That’s it from me today. Tune in on Tuesday for our liveblog. This is the order of play. Vondrousova will get us started on Centre Court at 1.30pm BST, while Iga Swiatek is due to get her campaign up and running later on Court One.
Centre Court (1.30pm start)
J Bouzas Maneiro (Sp) v M Vondrousova (Cz, 6)
V Kopriva (Cz) v N Djokovic (Ser, 2)
A Murray (GB) v T Machac (Cz)
No 1 Court (1pm start)
E Rybakina (Kaz, 4) v E Ruse (Rom)
R Carballés Baena (Sp) v A Zverev (Ger, 4)
I Swiatek (Pol, 1) v S Kenin (US)
No 2 Court (11am)
A Krueger (US) v J Pegula (US, 5)
A Rublev (Rus, 6) v F Comesana (Arg)
J Draper (GB, 28) v E Ymer (Swe)
O Jabeur (Tun, 10) v M Uchijima (Jpn)
No 3 Court (11am)
H Hurkacz (Pol, 7) v R Albot (Mol)
K Boulter (GB, 32) v T Maria (Ger)
C Norrie (GB) v F Díaz Acosta (Arg)
D Collins (US, 11) v C Tauson (Den)
Court Four (11am)
T Etcheverry (Arg, 30) v L Nardi (It)
R Masarova (Sp) v L Samsonova (Rus, 15)
R Safiullin (Rus) v F Cerúndolo (Arg, 26)
M Carle (Arg) v K Volynets (US)
All times BST; selected courts only.
Andy Murray is scheduled to play on Centre Court and despite saying he would make a decision on his fitness on Monday evening, it looks like we will hear news of that in the morning.
Cheers all, and good night!
What a tricky draw that is for Sinner. His next opponent in the second round is compatriot Matteo Berrettini, who is in great form and loves playing on grass: the Italian got to the final of Stuttgart last month (where he was beaten by Britain’s Jack Draper) and of course reached the Wimbledon final here in 2021.
This is really interesting.
Mirra Andreeva is out!
Mirra Andreeva, the Russian 17-year-old who reached the semi-finals of this year’s French Open, is out! She has lost to another 17-year-old, Brenda Fruhvirtova, from the Czech Republic.
Let’s recap on a couple of other notable wins …
Tumaini Carayol's match report on Emma Raducanu's win
Sinner speaks!
First-round matches are never easy. I’m happy to be through. Hopefully I can raise my level. I think how I reacted in the fourth set was very positive.
It’s a huge privilege and honour to be world No 1. It’s an amazing feeling but every match starts at zero-zero. Every match seems to be at at high level.
I’m looking forward to playing Berrettini. He’s played a final here.
Sinner beats Hanfmann in four! 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3!
The world No 1 is safely through to the second round. But there were some uncomfortable moments there!
Updated
Have really been impressed with Hanfmann. At 32 years old, he’s playing the best tennis of his career. But there are levels to Sinner, who is now in complete control of this match. The Italian is reserving his energy for his service games, and Hanfmann can’t get near Sinner’s booming serves. The pair trade a couple of service games, and now it is 5-3 to the world No 1 in the fourth. Sinner will serve for the match.
Sinner breaks in the fourth set against Hanfmann!
When Sinner turns it on, Hanfmann can’t live with the world No 1. Since the break to close the roof, Sinner has upped everything. His forehand has gone up by an average of 4mph, his serve has gone up 5mph and his backhand has gone up 6mph. Sinner now leads 4-1 and is two games away from victory.
Updated
Meanwhile, unseeded 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu is through to the second round after an easy win over Jaqueline Cristian, while Russian 17-year-old talent Mirra Andreeva, the No 24 seed, is battling to get back into the third set against another 17-year-old, Brenda Fruhvirtova. The Czech player leads the deciding set 2-1.
Elsewhere, No 12 seed Tommy Paul – who won Queen’s last week and posed with the trophy alongside his influencer girlfriend Paige Lorenze – has just beaten Pedro Martínez in four sets.
If Tommy Paul's girlfriend could, she would kick him and pose with the trophy herself pic.twitter.com/VR2rWtV29U
— TheNewGen 🐝 (@thenewgenatp) June 23, 2024
So Sinner remains the last bonafide superstar left out on the courts in both the men’s and the women’s draw. Having lost the third set to Hanfmann, the Italian looks like he’s got a steely look in his eyes now, and delivers a smash winner out wide with real angst. The score is 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 2-1 to Sinner.
Coco Gauff speaks after her victory:
Last year I went out in the first round, so I’m a bit emotional. Obviously Wimbledon is where I first believed that the dream was possible. Every time I play on Centre Court, I feel more nervous than on any other court. I’m so happy to be here.
Coco Gauff beats Caroline Dolehide 6-1, 6-2!
Quick work from the No 2 seed!
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His voice is quite something.
What a treat... Day One of #Wimbledon2024 and we have Kadir Nouni (the Barry White of Umpires) on duty. Monday evening, glass of red, and deuuuuce. 🍷🎾 #umpire #kadirnouni #tennis pic.twitter.com/imIdTua4vu
— Iain ap Gresley 🏴 〓〓 🏳️🌈 (@DoctorKiln) July 1, 2024
Looks like they are going to close the roof on Court One, which the umpire tells Sinner will take eight minutes.
