That, then, is us. Thanks all for your company – join us again tomorrow at 11am BST.
Draper says he really enjoyed it. He missed it last year, “And though you were hoping to see Andy, you were stuck with me instead.” He thanks the crowd, saying they really helped him – there were some nervy moments – and that he loves playing in front of loads of people.
“What an honour,” he says, of being British no 1 given those who’ve come before him. But name-checking Murray in particular, he says he’d not be here without him, “incredible guy off the court, so funny, so genuine, one of a kind, what a competitor, what a champion, thank you very much.” You’d take it!
Draper, I’m told, is also a really great lad, and he certainly comes across that way. I can’t wait to see how he and Norrie go when they meet on Thursday.
Well played Elias Ymer too. I hope he can kick on from here, because his top level, as we’ve seen, is a very good level.
Jack Draper (28) beats Elias Ymer 3-6 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-3
Draper made hard work of that – and was made to work hard for that – but he looked superb in the decider, composed and fit. He’ll have grown as a player and as a man tonight, playing a five-setter on Centre, roof open and closed. He meets Norrie next, and that is going be a jazzer.
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Draper zaps down an ace … then another. The way he’s playing this pressure-set is very impressive, and when he thumps down another serve, called out, he challenges … but the line judge was right. No matter, another good point and Ymer nets, meaning 40-0 and three match points…
I’d not be surprised if Draper finished this here and now. He’s playing by far the better of the two and shonuff he makes 0-30 thanks to a deep approach and overhead, along with an unforced error. But a long forehand followed by a long backhand – I guess he’s looking for winners, deeming this a bit of a free hit – means 30-all, Ymer then dredges up an ace, and though he then plays another useful approach, he can’t get his volley up and over when sent back a dipper. At 5-3 in the fifth, he’ll have to serve for it.
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Ymer looks shattered now – they’ve been going three hours 10 – and Draper makes 40-0 with an ace, then secures a huge hold for 5-2 in the fifth. He’s always looked to have that bit more, but the way he’s located it in the decider is extremely impressive.
Talking of whom, Ymer bravely holds to trail 2-4 in the fifth. Draper is looking good here, but he’s not experienced this kind of pressure before, so a couple of good returns and you never know.
Cameron Norrie beats Facundo Diaz Acosta 7-5 7-5 6-3
Norrie played some good stuff there, especially considering how poor his form has been, and he will now play … Ymer or Draper! Oooh yeah!
Draper gets 30-40 at 4-1 but wafts a a backhand way long and we’re back at deuce. But Ymer can’t close out when he has the chance, and though he saves another break point, he soon offers a third … saved with an ace! If he could play like this more often, we’d be much more familiar with him than we are – he’s 28 – and he gets away with one when Draper nails a winner then clobbers a poor second-serve return into the net. Deuce again, meantime Diaz Acosta breaks Norrie only to go down 0-40 on serve to face three match points…
Norrie cedes one of his breaks then snatches it back, and after a little sit-down, he’ll serve for the match at 5-2 in the third.
Draper gets 0-30 without having to do too much, then a decent return surprises Ymer, who can’t respond. So, three break-points to the good, the Brit noises up his home crowd, accepts the double that follows and consolidates to 15. You got the feeling he’d always have another gear if he needed it and eight out of nine points has probably settled this match. You can see him growing out there.
Auger-Aliassime breaks Kokkinakis back courtesy of a ball that’s out by as little as is possible to be the case. And though I said earlier that I’m sure he’d love to stay out there, he actually identifies a slippy bit of the court, dew in action … and they call the match for the night. They’ll be back tomorrow level in the fourth at 1-1, the Canadian up by two sets to one.
A convincing holds apiece on Centre, then another for Draper who leads 2-1 in the fifth. Diaz Acosta, meanwhile, has the trainer out – I said a while ago he looked weary, and I think he’s got cramp – at 4-1 down in the third.
The roof is shut so here comes our decider! Draper to serve, and he’s waited his whole life for an occasion like this. Can he rise to it?
I’d like to think we’ve another hour of light – enough to get Draper v Ymer finished – but I have just switched on in my boxroom, so. I bet Thanasi Kokkinakis wants it to stay – he’s on a roll, having just broken Auger-Aliassime for 1-0 in the fourth, while Norrie now has a double-break in the third set of his match against Diaz Acosta. I like the way he’s playing here, aggressive and confident – that can’t be easy, given the run he’s on – but form is fickle and sometimes it appears with little warning.
Around the courts:
Safiullin 6-7 3-6 7-5 1-1 Cerundolo (26)
Ruusuvuori 7-6 4-6 5-4 McDonald
Nishikori 7-5 2-3 Rinderknech
Goffin 6-3 2-1 Mahac
Cobolli 7-5 4-6 6-4 2-1 Hijikata
Collins (11) 5-3 Tauson
Pouille 3-6 5-5 Djere
Evans 2-6 1-2 Tabilo (24)
Stakusic 4-6 2-4 siniakova (27)
Fritz (13) 6-1 5-1 O’Connell
Now then! Ymer breaks for 5-4 in the fourth but Draper makes 0-30, then a backhand winner down the line earns three break-back points! An ace follows – the Swede is just refusing to go away – and an overhead gets him to deuce. Then, on advantage, a big serve sets up the putaway, and we’ve got ourselves a decider! The roof will now come over, so we’ve a short pause, time to let you know that Nozza has broken Diaz Acosta at the first time of asking in set three and Kokkinakis has taken a fantastic tiebreak 11-9, saving four match points, so now trails Auger-Aliassime 2-1.
