That’s me done. What a wild day it’s been. Cheers for all your emails and tweets. See ya!
Sean Ingle's report from Centre Court
Here are a few more stories from today to get your teeth into.
Another agonising wait for Heather Watson awaits. One game away from the win, her match with Qiang Wang is suspended for bad light at 7-5, 5-4. Just as she did in the first round, she’ll have to come back a day later to try to finish it off.
He’s a good bloke, that Isner.
Updated
Isner speaks!
I am definitely not a better tennis player than Andy Murray, but I was maybe better than him tonight. At the age I’m at, I have to savour these moments, with the atmosphere. You guys were awesome and super respectful, so I appreciate that. To play as well as I did against one of our best is amazing. He’s one of the people we all look up to in the locker room. I had an incredible serving day and I needed every bit of it. Lots of people ask me about that match, in 2010, but that is more of a nightmare to be honest. This is right up there in terms of my memories of Wimbledon. Hopefully I can get back on this court, and see what I can do.
Isner wins 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 6-4! Murray is out!
That’s Isner’s first win over Murray in nine meetings! And what a time to do it, on Centre Court! Murray had no answer to Isner’s serve, all match, but the American’s work at the net was equally as impressive. Magnificent.
Updated
Ace down the T, No 36 of the match. It’s 40-0 to Isner. Match point to the American.
Ace, No 35 of the match. It’s 30-0 to Isner. Two more points.
A huge second serve out wide, Murray is unable to return. It’s 15-0.
A trademark Murray drop shot eases Murray to 40-15. Isner claws back to 40-30, but a deep serve from Murray forces the error. The Scot holds. That was the easy bit. Now, the prospect of breaking Isner’s serve for the first time in the match. This is last-chance saloon, right here. Isner leads 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 5-4 and will serve for the match.
An email, from Dermot Meagher:
Watching Murray here brings Dylan Thomas to mind:
“Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
Alternatively, Dermot …
The modern equivalent of ‘come on Tim’ is ‘fucks sake Andy’
— alistair green (@mralistairgreen) June 29, 2022
Updated
Oh heck. Here we go. Murray rolls back the years with a backhand on the run, straight out of 2012. He goes 30-0 up, but Isner reacts with an ace down the T, and another one out wide to level the scores at 30-30. A third consecutive ace for Isner, at 136mph, to make it 40-30. Murray does eventually get one serve back but the rally lasts three shots, as Isner closes out the game to make it 5-3. The American is one game away from victory. Murray must hold.
Updated
Murray holds. He’s 3-4 down in the fourth. Now comes the hard bit. Two chances to break the Isner serve. To make matters harder, the American will have new balls. Tim Henman, someone who knows a thing or two about rain delays, is wondering on BBC commentary about if the roof closing and light changing will affect Isner’s serve. Let’s see.
The roof is on, the lights are coming on and both Murray and Isner have elected not to have a warm-up, as they are entitled to. The score is 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 4-2 in Isner’s favour. Time for heroes.
Heather Watson, meanwhile, is edging closer to victory over Wang Qiang. She leads 7-5, 4-1.
It’s getting increasingly dark on Centre Court, so the roof is going to close. It must be almost impossible to see those Isner serves in this gloom. There’s going to be about a 10-minute delay.
All Isner needs to do here is hold his final three service games, and victory is assured. Murray has barely had a sniff of a break point all match. Can he fashion something? Lendl, stoney faced, is not exactly a picture of optimism. But then, when has he ever been?
Isner breaks in the fourth! Is this the end for Murray?!
At 2-2, 30-30 all in the fourth, Isner comes to the net, bunting a couple of howling volleys over the net. Three times Murray has the chance to pass, three times he fails. Isner crafts his second break point of the match (he took his first in the first set). But Murray doesn’t make the same mistake, ripping a wonderful backhand crosscourt to get to deuce. But then, disaster for Murray! The Scot bins an easy backhand into the net from all of two yards away, surely one of the worst misses of his career. Mentally, he doesn’t seem to recover from that, as Isner secures the break. Murray spends most of the changeover in complete shock. A hush falls over Centre. “We love you, Andy”, comes a cry. It feels like a goodbye.
