- Live updates from the third day’s play at Sw19
- Murray worried by ‘slippy’ surface after Williams injury
- Email Bryan with your thoughts or tweet @BryanAGraham
With that, my watch is did. Bryan Graham will coax you through the rest of this match and the various others still in progress.
Otte goes long with a forehand, challenges, and though for some reason Hawkeye can’t be shown on the screen, the umpire confirms the ball was out. Slowly, Otte is becoming vexed, but an ace at 30-all calms him down … only for a double to noise him up. This invites Murray to attack, and he spanks a pair of backhands for set point, then lands a backhand return right on the line. Otte just about shovels it back, leaving most of the court for the clean-up forehand which follows. That was pretty good from Murray, taking an arm when Otte offered him a fingernail.
Murray isn’t playing that well, and serving at 4-3 30-all, Otte lets out a yelp because he wastes the chance to attack a second serve. His return flies out, and one serve-volley later it’s 5-3.
Venus and Jabeur are out on No1; I fancy the latter for this one, and for a decent run too.
Muguruza has taken the first set against Pattinama Kerkhove 6-1 and they’re on serve at 2-3 in the second; Tiafoe leads Pospisil by two sets to love; Schwartzman leads Broady 5-2 after losing the first set; and Fognini is 2-1 up and a break up on Djere.
Otte makes Murray fight hard for his consolidation and Murray isn’t overly enamoured with his play, but a netted backhand eventually secures the game to 30. He leads 4-2.
Murray earns himself two break points the first of which Otte saves with a serve down the middle … and the second. But Murray’s backhand earns him another, then Otte goes long with one of his own – by a fibre! – and that’s 3-2! Can Murray consolidate?
Right, housekeeping done and time to focus principally on Otte v Murray, who are 2-2 in set one.
It took her a while to get over the line, but that’s another very impressive performance from Swiatek – she’s going to win a chunk of majors, and is among the leading contenders for this one. Next up, it’s Begu or Martic, who are 4-4 in the opening set.
He meets Tiafoe or Pospisil next.
Elsewhere: Tiafoe leads Pospisil by a set and break, Schwartzman trails Broady by a set but is up a break.
Next on No1: Ons Jabeur [21] v Venus Williams. That should be a jazzer.
Evans says it got a bit nervy towards the end then says he was nervy at the start too, but it’s great to have fans back and he’s happy to be in round three. Having played yesterday, he’s looking forward to a day off tomorrow and watching everyone else.
That was a good performance to dispose of a difficult opponent, and Evans meets Hoang or Korda next; currently, Korda leads 2-0 in the first.
Evans gets himself a match point on Lajovic’s serve and can’t convert, but he’s soon at 3-0 on his as he serve for it a second time…
Swiatek has pieced up Zvonareva something fierce; it’s now 6-1 5-1.
Murray slips right at the start of the warm-up but he’s fine. I don’t like to go on – ok, ok – but what he’s put himself through to get to where he is now is beyond my comprehension, so seeing him out there is a treat.
This has been an excellent performance from Evans, who rode Lajovic’s hot period in set one and has emphasised his superiority since then. Even now, when he finds himself break point down, a body-serve elicits a long, loopy return … but Lajovic hangs in there as my keyboard batteries die, and eventually retrieves one of Evans’ two breaks.
But on Centre, here comes Murray – it’s so good to see him – and the welcome is a big one so Otte has a little grin and wave to the crowd
Evans breaks again, and at 5-2 in set three will shortly serve for the match.
That was a fun match and a really good performance from Katie Boulter, who was the better player from the baseline against Aryna Sabalenka. She clearly has the weapons to be a top 50 player.
The clear difference was Boulter’s return: she made only 54% of returns today.
At 2-2 and 15-40 in set three, a succession of punishing forehands to Lajovic’s backhand allows Evans to open up the forehand side, a backhand slice eventually eliciting the error that establishes the break. Evans is three holds away from round three.
