On Centre, Sinner now leads Schwartzman 7-5 4-1, on 12, Berrettini and Sonego are 6-6 in their third-set breaker, and on 17, Vesely leads Korda 2-1 and 4-1. But that’s us done for the day, so it’s goodbye from me – thanks all for your company and comments – and I’ll see you tomorrow! Peace out.
“It was pretty stressful, I won’t lie,” says Tsitsipas. “For a minute i thought we were doing the repeat of Isner Mahut.” He then congratulates Thiem, who he says brings the best out of him, both players fought hard and put on a show, and he wishes his opponent all the ‘best for the future. As for tomorrow, he’s not expecting anyone to support him, but “it’s not my first rodeo”, then talks about watching Murray win his first Wimbledon as a kid. He felt the pressure Murray must’ve been under, gets goosebumps every time he thinks about it, and knows Centre Court is like Murray’s front room, so hopes they play there because he never has. Finally, he waves at Paula Badosa, his girlfriend, and is told she won her match earlier – he didn’t know, he laughs so congratulates her, then laughs that he never thought he’d play singles, doubles and mixed, but the former is with his brother and the latter with his girlfriend, so here he is. Goodness me, what a buzz that must be – my eyeballs are sweating at the thought – though I’m also laughing thinking about playing with my wife and the ruckus that’d inevitably ensue.
Stefanos Tsitsipas [5] beats Dominic Thiem 3-6 7-6(1) 6-2 (5)6-7 7-6(8)!
Thiem sticks a ball onto the baseline … but a sensational wrongfooting forehand, from centre to corner, gives Tsitsipas the winner and the win! What a match that was, and the players meet at the net for a richly-deserved cuddle. So Tsitsipas meets Murray next … tomorrow. Don’t mind if we do!
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Nahman! A cautious backhand from Tsitsipas invites a murderous forehand into the corner! But still, one match point remains, on the Thiem serve…
And he might just be about to, because coming forward, he nets a forehand unnecessarily for 7-8, then hits long, and suddenly Tsitsipas has two match points, the first on his serve. Here it comes…
Held serves take us to 7-7, and this is so so tense now, both players knowing that one oversight and they’re likely done for. But they’re both playing really well, going for everything as if they don’t know the score, and I’ve still not a clue who’ll win. I guess I’d like it to be Thiem because of all he’s been through, but even if he loses, he’s back.
Excellent from Thiem coming to the net to disburse a deep volley. So Tsitsipas tries a backhand down the line but it’s obviously long; he berates the umpire, challenges, sees it’s long, and his mini-break is gone; he leads 5-4.
Oh I say! Two fine volleys, the second a delicate backhand beauty on the stretch, gives Tsitsipas the mini-break at 4-2, and he’s six holds from Murray.
We’re on serve in the breaker at 2-1 Thiem while, in the Italian derby, it’s 1-1 and 4-4.
…but Thiem saves it when a big forehand incites Tsitsipas to net! Stones! He then rushes through deuce, and here comes the super-tiebreak we, they and this match deserve. First to 10, or at least 10 with a two-point lead, wins.
And now Tsitsipas has match point…!
Novak Djokovic [2] beats Jordan Thompson 6-3 7-6(4) 7-5!
Thompson played well, but Djokovic played like Djokovic, and he meets Etcheverry or Wawrinka next.
Updated
What?! Thiem opens the court with his serve, plays a good enough backhand that earns him a simple putaway volley … and he dumps it! but he soon makes 15-all, right as Djokovic arranges 30-40, raising his first match point. It’s all going on, because sinner has just broken Schwartzman to love to take their first set 7-5!
So who’s going to win on Court 2? I guess I’m favouring Thiem because he’s got the less complicated style – big serve, big groundstrokes – and is playing the better. But generally in these situations, the better player finds a way, so I’d not be shocked to see Tsitsipas take it, even though I don’t trust his backhand, especially under pressure. He holds for 6-5, so we’re a game away from a super tiebreak, while Schwartzman and Thompson are also serving for breakers against Sinner and Djokovic respectively.
Thompson goes long on the backhand, but only after Djokovic clips the line with his; the Serb raises a hand, but it takes him to 30-all and two points from victory. No matter, Thompson hangs in there to win a terrific rally when a lob drops on the first fibre of grass beyond the baseline, and from there he quickly makes 5-5. On Court 2, meanwhile, Tsitsipas hangs onto serve for 5-4 and both players are absolutely having it, Thiem securing his holds more easily.
Updated
Another swift hold for Djokovic who, by dint of leading 5-4, invites Thompson to serve to stay in the match. Berrettini and Songeo, meanwhile, are 2-2 in set three, and Thiem has just held to love for 4-4 in the fifth.
Oh and Thompson also makes his hold while, on Centre, Sinner leads Schwartzman 5-4 on serve in the first.
…and when Tsitsipas has a backhand called out, he thinks he’s done it! But a challenge reveals the ball was good so they replay the point, and what a volley the Greek somehow conjures, stretching low on the forehand to send back a glorious drop! This is fantastic stuff, it really is, and seconds later the hold is secure. Tsitsipas leads 4-3 in the final set.
