Key events
Mertens averts the bagel – good for her, challah is way better – so at 5-1, Raducanu will now serve for set one.
On my fourth screen I’ve now got Rus v Sakkari (9)– they’ve just started.
Bianca Andreescu beats Linda Nosková 6-3 7-6(5)
She meets Paolini (7) or Minnen next.
We’ve not been going long, but already I’m loving Ash Barty’s co-commentary. It makes such a difference having someone who’s played against those we’re watching – Rio Ferdinand had that advantage when he first retired and now he doesn’t he’s a lot less good, while snooker coverage is even better now current players are in the box. Meantime, Tomas Mahac, who didn’t play Andrew Murray, has come from 2-0 down to beat David Goffin 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-1 7-6(5) and meets Roman Safiullin next.
Raducanu whips a forehand winner cross-court and she’s telling Mertens about herself here, now 4-0 in front and playing beautifully.
A great start from Raducanu, who leads Mertens 3-0 and has two points for 4-0; Kokkinakis has broken Auger-Aliassime for 4-2, and is now two games from forcing a decider; and Osaka leads Navarro 1-0.
Cobolli, by the way, is going to be a very fine player – he’s already pretty handy, and I’d not be surprised to see him do well here.
Alejandro Tabilo (24) beats Daniel Evans 6-2 7-5 6-3
Evans still isn’t himself following injury – he refused to continue playing last evening when the dew made things slippery – and Tabilo, someone he’d hope to beat on grass, meets Cobolli next.
Sonego has made it a set each against Bautista Agut; Griekspoor (27) leads Kecmanovic 64 1-2; Stephens trails Shnaider 0-3; and Andreescu leads Noskova (26) 6-3 4-5.
Tommy Paul has levelled his match with Otto Virtanen at a set apiece, while Arthur Rinderknech has beaten Kei Nishikori 5-7 6-4 (206-7 6-2 6-2 and now meets Taylor Fritz (13). That should be decent.
And what a treat awaits us thereafter: Jannik Sinner (1) v Matteo Berrettini!
Next on Centre Court: Naomi Osaka v Emma Navarro (19).
Medvedev was really good once he was really in trouble, and though I can’t see him beating any of the top three, you never know.
“A very tough, physical match,” says Medvedev. There were times he was in trouble, like when he was a break down in set two, but he managed to regain a “calmer mind” so he’s really happy he turned the match around. And though he loves No 1 Court, he won on Centre but says the bounce was really slow so it’s good he had a match to get used to it.
Daniil Medvedev (5) beats Alexandre Müller (3)6-7 7-6(4) 6-4 7-5
Medvedeve does break, and that’s that. But a fine effort from Muller, who might just’ve conjured a shock had he managed to hold that second-set break or take that second-set breaker. Beating Medvedev, though, isn’t at all easy, and the number five seed moves on. He meets Zhang (32) or sturff next – they’ve just started.
On my fourth screen I’m going for – for now at least – Evans 2-6 5-7 3-4 Tabilo (24).
Back with Medvedev, he leads Muller 2-1 6-5; a break here and he’s home, a hold and we’ve a third breaker of the match.
Raducanu and Mertes come out – of course I’m watching them – and I’ve also got Auger-Aliassime and Kokkinakis on. They’re knocking up, with the Canadian two sets up from last evening.
Khachanov is through, Karatsev forced to retire when down 2-1 2-0; he meets Halys next.
Next on No 1 Court: Emma Raducanu v Elise Mertens.
Now let’s hear from the champ – I’ve had his interview paused for what seems like an hour. Asked about his next match – apparently Tiafoe says he’s coming after him – he says “I’m going for him!” They played a good match at the US Open, he thinks Tiafoe is a good player, and though it’ll be a difficult match he’s ready to take the challenge and play a really high level of tennis “and hopefully take him.”
“Guys … thank you,” says Fognini before convulsing in laughter. Then asked about his inability to close, he says “that’s why I love and hate this sport” before chuckling again. Ruud played three or four shots which if they’d gone out the match was over and he was tired and tense, thoughts coming into his mind about why the match wasn’t over, but he was in control because he was still ahead, concluding “I did a great job today.”
Fabio Fognini beats Casper Ruud (8) 6-4 7-5 (1)6-7 6-3
Wild celebrations from the 37-year-old, who finally gets it done. But the elongated match shouldn’t obscure how well he played and he meets Sonego or Bautista Agut next; the Spaniard leads 6-3 1-3. As for Ruud, he fought hard but 2/13 break points converted tells us the main reason he’s out.
Fognini just can’t close this out, a netted backhand ruining a fourth match point when he makes advantage – Ruud has done almost nothing here, partly because he hasn’t had to. But when he gets advantage of his own, the Italian finds a big serve and definitive volley, then creates yet another opportunity to finish the match…
And now Fognini nets tamely. Off we go to deuce, and if Ruud can steal this game, he may feel like the match is his to lose – despite his arrears.
Oh Fabio! A huge first serve opens the court, but somehow he sends his backhand putaway long! 40-30!
…then frames one … but Ruud shanks it back and Fognini has two more match points to eliminate the number eight seed!
Otto Virtanen has taken the first set off Tommy Paul, the number 12 seed and Queen’s champion, while Fognini tightens, hitting long to hand Ruud 30-15. Can he keep the head? He serves into the net…
Now then! Fognini breaks Ruud and will now serve for the match a second time at 5-3 in the fourth!