On No3, Pattinama Kerkhove and Muguruza [11] are just underway. If Muguruza’s healthy, there aren’t many able to compete with her best.
She’s looking great out there; I can’t think of many who cover the ground quicker.
Next on Centre: Otte v Murray. Don’t mind if we do!
Sabalenka says it’d be weird if the crowd supported her more than Boulter, but she really wanted to make them unhappy, she laughs. She appreciated the atmosphere, really missed the crowd, and is happy with the win in a great match. She was nervous at the start but fought hard, and asks that the crowd support her next time. She comes over extremely pleasant, and I’d love to see her make her first grand slam quarter-final.
Sabalenka roars with delight and relief before congratulating Boulter on a belter of a performance. She meets Alexandrova [32] or Osorio Serrano next.
He’s got just a little bit too much, and you can see the improvement from his previous match to this one.
This is such a performance from Boulter, who won’t just let Sabalenka bully her way to victory. At 3-4 and 30-all, she yanks Saba to the net then nonchalantly flicks a lob over her head for break point … but can’t control her next return. No matter. With most of the court to aim at, she hits what should’ve been a winner straight at her opponent, only to put away a much harder shot at the net! Again, though, she can’t make it count, nor the next time, Sabalenka saving the fourth break point with an ace. Boulter then does a tremendous job of chasing about to save game point, her reward a huge cheer from Centre Court. Sabalenka then saves one more chance for 4-4 before finally ending a 10-minute exchange with a succession of lusty forehands. This has been a brilliant match. Boulter 6-4 3-6 3-5 Sabalenka
This time, Sabalenka consolidates easily enough, and at 4-2 is very close to round three.
It’s Lajovic’s birthday today, but Evans has just broken him for 4-2 in set two so I hope he’s got some treats waiting for him.
On Court 12, Schwartzman and Broady are just underway, while Fucsovics has taken the first set off Vesely.
Sabalenka hammers a forehand cross-court that’s called out, but she challenges … and the outermost fibre of the ball was on the line! That makes 40-15 and another winner, followed by a netted forehand, take us to deuce. Seconds later, Sabalenka has a break and dearie me, this is a game of millimetres – Boulter was halfway to her seat when they had another look at what we thought was game point. Sabalenka now leads 3-2 in the third.
Well! Sabalenka plays a really loose game, abetted by the intensity of Boulter’s competitiveness, and when a forehand goes long we’re back on serve at 2-2!
Next on No2 Court: Swiatek [7] v Zvonareva. I wish I had 17 eyes.
Helped by an ace, Boulter makes 30-all from 0-30, but Sabalenka then thunders a backhand for break point and follows it up with a forehand return winner to give her 2-1. It’s taken a while, but her heel is now firmly on the solar plexus, and at change of ends Boulter calls for the trainer; her right elbow is heavily strapped and that’s what’s being looked at.
They’re now 1-1 in set two.
He finishes with an ace, his 18th, and meets Ymer next.
And he didn’t even need to serve for it, various errors from Lajovic handing him the decisive break.
Back on No1, Evans found himself down 15-40 when trying to consolidate, but he kept at it and now leads 5-3.
But a booming forehand followed by another restore parity, only for Boulter to crack a dictatorial backhand that allows her play a wrongfooter for 30-40. Sabalenka, though, brings her back to deuce and gets away with a poor second serve, Boulter’s return hitting the net. On set point, Boulter then produces a super return, but when Sabalenka gets it back she misses her clean-up forehand.
Boulter battles through a tough hold to force Sabalenka to serve for the second set, and quickly makes 0-30…
Evans and Lajovic look very well-matched at the moment, but as I type that, Lajovic sticks a forehand wide with half the court to hit. That gives Evans break point and how does he convert it, playing a fine defensive backhand that dips over the net, and when a nondescript pick-up comes his way, he skids into a backhand winner down the line! He leads 4-3 in the first set!
