurning an opportunity to get the match won? it’ll be weighing heavily.
Up in the next rally, Andreeva has a chance to finish it, but goes cross, where Bencic already is, rather than line, into the space, and it’s soon 30-all. A terrific rally then ensues, Bencic looking in control until a forehand slice incites her to waft tamely long. Andreeva has 30-40 and break-back point; Bencic is given a time violation for taking too long over one of the most important serves of her life. This is almost unbearable.
Bencic sends a backhand long for 0-15, but the real error was the tame second serve; she needs to seize this, not hope it’s given to her. Andreeva, though, helps her along by netting a backhand – she’s done that too often today – but then a long rally ends when Bencic directs a backhand of her own into the tape. At 15-30, she’s feeling it; aren’t we all?
Andreeva’s serve clips the outermost fibre of the box, the return comes sends her towards the backhand corner, and when her riposte falls long, Bencic has the first break of the match! At 7-6 5-4, the woman whose maternity leave meant she started the year ranked 489, will shortly serve for a place in the Wimbledon quarter-finals! What a moment! But how to process it such that she can move her limbs?
Ooooh, Bencic waits at the back, enticing Andreeva in with a short slice before passing her for 15-30. This might be the match right here, and with Andreeva at the net again, here comes the pass … but this time, Andreeva plays two outstanding volleys, one to keep her in the point then one to win it, though Bencic might feel she could’ve done better. We wind up at deuce, Bencic shouting something to her team after the rally which takes her there, and when Andreeva then nets, she has a chance to break … only to swat a forehand wide. This is so intense now, all the more so when Andreeva nets again! Advantage Bencic!
She cannot. Bencic finds a first serve, slams her +one down the middle, and races through deuce to secure a crucial hold. She leads 7-6 4-4 and we’re still without a break in the match.
A backhand winner cross-court, power off, makes 30-15, then Andreeva opens the court with a forehand to the corner, cleaning up to the opposite one, and at 30-all, she’s a chance, all the more so when Bencic’s first serve goes into the net. A double follows, and these are huge moments; can Andreeva convert her third break point of the match?
Andreeva holds despite having to move through deuce, and she leads 4-3 in the second. The scoreboard pressure, though, along with how proximate Bencic is to the semis, might prove tricky to negotiate.
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Back on Centre, it’s still tough to separate these two: Bencic leads Andreeva 7-6 3-3.
Next on No 1 Court: Jannik Sinner (1) v Ben Shelton (10).
I seriously fancy Swiatek to take this title – she’s found a way of using her strengths – the top-spinning forehand that stays in when it shouldn’t, the flat backhand, down the ine and inside-out – and mentally, she’s right there.
Swiatek reckons it feels great to make the last four – no doubt, old mate, no doubt – and winning gave her goosebumps. She’s worked really hard to progress on grass, will keep doing that, and is grateful for the support.
It’s quick turnaround given the semis are tomorrow, but she’ll rest and be ready for that.
Iga Swiatek (8) beats Liudmila Samsonova (19) 6-2 7-5
A forehand return to the corner is too good and Swiatek is into the semis of Wimbledon for the first time! Samsonova had a good go at it in the second set, but she just couldn’t play well enough for long enough and there was never really a sense she or anyone else felt she could win. Next for Swiatek: Andreeva or Bencic.
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Well, Swiatek sends her from corner to corner, a booming forehand clean-up making 15-30 and taking her two points away from the semis. You sense this might be curtains and when a return towards the corner is sent back wide, Swiatek has two match points … the first of them saved…
Swiatek holds for 6-2 6-5, and Samsonova must once again serve to stay in the set. At 15-0, though, she sends an attempted drop into the net; can she handle the pressure?
Andreeva pulls a brutal serve out of her back pocket to avert immediate danger, but up advantage, she waves a drop into the net. And when she again finds herself down advantage, she doesn’t find a first serve … so instead is forced to dominate from the back, her backhand down the line opening the forehand to the opposite corner. From there, she makes advantage again, then bangs an ace down the T; she has the resting pulse rate of a table and leads 2-1 in the second, Bencic by one set to love.
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Thinking back to my own experience, it really is incredible that Bencic is playing at this level so soon after having a child. The mental strain of caring for a newborn is quite something, never mind when travelling the world, the ability to focus on training and matchplay a frankly ridiculous achievement. She makes deuce on the Andreeva serve, does enough with a backhand return down the line, and these are scary hours for her while, on No 1, Samsonova holds for 2-6 5-5, then Swiatek receives an almost inevitable time-violation.