Back on Centre, where Djokovic leads 2-0, Thompson is serving at 3-4, probably knowing that, playing more or less as well as he can, he’s likely to lose in straights. Djokovic gets him to deuce, but on Court 2, Tsitsipas nets at 30-all to hand Thiem a break point…
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Good stuff going on on Court 12, which is where I’m off. Keys has taken the first set off Kartal 6-0, so I’m moving to watch Berrettini, who’s just levelled the match at one set-all, play his good mate Sonego.
Leading 2-1, Tsitsipas gets to deuce on the Thiem serve, but goes long with a forehand return that was there for him – not to hit a winner but to ask a question – and a lush backhand drop seals the hold. It’s so good to see the Austrian back playing like this, and if he can stay fit, there’s plenty out there for him.
The shadows are encroaching onto Court 2 as Tsitsipas flows his way to 2-1 in the fifth and, on Centre, Sinner applauds as Schwartzman dashes in to execute the most dainty of drops. the Italian still holds though, up 3-2 in the first.
Updated
Djokovic leads Thompson 2-1 in set three, on serve, while Keys broke Kartal to love at the first time of asking and now leads 3-0 in the first.
Thiem takes his time and serves … into the net. But then he goes again, Tsitsipas nets his return, and at 6-3 (1)6-7 2-6 7-6(5) he’s earned himself a decider! He wasn’t the better player in that set, but he took his chance and now it’s a shoot-out! I can’t wait!
Superb from Thiem, a drop and a drop volley taking him from 4-3 to 6-3. Tistsipas has two serves to come, so he’ll only have one go on his own delivery, but he’s playing really well again, so will fancy himself to do the necessary.
Tsitsipas finds himself marooned at the net and we all know what’s coming next: Thiem, whose get earned him this opportunity, blazes a typical backhand pass for 4-2 and a mini-break. He’s three points away from a final-set decider.
On Centre, Sinner and Schwartzman are away; on 3, so are Kartal, of GB, and Keys, of USA.
Absolutely classic Djokovic. At 5-4, he sends down a weak second serve that Thompson nets, then on set point he delivers an ace and, well though his opponent’s played, he’s still two sets down. Meantime, Tsitsipas plays a beautiful hold for 6-6 which means he’s a breaker away from a meeting with Andy Murray tomorrow.
Djokovic grabs the first mini-break, of course he does, and leads 4-2; Tsitsipas will now serve for a fourth-set breaker against Thiem.
Back on Centre, Djokovic is serving for a breaker …and makes it, to 15. At Roland-Garros, he won all six he played, made no unforced errors, taking 42 of 55 points. Good luck, Jordan old mucker.
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“Three tabs open on the iPad,” says Richard Hirst. “Wimbledon, women’s Ashes, England U-21 semi-final, bliss.”
I’m tennis only, two matches on the desktop, one on the lap, one on the phone. I’m can’t say I’m not frightened about what happens when the Test starts tomorrow.
“I can just see all the followers of the blog furiously googling ‘Jim Duffy’ right now,” returns Simon McMahon – to save you the trouble, Simon supports Dundee United and Duffy is a Dundee icon. Anyway: “Hegarty and Narey would make a good pair. Sturrock and Dodds on the eyeballs. Wee Jim, well let’s not go there.”
Gosh, imagine if every time you looked through your own eyes, you saw Luggy and Dodds.
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Holger Rune [6] beats George Loffhagen 7-6(4) 6-3 6-2!
Rune got a little lucky with the rain, the timing of which yesterday suited him. But he also played well, which tells us that Loffhagen did to, because he forced the issue, and it’s great to see him back enjoying his tennis – with his serve, backhand and athleticism, he’s got a chance of getting somewhere. Rune meets Arnaldi or Carballes Baena next.
That breaker i mentioned? Vesely took it, so leads Korda, seeded 22, 7-6(7) 2-1. Oh, and Pliskova is serving for the match leading Stevanovic 6-2 5-2, while Thompson now has Djokovic fighting through deuce.
Thompson is making a really good fist of this, forcing Djokovic to serve to stay in the second set at 4-5, and Thiem is back playing properly, 3-3 with Tistsipas in the fourth. Finally, Rune has a double break on Loffhagen and, as I type, he raises two match points at 5-2 in the third.
Denis Shapovalov [26] beats Radu Albot 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-2!
It’s great to see him back in amongst it – he’s got all the tools to be very serious – and he meets Barrère next.
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Barbora Krejcikova [10] beats Heather Watson 6-2 7-5!
Watson had her chances in set two but couldn’t take them, and when she wafts long, it’s all over. Krejcikova played well there, and meets Andreeva or Wang next; currently. Andreeva leads 4-3 with a break.
Updated
Theim and Tsitsipas are 2-2 in set four, Thiem 2-1 in front, while Djokovic shows Thompson the new balls before serving at 6-3 3-4 and Watson fights for the hold that’ll give her a second-set breaker and Krejcikova tries to finish her off. So far, three match points have been saved or spurned, depending on your bent.
“I’m afraid your tattoo correspondents have reckoned without Wimbledon’s rules,” returns Richard Hirst. “Are there such things as white tattoos?”
Where there’s a will there’s a way, as demonstrated by Cameroon in 2002 when Fifa tried to tell them what they could and couldn’t wear.
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I thought Vesely v Korda would be tight and it is; they’re playing a first-set breaker, Korda leading 7-6.
Tommy Paul [16] beats Shintaro Mochizuki 7-5 6-3 6-1!