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Ons Jabeur (10) beats Moyuka Uchijima 6-3 6-1
It’s a long way back to her third Wimbeldon final, but she’s already playing better already than she did in Paris and Sabalenka having to pull out won’t have done her mood any harm. She meets Montgomery next.
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Diaz Acosta looks weary as Norrie runs down a drop for 15-0 then, at 40-0, a hopeful forehand down the line is nowhere near and that’s a two-set lead for the Brit. If he keeps concentration, he gets this done in three – perhgps tonight, if the light holds.
Yup, Norrie is too good for Diaz Acosta and from 30-0 he breaks, with help fro a double and a tremendous forehand down the line. At 7-5 6-5, he’ll once again serve for the second set after change of ends.
Jabeur is almost there, breaking Uchijima for a 6-4 4-1 lead, and she’s playing nicely. Norrie, meanwhile, finds himself down 30-40, a conservative point allowing his opponent to hit a winner. And when a forehand goes long, he again cedes an immediate break-back, unable to break the back of the match, Oh, and on No 2 Court, though Auger-Aliassime leads 2-0, Kokkinakis is up 5-2 in their third-set breaker.
You get the sense Norrie has Diaz Acosta if he keeps focused, and there aren’t many better at that. At 4-4 in the second he makes 0-40 and though a big serve saves one break point, a netted backhand means that after change of ends he’ll serve for 2-0. And on Centre, Draper leads Ymer 2-0 3-2, also intimating superiority.
Draper holds through deuce to lead 2-1 2-1, but Norrie tosses his second-set break to love, so he and Diaz Acosta are now 3-3 in the second. Jabeur, meanwhile, is now up a set and a break at 6-3 1-0, with Auger-Aliassime leading Kokkinakis 2-0 5-5.
Jabeur rushes through her first set against Uchijima to lead 6-3 while Norrie is now up 4-2 in the second against Diaz Acosta. Otherwise, Martic now leads Jones 4-1 in the third, class telling, Wozniacki has binned Parks 6-2 6-0, and Evnas has begun against Tabilo (24).
Excellent from Draper, who perhaps lost focus when Ymer took a break between sets. But up advantage, he finds a banging backhand to each corner, the second a winner, and I’d not be surprised if from here, he goes on a tear.
Diaz Acosta goes long to cede break point then, at the end of the longest rally of the match, he goes wide. So Norrie leads 7-5 2-1 then has the joy of watching his opponent, playing his first major, rant during change of ends; lovely stuff. Back on Centre, though, Ymer has broken Draper first up in set four, the match changing direction yet again.
It’s so good to see Wozniacki back. I’m sure she left tennis happy, having finally won the major that looked likely to elude her – she lacked a weapon to beat the best when it really mattered – but a kind draw and amazing comeback against Simona Halep in the final got it done for her. Still, you’re a long time retired, so why not play if you still can?
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Draper is having his way with Ymer now, breaking again for a 6-3 third set to lead 2-1. I very much appreciate his competitive charisma, and if he stays fit, he can do plenty.
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Ons Jabeur was meant to be on No 2 Court, but the rain has forced her on to 14 and she leads Moyuka Uchijima 3-0. Elsewhere, Auger-Aliassime is up 2-0 on Kokkinakis but rtrails 2-3 on serve in the third; Yulia Putintseva has beaten the 2018 champ, Angelique Kerber; Caroline Wozniacki leads Alycia Parks 6-2; Francesca Jones and Petra Martic are level at 1-1 in the third; and Flavio Cobolli, who’s a proper prospect, is level with rinky Hijikata at a set apiece.
Norrie serves out to 15 and is he playing himself into some form here? He leads 7-5 and ids 72% first serves in, 90% of those points won.
Cameron Norrie has had a minging year and lost his last four matches. But he breaks in game 11 and will now serve for the first set at 6-5; meantime, Draper consolidates, and he’s looking really confident now, leading 5-3 in the third.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (11) beats Taro Daniel 7-6(5) 6-4 7-5
Next for him it’s Ruusuvuori or McDonald; the Finn leads 7-6.
On 18, Tsitsipas has broken Daniel in set three and will now serve for the match leading 6-5, while Draper is getting on top of Ymer – who’s playing nicely – but has just thunked a backhand long and wide to cede a break! Draper leads 43 in the third, and the extent of his whoopin’ and hollerin’ tells us what a tough match this is. Which makes sense, because his opponent has had to win three matches in qualifying to get here, which is to say he’s confident and grooved.
We go again. This is DL Harris back from parenting, and I’m watching Draper 3-6 6-3 3-3 Ymer, Auger-Aliassime 6-4 7-5 0-1 Kokkinakis, Norrie 4-4 Diaz Acosta and Daniel 6-7 4-6 5-5 Tsitsipas.
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And yes, Draper takes the second set Ymer, 6-3, and with some big serving to make up for that disappointing first set. It’s one set each.
On Court 3, Cameron Norrie has replaced Katie Boulter as the latest Brit to attempt to get past the first round. He’s level at 1-1 with Argentina’s Facundo Diaz Acosta as the evening shift begins.