Sinner is unhappy because he is next to serve and worried that the break might break his rhythm. “What if the players agree to play now?” he asks the officials, who simply shrug back.
It is still light in SW19, but a cloudy murky day and eventually the light will fade, so the roof closing is inevitable.
Hanfmann takes the third set over Sinner!
is playing out of his skin, and clinches the third set after a brilliant point in which he toys with the world No 1! Hanfmann finishes with an easy volley and cups his ear to the crowd in a show of triumphant bravado. Chapeau!
Sinner leads two sets to one: 6-3, 6-4, 3-6.
Updated
Hanfmann edging closer to the third set against Sinner, who leads by two sets but trails 2-5 in the third. The German comes to the net and picks a brutal backhand off his laces to clinch game point with another sumptuous drop shot. Replays show that Hanfmann may have strained his knee with that shot, but he appears to be OK.
Sinner’s level has dropped but Hanfmann is starting to play really well here. If he can nick this set, he might have a sniff of forcing a fifth.
Key event
The Gauff train shows no sign of stopping. She won the first set 6-1 and is now 3-0 up over Dolehide in the second set. The match is just 39 minutes young and Gauff is three games away from victory.
OK, fair enough. That Raducanu shot was good, but this is play of the day. This might even be play of the year?
What an outrageous way to seal an epic Wimbledon victory 🤯
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2024
This incredible match point effort from Lloyd Harris is the Play of the Day, presented by @Barclays #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/FwfqOMatc6
Updated
I mentioned earlier that Sinner had taken a tumble on Court 1 and he seems to be struggling with a hip injury. Here is that tumble:
After cruising through the first two sets, Sinner is now 0-4 down in the third set. A very concerning period for the No 1 seed. We’ve already had enough injury withdrawals today. It would be a huge blow if Sinner can’t recover here.
An absolutely extraordinary point from Gauff against Dolehide! This must surely be point of the day! Dolehide manoeuvres herself to the net and sets herself up for an easy forehand smash. But Gauff guesses right, throws up a racket and connects! The ball loops over Dolehide into the corner! There was definitely some luck in there but Gauff showed ridiculous reflexes to get anywhere near that smash. Wow!
The No 2 seed leads 5-1 and has the double break. Dolehide serving to stay in this first set.
Order of play for Tuesday, which includes Andy Murray
Is this the biggest indication yet that the Scot will compete tomorrow?
Centre Court (1.30pm start)
J Bouzas Maneiro (Sp) v M Vondrousova (Cz, 6)
V Kopriva (Cz) v N Djokovic (Ser, 2)
A Murray (GB) v T Machac (Cz)
No 1 Court (1pm start)
E Rybakina (Kaz, 4) v E Ruse (Rom)
R Carballés Baena (Sp) v A Zverev (Ger, 4)
I Swiatek (Pol, 1) v S Kenin (US)
No 2 Court (11am)
A Krueger (US) v J Pegula (US, 5)
A Rublev (Rus, 6) v F Comesana (Arg)
J Draper (GB, 28) v E Ymer (Swe)
O Jabeur (Tun, 10) v M Uchijima (Jpn)
No 3 Court (11am)
H Hurkacz (Pol, 7) v R Albot (Mol)
K Boulter (GB, 32) v T Maria (Ger)
C Norrie (GB) v F Díaz Acosta (Arg)
D Collins (US, 11) v C Tauson (Den)
Court Four (11am)
T Etcheverry (Arg, 30) v L Nardi (It)
R Masarova (Sp) v L Samsonova (Rus, 15)
R Safiullin (Rus) v F Cerúndolo (Arg, 26)
M Carle (Arg) v K Volynets (US)
All times BST; selected courts only.
Jannik Sinner is motoring along very nicely against Yannick Hanfmann, despite a nasty fall on Court 1 in which the big Italian hit the deck rather hard. He’s OK though, and leads 6-3, 5-3 with Hanfmann serving to stay in the second set.
Updated
Coco Gauff only turned 20 three months ago, five years on from her Wimbledon debut as a 15-year-old. Last year, Gauff went out in the first round here to Sofia Kenin, but only lost four matches for the rest of the season. She has reached at least the semi-finals in each of the last three grand slams, including of course that US Open victory last September.
Gauff is the next out on Centre Court here, and she faces compatriot Caroline Dolehide.
Updated
A good fact: this is the first Wimbledon draw with no Williams sister in since … 1996.
Liam Broady is out! He loses to Botic van de Zandschulp 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 2-6
Another Brit bites the dust. A really sloppy performance from Broady.
Great to see Ash Barty as part of the BBC coverage. The 2021 champion here, now retired of course despite being just 28, watched Raducanu’s victory and speaks to Claire Balding.
I enjoy looking back my win in 2021. It was the moment my dream came true. I don’t remember the backhands, the forehands, I remember the emotions. It was my dream to play here on the final Saturday, and just try my best.
I’m going to play next week in the invitational and see if I’ve still got it. But I’m not planning on being on being part of the main draw here!
Everyone here wants Emma [Raducanu] to do well. A home crowd can add pressure but as long as she stays calm and plays within herself, she can do well. Looking from the outside in, we don’t always know what’s going on. But she’s fit, she’s healthy, she’s smiling.
This is a really challenging part of the season. You’re on clay, now grass, then the American hardcourts and the Olympics.