He meets Milos Raonic next, and that’ll be a very tricky test for him.
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Krejcikova makes it 6-5 in set two, then calls out the trainer for some kind of foot and ankle issue – the forehand that caused it seemed innocuous enough, so hopefully she’s OK. She opts to take a timeout so the physio has three minutes to sort her support, while Rune has broken Loffhagen immediately in set three and is almost home.
“I’ll tattoo both shoulders,” says Simon McMahon, “if Murray makes the second week. And I’ll throw in both eyeballs if he wins a third Wimbledon title. Suggestions welcome as to what I should go with…”
Gosh, that’s a bold promise, because if Murray wins his round two match, he’ll have the number 5 seed’s passage through the draw. He won’t win it, obviously, but he’s one win away from a portrait of Jim Duffy all over your back.
Rune secures the second set to lead 7-6(4) 6-3, then leaves for a bathroom break; he’ll have to be quick because both players went at the end of set one, so can’t go again till the end of set three; he’ll have to be back within the change of ends, which he is. And on Court 2, Tsitsipas serves out for a 6-2 set, and Thiem, now 2-1 behind, just hasn’t been at it today.
Watson’s done a really good job hanging in this second set and at 4-4 she arranges advantage on the Krejcikova serve … but nets a forehand, then her opponent serves out. Loffhagen, meanwhile, forces Rune to serve for a 2-0 lead, while Tsitsipas breaks Thiem again and at 5-2, is close to forging in front.
Tsitsipas has been upping the pressure and when he gets to 30-40, Thiem loads up on the forehand, sends it fractionally wide, and that’s the break! He leads 3-2 in the third, and yesterday’s interruption seems to have worked well for him.
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Also going on:
Good stat on BBC: Thiem is one of only two players with at least five wins over the big three; the other, of course, is Andrew Murray. He leads 2-1 in third.
“Worst place to have a tattoo is famously right under your shoulder,” advises James W. “Something about a ton of blood vessels all coming together in that particular corner of the body.”
Djokovic volleys into the tape, the ball clambers over, and secures a love-hold for a 6-3 first set against Thompson – who’s playing really well, for all the good it’s doing him.
On 12, Shapovalov has levelled his match with Albot at 1-1 and now leads 4-2 in the third, while Pella is serving for his match with Coric at 5-1 in the fifth.
Thanks Tom and hi again everyone. I’m delighted to be back watching Thiem and Tsitsipas – they’re 1-1 in the second – while Rune has broken Loffhagen, who played so well yesterday, and leads 7-6 3-1. On Centre, Djokovic is serving for the first set at 5-3.
Updated
Meanwhile, over on Court 1 Heather Watson is digging in without ever really getting on top against Barbora Krejcikova. It’s 2-2 in the second set.
And Daniel’s back and recharged, so I’ll hand you back over. Enjoy the rest of the day.
Thompson miscues a smash at the net and sends it long, giving Djokovic a sniff at 15-30, but his first serves are in good order, winning him the next two points, but you can’t advance to the net and offer Djokovic a juicy forehand at a decent height so we go to deuce. A gorgeous drop volley at the net gives Djokovic a break point, which he converts when he makes Thompson stretch at the net and volley long.
That going-through-the-gears thing is upon us. Djokovic leads 4-2, first set.
As dominant a service game as anyone will likely send down to Djokovic this fortnight keeps Thompson level at 2-2 but Djokovic doesn’t give the Australian a sniff on his own serve either and also wins his to love. We whizz on to 3-2.
And in the eagerly followed delayed match on Court No 2, Tsitsipas has won the second set in a tiebreak to draw level with Dominic Thiem.
Protest latest:
Following a further incident on Court 18, one individual has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage.
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2023
This individual is being removed from the Grounds.
Play on the court was briefly paused and has now resumed.
Not such good news for Heather Watson though: she’s lost the first set to Barbora Krejcikova 6-2, and Novak Djjokovic is under way on Centre Court against the 70th-ranked Australian Jordan Thompson, who’s acquitted himself decently so far. But Djokovic leads 2-1 in a first set that’s gone with serve thus far.
A seed has fallen: Roman Safiullin has beaten Roberto Bautista Agut 2-6, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 in a four-hour duel.
Katy Boulter beats Daria Saville 7-6, 6-2
Boulter isn’t knocked out of kilter by being broken though and in a strong return game gets herself two match points with a brutal and brilliant forehand winner. And it’s converted with a similarly emphatic volley at the net to seal her second place. Boulter’s clearly buoyed by that Nottingham triumph and was a deserved winner here.
She plays either Bernarda Pera of the US or the Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova next.
Updated
Elsewhere, Coric v Sella has indeed gone to a fifth set while Milos Raonic, a former finallist here of course, has beaten Dennis Novak of Austria in four sets.
Boulter, serving for the match, is broken back. She initially eases to 30-0 on her serve before double-faulting and is pegged back to 30-all, misjudging a low drop shot at the net. And suddenly Saville has a break point when Boulter whips a forehand narrowly wide. And then another double-fault hands the Australian the break. Boulter still has the advantage though at 5-2
It’s not going so well for Boulter’s compatriot Heather Watson, who was broken in her first service game by Barbora Krejckova and the Czech No 10 seed leads 4-1. Boulter though is looking confident and assertive now and romps to three break points on Saville’s next service game, converting at the first opportunity. She’s a game away from the second round at 5-1.