Carlos Alcaraz (3) beats Aleksandar Vukic 7-6(5) 6-2 6-2
Vukic made a decent go of it but Alcaraz is just far too good for almost everyone. He meets Tiafoe next, and that should be fun.
Fognini-Ruud is a proper war now. They’re 2-2 in the third, and I’ve not a scooby how it’s going to shake out; less so Alcaraz-Vukic, the champ now up 7-6 6-2 5-1.
Medvedev breaks Muller – perhaps in more ways than one – to take the third set 6-4. He now leads 2-1, likewise Khachanov, who takes his breaker against Karatsev 13-11. Otherwise, Krejcikova leads Kudermetova 4-3 in their decider, with a break; Tabilo and Evans have resumed their match, abandoned last evening, with the Chileans up 6-4 5-4; Bublik leads Cazaux 6-4; Nishikori leads Rinderknech 2-1 3-4; and Goffin leads Mahac 6-3 6-3 4-6 1-2.
It takes a very special charisma to turn this unfortunate outfit into a look. Before we even start with the trouser, the size of that branding is everything Wimbledon thinks it isn’t.
Though it’s not unreminiscent of this, which is far cooler on account of actually meaning something.
Alcaraz is nearly hame – he’s broken Vukic for 2-1 in the third – while Fognini has righted himself a little, leading Ruud 2-1 2-1, and Medvedev has Muller serving to stay in the third set at 4-5.
That means I need to find another match to watch, and I’m plumping for Aslan Karatsev 3-6 7-6(4) 6-6 (8-9) Karen Khachanov (21).
Elina Svitolina (21) beats Magda Linette 7-5 (9)6-7 6-3
And she may yet be a hero of Wimbledon 2024! After all the stress of her previous service-game, she secures the match to love and will face Jabeur or Montgomery next. That could be tase-tee!
Svitolina, one of the heroes of Wimbledon 2023, regains her break, and at 5-3 in the third will now serve for round two. Medevedev, meanwhile, lost his break while my eyes were elsewhere, so now leads Muller 4-3 in the third.
It takes – I think – six deuces, but Linette eventually beaks Svitolina back in their deciding set, so now trails 3-4. Meantime, Khachanov and Karatsev are playing a third-set tiebreak having split the first two.
Emil Ruusuvuori has beaten Mackenzie McDonald 7-6(6) 4-6 5-7 7-6(6) 6-3. He faces Stefanos Tsitsipas next.
Alcaraz closes out a 20-minute set, while Ruud takes the breaker 7-1 to trail Fognini 2-1. I may or may not have backed him in an accumulator I may or may not have, and closed down the page in annoyance 10 minutes ago.
Back with Ruud, he now leads 2-0 in the third set breaker and Fognini looks tired – despite his bleached barnet. Wasn’t that cool in about 1995? Oh, and on No 1, Alcaraz is serving for the second set at 5-2.
Ugo Humbert (16) beats Botic van de Zandschulp 7-6(9) 6-1 6-3
The Frenchman has had a great year and meets the surging Brandon Nakashima next. That should be a decent tussle.
That’s one match I’m watching. I’ve also got on Muller 7-6 6-7 1-3 Medvedev (5), Alcaraz (3) 7-6 4-1 Vukic and Linette 5-7 7-6 2-4 Svitolina (21).
Thanks Katy and afternoon mateys. I thought I was going to begin with a game, set and match, but Casper Ruud has just broken back Fabio Fognini, who was serving for the match at 6-4 7-5 5-4. It’s still a long way back for the number eight seed, but he’s on the way.
And with that, it’s time for me to take my leave today. Daniel is here to take you through the rest of the action…
Kartal beats Burel 6-3, 5-7, 6-3!
Just as Alcaraz won a tight first set on a tie-break, Medvedev has done the same in the second against Muller, sealing it with a forehand flourish. The world No 5 is looking much more settled now … as is Kartal, who has a match point at 5-3 in the third set against Burel! The British qualifier takes it, and she’s through to face Gauff on Friday! Much credit to the world No 298, who recovered her composure after losing the second set to come through strongly against the world No 45 in the decider.
It’s the first time Tiafoe has won back-to-back matches in three months.
A few more results to bring you: Frances Tiafoe is through to round three with a 7-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Croatia’s Borna Coric; another American, the qualifier Katie Volynets, has won her delayed first-round match against Maria Lourdes Carle 6-2, 7-5; the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia is also into round two, but out has gone the Argentinian 26th seed Francisco Cerundolo, in five sets against Roman Safiullin.
… but the momentum shifts as Vukic takes the next two points – and then the third when he chases down a drop shot and pulls off a wonderful angled winner! Alcaraz, undeterred, goes for another drop shot, and brings up two set points at 6-4 … before making a total mess of his volley! Even the line judge is smiling. But a strong serve down the middle settles the first set after 52 minutes of see-sawing play. Alcaraz takes the tie-break 7-5.
Alcaraz, now with his game face on, claims the early advantage for 3-1. He gets to 4-1 thanks to his supreme movement. And then 5-1 thanks to his ferocious forehand. The defending champion is nodding to himself as he changes ends …