Here’s Greg Wood’s report on Harriet Dart’s win, setting up that match with Katie Boulter.
Meanwhile, Draper is hitting back at Ymer, and goes 5-2 up in the second set. They will be level on sets soon enough.
Katie Boulter beats Tatanja Maria 7-6 (8-6) 7-5
Boulter sees it out to big cheers, a backhand down the line does it to break her opponent and looks mighty relieved to win at her home slam. Next up for her is fellow plucky Brit Harriet Dart. “I’m expecting an absolute battle,” says Boulter.
Iga Swiatek beats Sofia Kenin 6-3 6-4
That’s a solid win for the No 1 seed on her least favourite surface. “A solid start,” she says. Funnily enough, Martina Navratilova issued the same judgement on a 20th consecutive win. Kenin, the Australian Open winner in 2020, has never enjoyed SW19 too much, either.
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Jack Draper has lost the first set to set to Ymer, 3-6, and it’s now 1-1 in the second.
Maria sees that out with some serve-volleying, and Boulter is sent back to serve. She begins with a rare ace but at 30-15, misses a volley at the net. Big serve follows for 40-30, and then a potential winner is overcooked. Though the winner to claim advantage at deuce is inspired. Then comes another miss at the net. The home fans will be reaching for their pink gins after that. Still, the next one point sees another smart set of hitting, and the game is claimed. It’s all back on Maria.
Katie Boulter is 5-4 up in that second set, so she has the chance to go through if she wins the next game on Court 3. Maria to serve.
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Righto, I’ve gotta go and collect a daughter, so here’s John Brewin to hang for the next bit. See you shortly.
Jacob Fearnley beats Alejandro Moro Canas 7-5 6-4 7-6(12)
A monstrous win for the young Scot, who’s overcome all sorts of aggro to get to here, so well done him – an amazing day and terrific performance. And he only faces Novak Djokovic next!
Moro Canas, though, opens shoulders to hammer a forehand inside-out into the corner, and we’re level at 10s. Meantime, Kenin and Swiatek are swapping holds – the former leads 6-4 2-3 – Boulter leads Maria 7-6 3-3 – and Ymer leads Draper 3-2.
Tremendous from Fearnley, who nails an ace down the T when down 6-7 to save set point and as I type, we’re at 9-9 … sorry, 10-9, so match point, to the Brit.
I have, though, binned Felix, because on Court 8, Fearnley and Moro Canas are locked at 6-6 in their fourth-set breaker, Fearnley leading by two sets to one.
Ha, of course Ymer breaks straight back, while Auger-Aliassime leads Kokkinakis 2-1 with a break. Boulter and Maria are now 2-2 in the second, Boulter up a set, and Kenin is improving, down a set to Swiatek but up 2-1 in the second.
Draper breaks Ymer immediately, and I’m buzzing to see how he does here. Not just because of ho well he did at Queen’s, beating Alcaraz, but because of how good it’s been clear he can be for quite some time. His leftiness is helpful, of course – and amazingly, he uses that hand for nothing but this – but also, he’s a grounded, calm competitor who expects to succeed. No one will want to play him.
Boulter breaks Maria back for 1-1 in the second, while Swiatek serves out for a 6-3 first set against Kenin. Otherwise, Samsonova (15) has beaten Masarova 6-3 4-6 6-2, Searle leads Giron 6-3 0-1, Bouzkova has beaten Riera 6-2 6-1 and Tsitsipas leads Daniel 7-6.
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With all that’s going on, I’ve not reall cast eyes over Swiatek v Kenin. I feared as little for the world number one as on grass, her balls can sit up and request treatment, and Kenin has the game to punish that. Well, not so far, but she does hold to force her opponent to serve for set one at 5-3.
Again, Maria breaks Boulter early in a set to trail 6-7 1-0; on No 1, Swiatek leads Kenin 5-2; on Centre, Draper and Ymer are out; likewise Auger-Aliassime and Kokkinakis on No 2. Those are, for now, the four matches I’m watching.
Next on Centre Court: Jack Draper (28) v Elias Ymer. Don’t mind if we do.
Oh, and Rune leads Kwon 6-1. There’s so much going on, it’s ridiculous.
While all that was going on, Boulter won the breaker against Maria to six, so she leads 1-0; Swiatek is 4-1 up on Kenin; Ostapenko leads Tomljanovic 6-1 3-1; Tsitsipas leads Daniel 5-4; and Kalinskaya (17) has beaten Udvardy 6-3 6-2.
Comesana is very happy. He doesn’t really know what he did, he just enjoyed the match, everything is perfect at Wimbledon so he just did his best. Simple really, and the crowd love him; I can’t wait to see him again.
Thiago Seyboth Wild beats Paul Jubb 1-6 3-6 7-6(6) 6-4 7-5
Seyboth Wild, who rose to fame after beating Daniil Medvedev in Paris last year, just about gets it done, coming back from two sets down for the first time in his career. He bussed five match points before finally seeing out a fantastic match, a late break allowing him to serve out. He faces Rune (15) or Kwon next.