Raducanu speaks on court following her victory:
It was an incredibly difficult match. It took a lot of strength to get over the line. Thank you for everyone for helping me get through it. I only found out that I was playing Renata [Zarazua] at 10.30am, we had spent a few days preparing for Ekaterina Alexandrova [who withdrew through illness], playing against similar opponents in practice.
I was nervous. Honestly, watching the football last night. It all counts.
At Wimbledon there’s just such a great buzz. It really uplifts myself. My motivation is to keep feeling that buzz.
Emma Raducanu beats Renata Zarazua 7-6 (0), 6-3
The penultimate point of the match is arguably the point of the match. Both Raducanu and Zarazua exchange brilliant drop shots, and the former somehow shows great athleticism to pick a shot off her toes and play a cute angled winner to leave Zarazua stranded at the net. Raducanu wins the final point to secure the final game to love! David Beckham (in the Royal Box) and the rest of Centre Court rise to give Raducanu a standing ovation!
Updated
Sloane Stephens looks in fearsome form here, despite her disappointing defeat to Raducanu at Eastbourne last week: the American is 6-3, 3-1 up against Elsa Jacquemot and looks on course to secure a first-round victory.
Remarkable that Stephens has only reached one grand slam quarter-final since 2019. She has the all-round game to really trouble the top seeds but can’t seem to put a run of results together.
Updated
Back to Centre Court: After winning the first-set tie-break, Raducanu has been trundling along in the second but finally breaks Zarazua’s serve to go 4-2 up, with the Mexican bunting a forehand just long to gift the Brit the game. Raducanu now just two games away from a first-round win.
Updated
Brit watch: Greg Wood on Charles Broom’s grand slam tournament debut at the age of 26, plus Heather Watson’s straight-sets defeat to Greet Minnen.
A first glimpse of Jannik Sinner, the male world No 1, who is out on Centre Court in his first-round match against Yannick Hanfmann. With the scores at 1-1, the German forces deuce with a couple of brilliant shots that leave Sinner skating on ice, but the Italian recovers, sending down a couple of dominant serves to see out the game. Sinner holds and we are on serve at 2-1.
Give this a read: Simon Cambers charts Sinner’s rise to the top of the rankings.
Australian Open finalist Qinwen Zheng is out!
The No 8 seed is defeated by New Zealand newcomer Lulu Sun 6-4, 2-6, 4-6. What a comeback for the 23-year-old, the first New Zealand representative to play in the main draw of singles at a Grand Slam since Marina Erakovic at Wimbledon in 2017.
What an upset 😯
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2024
Lulu Sun defeats the No.8 seed Qinwen Zheng in her Wimbledon debut 🇳🇿#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/yoxXrcnnqx
Out on Court 15, No 16 seed Ugo Humbert is into a fifth set with the unseeded Ukrainian Alexander Shevchenko. The Frenchman is so talented but not in a great run of form at the moment, and is in danger of repeating his first-round exit at the French Open.
Meanwhile, Liam Broady is engaged in a mammoth service game against Botic van de Zandschulp. The Brit is on his ninth deuce and is struggling to deal with the Dutchman’s aggressive bandhand, but somehow claws his way to a service hold. Gutsy play from the Stockport-born lefty. The match is all square in the third set, and on serve at 3-3.
Updated
Raducanu takes the first set over Zarazua 7-6 (0)
The players change ends with Raducanu 6-0 up in the first-set tiebreak. She’s not playing particularly exciting tennis, but is applying enough pressure with her groundstrokes to force Zarazua into errors. When Zarazua does try to be aggressive, she is misfiring.
Three easy points for Raducanu gets the 21-year-old off to the perfect start in the tie-break. After each point, Raducanu releases a guttural roar, and the crowd respond. Zarazua looks like she has run out of ideas.
Updated
With the scores at 15-15, a crucial point for Raducanu. A lengthy rally ends with Raducanu ripping a lovely backhand up the line, with her shot clipping the baseline with a puff of chalk. The Brit closes out the game. We’re going to a tie-break!
Raducanu, who was a break up against Zarazua, now trails the Mexican 6-5 in the first set and will have to hold serve to force a tie-break …
Madison Keys beats Martina Trevisan 6-4, 7-6.
The American will face Yafan Wang in the second round.
Updated
A break for Zarazua and we’re back on serve at 4-4 against Raducanu on Centre.
Naomi Osaka beats Diane Parry 6-1, 1-6, 6-4
It’s a first win at SW19 since 2018 for Naomi Osaka, battling back from 3-1 down in the deciding set to advance.
Updated
Some images for you from around SW19 …
Zarazia has made a decent start to life on Centre and is 2-2 with Raducanu in the first … no she isn’t, she’s down a break at 3-2 …. while elsewhere, Osaka is now at deuce serving to Parry with the score 4-4 in the third.
And with that, my watch is over; Michael Butler will be along shortly to coax you through next bit of the day. Peace.
Updated
Now Parry holds to love, spanking an ace down the T to seal the deal for 4-4 in the third, and this is getting tense. Oh yes.
Updated
Liam Broady, back playing majors after time off injured, is a set down but a break up against Botic van de Zandschulp … no he isn’t, we’re back on serve in set two and he trails 2-6 3-3. Meantime Trevisan and Keys are 4-4 in the second, Keys having won the first, and Osaka holds to lead Parry 4-3 in the third.