Sabalenka rushes through a love consolidation and marches to her chair a different player. You fear for Boulter now.
A wild forehand from Boulter gives Sabalenka break point, and though she finds a decent serve, the number two seed really opens her shoulders on a forehand that allows her to dictate the point and force the error, a backhand that flies wide. Boulter 6-4 2-4 Sabalenka
Auger-Aliassime now leads Monteiro by two sets and a break. If he and Kyrgios win their next matches, they’ll meet in round three – yes please – and if that happens, the winner will likely meet Zverev in the quarters. We’d take that one too.
Well that didn’t last long. Lajovic has broken Evans back for 2-2, which is were Boulter and Sabalenka are too – first and second sets respectively.
He meets Medvedev next, and if he can find his best form that should be a lot of fun.
“It seems to have become a normal tactic in the women’s game to take a break after losing a set,” says Mike Allen, “obviously trying to take away the momentum, gamesmanship, working the rules or just plain cheating.”
I’m not sure – it happens a lot in the men’s game too, and given players are entitled to a lag, I’m not sure there’s a problem with it. How desperate do you need to be and how could we regulate such a thing?
I then look up to see that Evans has broken Lajovic while, on my third screen, I’m trying to sneak a look at Auger-Aliassime. I know he’s wining comfortably, by two sets to love, but he’s someone who should be doing better than he is – years ago, our resident coach told me he’d seen someone special, but there’s now concern that he’s stagnated.
Hi again and thanks Luke. A Brit on Centre and No1 feels like a relatively unusual occurrence, even this early in the fortnight, but here we are. I’ve just switched on to see Boulter cleanse Sabalenka with a rahted lob, but she’s still 30-all on her serve and she’s just lobbed up a weak drop … which Sabalenka clouts into the net. Seconds later, Boulter puts away a volley, prompting her perturbed opponent to unleash a tirade at herself. We’re 1-1 in set two.
In the men’s singles: Monfils [13] has wrapped up a five-set win against Christopher O’Connell, while Mikael Ymer of Sweden has completed his own five-set success against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Daniel is safely back from the school run, so I shall hand back to him to take you through the rest of the afternoon.
Boulter claims the first set, 6-4, against the No 2 seed Sabalenka!
This is some Centre Court debut for Katie Boulter. She served out that set with considerable authority, refusing to be cowed when Sabalenka brought it back to 30-15 with a destructively powerful forehand that was simply too hot to handle. Sabalenka dumps a shot into the net, and Boulter, ranked 219 in the world, leads the world No 4 by a set to love!
*Boulter 5-4 Sabalenka (* denotes next server)
They are rushing through these games: The Belarusian, who is hurrying around between the points, asks Boulter to serve out this first set.
Boulter 5-3 *Sabalenka (* denotes next server)
Boulter holds comfortably, in double-quick time!
*Boulter 4-3 Sabalenka (* denotes next server)
A break for Boulter! She forces two break points with an excellent powerful backhand on to Sabalenka’s toes, who comes to the net … after that a double fault – the second of the game from the Belarusian – hands the break to Boulter. This is a big opportunity for the 24-year-old, can she close out this first set?
Boulter 3-3 *Sabalenka (* denotes next server)
The British No 2 does exceptionally well to fight back from 0-30 and hold.
*Boulter 2-3 Sabalenka (* denotes next server)
Now, over on centre, Boulter and Sabalenka are level at 2-2, with a break of serve each, in their first set. Boulter crushes a superb double-handed backhand winner which Sabalenka can’t get close to, but Sabalenka then holds for 3-2.
An exhausted by happy Kyrgios speaks on court: “Not too bad for a part-time player … he’s an incredible kid, he had a massive week last week in Halle, he won that tournament … I knew I was a massive underdog, but it didn’t take much to get me off the sofa in Canberra. Wimbledon is one of my favourite events … I just want to say thanks [to the fans]– last night honestly was one of my favourite memories of playing here … I was in so much pain this morning physically, I haven’t played in a long time, but it’s easy to get up for it with a crowd here.”