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Let’s jaunt over to Court 18, where they’ve swept up the jigsaw pieces and what have you, where the second set between Katy Boulter and Diara Saville has thus far gone with serve at 1-2, with Saville serving. Boulter gets a slab of luck with a thick net cord deflection to put some pressure on at 15-30, and when a Saville backhand drifts long the British woman has two break points. She squanders the first with a forehand into the net, but not the second. A ferocious return of serve enables Boulter to dictate the rally and push Saville to the corner of the court, forcing her to scoop the ball wide and long.
Boulter leads 7-6, 3-1.
Updated
A quick look round the courts reveals that the 20th seed, Roberto Bautista Agut, has been taken to a fifth set by the Russian Roman Safiullin, and a fifth set looks likely on Court 14 where the 13th seed Borna Coric has recovered from losing the first two sets to Guido Pella, winning the third 6-4 and cruising into a 3-0 lead in the fourth.
Iga Swiatek (1) beats Sara Sorribes Torino 6-2, 6-0
Swiatek has looked a class above all afternoon and an unanswerable whipped crosscourt forehand gives her two match points on Sorribes Torino’s serve. The Spaniard saves the first with a strong first serve, but can’t do anything about the second, which Swiatek converts by advancing to the net and top-spinning a forehand into the empty court to complete a ruthless bagelling. Business taken care of.
Thanks Daniel. Afternoon everyone. And I bring news that they’ve resumed on Court 18 after the latest Just Stop Oil protest, and Katie Boulter has only gone and won the first set tiebreak, 7-4 against Daria Saville, turning that breaker right round. Elsewhere Heather Watson and Barbora Krejcikova are knocking up on Court One, and Iga Swiatek is coasting into round three, 5-0 up and a set up against Sara Sorribes Torino.
Righto, I’m now off for a little break, so here’s Tom Davies to hang with you for the next hour.
Beatriz Haddad Maia [13] beats Yulia Putintseva 3-6 6-0 6-4!
She runs around her backhand, delivery a crushing forehand down the line, and that’s a terrific win in an equally good match. Haddad Maia meets Cristian or Bronzetti next and make no mistake, if she hits her level she’s a threat.
Updated
Haddad Maia wins her first game in four to lead 5-4; after a little sit-down, Putintseva will serve to stay in the competition. And Swiatek nearly home, breaking Sorribes Tormo at the first time of asking in he second.
Another Stop Oil protestor invades Court 18
With Boulter a mini-break down at 4-2, another Stop Oil protestor invades Court 18; BBC zoom out, but he’s quickly apprehended, so I imagine we’ll keep going once the orange tickertape has been cleared up.
Updated
Next on Court 1: Heather Watson v Barbora Krejcikova [10].
Back on Centre, Swiatek breaks Sorribes Tormo again for a 6-2 set – she’s making this look very easy which I guess it is, for her – Tiafoe now leads Wu 7-6 6-3, Cerundolo F has levelled his match with Borges at 1-1 likewise Raonic with Novak, and Boulter has served out for her first-set breaker against Saville.
Ahahahaha! Putinseva noises the crowd right up after breaking Haddad Maia for 3-4 in their decider. It’s getting tense out on Court 12!
Daniil Medvedev [3] beats Arthur Ferry 7-5 6-4 6-3!
Fery showed plenty there, and will much better for the experience; Medvedev was both good and bad, but knew enough to win the big moments and meets Mannarino or Shevchenko next. If he doesn’t improve, the former might cause him problems.
Updated
On Court 18, Boulter and Saville are knocking up; they’ll resume with the latter leading 6-5.
Marta Kostyuk beats Maria Sakkari [8] 0-6 7-5 6-2!
Kostyuk prostrates herself on the turf and well she might, what a colossal win that is! The number eight seed falls and the woman seizing her path through the draw is capable of going plenty further; next up it’s Riske-Armritraj or Badosa.
Kostyuk gets to 5-1 and is now serving for the match following a hold from Sakkari.
Grigor Dimitrov [21] beats Sho Shimabukuro 6-1 6-2 6-1!
I fancied Griggzy for a run here and and he’s started well; he meets Ivashka or Coria next.
Updated
Three breaks in a row on Centre, Swiatek snatching back what was hers for a 3-1 lead while, on No1 and after numerous deuces – deucii? – Fery has numerous chances – chanceii? – to finish a point at the net, doesn’t, ands Medvedev is now up two sets and a break at 3-2 in the third. Oh, and Haddad Maia is now up a break on Putitnseva in their decider, leading 3-1.
Double-break for Kostyuk now, who leads 4-1 in the decider; what a comeback after losing the first set 6-0. For Sakkari, though, it looks like another first-round exit, not what you expect when you’re eight in the world. And have as look at Centre, Sorribes Tormo applauding an oblique forehand winner that breaks the sideline, then challenging; the ball was good.
Updated
Sorribes Tormo is onto this now, a deep return to the backhand corner eliciting an error from Swiatek, who now leads 2-1 - her break gone. Back on No1, meanwhile, it’s 2-2 in the third with Fery serving at deuce.
Updated
I said we’d have a match if Sorribes Tormo was on, but Swiatek breaks her immediately and leads 2-0 … but as she seeks to consolidate, she’s taken to deuce. Meanwhile, Kostyuk has broken Sakkari in their decider and leads it 3-1, Vekic has beaten Zhang 2 and 3, and Collins has beaten Grabher 4 and 4.