Osaka holds, then a blazing forehand return down the line makes 15-30; Parry retorts with a double and a netted forehand, so that’s four breaks on the spin and 2-2 in the third!
Updated
Parry consolidates to love, and Osaka is now in big trouble. Meantime, Raducanu – playing Wimbledon for the first time since 2022 – is 1-1 with Zarazua, and Keys leads Trevisan 1-0 3-2 with a break,
Again, Osaka finds herself down break points; she saves the first of three with an ace down the T, the second with a beauty out wide and clean-up wrongfooting forehand, then the third with a high-kicker to the body. For all the good it does her! A forehand larruped long, then another from closer to the net with so much court to hit, and Parry is again up a break in set three at 2-1!
Parry saves one break-back point with a wrongfooting backhand down the line, Osaka vacating the area only to see the ball whammed into the corner … but a fine return, cross on the forehand, means it’s 1-1 in the third.
On Centre, Raducana and Zarazua are away, while Parry continues her hot streak and Osaka her cold; Parry breaks for 1-0 in the decider.
Updated
Now then! Danielle Parry sends a serve out wide, Osaka fetches it but can’t keep her line return in, and that’s now a 6-1 set apiece! I’ve not a clue what’s coming next, but a decider sounds pretty good to me.
Long-time readers of this blog will know I’ve a soft spot for Our Maddy, who’s seen players without a hint of her quality win majors in recent times. The way she collapsed against Sloane Stephens, one of her best mates, when she made the US Open final, was horrible to watch, and I’d love for her to earn herself another go. Most likely, if that happens it happens on hard, except the rest of the field prefer that surface to grass, so perhaps her best chance is here. She’s seeded to meet Gauff in the last eight – and will fancy her chances of beating Paolini in round four, should she have to.
Keys has made a circumspect start against Trevisan, hitting just four winners in the opening set … but she takes it 6-4 with a late break, and I’d expect shoulders to open from here.
Updated
Excellent from Parry, who follows a key hold with a break and consolidation; she now leads 3-1 in the second, having lost the first 6-1.
Next on Centre Court: Renata Zarazua v Emma Raducanu.
Alcaraz credits his opponent for playing a good match and notes that his opponent will improve … and is his age. Which of course reminds us how absurdly brilliant he is, not just for anyone but for an almost-child. He thinks Centre Court is the most beautiful in the world – I wonder if he’ll have changed his mind by New York, Melbourne next year and so on – but admits he wasn’t just nervous stepping out today, but yesterday in practice, which has never happened to him before.
Osaka burns more break points but she’s cracking her forehand like Del Potro, flat and nasty, so I’d expect more to be available soon enough. And Parry must be fearing the worst when she sends down a double when up advantage, but she holds for 1-0 in the second.
Updated
Carlos Alcaraz (3) beats Mark Lajal 7-6(3) 7-5 6-2
A fine effort from the young Estonian, of whom we’ll be seeing plenty more in the future I’m sure. The champ, though, moves on, and will face Vukic of Ofner next – currently, the latter leads 9-8 in a first-set breaker.
Updated
Alcaraz holds for 5-1 in the third, while Osaka quickly holds and breaks for a 6-1 set. She’s looking very, very strong, and the pain she probably still feels from her loss to Swiatek in Paris will be keeping her very honest.
Osaka burns three break points, then makes one on advantage count. If she can get going, I really fancy her to win this – her combination of power and touch looks more potent than anything anyone else has to offer. She leads 4-1 in the first, while Alcaraz breaks Lajal again for 4-1 in the third; it’s been a great effort from the young Estonian, but he’s not long for this match.
Matteo Berrettini beats Marton Fucsovics 7-6(3) 6-2 3-6 6-1
A good start from the 2021 finalist, but next for him it’s Hanfmann … or Sinner. If he’s at it, you never know, but most likely, the drive backhand he doesn’t have will once again kill him.
Updated
Lajal’s made a great go of it, but Alcaraz breaks him in the opening game of set three – flipping the script, would you believe – and he now leads 2-0 1-0. Parry and Osaka are away, meanwhile, level at 1-1, likewise Trevisan and Keys.
In the royal box, there’s a right old chinwag going on … between Cliff Richard and Graeme Le Saux. Of course there is!
Jasmine Paolini (7) beats Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-5 6-3
The French Open runner-up is absolutely loving life, and she meets Greet Minnen next.
Updated
Sorries Tormo sorribes tormoes, taking back breaks only to be broken again, Paolini, who’s played well today, will now serve for the match at 5-3 in the second.
I guess we all saw this coming: Alcaraz breaks Lajal to lead 7-6 6-5, and will shortly serve for 2-1 lead. Oh, and as I type, Mertens finishes Hibino 2-6 6-2 6-4 and will face Zarazua or Raducanu next.
Next on No 2 Court: Naomi Osaka v Danielle Parry. Noice!
Stan Wawrinka beats Charlie Broom 6-3 7-5 6-4
A decent effort from Broom, but Wawrinka is still too good, and at 39 he moves into round two, where he’ll face Monfils or Mannarino; Monfils has just gone 2-1 up, taking the third set 7-5.
Updated
I like the look of Lajal, and not just because those are fun words to repeat. He’s hanging with the champ at 4-4 in the second while Broom has forced Wawrinka to serve for the match at 5-4 in the third. And Sorribes Tormo has, I’m afraid collapsed, trailing Paolini 5-7 1-4. If she could get her head right she’d be very good, but here we are.