The Australian has done it!
Kyrgios finds himself 15-40 down while serving for the match, but saves the break points, with a clean winner down the line for deuce, and now forces a match point!
Katie Boulter and the women’s second seed, Aryna Sabalenka, have begun their second-round match on Centre Court with a break apiece.
Kyrgios breaks Humbert! He will now serve for the match at 8-7 in the fifth.
How’s this for hustle, from Yoshihito Nishioka?
What. A. Point.
Japan’s @yoshihitotennis turned on the style against John Isner to advance to the second round for the first time at #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/hbX3H96vv3
Kyrgios now holds to make it 7-7 in the fifth against Humbert.
The full Kyrgios v Humbert score now reads 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 7-7.
On Court 18, Marin Cilic (32) is fully in control of the second-set tiebreak against Salvatore Caruso, at 4-1. Cilic took the first set 7-6 (5).
Elsewhere in the men’s singles, Gaël Monfils and Christopher O’Connell are deep into a fifth set on Court 12.
Nick Kyrgios has just taken a very nasty looking tumble on Court 1 while battling at 6-6 in the fifth set with Ugo Humbert. His legs buckled underneath him, but thankfully he appears to be OK to carry on. The issue of this slippery grass doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Humbert holds serve, and goes 7-6 ahead.
The British No 2 Cameron Norrie moves into the second round with a fine four-set win against Lucas Pouille: 6-7 (6-8) 7-5 6-2 7-5.
Thank you, Daniel. Further to the Djokovic quotes that Daniel posted below, I’ve typed up a few more from his on-court interview:
“Very pleased – Kevin is a terrific player on grass courts … only one break each set was in enough. I thought I held my serve comfortably and I was using the angles really well from the back of the court … that was one of the tactical goals, try to make as least unforced errors from my end of the court … I knew Kevin was going to serve big, so I tried to play solid, but not too risky, and I’ve done much better than I thought I would do. I mean, I believe in myself, but really it was an almost flawless performance today [laughs]… my coach is there, hopefully he doesn’t have any complaints about my performance today.
With that, I’m away for the school run – Luke McLaughlin will narrate the next hour.
That match is 5-5 in the decider, while Auger-Aliassime leads Monteiro 4-1.
“There are few better sights in tennis than a fired up Nick Kyrgios channelling his adrenaline into his game rather than his words,” says Abhijato Sensarma. “Hope he can maintain his calm but proceed with fire rather than letting the flame die out in this epilogue to an epic Wimbledon first rounder.”
I don’t know, I love Kyrgios channelling his adrenaline into his words as well. But Humbert is a really good player with a nasty lefty serve and a high ceiling. It could be a real arse-nipper.
She may have lost, but @AlisonVanU produced some moments of magic against Elina Svitolina #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/7yhUjaSvFa
Next on Centre: Boulter v Sabalenka [2]. Sabalenka played really well in round one and perhaps this will be the slam at which she realises her potential. There’s absolutely loads of it.
He’s very happy, saying Anderson is dangerous, especially on fast courts. He said he held his serve comfortably and was using the angles well – only six unforced errors, apparently – and thought it best not to play anything too risky. “It was a flawless performance today,” he concludes, and is asked about trying to connect with the crowd – he is Nole and he needs to be loved – receiving a huge ovation.
Pretty much perfect tennis from the best player in the world, who remains on course for four Wimbledons in a row, three majors in a row, and the grand slam. Anderson is good, but Djokovic made him look like a plodder and meets Seppi or Kudla next. Good luck, boys.
Kyrgios and Humbert are away again, while Dimitrov has broken and consolidated against Verdasco to lead 4-2 in the third.