Updated
Exquisite cut to the bloke picking his ears in the crowd. That will be flying around the WhatsApp group later.
This made me laugh, following another gem from BBC commentator Andrew Castle.
Cancel your dinner reservation? It’s 8.30, Andrew. We’re not on the continent now mate.
— Ben Coley (@BenColeyGolf) June 29, 2022
Is the tide turning on Centre? It feels like it. Suddenly Murray is coasting through his service games, and Isner is making heavy going of his. Murray moves to 2-1 up in the fourth set with a cute drop shot.
Ons Jabeur, meanwhile, bagelled Katarzyna Kawa in the second set to ease into the third round. Swiatek aside, she’s the best player (on grass) left in the women’s draw, in my opinion.
More good news for the Brits, Heather Watson has taken the first set 7-5 against Wang Qiang and leads 1-0 in the second set. If Watson wins here, it would be only the fifth time Watson would reach the third round of a grand slam in 44 attempts.
Updated
Andy Murray wins the third set! He trails two sets to one: 4-6, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3)
Murray gets to 5-3 in the tie-break. Isner’s turn to try and get back to parity. Centre Court waits. Isner bins a volley in the net, and suddenly Murray has three set points … he’s done it! The crowd go absolutely … well, you know the rest. The comeback is very much on. Murray is FIRED UP. The fist bumps are out. Settle in, folks.
Scenes on Centre pic.twitter.com/yhuhsGS6Bf
— Sean Ingle (@seaningle) June 29, 2022
Updated
Vesely won the fifth-set tie-break 10-7! That has got to hurt.
Brutal, brutal scenes on Court 17. After nearly four hours on court, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina gets a point penalty on match point deep in the fifth set tiebreak after hitting a ball out of the court.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) June 29, 2022
Vesely has left the court. ADF is still there. pic.twitter.com/5XoEieu1wU
Updated
Murray roars into a 3-0 lead in the tie-break! He’s going to do this, isn’t he.
Murray holds to love again, in a game which included a drop shot so good, I spilt some of my dinner down my top. To the third-set tie-break we go!
“Use the force, Andy”, cries someone from the crowd, as Isner cruises to another service hold. He leads 6-5 in this third set. We expect excellent serving, sure, but the American has volleyed like Sampras today, coming into the net with timing and skill.
Updated
Murray is now serving to stay in the match. At 4-6, 6-7 (4), 4-5 down, Murray gets to 30-0 with a clever shot down the line and closes out the game to love. A tie-break seems inevitable in this third set.
Carlos Alcaraz is through! A 6-4, 7-6 (0!), 6-3 win over Griekspoor for the Spaniard, who romps into the third round on his Wimbledon debut.
The crowd cheers a missed Isner serve. Isner responds with a few angry forehands. Murray shouts at himself behind the baseline, berating himself and beating his thigh with his fist for another weak return to the middle of the court. Isner holds and cooly walks to the chair for the changeover. It’s 4-3 to Isner in the third set and Murray faces the task of holding serve again.
Murray is just about hanging in there. Two sets down, it’s on serve in the third set, but Isner is increasingly getting on top of Murray’s second serve, taking it well within the baseline. Murray is grafting, as only Murray seems to do, and shows plenty of guts to hold. It’s 3-3, and Murray whips up the crowd. Things hotting up!
Katarzyna Kawa is holding her own against Ons Jabeur. It’s 4-4 in the fourth set. The Tunisian third seed has been slightly off her usual pace, but fashions two break points and converts the first. Jabeur leads 5-4 and will serve for the set.
Isner holds and the earth continues to rotate around the sun. Murray hits back to make it 1-1. “This is it, Andy” comes an earnest cry from the crowd, who laugh, although I’m not sure anyone knows why. Another Isner hold. It’s 2-1 to the American, who is just potentially four games away from the third round. Andrew Castle, on the BBC commentary describes the American as a “family man”. Ha.
On Court 18, Heather Watson is underway against China’s Wang Qiang. Watson secured an early break but it’s back on serve in the first set, 2-1 to the Brit.
Sakkari is through! The fifth seed comfortably beats Viktoriya Tomova in straight sets to take her place in the third round, winning 6-4, 6-3.