Anett Kontaveit beats Lucrezia Stefanini 6-4 6-4!
She meets Bouzkova [32] next.
Haddad Maia bagels Putintseva and, as Sorribes Tormo and Jabeur discovered at Roland-Garros, when she gets going she’s brutal to stop. Their decider should be a belter. Back on Court 2, Kostyuk is serving for set two a second time, having lost the first to Sakkari 6-0 … and she sees it out! Another decider, and we might just be at that mythical point where both players are playing well.
Fery has played well, but Medvedev serves out and leads 7-5 6-4; it’s tough at the top. Otherwise, Swiatek and Sorribes Tormo are knocking up and if the latter in on, this will be a match. On her, she caused controversy in Paris when, playing doubles with Bouzkova, an opponent, Miyu Kato, accidentally hit a ballgirl in the process of passing the ball back. There was surprise and tears, then Kato and her partner, Aldila Sutjiadi, were disqualified – with Sorribes Tormo and Bouzkova encouraging the officials to make that call.
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Oh Arthur. Oh mate. Immediately after breaking back, he’s broken again, and at 7-5 5-4, Medvedev will serve for set two. Talking of which, serving for a decider against Sakkari, Kostyuk has been broken back, so she trails 6-0 5-5.
Tiafoe has taken the first set off Wu 7-6(4); Haddad Maia has broken Putintseva again, now leads 5-0 in the second having lost the first; Novak leads Raonic 7-6(5) 0-1, with a break; and Dimitrov now leadsShimabukuro 6-1 6-2.
Ferry secures a tough hold from for 5-7 3-4, and it’s worth noting that he’s only 5”8, seriously short for a tenniser. Years ago now, I spoke to an agent on behalf of a young player needing representation, and the first question he asked me was how tall he was. Essentially, if you’re not 6”2, you’ll need to be very special to be special, but Fery is finding workarounds, taking the ball early and getting to the net. And, as I type that, he underlines the point, breaking back to love!
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Sloane Stephens beats Rebecca Peterson 6-2 6-3!
Don’t be surprised if she does something here – she looked good in Paris – and meets Vekic or Zhang next.
Updated
Oh yes, Beatriz na casa! She breaks Putintseva at the first time of asking in set two, sealing the deal with a gorgeous forehand down and onto the line! Back on No1, we’ve another key moment: first, the rain at 5-5 in set one, halted Fery’s momentum and he lost the set; now Medvedev has broken him for 3-2.
Fery earns break point, comes in and plays a really good squash-shot to get back into the rally, but Medvedev flings a backhand winner cross-court, closes out, and leads 7-5 2-2.
Next on Centre Court: Iga Swiatek [1] v Sara Sorribes Tormo.
Daria Kasatkina [11] beats Jodie Burrage 6-0 6-2!
She dealt with that pretty easily, though Burrage did her best, and meets Podoroska or Azarenka next.
Updated
Haddad Maia makes a fight of it, taking her from 30-0 to deuce, but eventually Putintseva prevails, taking the first set 6-3 following a loose forehand. The Brazilian did, though, improve a bit, and I quite fancy her to force a decider. Elsewhere, Kontaveit leads Stefanini 6-4 and Vekic leads Zhang 6-2.
“I remember a while ago emailing one of the Guardian liveblogs and saying something along the lines of ‘I’d rather tattoo my own eyeballs’,” says Simon McMahon, “and moments later someone replied that they could actually arrange that for me as eyeball tattoos were now a thing. There’s only one place I can think of being tattooed that might be worse and, well, this is a family newspaper.”
It’s a newspaper of the world, mate.
Kasatkina holds for 5-2 and Burrage, having lost the first set 6-0, is nearly done.
On 12, Haddad Maia has made the impressive Putintseva serve for the first set at 5-3; Stephens has broken Peterson for 6-2 3-2; ad Kostyuk is in the match, breaking Sakkari to trail 0-6 3-2.
Fery twice gets in front in the game, but at 30-all, Medvedev steals himself and secures the set with an ace out wide. He leads 7-5 while, on Centre, Kasatkina takes a backhand volley out of the air when the ball was going wide, makes a winner, salutes the crowd, and now leads 6-0 4-2.
Immediately, Medvedev gets to 15-40, and though he then plants a decent volley onto the sideline, Medvedev whips a backhand cross-court for a winner and will now serve for the set. That’s a shame for Ferry, who was playing well when the rain came, and shows the value of big-match experience.
OK, we’re away again on Centre, Kasatkina quickly securing the point she needs to 6-0 3-2; No1 isn’t far behind.
Speaking on BBC as a board member of All-England Club, Tim Henman said: “You prepare as best as you can, but we have the challenge of 18 fields of play, thousands of spectators ... it’s frustrating, we’ve had enough disruptions with the weather – to have that further disruption – is disappointing.”
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“Continuing from yesterday,” begins Faiz Muhammad AL-Noman, “we were told that Wimbledon can not organise night matches due to:
1) Public transport unavailable after 11pm onwards
2) Grass court tennis can’t be played at night due to humidity/dew
There are two things Wimbledon can and should do”
1) Start the show courts from 11 am straight away
2) Build a roof over two more courts so that in case of complete wash-out during first round matches, at least 12 to 16 matches can be played regardless of weather conditions.