Francisco Comesana beats Andrey Rublev (6) 6-4 5-7 6-2 7-6(5)
What a performance that is from the 23-year-old, a coming-out party of coming-out parties! He played superbly today, with energy and fire but also composure and patience. Spare a thought for poor Rublev, who took out his fury on himself once again – I hope someone offers him an ear and some advice – but otherwise, the day is Comesana’s. Prior to today he’d only played once on grass in his life, but he’s be playing at least once more this week – against Coria or Walton. He’ll fancy himself against either, I shouldn’t wonder.
Ach, and he swipes a backhand down the line and wide to cede his advantage. A big serve, though, means Rublev is still down match point when he gets the balls, the crowd going wild. AND RUBLEV NETS A BACKHAND!
Rublev finds a terrific kick-serve that Comesana can’t return, then an inside-out forehand into the corner makes 4-5. Comesana, though, has two serves with which to finish this.
Comesana gets the mini-break for 4-2 – he’s three points from victory, and a booming serve out wide is too good! Rublev is almost gawn!
Comesana holds for a fourth-set breaker against Rublev, while Boulter and Maria are just starting theirs … and what on earth?! Paul Jubb, having saved five match points, breaks Seyboth Wild back, and they’re now 5-5 in the fifth! What an incredible match this is!
Biggup Paul Jubb! He saves all three match points, then another … and holds for 4-5! Seyboth wild will have to serve for it!
Novak Djokovic (2) beats Vit Kopriva 6-1 6-2 6-2
Routine for Djokovic, who faces Fearnley or Moro Canas next.
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Now then! At 5-5 30-all, Comesana hangs in a rally – with help from Rublev, who should finish it but doesn’t – and a forehand pass down the line raises break point! Rublev, though, finds first serves when he needs them to go up 6-5, while Seyboth Wild raises three match points against Jubb…
Comesana, tatted and earringed up, secures a monstrous hold for 5-5 in the fourth, and Rublev is ticking. Of course he is.
Djokovic now leads Kopriva 6-1 6-2 4-2 – we’re nearly done there, I’d imagine – while Boulter is serving to stay in set one, down 4-5 to Maria. Oh, and on 12, GBG favourite, Jelena Ostapenko (13) leads Ajla Tomljanovic 4-1, but never underestimate her ability to ruin things for herself.
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I neglected to note that De Minaur is through, but he is – in good time to watch Boulter, his significant other. He saw off Duckworth 6,6 and 6, to set up a meeting with Jaume Munar – who beat Billy Harris in four.
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Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard beats Sebastian Korda (20) 7-6(5) (4)6-7 7-6(6) (4)6-7 6-3
In my French Open preview I drew your attention to this lad – he ended up losing a thriller to David Goffin in round one – but keep focused, because he’s going to be something. Next for him it’s Nishioka.
Maria started like a train but Boulter breaks back and is now serving at 3-4. She lacks the weapons to get all that much higher than the 32 she’s seeded her, and she’s not someone I’d expect to see in the later stages of a major, but she’s solid and tough, so you ndever know.
Next on No 1 Court: Iga Swiatek (1) v Sofia Kenin. This should be a belter, and if Kenin is at it, I actually fancy her.
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Ben Shelton (14) beats Mattia Bellucci 4-6 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4
A scare for the American but he survives and meets Lloyd Harris, yesterday’s hero, in round two.
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Time’s up, I fear. Wild breaks Jubb in the first game of the fifth, while Darderi leads Choinski 5-2 in their decider. Better news, though, for Fearnley, who's up on Moro Canas 7-5 4-3 with a break.
Alexander Zverev (4) beats Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2 6-4 6-2
Routine as you like for Zverev, who meets Searle or Giron next. Good luck, boys.
Yup, Seyboth Wild holds to level his match with Jubb at two sets apiece while, elsewhere, Korda is in trouble, broken in set five; Mpetshi Perricard leads 2-0.
As we suspected – clever us! – Djokovic is making short work of Kopriva, serving out for a 6-1 6-2 lead, while Zverev is serving for the match against Carballes Baena at 6-2 6-4 5-2. Oh, and Seyboth Wild is serving for a decider against Jubb at 5-4 in the fourth.
Of course, once upon a time, when big guns used to play there, No 2 Court was known as the “Graveyard of the Seeds”. The most amazing, at least in my time, was Peter Doohan knocking out Boom Boom Boris, who’d won the title the previous two years, in 1987 – words on that here:
Immediate issues for Boulter, Maria’s slice-heavy game seeing her broken to love for 0-2; Korda wins the fourth against Mpetshi Perricard; and what a story we’ve got brewing on No 2 Court, Comesana securing the third set with a huge serve to lead 6-4 5-7 6-2. And hes playing beautifully, landing 76% first serves relative to Rublev’s dreadful 35% – of which he’s only winning 44%! The number six seed might improve, but the way thgis is going, he’ll need his opponent to drop too.
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Comesana continues like he never stopped, holding for 5-1 in set two; Rublev needs two immediate breaks to avoid going behind again.
And I’ve also switched off Zverev, because he too is in total charge at 6-2 6-4 2-1 with a break; we can return if need be, but Korda and Mpetshi Perricard are playing a fourth-set breaker – words I’ll always baulk before typing – but here we are.
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Djokovic holds for 4-2, and I think I’m going to watch a bit of Boulter, as Jim Bowen might’ve said, because this match is only going one way.
Rublev and Comesana are back out on No 2 Court, so should soon be back playing while, on No 1, another Zverev ace seals a game ion which he’d had to return from 0-40. He leads 6-2 6-4 2-0.