Isner wins the second set! He leads Murray 6-4, 7-6 (4)
Murray does indeed win both of them! He’s back to 5-4 down but faces Isner’s serve once again. A 136mph serve out wide set up set point and another unreturned serve gives Isner the set! Murray has it all to do! Two sets down here.
Isner goes 5-2 up in the tiebreak, with another ridiculous pick up off his laces. It’s a long way down to the ground for Isner, but credit to the American, he’s playing out of his skin. Things looking ominous for Murray, who must surely hold these next two service points to have a chance in this tie-break.
Alcaraz pips Griekspoor to the second set in his own tie break, finishing with an ace. He’s Alcaraz 6-4, 7-6 (0) up there.
Immediate mini-break for Isner, who follows up with an ace down the T, his 14th of the match. The American, though, sends one long. It’s 2-1 in the tie-break, with Murray to serve.
Two holds of serve. Murray and Isner are heading to a second-set tie break.
A real thriller developing on Court 17, between Jiri Vesely and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. It’s 1-1 in the fifth set there.
Isner is digging deep here! At 15-30 on his serve, he plays two of the most ridiculous half-volley drop shots off his laces to get the upper hand once more. Wow. That is sublime tennis, and Murray is doing his berating-his-box-routine, as though he can’t believe the quality of the shots he has faced. Isner closes out the game, and it’s 5-5 in the second set. Isner one set up.
Waking up in Auckland? On your lunch break in NYC? You can catch up with a few of today’s stories from SW19 right here.
Updated
Murray holds. The first signs of fatigue from the 37-year-old Isner, who will now serve to stay in the second set. It’s 5-4 to Murray.
Updated
A dent, yes. A break? No. The crowd are up. Murray gets to 30-15, but misses an easy backhand, by his standards. Isner rips a 92mph forehand to go to 40-30 and blasts an unreturnable serve down the T to close out the game. It’s 4-4.
Back to Murray-Isner on Centre Court, and it’s following a familiar pattern. Isner is cruising through his service games with ease. Murray is toiling through his, but just about getting the job done. From 15-30 down, the Scott rallies to make it 4-3 in the second set. winning the game with a wonderful backhand down the line. Isner to serve, can Murray make a dent?
Maria Sakkari, who is bloody excellent at tennis, is one set up on Viktoriya Tomova, and it’s on serve in the second set.
A friend of mine in the bar below the Guardian offices says nobody is drinking Pimms. Traitors.
Isner holds to love. Took all of 90 seconds, that game. Eeeeesh. It’s 2-2.
Murray is not serving well. At 1-1 in the second set, his first serve percentage is down at 40%, and the Scot double faults to hand Isner a 0-30 lead. Murray recovers to 30-30 with a nifty second serve out wide before two aces secures a much-needed hold. That a small W for Murray, who seems agitated. Lots of looks towards Ivan Lendl in his box, and he’s changed the grip on his racket at least a couple of times. Let’s see if that makes any difference. It’s on serve in the second set.
Alcaraz misses an easy overhead on set point to go back to deuce with Griekspoor, but the Spaniard motors to the first set. He’s playing a lot better than his first-round five-setter with Jan-Lennard Struff. Ominous for Griekspoor, who was excellent in his own first-round match with Fognini.
Isner beats Murray to the first set, 6-4!
Murray gets to 15-15, as Isner misses an easy forehand. The Scot can only bunt these colossal serves back and then is at Isner’s mercy for the rest of the match. An ace gives the American two set points, and Murray bunts one in the net to hand the first set to the American.
Two more holds of serve and we are at 5-4, with Isner serving for the first set.
Isner’s average serve speeds: first serve is 134mph, second serve is 121mph.
Isner holds and the pressure is back on Murray again, but a rare missed smash at the net from the big American gifts parity to the Scot at 30-30. Deuce, and a crafty slice down the line from Murray earns him game point, which he converts. Isner remains a break up and will serve (with new balls) at 4-3.
Couple of matches on the men’s side to mention: Next Big Thing™ Carlos Alcaraz is underway against the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor. It’s on serve in the first set. And the lanky Italian 10th seed, Jannik Sinner, is continuing his fine form against Mikael Ymer, two sets up and 4-4 in the third. Sinner made light work of Wawrinka in the first round.