Yes there are costs involved but if they cannot manage floodlight playing conditions at least they can put two more roofs on the site? Because there is every possibility that lots of players are going to play four consecutive days.
It’s not good as the higher-ranked players get a day off in between matches and thus overall tennis quality will definitely be compromised as one player is well-rested and other is not.”
Aside from the money aspect, I’m not sure how possible it’d be to put roofs on other courts because I don’t know if their structures are big enough to hold them. But even before the roofs, we’ve only spilled over to a third Monday twice in my tennis-watching lifetime, so eventually the matches do get played, and given it’s an outdoor competition, they should be played outdoors whenever possible.
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However it’s now sunny again. What a country.
Play suspended due to rain
Yes it is.
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A blimp zeppelin drone shot suggests the roofs remain open, so I guess the rain will soon pass … and indeed, the covers are coming off and we’re good to go again, at least on No1. Everywhere else will be a while longer.
Just Stop Oil protest on Court 18
Environmental protesters have disrupted play on Court 18 at Wimbledon. The protesters ran onto the court during a match between Grigor Dimitrov and Sho Shimabukuro and threw orange-coloured confetti and a jigsaw onto the grass, before one protester sat down on the court. In a statement, Just Stop Oil said: “We can’t leave it to the next generation to pick up the pieces”.
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To round-up some other matches, Kontaveit has just squandered a break so she and Stefanini are 4-4; Tiafoe and Wu are 3-3; Raonic and Novak are 4-4; Cerundolo F leads Borges 5-3; and Putintseva leads Haddad Maia, who’s improving, 5-2.
“Never mind the beige, what about the hands!” emails Richard Hirst. “How can Posh tell whether his nails are clean? Would never have been allowed in my day.”
I was wondering if the hands are the most painful place to have a tatt because they’ve the thinnest skin. Anyone?
Ah, in all the palaver I forgot to note that Kasatkina broke Burrage back so now leads 6-0 2-2.
The question now is whether we wait for it to stop or close the roofs. But you can’t play on wet grass, more so than on wet clay or wet hard, so.
Play is suspended on outside courts
We’ve also stopped playing on No1, and I think we’re about to on Centre … yup we are.
We may, apparently, have some rain in seven minutes, and the roof of No1 Court is open; Medvedev holds, and seems to suggest that no would be a good time to stop. Ach, in fact it’s raining now, so chances are we have another break. I know people will hate this, but actually I admire the commitment to keep this as an outdoor tournament even if I think they should’ve slotted in a match on the show courts this morning and played them with the roof closed.
Burrage on the board! She wins a game, salutes the crowd, and … have an absolute look! She breaks and is now serving at 0-6 2-1! Meanwhile, Fery holds again for 5-4 – Medvedev will now serve to stay in set one – while Cirstea leads Maria 6-1 0-1 with a break, Lehecka leads Ofner 6-4 0-1, Stephens leads Peterson 6-2 1-1 and Collins leads Grabher 6-4 4-3.
What is going on, please? After Federer’s beige yesterday, today it’s Becks in beige. Am i missing something?
Burrage can, at least, channel Olive because she’s not alone: Sakkari has bagelled Kostyuk too.
Of course, while I’m typing that, Fery breaks Medvedev back – already, you can see he’s got the temperament for this. He knows he deserves to be here, and he’s not come to lose. You asked and I can’t lie so, after watching the first two games I, can’t deny that I had a tickle on him to win at 18s. But at 3-3 he’s fighting for his hold at deuce while, on Centre, Burrage has been bagelled. Kasatkina leads 6-0 1-0 and this is women and girls I’m afraid.
We’re back out everywhere now, so again I’ll need to pick which matches to watch – I will of course be following them all. I’ll stay on Centre and No1, which leaves me with two screens; for now I’m going Sakkari [8] 5-0 Kostyuk and Haddad Maia [13] 1-4 Putintseva.
Burrage makes break point only to dump a backhand, and from there Kasatkina closes out for 5-0. Meanwhile right as I’m thinking that Fery is is in this – he’s holding easily, Medvedev is having to fight – he’s broken to love. That is a proper sonning off of a game, but Fery is playing well and perhaps needs to vary his serve-volley approach to keep his opponent guessing.
So Fery speeds through a love-hold while, on Centre, Kasatkina is in total control, leading 3-0 and 0-40. If Burrage isn’t careful, this set will be over before she’s played in it, and a forehand hooked wide means she trails 0-4 inside 11 minutes.
Ferry is playing well here, earning break point which Medvedev saves with a 124mph second serve. But it’s worth noting what happens at the net, Fery stranded but still feinting which way he was going as his opponent planned a clean-up forehand. That requires confidence and composure, but Medvedev finishes the rally then rushes through deuce, sealing the game with an ace. Medvedev 1-1 Fery
Tough start for Burrage who, facing two break points, doubles. Kasatkina, I thought, played well in Paris, beating Niemeier and Vondrousova before losing a tight one to Svitolina in round four. I fear for Burrage, I’m afraid.
Medvedev is standing waaaay behind the baseline, which means Fery can serve and volley if he wants, which he does. He holds to love for 1-0, and looks confident out there.
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We’re away on Centre! Burrage, remember, is in round two of a slam for the first time having beaten Caty McNally 1 and 3 on Monday. Oh, and we’re away on Court 1 too!