Next on No 1 Court: Marta Trevisan v Madison Keys (12).
Daniil Medvedev (5) beats Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-3 6-4 6-2
Kovacevic played pretty well but ultimately he isn’t quite good enough to trouble Medvedev. The number five seed faces Muller or Gaston next.
Updated
Brandon Nakashima beats Sebastián Báez (18) 6-2 6-3 6-4
A huge win for the young American, who meets Kotov or Thompson next; currently, the latter leads 4-2 in the fifth.
Broom finally stops the rot, winning his first game in nine by breaking Wawrinka in set three. His arrears are now a perfectly manageable 3-6 5-7 2-3.
And again, after being broken Alcaraz breaks back immediately for 7-6 2-2, whole Wawrinka gets a double-break in set three. On court 12, Fucsovics has won the third to trail Berrettini 2-1; Monfils and Mannarino are 1-1 4-4; and Nakashima is serving to finish Baez at 6-2 6-3 5-4.
Poor Broomz. Wawrinkz breaks him for 2-0 2-0, and from nearly 1-1, this is nearly did
Lajal does it again, breaking Alcaraz at the first time of asking in set two. We actually saw him do this kind of thing in the first round of Roland Garros against Jesper de Jong, who he beat in four. I guess he should be more settled now – he was returning from injury then – but we know he’ll have enough to do whatever is asked of him.
Paolini takes the first set off Sorribes Tormo, taking a smash-cum swing volley out of the air for her third break – one which gives her a 7-5 lead.
Medvedev is now up set and a double-break against Kovacevic, leading 3-0 in the third. He’s played well today, keeping his opponent on his bike, but I’d still be unsurprised were he to lose to the first high-level player he meets.
On which point, the below reaches us over the wires:
Andy Murray was continuing to mull over whether to play singles at Wimbledon after a practice session on Monday afternoon. The 37-year-old showed definite signs of improvement hitting against fellow British player Kyle Edmund but remains unsure whether he is in good enough physical shape to play his first-round match against Czech Tomas Machac on Tuesday.
Murray was leading Edmund 6-3 2-0 when they reached the end of their session, and he said afterwards: “It was good. I’m going to go and have a chat with my team now, speak to my family this evening and then make a decision. It’s getting better and the testing and stuff I’ve done has been good, I just need to decide whether it’s enough to compete.”
Murray, who underwent surgery to remove a spinal cyst nine days ago, was serving well and hitting some strong groundstokes but his movement undoubtedly remains compromised and he was struggling when pulled out wide.
Machac, ranked 39, is certainly no mug and is likely to make the match physical, although he is inexperienced on grass.
Er yeah, Wawrinka serves out to lead 6-3 7-5, and Broom may never get a better chance to take a set off a grand slam champ.
Updated
Daria Kasatkina (14) beats Zhang Shuai 6-3 6-0
She’s got a non-unfriendly draw and might just be able to do something here. Next for her: Korpatsch or Miyazaki.
Updated
Paolini and Sorribes Tormo are now at 5-5 in set one – I’m watching them instead of Tiafoe v Arnaldi – Medvedev is now up a set and a break against Kovacevic – and Berrettini leads Fucsovics 7-6 6-2 1-4.
Ach, Wawrinka breaks to lead 6-3 6-5, and that’s the thing: the best players are consistent, whereas your Brooms of this world can play well for a bit. Meantime, Alcaraz is inches away from diving on to a Lajal pass but can’t, also hurling his racket at it; he sees the funny side, showing how close he was with his fingers, then wins three points on the spin for a 6-3 lead … and takes the set at the first opportunity.
Charlie Broom will be feeling very poorly – though far less so than poor Arnaldi, who looked peaky in the extreme on his way off court. Nevertheless, he misses a pass and a volley to secure the set and eventually sits up a drop that Wawrinka punishes. From 2-5 it’s now 5-5 while, on Centre, Alcaraz and Lajal are playing a first-set breaker.
Updated
Francis Tiafoe (29) beats Matteo Arnaldi (6)6-7 2-6 6-1 6-3 6-3
A huge win for, as the chain around his neck says, Big Foe. He meets Borna Coric next, the Croatian having seen off Felipe Meligeni Alves in three.
Updated
Tiafoe breaks Arnaldi for 5-3 in the fifth! He’ll now serve for the match! On Centre, meanwhile, Lajal and Alcaraz are 5-5; on No 1 Court, Medevedev is serving for a 2-0 lead against Kovacevic; and on No 3, Broom, playing his first Wimbledon at the age of 26, is serving to level his match against Wawrinka at 1-1.
Er yeah, Alcaraz breaks back immediately and to love – though hold tight the 21-year-old, who’s forcing him to play better. Otherwise, Paolini has broken Sorribes Tormo back for 2-2, Kostyuk, seeded 18, leads Sramkova 6-3 4-2, Monfils leads Mannarino, seeded 22, 6-4 1-2 with a break, and Nakashima leads Baez, seeded 18, 6-2 4-2
Lajal, though, is playing nicely – as you might assume of a kid with that on his heed, he’s not nervous, while Alcaraz hasn’t got his feet going. As such, only the second Estonian ever to play in the men’s championships breaks for 3-2 and the champ is under a spot of pressure.
So while we’re here, here’s Joy of Six: ponytails, including some chat on steps and Roger Federer.