You’ve got to laugh. Djokovic raises three break points and Anderson saves one with an ace, then sees a forehand cross-court screech past him. Absolutely standard, and as such, Djokovic will now serve for the match.
“Watching some great tennis from Tsonga/Ymer on Court 14,” tweets @ebbandhide. “Any idea what’s happening on the adjacent court? They seem to be having a lovely time of it…”
Next door is 14, where Kontaveit leads Vondrousova 5-2, but there was nothing going on there when you asked. It’s a mystery I’m afraid – perhaps it was Cilic v Caruso on the diagonally proximate 18.
That’s a belting win for Thompson, who’d never won a match at Wimbledon before. He lost his way in the middle of that match but rebounded brilliantly in the decider and meets Nishikori next.
Anderson is sticking with Djokovic in set three – it’s 3-3 – while on No1, Kyrgios and Humbert have arrived, likewise Auger-Aliassime and Monteiro on No2.
On which point, Ruud has the trainer out to have a look at his right index finger.
When Thompson-Ruud is over, I’ll be taking a closer look at that one.
Casper Ruud, the number 12 seed, is in deep trouble. After fighting back from 0-2 down, he’s been broken for 3-1 in set five and Jordan Thompson is looking strong.
Next on No1 Court: Kyrgios and Humbert [21] will play their final set to a finish – it’s 3-3 now. And next on Court 2: Auger-Aliassime [16] v Montero.
She meets Linette next, who came from a set down to beat Anisimova. As for Van Uytvanck, I’d love to see more of her – her top level is really very decent, but she needs to hit it more often and raise her modal one.
I think he might sneak this.
That’s a great win – starting today a set down, Norrie took almost every big point, and he meets the wild card Alex Bolt next.
Norrie has had enough, and with Pouille serving at 5-6, he quickly makes it 0-40, giving himself thee match points…
Of course he does.
And there it is! Djokovic gets to 0-40, and though Anderson finds an excellent volley that his opponent applauds – that guy is so magnanimous! – he’s soon yanked to the net and lobbed. Djokovic leads 4-3 in set two.
Nishioka meets Bedene next.
What a game from Norrie! He’s improved so much and he raises it when he needs to, breaking Pouille to 15 for 5-5!
Djokovic and Anderson are still on serve in set two – it’s 3-3 – but we’re getting to the point at which Djokovic breaks.
Pouille breaks Norrie again, freeing his arms and making it work! He’ll now serve to force a decider at 5-4!
Here comes the decider!
Also, Verdasco took the first set against Dimitrov 6-3 but Dimitrov, the number 18 seed, leads 4-0 in the second.
Meantime, Norrie has broken Pouille back for 4-4, Uchiyama levelled his match with Alcaraz at 1-1 and Tsonga took the second set against Ymer so that match is now 1–1.
Svitolina has been broken back before breaking again. She lets out a terrific shriek to celebrate, and leads 3-2 in the decider.
Simultaneously, Pouille breaks Norrie then consolidates; he leads 4-2, trailing 1-2.
If you can, get a telly on to watchVan Uytvacnk. She’s stroking her drops beautifully … but what’s this? From 30-15, she’s broken, and Svitolina now leads 2-1 in the decider!
Anderson finds himself facing a break point in the opening game of set two; Emlyn, what happened next?
I’ve no idea who’s going to win this because Van Uytvanck is on.
This is going exactly as everyone supposed it’d go. I’d expect another one-break set, then a 6-2 or similar.
A poor forehand from Anderson, hit with a bit of top but not much else, allows Djokovic to spank a backhand pass cross-court. He’ll now serve for set one at 5-3.
Ruud has broken Thmpson immediately at the start of set four; Querrey leads Carreno Busta 2-1; and Alcaraz – who, we’ve been told is very good – is playing a breaker with Uchiyama, who he leads 1-0.
Van Uytvacnk likes Wimbledon, and has broken Svitolina for 4-1. Once she starts blazing away, she’s hard to stop – it’s odd because she’s never made it beyond the third round of a major.