Like all proper champions, Swiatek sees her opponent’s level raise so picks up her own, holding comfortably. As 2-6 4-5, Samsonova must now serve to stay in the match; on Centre, a hold apiece opens set two.
That was the first set Andreeva has lost in the competition; can she respond? She’ll know she can play much better, though Bencic isn’t giving her much room to free her arms; on No 1, Samsonova might just’ve hit a seam, holding comfortably for 4-4 in the second, and her forehand is purring.
Belinda Bencic takes the first set 7-6(3) against Mirra Andreeva
Bencic is playing closer to her top level than Andreeva, and though the set was settled by a couple of errors, something that could happen to anyone, the better player is in front.
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Hold tight Liudmila Samsonova! Up advantage, she makes room for an inside-out forehand, smites a clean winner, and we’re back on serve in set two. She looks much more comfortable now, but still trails 6-2 4-3.
A forehand towards the corner is sent back into the net, meaning a mini-break for Bencic, and though a tame double returns it, Andreeva then marches in to seal a point from on top of the net … and somehow swats wide! That is a terrible oversight, one so terrible it deserves to cost her a set for which she’s toiled, and Bencic leads 4-2.
Trouble for Andreeva at 5-6 15-30, but she wins the next two points then prevails in a net exchange to secure her hold. At 6-6 in the first, we’ve got ourselves a breaker and I’ve not a clue which of the two will take it.
Oh dear. While all that’s going on, Swiatek makes break point, Samsonova responds – not for the first time – with a double, and at 6-2 4-2, this feels five to over.
Andreeva is top of the steal league – points won from behind in the rally – for this tournament, and she pulls off the trick here, Bencic netting to cede a second break point. But from there, the Swiss closes out, so at 5-6 in the first, Andreeva will shortly serve to stay in it.
Updated
There’s not much between Andreeva and Bencic, so when the former makes 15-30, the sense is that this could be a big moment … for the few seconds it takes until Bencic marches inside the baseline to muscle an inside-out forehand winner into the corner. But she then then nets a forehand, meaning the first break point of the march is upon us … which is saved when Andreeva nets. To deuce we go…
At 5-4, Bencic trims a line to make 0-15, not for the first time, and she’s displeased with herself after botching a makable return. From there, Andreeva closes out her hold for 5-5, while Samsonova builds on her own, making 0-40 … and though Swiatek saves the first two break points in some style, she then whacks a forehand marginally wide, and at 3-2 we’re back on serve in the second.
Samsonova makes 40-15 but an error hands Swiatek a sniff; no matter, she sees it out to win her first game after losing seven straight. I fear that in that passage, the match was decided, but you never know.
Andreeva looks a much stronger athlete these days – she’s hitting much more powerfully inside-out and from above shoulder height. She holds for 4-4 in the first and we’ve yet to see a break point.
Back on Centre, a hold apiece means Bencic leads Andreeva 4-3 in the first; Swiatek saves that fourth break point, makes advantage, and when Samsonova clouts a forehand wide, she leads 6-2 3-0
Updated
Ach, Swiatek takes her time over her second serve and Samsonova flaps a return into the net, restoring deuce … but a backhand into the net means she’s soon back at advantage. This is much better from her.
…and it’s Swiatek’s. She lands a brute on to the baseline, the spin keeping in a ball that looked like it was going out … but Samsonova does well to attack her forehand, securing advantage and another breaking opportunity.
Bencic, who secures another hold, leads Andreeva 3-2 in the first, and she looks calm out there. Not long ago, she wasn’t on the tour at all, taking time off to have her daughter, Bella, and it’s great to see her back, loving the game.
Samsonova makes 0-30, but a 22nd unforced error invites Swiatek into the game. No matter: a big forehand earns her two break points … the first really well saved, a ball to the corner allowing the clean-up. Massive moment ion the match coming up…
Swiatek makes 0-15, then a felicitous net cord gives her 0-30; trouble for Samsonova, who responds with a double, and at this point you fear for her. Rightly so, because a second consecutive double tamely cedes the break. Swiatek leads 6-2 2-0, having won six games on the spin, and her momentum feels unstoppable.
Swiatek wins her fifth game in a row to lead 6-2 1-0 and my sense is that Samsonova is not enjoying herself. If she misses first serves, or if Swiatek returns as she did at the end of the first set, I’d not be surprised to see another break in the next game.
On Centre, Andreeva, again forced through deuce for her hold, secures it for 2-2 and this is an even contest – though at this stage, that was the case in our first match too.