(And after that match, it’s Cameron Norrie v Facundo Díaz Acosta.)
Coming up on No 3 Court, as soon as we resume, is Katie Boulter (5) v Tatjana Maria. You may recall the latter from 2022 – she reached the last four, the first mother-of-two so to do since Margaret Court in 1975.
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Ridiculous behaviour from Djokovic who, almost doing the splits, punishes a backhand down the line, securing a break in set two; he leads Kopriva 6-1 2-1.
As we cunningly predicted, Zverev serves out, securing the set via brutal ace out wide, and he leads Carballes Baena 6-2 6-4.
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On No 2 Court, the net has gone up, so we’ll soon have tennis.
Well done Roberto Carballes Baena! He eventually serves out, forcing Zverev to serve for set two; I daresay he doesn’t mind.
Kopriva is once again fighting for a hold at 1-6 0-0 … and he manages to, just. Carballes Baena, meanwhile, is serving to stay in set two down 2-6 3-5, and a murderous forehand return gives him 30-40; a body-serve yanks him back to deuce.
Er yeah, Djokovic serves out to love for a 6-1 set and Zverev holds to lead 6-2 4-2. Or, in other words, we need our outside courts back because we know exactly how these matches are going.
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Up break point, a fantastic forehand from Zverev, on the chase and from the corner, turns a rally in which he’s behind and a few shots later, a battered overhead secures the game for a 6-2 3-2 lead. Oh and as I type, Djokovic breaks Kopriva again and at 5-1 will now serve for the first set.
Ach, Kopriva eventually succumbs, a drop earning advantage, then, when Djokovic slips, the Czech thinks he’s got the scope to win the point, but he nets and trails 1-3.
Carballes Baena, meanwhile, is also fighting his arse off to hold, finally hanging on for 2-6 2-1.
Djokovic, a brace on his knee, is starting to piece Kopriva up. But after the Czech saves two break points, Djokovic forces a third with a glorious backhand winner down the line … only to shank another wide to restore deuce. And when he saves advantage a few minutes later, it means this is our sixth.
The covers are coming off! Bring it on!
Badish news: no play before 4pm BST. BST! Pahahahahaha!
Rain stops play
And already it looks set-in. So we’re down to two matches for the next bit – hopefully not for long.
Oh Andrey. He’s broken again, an unforced error handing Comesana a 4-1 second-set lead, and takes it out on his knee, assaulting himself with his racket and drawing blood. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen that – he did it in Turin at the tour finals – and in Dubai, he was disqualified for shouting in a line judge’s face. I hope someone’s offering him some help.
Hubert Hurkacz (7) beats Radu Albot 5-7 6-4 6-3 6-4
A scare for Big Hubes, but he’s through and meets Fils or Stricker next.
On Centre, Kopriva and Djokovic are under way, so I’ve binned Korda v Mpetshi Perricard, at least for now. Zverev, meanwhile, has broken Carballes Baena again, so leads 5-2, and Jubb leads Seyboth Wild 2-1 4-3 on serve.
Jacob Fearnley, another British wildcard who beat both Alcaraz and Sinner in juniors, has taken the first set against Moro Canas 7-5. He’s been through a lot to get to here – his injuries were so bad he could barely serve and used to send down double after double – but he rebuilt his action and now look!
On No 1, Zverev has broken Carballes Baena for 4-2 in set one, while Comesana has done likewise against Rublev to lead 2-1 in the third – sealing the deal with a violent overhead. Rublev, of course, is taking his fury out on himself.
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s going on. Rublev has levelled his match against Comesana at a set apiece, taking the second 7-5; Hurkacz is up a break against Albot in set four and at 3-2 might soon be home; Jubb broke Seyboth Wild back so now leads 2-1 3-2; Munar leads Harris 502 in the fourth, so looks good to force a decider; and Shelton is up a break in his decider against Bellucci.
Next on Centre Court: Vit Kopriva v Novak Djokovic (2).
Oh man, looking at Maneiro’s face again after match point, a mixture of shock, ecstasy and wonder. This is what it’s all about – people experiencing the moments of their loves, for good or for bad, and us enjoying it vicariously while frantically trying to make about ourselves. Brilliant.
Good news: the rain seems to have chilled.
Sport is incredible. “I’m really happy”, says Maneiro with ludicrous understatement – she’s just beaten the champ on Centre Court having never played Wimbledon before! Imagine how she’s feeling! Imagine ever feeling anything remotely comparable to that! She thanks the crowd, saying it’s the “most beautiful tournament she’s played in her life, and asked how she managed to win having only played once on grass in her life, she says she just wanted to enjoy the moment, no pressure, :”just trying to be free”. There’s a lesson for all of us there.’
She’s surprised at herself that though she was nervous at the start, after a game she was fine because everything is so nice, she felt at home. She’ll celebrate with her team because they’ve had a lot of tournaments and tough times, but they’ve been working for this.
What a lovely individual she seems.
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro beats Marketa Vondrousova (6) 6-4 6-2
Wow wow wow! A backhand winner down the line, a hold to 15, and the champion has been shocked by a brilliant coming-out performance! Maneiro meets Bucsa or Bogdan next – they’re 2-2 in the third.