I promised Lajal’s barnet and here it is. Who’s going to tell him?
I’ve binned Wawrinkz v Broom at 6-3 0-2 to check out Paolini v Sorribes Tormo; the Spaniard currently leads the no7 seed 2-0.
Tiafoe doesn’t need the aforementioned two holds, breaking again to level his match with Arnaldi at two sets apiece. This is our first classic of the championships and you have to back the American to see it out from here, but he’s another upon whom one can never quite rely.
Medvedev serves out for a 6-3 first set against Kovacevic and looks to be enjoying himself; Lajal, whose surname is a palindrome, holds for 1-1 in set one against Alcaraz.
That colour suit, though. I can’t get on board, I’m afraid. Where do you wipe your hands if you’re going to leave prints?
Tiafoe bellows to the crowd after breaking Arnaldi for 4-3 in the fourth, and he’s two holds away from a decider. Alcaraz, meanwhile holds in game one, a match being watched by David Beckham and Sandra, his mum.
This is sad now, but still great.
Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka mic'd up at practice is as good as you'd hope it to be 😂#Wimbledon | @SabalenkaA | @Ons_Jabeur pic.twitter.com/OS8yc3argq
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 30, 2024
Wawrinka leads Broom, the Brit, 5-2 in the first. He’s the oldest man in this year’s competition and we’ve obligated to enjoy him while we still can; not many have hands like his.
We’ve not visited with Arnaldi and Tiafoe for a while, so let’s check it out and … it’s a war now. The Italian leads 2-1 but at 3-3 in set three, we’re a long way from the end.
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The umpire in the Alcaraz match is wearing a flat cap like he’s channelling Percy Sugden. It’s not sunny.
Back to McCartney Kessler, that is one of the all-time great American surname-as-firstname jobs. I do hope she’s named after George, the former Sunderland defender.
On Centre, Carlos Alcaraz will shortly begin the defence of his crown – he faces Mark Lajal, who’s come all nicely shorn for the occasion. As soon as we’ve photos, I’ll share the joy.
Medvedev has started nicely on his favourite No1 Court, leading Kovacevic 4-1, while on 12, Berrettini has done his breaker trick to lead Fucsovics 7-6(3).
Ah, I said Andreeva would be enjoying her Court 1 jaunt but actually it’s not happening: instead of Bektas v Sabalenka it’ll be Marta Trevisan v Madison Keys (12) moved from No 3.
I meant to say earlier, Maria Sakkari – seeded nine but capable of losing any match – disposed of McCartney Kessler 6-3 6-1. She meets Arantxa Rus or Yuan Yue next.
Casper Ruud (8) beats Alex Bolt 7-6(2) 6-4 6-4
That’s a good workout on his least favourite surface for the Dane, who was made to work hard for his win. He meets Fabio Fognini next, who sorted Luca van Assche 6-1 6-3 7-5.
He has yet to decide if he is fit enough to play at Wimbledon, but Andy Murray fans have been queuing since Saturday for the chance to see the British star play in what could be his last singles game at SW19.
The two-time former champion had surgery nine days ago to remove a cyst on his spine and revealed at a press conference on Sunday that he did not yet have “100%” feeling in his right leg.
He said he expected to decide on Monday evening whether or not he would compete in the mens’ singles on Tuesday, but the uncertainty did not stop Murray mania from hitting SW19 a day early.
Sally Bolton, the chief executive of the All England Club, said that fan would be “absolutely desperate” to see him play.
“All of the fans coming here will be absolutely keen to see Andy, there’s no doubt about that and so we would love to see him on court. Of course, if he isn’t we’ve got plenty of other tennis going on, but I know that the fans will be absolutely desperate to see him play so we wish him well in in getting on court,” she said.
On No1, Kovacevic and Medvedev are away, Medvedev holding for 1-0, while on 2, Stan Wawrinka and Charlie Broom are out.
Tiafoe has taken the third set off Arnaldi 6-1, to trail 2-1; as we said, there’s scope for this little tussle to go longting. Other hand, Bolt has just struggled to a hold against Ruud, who must now serve for the match at 7-6 6-4 5-4 – though the Aussie has given him greater grief than the scoreline suggests.
Jerry Shang beats Cristian Garin 7-5 6-4 6-4
A terrific performance from the 19-year-old, who meets Dimitrov (10) next. You can absolutely guarantee I’ll be watching that.
Down break point, a swinging lefty serve down the T restores deuce for Shang, but a missed backhand down the line allows Garin another go; again he redeems it, then goes long on the forehand before winning a net exchange.
Denis Shapovalov beats Nicolás Jarry (19) 6-1 7-5 6-4
A convincing win for the Canadian and he meets Altmaier or Fery next.
Meantime, Shang is serving for the match against Garín leaving 5-4 in the third.
I guess a lucky loser is getting a little boost … and it’s Erika Andreeva, older sister of Mirra yet only 20 herself, who’ll face Emina Bektas second on No1.
Aryna Sabalenka, seeded three, has pulled out of Wimbledon
Ach, that’s minging news. She looked good for a run at the title, but her shoulder injury has beaten her this time.
Updated
Grigor Dimitrov (10) beats Dusan Lajovic 6-3 6-4 7-5
Decent win for wa Griggzy, but he’s done something to his shoulder in the process – the pace on his serve went right down. Next up: Shang or Garin, Shang now leading by two sets and a break.