Anderson is still holding nicely and in making it 4-3, Djokovic slips. He doesn’t look happy.
Reward for toughing it out in a five-setter against Kohlschreiber.
Denis Shapovalov is into the Wimbledon third round after Pablo Andujar withdrew due to a rib injury.
The difference in form and class is asserting itself.
This is getting interesting…
Norrie breaks Pouille, the consolidates with ease to lead 5-2 in set three. He’s hitting it nicely now, and I’d be surprised if he didn’t settle this in four.
Watching Van Uytvanck, I’ve just remembered she beat Muguruza at the 2018 championships – and she did it by playing brilliant, fearless tennis, losing the first set 7-5 and responding with a 6-2 and a 6-1. It may or may not have ruined an extensive accumulator of mine, which may or may not be why I remember what happened with such clarity. Anyhow, she leads Svitolina 2-1 in set two, on serve.
Djokovic is the latest to slip, but he’s fine. He and Anderson are level at 2-2 in set one.
And here’s the man himself, greeting his dad. I’ve gone.
Goran Ivanisevic is, of course, in Djokovic’s box. Here’s Centre Court the day he finally won Wimbledon.
They’ll now play a decider.
Hope for Ruud – he’s broken Thompson and leads 3-2 in set three, but it’s still a long way back.
That was a lot of fun – Van Uytvanck brought it, bringing the best out of Svitolina in the process.
Norrie just survived a service game in which he sent down three double faults. He leads 1-0 in set three, the first two having been split.
On Centre, Anderson and Djokovic are knocking up. Anderson’s had a bad run with injury lately, his knee in particular, and I’m now old enough to say I feel his pain.
That break was coming, and I’d expect Norrie to ease away from here.
Querrey took that breaker off Carreno Busta 8-6 and has broken for 2-1 in set two.
Calvin returns to tell us that the players he thinks might overtake Berrettini are Auger-Aliassime, Sinner, Mussetti, Alcaraz and Shapovalov, and poins out that Tiafoe is getting himself together again. “Also,” he says, “over the next 18 months there’s a gap when Nadal and Federer will drop out and Thiem has a load of points coming off in the summer that he won’t defend. Berretini’s problem is his BH drive is pretty crap.”
Pouille, who’s had as miserable a year as Norrie’s had a great year, is finding himself and has just saved three set points to make it 7-5(6) 5-5 to him.
About 20 minutes ago, this was one set all and four all … then Berrettini reeled off 10 straight games and will meet Van de Zandschulp or Barrere next, a lucky loser and a qualifier respectively – currently, Van de Zandschulp is up 2-1 and a break. If he wins that and Nishikori does for Bedene, those two will meet in round three. Yes please!
He meets Bedene next, and no seed will fancy meeting him.
Svitolina has broken Van Uytvacnk back and leads 2-1; Nishioka leads Inser 2-1 and they’re on serve in set four; Ymer took the first set off Tsonga; and Querrey and Carreno Busta, the number 11 seed, are playing a first-set breaker
That tenth game of set three was a killer for Pella. Berrettini has stamped on the gas and now leads 4-0 in set four, and on him Calvin says: “Berretini is a huge unit. Was on court next to him yesterday. He’s a threat for the latter stages. Massive serve, cracks his forehand, great slice and has balls of steel. He could go top five or a bit higher, but he’d need to do it in the next 18 months I think, because there are some decent players coming through who I think could overtake him by then and though he’s playing great at the moment, I’m not sure he can get loads better than he is now.”
It’s a long way back for the number 12 seed.
On No1 Court, Svitolina and Van Uytvanck are away, Van Uytvanck breaking immediately.
Norrie and Pouille are rattling through the games, now 3-3 in set two (Pouille by one set to love).
Calvin also says that Carlos Alcaraz, 5-3 up on Yasutaka Uchiyama, is a “serious player”. So keep your eyes on him.