Samsonova leaves the court while Andreeva forces Bencic to deuce for her hold; she sees it out comfortably, to lead 2-1 in the first. Our pattern is not yet set.
Iga Swiatek takes the first set against Liudmila Samsonova 6-2
Samsonova started well, but Swiatek gradually suffocated her. A long forehand secures a 6-2 and for the Russian, it’s a long way back from here.
Samsonova goes long on the forehand … well long … and Swiatek has set point at 5-2 advantage.
Andreeva finds herself serving at 30-all and though she raises game point, she then nets a forehand, handing Bencic deuce. From there, though, she closes out, sealing the deal with a service-winner, while Swiatek makes deuce, meaning she’s two points away from taking a one-set lead.
Swiatek consolidates for 5-2 and Samsonova, who’s played a decent set (of tennis) must now serve to stay in it.
Updated
We’re away on Centre, Bencic serving and quickly making 40-0. Andreeva does, though, announce herself with an inside-out forehand winner – it’s amazing how someone so slight is able to hit it with such venom, and in that sense, her most obvious comparator is Justine Henin. But Bencic, planted on the baseline as is her wont, quickly closes out from there.
Updated
Swiatek makes deuce on the Samsonova serve, and when the latter goes wide on the backhand, we have our first break point … converted when the Swiatek gets great length on a forehand and the riposte hits the net. Swiatek leads 4-2 in the first while, on Centre, we’re just ready to start.
We see Conchita Martinez, Andreeva’s coach taking her seat, and those two have a really lovely relationship. You can tell Andreeva isn’t the easiest – seeing them together reminds me of something Thomas Tuchel said about managing Kylian Mbappé, and that with a talent of that level, you inevitably get a lot of questions and challenges. But you can also tell that Andreeva trusts Martinez, and the improvement in her game show why.
The holds are coming pretty easily; Swiatek takes her latest service-game to 15, leading 3-2, while, on Centre, Andreeva and Bencic emerge.
Samsonova quickly makes 30-0, but another backhand return from Swiatek, dismissed inside-out and cross-court, is too good. For all the difference it makes: from there, the Russian quickly closes out the game, and we’re level at 2-2 in the first.
Samsonova doesn’t like how long Swiatek takes to serve at the start of game three, and nothing about the way she’s started suggests a willingness to let the opportunity of her life pass her by. And at 40-30, she’s well in the next rally and, though she swipes a forehand long, the sense is that we’re in for a serious, intense contest. Swiatek leads 2-1 in the first.
Samsonova’s serve is working nicely … and of course, as I type, Swiatek dismisses a backhand return down the line for 30-40. But a big delivery follows, and we’re level at 1-1 in the first.
Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool (5) beat Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten (2) 6-4 4-6 7-6(8)
That was a fantastic match, making a total nonsense of the new mixed doubles format they’re imposing in New York. The holders go out and in the semis will either face Salisbury and Skupski or Granollers and Zeballos.
Updated
Excellent start from Samsonova, a colossal inside-out forehand giving her 0-30. Swiatek, though, quickly restores parity, then a net cord means she’s down break point; an ace follows, and from there, she closes out for 1-0.
Swiatek to serve, and off we go.
Updated
I was just about to update on this, but here’s Chris Page to do it for me: “In case it’s slipped your attention, Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett, GB’s six-time men’s wheelchair doubles winners, opened their defence with a straight sets win in the first round over the Japanese/American pair of Takuya Miku and Casey Ratzleff.”
Our players are ready … and here they come.
Back with the dubs, Cash and Glasspool have just saved three match points at 5-6 in the third. It’s worth noting, though, that Patten is playing beautifully.
Mac reckons Shelton will, at some point win a major. I’d probably have lent no, but I guess given how good he already is, at 22, by the time he’s 25 he’ll be a helluva player. Other hand, he’ll not be the only one improving in that time – he’s a year younger than Sinner and ages with Alcaraz; he’ll be hoping they’re closer to the finished article than he is, an entirely fair supposition.
Back in the dubs, at 5-5 in the third, it’s mingingly tense; lovely stuff.
Also going on:
Back to the men, Sinner hurt his elbow in slipping against Dimitrov. I’m not certain it had much impact on the match, but we don’t know how it’s feeling now, and we can be sure Shelton will test it. He’s just practised for an hour, though, and we’re told he looked good and fit.
“Hi there!” begins Teresa Corujo. “Can’t wait to read about the matches today. I guess that Djokovic will lose the first set, and just as we are all saying ‘oh, there’s no hope there’ he will bounce back. The nerve. Swiatek vs Andreeva! Now that’s a match I’d love to watch.”