On No2 Court, Dimitrov is serving for the match against Lajovic, while in seven or so minutes, Aleksandar Kovacevic and Daniil Medvedev will appear on No1.
Greet Minnen beats Heather Watson 7-5 6-4
The wildcard-toting Brit loses to her doubles partner, who played really well today. Minnen meets Jasmine Paolini (7) or Sara Sorribes Tormo next.
Oh but Heather Watson, serving at 5-7 4-5, is match-point down at advantage…
Dayana Yastremska (28) beats Nadia Podoroska 6-1 7-6(1)
Next for her is Varvara Gracheva, who saw off Lesia Tsurenko 6-3 6-1.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (25) beats Taylor Townsend 7-6(4) 6-1
She meets Zhu Lin next, the Cahinese having seen off Irina-Camelia Begu 6-0 6-4.
Ruud is almost into round two, leading Bolt 7-6 6-4; Watson and Minnen at level at 4-4 in set two, the Belgian having taken the first; and Fognini leads Van Assche, the talented young Frenchman, 6-1 6-3 2-0.
Jarry will soon be heading back to Santiago. Shapovalov has broken and consolidated in set three, and at 4-2 needs only two more holds to progress.
Shang’s leftiness is also causing aggravation – he serves out to 15, ending the set with a fantastic outswinging ace on to the T, and down 5-7 4-6, Garín looks on his way home. And so too Tiafoe, trailing Arnaldi 6-7 2-6 – a second break and hold sealed that set while our attention was elsewhere – while on 12, Berrettini and Fucsovics are ready to go.
Arnaldi consolidates for 7-6 4-2, while Shang will shortly serve for a 2-0 lead over Garín.
Easy for Shapovalov, who now leads Jarry 6-1 7-5; Shang leads Garin 7-5 4-3 with a break; and Arnaldi is trying to consolidate having broken Tiafoe for 7-6 3-2.
Shapovalov fist-pumps, converting the second of two break points to lead Jarry 6-1 6-5. his leftiness is a real problem, especially on grass, and I’d be pretty surtprised were he unable to serve out the set from here.
Dimitrov has taken set two off Lajovic, so now leads 6-3 6-4. He’s now a reliable negotiator of first weeks and made the last eight in Paris, so will be feeling pretty good about himself. Should he win, he meets Garin or Shang next – that’s a pretty severe upgrade of opponent – and if he sticks around here, he’s seeded to meet Medvedev in round four, a match I’d not be surprised to see him win.
Updated
And of course as I’m trying to watch a little more of that match, I miss Tiafoe breaking Arnaldi then being broken back; the Italian leads 7-6 1-2.
Jarry is making a better fist of his second set against Shapovalov. I’ve not been concentrating on this match as it’s my fourth screen, i.e my phone – apparently watching that many, all with volume up, is (yet further) evidence of ADHD – but he now trails 1-6 4-4. Shapovalov, though, has a serve you’d back in a tiebreak.
Watson, meanwhile, serving at 5-6, has just sent down a double that makes 0-40, Minnen – her doubles partner – only needs the first of her three set points, and that’s a 7-5 set over, seven breaks later.
Garín is in all sorts now, broken in the opening game of set two to trail Shang 5-7 0-1. And lets’s round up from elsewhere too: Dimitrov, seeded 10, leads Lajovic 6-4 4-3 with a break; Casper Ruud, seeded eight, leads Alex Bolt 7-6(2) 1-1; Fognin leads Van Assche 6-1 4-3; and Pavlyuchenkova, seeded 25, leads Townsend 7-6(4).
Imagine that! One day you’re not involved, then the next you’re marching out on to Centre Court to take on the home favourite. You’d take it.
Updated
A new opponent for Emma Raducanu
Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova has pulled out of Wimbledon before her opening-round match with Emma Raducanu on Monday due to illness. The 29-year-old, whose best performance at the All England Club came last year when she reached the fourth round, has been replaced by lucky loser Renata Zarazua of Mexico.
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Tiafoe saves the first two, but here comes a third on the Arnaldi serve; it’s a biggun, the return bounces up at the net, and the putaway is definitive, concluding a 7-6(5) set. Nor is he the only one putting it on a seed: Shang holds easily and leads Garin 7-5!
Fine hitting from Shang from the back then, when Garin gets a net-cord, he sprints in and flicks back as terrific response that earns him a break at 6-5 in the first. Meantime, Arnaldi makes 6-3 and Tiafoe now faces three set points.
Watson has broken Minnen back to trail 3-4, while Garin, holding more easily than Shang, has put him under pressure at 3-5. On Court 15, meanwhile, Arnaldi and Tiafoe are about to play a breaker.
A forehand error from Arnaldi hands Tiafoe a break; the American will now serve for the set. And the way he fist-pumps tells you he knows how difficult a match this is – so too the next game, in which he now trails 15-30. Then another good point from the youngster sees him unable to return a fierce backhand, and a double means we’re back level at 5-5. This has the look of a match that might still be going this time tomorrow.
Shapovalov’s power-game is currently too much for Jarry – he takes the first set 6-1, just as, in the women’s competition, Dayana Yastremska, seeded 28, has done against Nadia Podoroska.
Bit of Olympics news
Heather Watson will compete in her fourth Olympic Games for Team GB this summer, after being named by the British Olympic Association (BOA) as the men’s and women’s doubles pairings are confirmed for Paris 2024.