On Centre, Burrage and Kasatkina are knocking up; on No1, Medvedev and Fery are out. Oh, and everywhere else, the covers are coming off.
On brollies, I don’t get them, at all. Hoods and getting wet are both better than going about, arm extended, like water is so upsetting you’ll inflict that annoyance on yourself and look silly in the process.
No play on outside courts before 1.45pm BST
I think the rain has stopped – I can’t see any brollies up.
To round-up what went on in that brief hiatus of play, Griggzy Dimitrov leads Sho Shimabukuro 5-1; Stephens leads peterson 5-2; Putintseva leads Haddad Maia 4-1; Cirstea leads Maria, who made the last four last term, 5-1; Sakkari leads Kostyuk 5-0; Popyrin leads Stricker 6-3; and almost all the other matches are on serve.
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We were meant to start on No1 at 1pm, but there’s a delay while they close the roof. That sounds ridiculous, I know – why not have it shut already – but to protect the integrity of the tournament, they try and keep it outdoors if they can, so I assume that’s the reason for what looks like a lack of preparation.
Ah, and a bit more from Calv: “He’s great to watch, takes everything early and on the baseline.”
All of which makes me wonder if he’s got a sniff here. Medvedev lost in round one of the French and his record at Wimbledon isn’t good; if Fery can get him moving, we might just see summat.
So to Daniil Medvedev [3] v Arthur Fery we go. Fery, both of whose parents are French – his mum was a tenniser until she got injured – grew up in Wimbledon and currently attends Stanford University where he’s playing really well. He’s got power and touch – “Very very talented lad. World class backhand” says Calv Betton, our resident coach – and his dad owns Lorient, the Ligue 1 team.
Play suspended due to rain
Another shower in the next 15 minutes is possible, we learn, but the wind will change thereafter blowing the weather to another part of London. We should, at least, get going on No1 Court shortly.
Oh absolute sake. It’s raining again, and heavily.
Kostyuk, now 4-0 and two break down, has already made 12 unforced errors. I’m a little surprised at that, though she’s only 21 she’s made round two at Wimbledon twice, round three in Melbourne and New York, and round four in Paris. She’s also beaten Muguruza and, earlier this year, Rybakina. So she’s a really nasty first-round draw for a player who lost round one at Roland-Garros, but if she doesn’t get herself sorted soon, she’ll be out.
Sloane Stephens, whose match I nearly watched because I love the way she plays and moves, is a break up on Rebecca Peterson at 3-1. Meantime, Haddad Maia contrives to be broken from 40-15 and Putintseva leads 2-0.
Watching Haddad Maia in Paris, I couldn’t help but cast my mind forward to now, because if she’s in form she’s got the power-game to do very well – and she’s a lefty, especially helpful on grass because of the skid and low bounce. Putintseva wins the first game, though, while on Court 2 Sakkari breaks Kostyuk as the first time of asking.
Raonic and Novak are away, likewise Sakkari and Kostyuk.
Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk returns to Greece's Maria Sakkari. Photograph: Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty Images
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I’ve been kind of dreading this, but it’s time to decide what to watch. I’m going with Sakkari v Kostyuk because there could be a shock; Haddad Maia v Putintseva because I think that could be the highest-level match of those starting now; Raonic v Novak because I’ve got a sneaky feeling the former might do something here; and Tiafoe v Wu because I think the former might be ready to do something serious. When No1 gets going in 20 or so, I’ll bin one for Medvedev v Fery.
“With regard to the scheduling,” emails Richard Caulfield, “it’s not just the late start time on Centre Court and Court 1 that’s confusing me. Of the six matches scheduled for those courts, four of them are second-rounders. A few showers this afternoon (to be fair not looking too likely now) or a few five-setters holding things up on some of the outside courts, and you could be going into day four tomorrow with some players already into the third round when others haven’t even played their first-round match.”
I guess they need to play the second-round matches, whose proximity to the final makes them bigger than the firsts, it makes sense to stick the names on the show courts.
It’s now sunny in SW19, which is more than can be said for fabulous north London. We’ve 40% chance of precipitation at 2pm and 5pm, but worst-case scenario we settle for our show courts for that period.
Every day, I try and share at least one thing that moves me – please send in your own choices – and today, that thing, or at least that first thing, is Potter Payper’s new album, Real Back In Style. Heartbreaking, dangerous and clever, it’s an absolute masterpiece.
The covers are off!
Which means it is on!
I agree, by the way, with rude-name bloke: I don’t quite get why we’ve not banged a couple of matches on Centre and No1 early doors. The outside courts still have bare action, and it avoids the embarrassing situation of no tennis despite having the means for it.
Thanks Dave and hi everyone. I said yesterday we had an indecent amount of tennis awaiting us but in the event, the weather intervened and we’d to satisfy ourselves with merely brilliant tennis. Today, however, we’ve an absolutely revolting amount of tennis on which to gorge and, with no rain scheduled, we can dive right in.
Centre Court sees the start of round two, and our first two matches are enticing in the extreme. First, Jodie Burrage takes on Daria Kasatkina, the in-form number 11 seed, before Iga Swiatek meets Sara Sorribes Tormo – pretty much as taxing an engagement as is possible at this stage of the competition. And if that’s not enough, we finish with Novak Djokovic, who will, presumably, devastate Jordan Thompson in disquietingly easy fashion.