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Rublev, who treated the crowd to a tantrum earlier in this set, leads 5-4 in set two … but there’s a bit of rain. I fear we may be losing play on outside courts shortly.
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Oh my days! Vondrousova just can’t get going, and she’s absolutely hating life here. She’s got an issue with her right hip, but Maneiro who’s never won a main-draw match at a slam before, has just broken again and, at 5-2 in the second, will now serve for the match!
Out on Court 18, Ben Shelton, seeded 14, has won the fourth set against Monica Mattia Bellucci so they’ll soon start a decider; Billy Harris has won the third against Jaume Munar to trail 1-2; Mpetshi Perricard has taken a breaker to lead Korda, seeded 20, 2-1; Seyboth Wild has broken Jubb at the start of set four and now looks to have the momentum; Choinski, though, has taken the third set off Darderi to lead 2-1; Hurkacz, seeded seven, now leads Albot 2-1; and Maniero still has her second-set break against Vondrousova, leading 6-4 3-2.
A little while ago, our commentators on the Seyboth Wild match were discussing what a majestic country Brazil is, and they’ll be relieved to learn that I concur. In particular, I heartily recommend the north-east region, and if ever you’ve a chance to visit Fernando de Noronha or Lençóis Chapada Diamantina, do it.
Comesana has only ever played one match on a grass court. But he’s finding it to be to his liking – Rublev broke him at the first time of asking in set two, but the Argentinian immediately retrieved the situation. Meantime on Court 14, the tightest line-call imaginable is enough for Seyboth Wild to take his breaker against Jubb – the Brazilian is playing much better now – so the Brit leads 2-1 going into the fourth.
Oh dear, oh dear. Vondousova cedes another break in tame fashion to trail Maneiro 4-6 0-1, and if she doesn’t find herself soon, she’s done. Hold tight the youngster, though, who’s playing the match of her life … so far.
Next on No 1 Court: Roberto Carballes Baena v Alexander Zverev (4).
Elena Rybakina (4) beats Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3 6-1
She meets Lara Siegemund next.
Alex de Minaur, the number nine seed, has just taken second breaker off James Duckworth to lead 2-0, while Jubb and Seyboth Wild are playing one now to decide their third-set. Meantime, Maneiro has held to love to take the first set off Vondroudsova, who’s having a shocker – 17 unforced errors so far.
Updated
Vondrousova almost lost to Volynets in the first round at Roland Garros and she’s in trouble here, down 4-3 having been broken. Gary Anderson once told me he’d never been as nervous as when he came to Ally Pally as defending champ and had to play a first-round match. He was desperate not to embarrass himself by losing, which wasn’t something I’d considered previously – I assumed that, his achievement eternal, he was spieling with house money subsequently. Not so.
Ruse calls for the trainer, so I’m going to accept that Rybakina is moving on and, with Andrey Rublev, the number six seed, now a set down to Santi Comesaña, I’m going to move to that.
Updated
I’m on Korda v Mpetshi Perricard, by the way, because the former was expected to be something special, but at 23 he’s struggling to convert potential to kinetic, and because the Frenchman is a brilliant prospect who might just do something ere and nar.
So, which matches to watch? For now, I’m on Jubb v Seyboth Wild – that’s 4-4 in the third, the Brit leading by two sets to love; Vondrousova, the champ, leads Maneiro 3-2 on serve; Mpetshi Perricard leads Korda 2-1 on serve in the third, the first two srts having been split; and Rybakina, the 2022 champ, leads Ruse 6-3 4-0.
Thanks Tom and greetings all. First things first, though: I saw ANOHNI and the Johnsons last evening. If you ever get the chance to do so, don’t think about it, just do it. The music and the voice, obviously, but also the trip through 70s and 80s New York queer culture and characters. Brilliant, moving and unique.
And with that I’ll hand you over to Daniel Harris, who’ll escort you through a busy afternoon. Thanks for following.
Vondrousova breaks back. The defending champ beginning to find her feet, her most dominant point culminating in a backhand volley to set up a break point, which she converts when Maneiro’s backhand drops just out. 2-2, first set.
Some more Murray reaction, from the punters at the All England Club:
“It’s a goodbye to an entire generation,” said Bowden. “You look at Stan Wawrinka, Gael Monfils, Novak Djokovic – he’s 37 and injured. It’s potentially an end to a whole generation who I grew up watching. This might be the last year for a lot of players, not just Andy Murray.”
Ethell hopes Murray has a speedy recovery. “I want him to play well in his doubles with Jamie,” she said. The pair plan to remaining camped out until Murray bids farewell to the tournament, if he is well enough to do so. “It’s going to be hard. It’s tiring waking up at 5am but it’ll be good,” she added.
Rybakina wins first set against Ruse 6-3. The Kazakh has suddenly found another gear after a poor start to take the first set. It’s all a bit scrappy, meanwhile, on Centre, with errors aplenty but Maneiro did hold serve to lead the 2023 champion, Vondrousova, 2-0 in the first.
And Choinski has won the second set 6-4 to level things up against Darderi.
Updated
Brit watch: Harris has lost the second set to Munar 6-4, and has a mountain to climb, and the first moment of adversity for Paul Jubb, who’s been pegged back to 2-2 in the third against Sorboth Wild. Jan Choinksi though is a break up, if a set down, in the second set against Luciano Darderi at 4-3.