I know – I feel bad calling it on, because Samsonova and Bencic will have plenty to say about what happens today and women’s tennis is the world’s least predictable sport. But neither has shown much to suggest they can win this – though Bencic did win Olympic gold in Tokyo, beating Rybakina and Vondrousova in semi and final.
Email! “One writes off Djokovic at one’s own peril,” advises Krishnamoorthy V. “I am still willing to stick my neck out to Djokovic losing in four sets, clinching a third to give some hope, to only fold up.”
I wouldn’t be shocked if he loses today, but I’d be a little surprised. Cobolli has a grand total of one win over a top-1o opponent – and that was on clay over Holger Rune, who retired after a set. And, though I think he’s a top-10 talent, I’m not sure if he can rise higher than that, never mind beat the greatest of all time in his house. I can’t wait to see him try, but.
There’ve been some interesting choices made as regards which matches are on Centre today. Usually, the decision looks an obvious one, but today, I might well have picked the two which are on No 1: Swiatek has won five majors and faces a seed, whereas Andreeva has won none and does not; Sinner is the top seed and Shelton is 10th, having reached previously semis in Melbourne and New York, whereas Djokovic hasn’t won a slam since 2023 and Cobolli has never reached this stage of one. Happily, it’s a win-win situation, and we get to enjoy all four.
Updated
Badabing! Patten plays a return-game from the gods, he and Heliovaara break to win the second set 6-4, and when Cash departs to take a medical timeout, Patten wonders of the umpire whether that’s allowed as regards a pre-existing injury. The sense in comms is that once, that wasn’t permitted, but now it is – though it’s also worth noting that, though Cash has been treated for similar knack through the tournament, he did roll his ankle earlier in the match.
Updated
Word to the wise: currently on No 2 Court, we’ve got a seriously high-level men’s doubles quarter between Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara, the defending champions, and Julian Cash and Lloyd Glaspool, their respective former partners; Cash and Glaspool lead 6-4 4-5.
Preamble
Wotcha one and all and welcome to Wimbledon 2025 – day 10!
If the joy of week one is brilliant matches everywhere, all the time, tickling the part of our brain that enjoys chaos, variety and surprise, week two is all about satisfying our yen for focused immersion, specific matches at specific times that we can be certain are consequential. Week one for having fun, week two for getting it done.
Today’s selection offers us a bit of everything. We open on No 1 Court, where Iga Swiatek, on the way back following a miserable year, takes on Liudmila Samsonova, no one’s idea of a quarter-finalist two weeks ago.
In theory, Swiatek should already be a force on grass, given her eminence on clay, tennis’ other moving surface, and two majors won on hards, the surface most similar to Wimbledon’s grass. She’s comfortable with a low bounce, moves beautifully, and competes with such intensity you worry she’ll do herself a mischief. Watching seeds fall while others struggle will have convinced her that this is her time.
However even if she wins today – and that’s no gimme, given an opponent playing as well as she ever has – lurking in her half of the draw is Mirra Andreeva, at 19 somehow both fully-formed and still improving. She takes on Belinda Bencic in our opening match on Centre and, for the first time, her belief that she can lift this title, this year, is as palpable as her her certainty that she’ll get to it at some point.
Meantime, in the men’s competition, Jannik Sinner returns after his narrow escape against Griggzy Dimitrov. It’s not that he was two sets down when fortune intervened on his behalf, rather there was no sense he was likely to come back – the match was being taken from him and he looked powerless to respond.
The question now, then, is whether his brush with unexpected fallibility affects his confidence, or sends him in into the last eight with the lightness of a man reprieved. Ben Shelton, though, could care less* either way. He’s growing into the tournament beautifully, his creativity, unpredictability and competitive charisma the inverse of Sinner’s dependable, mechanical clean lines – the battle is classic lefty v righty and, for the first time, he looks ready for it.
Finally, the fantastic Flavio Cobolli takes on Novak Djokovic. If Djokovic plays as he did against Dan Evans and Miomir Kecmanovic, it’s hard to see Cobolli beating him because it’s hard to see anyone beating him, but if he produces the form we saw in his last match, against Alex de Minaur, he is vulnerable.
And make no mistake, Cobolli has what it takes to take advantage, absurdly quick, powerful enough, and absolutely loads of fun; he doesn’t yet know he can win, but we can be sure he’s not expecting to lose. This is going to be great.
Play: 1am BST No1 Court, 1.30pm BST Centre Court.
*couldn’t care less