Court 1 finishes wirth what might be the match of the day, Jannik Sinner v Diego Schwartzman – the former has the raw materials to win this one day, while the latter is starting to motor again after injury and form worries. And before that, Daniil Medvedev tries to avoid a second consecutive first-round elimination after his disaster in Paris – against Arthur Ferry of GB – then Heather Watson tussles with Babora Krejcikova.
Otherwise, we’ve got the matches we enjoyed yesterday playing to a finish – Dominic Thiem leads Stefanos Tsitsipas by a set, Holger Rune leads George Loffhagen by a set, Lortenzo Sonego leads Mario Berrettini by a set and Daria Saville leads Katie Boulter 6-5 – and one held over from Monday, Taylor Fritz and Yannick Hanfmann on serve in their final set. And if that’s not enough, we’ve a raft a players getting involved for the first time, including Francis Tiafoe, Maria Sakkari, Petra Kvitova, Bea Haddad Maia and Sloane Stephens; Victoria Azarenka, Jan Choinski, Lorenzo Musetti, Alex De Minaur and Sofia Kenin returning for round two; along with five matches that look seriously tasty – Karolína Muchová v Jule Niemeier, Elise Mertens v Elina Svitolina, Jiri Vesely v Seb Korda, Andrey Rublev v Aslan Karatsev and Tomás Martín Etcheverry v Stan Wawrinka. It’s a lot, but in the best possible way, and it’s right here.
Righty, that’s my hour of looking to camera and filling awkwardly. I’ll now hand you over to Daniel Harris for more.
A bloke on Twitter with a rude name says: “Someone should really let the suits at Wimbledon know that they have two courts with a roof on that they could be getting some games on whilst the weather is like this.”
Makes sense. Is there a brilliant reason I’m not aware of? A reminder of timings:
No.1 Court: 1pm (Daniil Medvedev v Arthur Fery)
Centre Court: 1.30pm (Daria Kasatkina v Jodie Burrage)
Andy Murray faces either 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem or fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in round two. Thiem led 6-3 3-4 before their game was suspended yesterday. It resumes later today.
Just checking Murray’s Twitter page and he has 3.5 million followers (Novak Djokovic has a mighty 9.2m). In the last hour, Murray has put this NHS tribute up.
We love you NHS. Thank you for 75 years of amazing service and dedication. pic.twitter.com/m9U1df7iZn
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) July 5, 2023
And now we’re being told that there will be no play on the outside courts until 12.30pm. What? It looks quite sunny. I’ll let this left-handed tennis man express our collective reaction.
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You came here for the tennis so take a butchers at this 31-stroke rally in Andy Murray’s game yesterday. Probably not ideal that he gets involved in too many rallies that run close to his age (36).
An epic 31-shot rally! 🚨@Andy_Murray and @RyanHPen thrilled the Centre Court crowd with this one! #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/twdrv3Nua2
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2023
Here’s world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz rocking his bucket hat. A quick reminder of his fledgling Wimbledon record so far: R2 in 2021, R4 in 2022. But it’s only going one way and the Spaniard’s recent win at Queen’s – his first success on grass – looks ominous.
World No.1 @carlosalcaraz would love to see @rogerfederer cheering him on 🙏#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/2dTAECQyzi
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2023
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Forget that, it’s now 11.45am. As we see a sweeping drone shot of the outside courts, dark green covers mask verdant green grass. White/grey clouds are winning the battle for the skies although rain icons are present in the hourly forecast until 4pm. There’s a 70% chance of rain at midday. Sorry to be going all Jack Scott/Ian McCaskill on you.
Sorry to break it to you but play won’t start until 11.30am. Start times have been pushed back 30 minutes due to more rain in the air. Covers are on. Weather apps are being chekced.
The BBC’s coverage has started and John Lloyd, still looking somewhat dashing at the age of 68, reckons Andy Murray is a “genuine threat here”. Optimistic? Well, the Scot is seventh in the betting at around 40/1 so who knows.
Carlos Alcaraz and his Stone Roses bucket hat made it into Paul MacInnes’ diary. That and more here:
Let’s catch up with yesterday’s action even though the pesky wet stuff that drops from the skies ruined a big chunk of it. Andy Murray kept the diehards entertained. Good ‘ol Muzza. Here’s Barney Ronay’s take...
“It is a fascinating twist in Murray’s own career arc, the journey from gangling awkward teen to gangling awkward 36‑year‑old great of the summer game. But the fact is right now Wimbledon needs Murray a little bit more than Murray needs Wimbledon.”
Preamble
After yesterday’s near-washout on the outside courts, the forecast is much brighter today and there’s more tennis than you can shake a racquet at.
Later on, Centre Court will host Daria Kasatkina v Jodie Burrage, Iga Swiatek v Sara Sorribes Tormo and Jordan Thompson v Novak Djokovic.
Two more Britons get their shot at a big name on No1 Court as Arthur Fery plays Daniil Medvedev and Heather Watson faces Barbora Krejcikova, before Jannik Sinner takes on Diego Schwartzman in the second round.
The outside courts kick off right about now, with the likes of Maria Sakkari, Frances Tiafoe, Grigor Dimitrov, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Sloane Stephens, Milos Raonic and many more eager to hit the turf, so why not follow along with us.