Watson who has been a stalwart for British tennis over the past decade will compete in the women’s doubles alongside Olympic debutant Katie Boulter who was announced last month for the women’s singles tournament.
Andy Murray and Dan Evans who are both competing in the men’s singles will also team up to compete in the men’s doubles alongside Neal Skupski & Joe Salisbury with the mixed doubles sign-in confirmed on-site in Paris.
Men’s singles: Jack Draper, Cam Norrie, Dan Evans, Andy Murray.
Women’s singles: Katie Boulter.
Men’s doubles: Neal Skupski & Joe Salisbury/Andy Murray & Dan Evans
Women’s doubles: Katie Boulter and Heather Watson
The Olympic tennis tournament will run from 27 July to 4 August at Roland Garros players will compete across five medal events: singles and doubles for both men and women and mixed doubles.
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The same is so of Shapovalov, another dangerous floater. He’s much better suited to grass than Jarry and leads him 4-1 30-0.
Griggzy Dimitrov is into stride quickly, up 3-0 on Dusan Lajovic, while Arnaldi has broken and been broken back by Tiafoe, to lead 2-1. He’s a really good player, the 23-year-old Italian, and on a bit of a major tear. He reached round two in Melbourne and round four in Paris, having done likewise in New York – but on his Wimbledon debut last term, he lost in four to Roberto Carballes Baena. Still, he’s a nasty first-round draw for Tiafoe and I’d not be surprised to see an upset.
BBC don’t appear to agree with my judgment. None of the matches I’m into have commentary, and on the main show they’re showing Heather Watson – down 0-2 to Greet Minnen now that you ask.
Shang saves break point with a flick down the line and eventually hangs on but, more importantly, Tim Henman thinks Naomi Osaka will win the women’s competition. I may or may not have deposited money with my local turf accountant pending the same inevitability.
Garín holds to love against Shang, who I think will love facing a seed in round one. He’s flashy, charismatic and has plenty of shots; I’m not sure he’s quite got the game to get right to the top, but he’s got something.
Ready, play. Here we go!
The players in our various matches are knocking up.
A match I’m buzzing for later on: Brenda Fruhvirtova v Mirra Andreeva (24). Both are 17 and excellent; I’ve not a clue why it’s tucked away last on Court 12, but here we are.
What to watch? To begin with, I reckon a bit of Cristian Garín v Jerry Shang, Nicolas Jarry (19) v Denis Shapovalov and Matteo Arnaldi v Francis Tiafoe (29).
Yeah, and cloudy for the rest of the week. This country.
Enid Blyton memorably advised that if there’s enough blue sky to make a sailor a pair of trousers, it’s going to be a fine day, and that’s where we are currently. The Met Office, however, think it’ll be cloudy – which is enough for us.
Preamble
Hello there and welcome to Wimbledon 2024 – day one!
If we arrived at Roland-Garros with the general pattern of things reversed – we knew who was likely to win the women’s event but had not a clue who might take the men’s – we move to Wimbledon with both trophies up for grabs.
In the women’s competition, it seems unlikely Marketa Vondrousova, now seeded six, can repeat last year’s unlikely triumph, while of those above her, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff are still learning the surface; Elena Rybakina, the 2022 champ, is erratic; and Aryna Sabalenka, who looks best-placed, still has plenty to prove – especially given her shoulder injury. Ultimately, the finalists – never mind the winner – winner could be any of them or none of them.
On the men’s side, things look a little less complex, the questions more about who wins the big matches when they inevitably arrive. We don’t know exactly where Novak Djokovic is in his preparations, but do know what it takes to beat him when it counts, and if that happens before the semi-finals, in which he’s seeded to meet Alexander Zverev, it’d be a surprise.
Meantime, in the other half of the draw, it’s hard to shake the excitement of another impending Carlos Alcaraz v Jannik Sinner epic. The former is the defending champion and French Open champion, the latter the Aussie Open champion and world number one, which is to say we’re at the start of a rivalry which could easily define the next decade.
Before that, though, we’ve got all the joy and love of the early rounds: surprise classics, huge shocks and just the enormous sense of affirming wellbeing we get from unstoppable, incessant tennis all day every day. So, in the immortal words of the all-time worst sporting chant and exhortation, “Let’s go!”.
Play: outside courts 11am BST, No 1 Court 1pm BST, Centre Court 1.30pm BST
Centre Court (1.30pm start)
[3] C Alcaraz (Sp) v M Lajal (Est)
[22] E Alexandrova (Rus) v E Raducanu (GB)
C Dolehide (US) v C Gauff (US) [2]
No 1 Court (1pm start)
A Kovacevic (US) v D Medvedev (Rus) [5]
E Bektas (US) v A Sabalenka (Blr) [3]
[1] J Sinner (It) v Y Hanfmann (Ger)
No 2 Court (11am start)
[10] G Dimitrov (Bul) v D Lajovic (Srb)
S Wawrinka (Sui) v C Broom (GB)
N Osaka (Jpn) v D Parry (Fr)
V Azarenka (Blr) v S Stephens (US)
No 3 Court (11am start)
A Bolt (Aus) v C Ruud (Nor) [8]
[7] J Paolina (It) v S Sorribes Tormo (Sp)
M Trevisan (It) v M Keys (US) [12]
[12] T Paul (US) v P Martínez (Sp)
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