They’re up and running on Centre Court now, with the defending champion Marketa Vondrousava broken straight away in a rather scratchy opening service game, double faulting then overhitting a wild forehand to give Maneiro a break point, which she converts thanks to another double fault from the Czech.
And while I was looking in on all that, Rybakina has broken back against Ruse. It’s 3-3, first set.
Harriet Dart beats Zhuoxuan Bai 6-4, 6-0
An encouraging start for the British player, her Chinese opponent crumbling in the second set and conceding the match with a double fault. Compatriot Paul Jubb continues to perform magnificently too. He’s now two sets up on Thiago Sorboth Wild after taking the second 6-3 and is already a break up at 2-0 in the third.
Updated
Things not looking so good now for Britain’s man with a van, Billy Harris, who’s been broken since the resumption and then seen his opponent, Jaume Munar, zip through his service game to love to lead 5-3 in the second set. He’s a game away from taking a two sets to love lead.
Back on Court No 1 Elena Gabriela Ruse maintains the upper hand against Elena Rybakina, a break up at 3-2 in the first set.
They’ve resumed on Court 18, with Harriet Dart almost home and hosed. She now leads Zhuoxuan Bai 6-4, 5-0. The Chinese player is now serving to stay in the match. Not long for this one now surely.
They’re still not yet back under way on the outside courts, but the covers are off and players are warming up. Meanwhile, Rybakina is off the mark on Court No 1, zipping through her service game to pull her deficit back to 1-2, first set.
Ruse is nervy too, though, serving up two double faults before a dismissive forehand volley at the net brings Rybakina a break point. Ruse saves it with a fine low double-handed backhand from the baseline after a long rally, but a fierce forehand winner gives the 2022 champion another break point. This too is saved courtesy of an overhit return, and Ruse goes on to hold. 2-0
A wobbly old start for Rybakina, a double-fault on 0-30 handing Ruse three break points. The first is served, but not the second, as Rybakina overhits a deep forehand. Ruse breaks straightaway to lead 1-0
Good news. Covers are coming off on the outside courts. And we’ll be under way on Court No 1 very soon anyway with the 2022 champ, Elena Rybakina, facing Elena Gabriella Ruse of Romania.
As the Beeb shows footage of Andy Murray grimacing; it’ll be a hard slog for him in the doubles too.
Updated
It’s still drizzling, so no play at present, though action will shortly start on the roofed Centre and No 1 Courts. First up on Centre is the defending champion, Marketa Vondrousova against the 83rd-ranked Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain. Vondrousova won last year as an unseeded player but is seeded six this year, having reached quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows and Roland Garros since last summer’s triumph. It’s a ferociously competitive field this year, albeit with Iga Swiatek the firm favourite. Here’s our preview:
Oh, and now it’s started raining, so covers are coming on across the venue.
Hubert Hurkacz has had a jolt, the Polish No 7 seed being broken at the last to lose the first set 7-5 to Radu Albot, ranked 144 in the world, while in the all-Australian tussle on Court 12, Alex de Minaur has won the first-set tiebreak against James Duckworth.
Paul Jubb continues to impress against Thiago Sorboth Wild, leading 6-1, 5-3, and Harriet Dart’s a break up in the second set so I might look in on that again.
Pegula beats Krueger 6-2, 6-0
Jess Pegula is through with ease, completing victory over Ashlyn Krueger in less than an hour and clinching it with an unanswerable ace. Next up on No 2 Court is Andrey Rublev against Francisco Comesaña of Argentina, which might be fun.
Meanwhile on Court 15 Munar’s just squandered a challenge with a ludicrously erroneous questioning of a standard-issue angled serve from Harris, which helps the British debutant hold to stay in serve at 2-1, second set. It’s now 2-2. Munar won the first 6-4.
Updated
Harriet Dart wins the first set against Zhuoxuan Bai 6-4. A tense, tight first set is finally broken open as Dart races to three break and set points, and a probing deep return seals the set from Dart as Bai can only skew it wide and out with a fautly low backhand. On Court No 2, Pegula breaks once again for 4-0 in the second set. She’ll be off for an agreeable early lunch soon.
Updated
Munar wins first set against Harris 6-4. The Spaniard romps to 40-0 and three set points before squandering one of them with a double-fault but isn’t to be denied. An easy hold. But better Brit news from Paul Jubb, who’s now 6-1, 3-0 up against Sorboth Wild.
Pegula, meanwhile, has an early break in the second set against Krueger and leads 6-2, 3-0.
Harris has a good confident serve on him though, and takes it back to 4-5 with a minimum of fuss, though Munar is now serving for the set. On Court Three Hurkacz is being made to work hard by Albot at 5-5.
Billy Harris’s serve has been broken by Munar, before some good deep returning brings him a break point but Munar snuffs out the danger with some booming serves. The Spaniard leads 5-3, first set.
On Court Four the Argentinian No 30 seed, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, has skipped merrily through his first set against Luca Nardi of Italy, 6-1.
The British wild card Paul Jubb has never reached the second round of a slam, but he must fancy his chances now after ripping through the first set 6-1 against Thiago Seyboth Wild in 22 minutes. In the women’s draw Pegula’s won the first set 6-2 against Krueger.