Thompson and Ruud are playing a second-set breaker; if Thompson can see it through, he’ll be set. On him, Calvin Betton, our resident tennis coach, notes that he’s got the ability to break the top 10, but much prefers slow courts.
Of course, Djokovic and Anderson met in the 2018 final, won by Djokovic in short order – though Anderson had played a final set that went 26-24 in his semi against Isner.
He broke in its final game and though Pella has been solid, will expect to close out from here.
In just over an hour, Novak Djokovic and Kevin Anderson will arrive on Centre Court. At. 35 he’s past his best, but if he serves well, he’s an unpleasant afternoon for anyone.
Latest to slip: John Isner, whose leg folded at the knee under his not insubstantial body. He seems to be fine, and is level at 1-1 but down 3-5, to Nishioka/
Next on No2 Court: Lucas Pouille and Cameron Norrie [29] resume their first-round match, Pouille leading 7-6(6).
That was a good workout for Badosa, who’s making her Wimbledon debut. I think she’s got the talent to win majors and she did really well to respond so well to losing a set. But Putintseva, who she meets next, will be a far sterner test.
This Berrettini-Pella match is developing into something very decent, now 3-3 and one each.
Badosa has broken the back of her match with Bolsova, leading 5-2 in the decider with a double break.
That is an absolute doing. In some ways, Andreescu looked the better player, but Cornet looked the better grass-court player, by far, so it’s she who meets Minnen or Tomljanovic next and benefits from the number five seed’s route through the draw.
It takes him five goes, but Ruud finally breaks Thompson back when a forehand goes wide. They’re back on serve in set two at 3-3, Thompson having won the first.
Yeah, time’s up. Badosa has broken Bolsova to lead 2-1 in the decider. However, Bolsova still has Wimbledon’s greatest barnet and I’m extremely envious.
He’s getting there, but can he get to where he was?
Assuming no one fell in the time it took me to write this – a biggie, granted – Andreescu is the latest to fall, slipping in the process of being broken for a second time in set two. She trails Cornet 2-6 0-3.
This is getting interesting.
She meets Camila Giorgi next, who beat Jil Teichmann 2 and 2.
The number 30 seed played very nicely early on, but she’s in a right row now.
“To complement the point made by Mr Mysteron_Voices,” says Abhijato Sensarma, “I heard the veteran commentators in the Berrettini vs Pella match talking in a positive light about the good old days when players continued with their matches even when it rained. Frankly, defending even slightly dangerous conditions is like raving about the aesthetics from the time cricketers had to face the Windies bowlers without any protection for their skulls.”
Yes – though I think we need to differentiate between nostalgia, which this might’ve been, and blaming the players for slipping, which is something different.
Thompson has broken Ruud at the first time of asking in set two. The number 12 seed has big problems.
She meets Kristina Pliskova or Astra Sharma next; they’re 1-1 in the decider.
Now then: Pella has broken Berrettini for 4-2 in set two. Even when the number seven seed was flowing earlier on, he hung in there, and now he’s starting to assert.
These two seem pretty well-matched, and I might just flick to this match.
Andreescu is absolutely tumping it now, getting herself two break points. But her volleying has let he down so far and it lets her down here, Cornet eventually closing out a 49-minute 6-2 set. The number five seed is in trouble, having made 22 unforced errors so far.
Oh, and Nishioka won that breaker with Isner.
Cornet has broken Andreescu again and is serving for the first set at 5-2; Ruud and Thompson are playing a breaker; Bolsova has broken Badosa back in set two.
I’m looking forward to seeing how Casper Ruud does this Wimbledon. Jordan Thompson is a tricky first-round draw – he leads 605 on serve –but the number 12 seed is improving quickly and already a good player.
That’s a decent start for the number 16 seed and French Open runner-up.
“No1 Court, No.2 Court and No.3 Court are essentially, to varying degrees, show courts,” says @Mysteron_Voice, “and naming them in this way gives them some sort of grandeur … the rest of them just happen to be tennis courts at Wimbledon…”
Yeah, I wondered if that was what it was and would’ve accepted it had it been No1 and No2, but 3 and 4? I don’t now about that.
John Isner is playing a tiebreaker. Of course he is. (Yoshihito Nishioka is his opponent)>
Sealing it with his seventh ace of the match. He’s looking good, and looking to entertain, faking drop-shots and such.
Cornet has broken Andreescu to lead 3-2, Muchova, the number 19 seed, has broken Zhang to lead 4-3, and Nishikori has taken the first set off Popyrin, 6-4 – after a wobble when serving out.
Question: why is it No1 Court, No2 Court and No3 Court, then Court 4, Court 5, Court 6 and so on?
Badosa has broken at the first time of asking in set two. She’ll be chilling in no time.
She served six aces in the process too, and could really do something here.
“Pre-match discussion on BBC and suddenly it’s the players’ fault that they keep slipping over,” says @Mysteron_Voices. “Try telling that to Mannarino and Serena…”
Oh, is that what they said? I turned them down to watch some actual sport, but that is a bit odd. They should come out in studs, see how the All England like that.
Berrettini has broken Pella for 3-2 while, on Court 17, Kei Nishikori is a break up on Alexei Popyrin.
Email! “In some ways, Murakami’s writing style reminds me of tennis (it’s a stretch, I know, but one that can probably be forgiven)“ hopes Abhijato Sensarma. “His prose remains accessible to the most unacquainted of readers, not unlike the simple elegance of tennis. There have been imitators over the years, but none do it quite as well as him in the 21st century, just as the Big Three of Tennis are probably going to be the defining trio of the sport in modern times. And finally, isn’t tennis the sporting version of magical surrealism? It seems to be quite commonplace at first glance, but it’s got an unmatched affinity for the strange and wonderful lurking around its corners.”
One thing I forgot to say about The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: if you can, save it for when you’ve got time to properly be absorbed by it. It’s too consuming for commuting.
Here’s a good stat from BBC: Andreescu has only played seven slams, and she’s been seeded in five of them. She’s only 21 – she won the US Open when she was 19 – and has plenty of improving still to do. Her best performance aside from that is the second round.
I guess it’s a a bit parky out – Bianca Andreescu, the fifth seed, is wearing a jacket at the start of her match against Alize Cornet. They’re playing the first game.
Oh gosh, I’d not noticed that Paula Badosa is playing today too. I’m looking forward to seeing how she does on grass because although she’s a baseliner, she’s got the serve and hands to do well. She’s already a break up against Aliona Bolsova.
Also going on:
Related: Euro 2020: latest news and reaction to England’s win over Germany – live!
On the slipperiness of the grass, from PA:
Wimbledon organisers cited the wet conditions at the start of the tournament as a factor in the apparent slipperiness of the grass at the All England Club this year.
Berrettini and Pella are away, Pella holding comfortably enough.
Every day, we’re sharing stuff we think is good – feel free to send in recommendations – but in the meantime, if you’ve not read Haruki Murakami’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, I urge you to, and this is what’s got me tapping my feet currently.
I’m well looking forward to seeing Berrettini today. He was good enough to reach the fourth round two years ago, and he a miles better player now than then. Pella will be a decent test, but only in the context – he should reach the quarter-finals where he’s drawn to meet Zverev, a match that’d be an absolute treat.
Centre Court (from 1.30pm BST)
Novak Djokovic [1] v Kevin Anderson – second round
If tedious weather chat is self-aware, is it still tedious weather chat … or is it a meta joke about irony and identity that invigorates us all? You don’t need to answer that.
But absorbing today’s menu, we’re obliged to thank our temperate climes, for it is on their account that we’ve been blessed with such affirming length and breadth. The great British summer and its accordant tennis backlog is our friend.