Updated
The umpire on Court 18 has just reprimanded spectators for opening a bottle of bubbly mid-game, propelling a cork onto the court. “Can you wait until the changeover,” he admonishes. I guess the last thing we want is that tedious Nursery End at Lord’s ritual of ostentatious outfield cork-popping. Anyway, Dart gave Bai a run for her money on that service game but the Chinese player held it after two deuces. 3-3.
Looking in on Court 18 now to see Harriet Dart survive an initial wobble in her service game before clinching it to 30 with some decent serve-volleying. Dart leads Zhuoxuan Bai 3-2, and it’s gone with serve. Fellow Brit Billy Harris is also 3-2 up in a match that’s gone with serve thus far, but compatriot Jan Choinski is a break down, 1-3 against Luciano Darderi of Italy, the world No 37.
Jessica Pegula isn’t hanging about. The American, a quarter-finalist here last year, has broken Ashlyn Krueger twice already to lead 4-0 in the first set. While Paul Jubb of Britain has also romped into a 3-0 lead over Thiago Sorboth Wild. Hubert Hurkacz is 2-2 against Radu Albot
As a result of Murray’s withdrawal, Jack Draper gets the teatime Centre Court slot now. His first-round match against Elias Ymer of Sweden has been shifted to the main stage from No 2 Court.
Quite a few other Brits in action early on meanwhile, including York’s Paul Jubb, who has an early break against Thiago Sorboth Wild of Brazil. Harriett Dart has just got under way against Zhuoxuan Bai of China too. And the aforementioned Billy Harris has held serve in the first game against Jaume Munar
OK, so the players are out knocking up on the outside courts. Time to start flitting around from match to match.
This morning’s news gives us an excuse to bask in clips such as this:
Though there’s also much to remember in late-period Murray of the past few years too; those late-night early round dramas, from a time when his chances of winning a slam again had long gone but just felt like the most important matches of all times when you were watching them. Have these islands produced a more watchable and likeable elite sportsperson in modern times?
Here’s Tumaini’s report on that Murray news:
Andy Murray has played in the doubles at Wimbledon on only two previous occasions, with David Sherwood way back in 2005 when they fell in the first round, and in 2019 with Pierre Hugues Herbert, losing in the second round. Though he did win a silver medal in SW19 with Laura Robson in the mixed doubles at the London 2012 Olympics.
He and Jamie will start their campaign this year on Thursday.
It’s a measure of the man, and his tenacity and love for the sport, that Andy Murray is still up for the doubles with brother Jamie. Just as we always admired those old footballers that eked out the final years of their career in the lower divisions, and cricketers such as Marcus Trescothick he played on for their counties long after their international careers were over, there’s much to commend in that. Kevin Mitchell wrote about this eloquently at the weekend.
Murray out of singles but plans to compete in doubles
Andy Murray has been forced to withdraw from the singles draw at his final Wimbledon after he was unable to recover sufficiently from the back surgery he underwent 10 days before Wimbledon began.
“Unfortunately, despite working incredibly hard on his recovery since his operation just over a week ago, Andy has taken the very difficult decision not to play the singles this year. As you can imagine, he is extremely disappointed but has confirmed that he will be playing in the doubles with Jamie and looks forward to competing at Wimbledon for the last time,” Murray’s representatives said in a statement.
Murray’s preparations for his final Wimbledon had suffered a painful blow two weeks ago when he was forced to withdraw from Queen’s due to pain and numbness in his back and right leg. Murray soon underwent back surgery to remove a spinal cyst and he has been rushing to recover in time to compete in his scheduled first round match against Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic. Murray will, however compete in the doubles draw with his brother, Jamie.
Updated
Andy Murray ruled out of Wimbledon singles
The news we didn’t want to hear. Andy Murray’s injury has got the better of him and he’s out of the tournament, denying us a Wimbledon swansong in the slam he’s won twice.
More news imminently …
Updated
One match worth looking out for this morning involves the British No 5, Billy Harris, making his grand slam debut at last at the age of 29, having begun his career kipping in his van as he schlepped around Europe. He faces Jaume Munar of Spain first up on Court 15.
More on Harris here:
While we await Murray news and tennis live action, here’s some reports from yesterday, including wins for Emma Raducanu, Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and more.
Preamble
Morning everyone. Welcome to a day two on which the UK focus will inevitably and heavily be on Andy Murray and the will-he/won’t-he issue of his fitness to face Tomas Machac at teatime, or will his Wimbledon swansong be declared a non-starter? We’re on the alert for the imminent news on that.
In terms of definite live action. there’s plenty to get stuck into. Later, on the show courts, the defending women’s champion, Marketa Vondrousova, begins her title defence on Centre Court against the unseeded Spaniard Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro. Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek are also in action later.
But the other courts get swinging at 11am, and No 2 Court looks a decent one to have tickets for, with Jessica Pegula, the No 5 seed, in action first up against the US’s Ashlyn Krueger. Andrey Rublev, Jack Draper and Ons Jabeur are also in action there. Also on early are the always watchable Hubert Hurkacz, the seventh seed, who faces Radu Albot of Moldova, and an all-Australian match-up on Court 12 between Alex de Minaur, fresh from reaching the quarter-finals at the French Open, and James Duckworth.
It’s overcast but dry in SW19 with a slight risk of rain in mid-afternoon but hopefully nothing too disruptive. Don’t go anywhere.
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.