Updated
Two holds of serve for Isner and Murray, the former saving a couple of break points. Isner is looking very fresh for a 37-year-old and has a hammer of a forehand to complement that serve. He’s by no means a one-trick pony, and while he doesn’t want to get into a baseline battle with Murray, can hold him own there. It’s 3-2 to the American, who serves next.
Updated
We mentioned this story earlier, but worth a read if you’re catching up.
Time to mop up some results elsewhere. Angelique Kerber, champion here in 2018, had a easy ride against Magda Linette, winning 6-3, 6-3. Anhelina Kalinina – who said the £78,000 she is guaranteed for reaching round two will go toward helping her family rebuild their home in Ukraine, which, she revealed, has been bombed by Russian forces – lost to her Ukrainian compatriot Lesia Tsurenko in three sets. Something of an upset, that.
Isner breaks! The 6ft10in giant is rushing the net, putting Murray under serious pressure, and it works! Murray is not the mover that he was and he won’t be retrieving those Isner volleys as readily as yesteryear. The head-to-head record for these two is interesting: Murray has won eight and lost none. Still, it’s 2-1 to the American, who has the break and will serve next.
John Isner did have one ace in his opening game to take him 39 aces shy of the all-time record, held by Ivo Karlovic. He’s at 13,689 for his career.
You will not be shocked to hear that both Murray and Isner have held their serves to get us going. Expect that to be a glimpse of what’s to come. One of the greatest servers ever facing up against one of the greatest returners ever. Should be a good one, and probably a late one.
Time for some Andy Murray and, for that, I’ll hand you back to Michael Butler.
Updated
Cam Norrie beats Munar in five sets!
Roars on Court One as Cam Norrie beats Jaume Munar 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2. Munar serves a double at 30-0 up and then Norrie blasts a winner which just catches the line. A powerful backhand secures a first match point and it’s all he needs as the Spaniard finds the net. File Munar under ‘mercurial talent’. Meanwhile, Norrie marches on and hopefully this five-setter will stand him in good stead. Battling stuff from the British No 1.
Updated
Norrie one game away from victory! Munar throwing himself at everything now and a brilliant winner gives him the first point and he adds the second. Is this a break back? No. Norrie pulls out a passing stroke of his own and then has Munar scampering everywhere to no avail to make it 30-30 before the Spaniard blasts a ground stroke long. Munar forces deuce before Norrie’s drop shot is too much for his opponent’s tired legs and a backhand down the line from the Brit takes him 5-2 ahead. The number nine seed is closing in.
Norrie breaks again for 4-2! More brilliance from the reborn Munar as a combination of anticipation and reflexes see him win a thrilling opening point. Further magic takes him to 30-0 before Norrie contests a call of ‘out’ and has it overturned in his favour by hawk eye. Then another lengthy rally and a Munar error give Norrie break point and he wins it after the Spaniard dumps his volley into the net. Phew!
Norrie now looks nervous after Munar’s rise from the dead and dumps an attempted drop shot into the net. But he steadies himself, wins the next two points and moves into a 3-2 lead in the fifth. He’s back on track but he’ll have to make sure that Munar’s recovery doesn’t spook him as this decider goes on.
Updated
Munar has suddenly come alive against Norrie. After some lengthy physio - mostly thigh rubbing - it’s back to the guy who was pulling rabbits from hats earlier on. 2-2 in the decider.
A thoroughly charming interview from Caroline Garcia as she speaks following her victory over Emma Raducanu. All the right words. We’ll bring you Raducanu quotes later. Not to be this year for the US Open champion but hopefully she’ll have many, many cracks at winning this.
Andy Murray and John Isner will be on Centre Court in about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, the British focus is on Court 1 where Norrie and Munar are in the fifth set.
Munar looked to be fading away after losing eight games in a row but he’s just broken Norrie to love to cut the deficit to 2-1. Where did that come from all of a sudden?
Updated
Here’s the winning shot from Garcia.
Game, set and match - @CaroGarcia!
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 29, 2022
The Frenchwoman proves too strong for Emma Raducanu, winning 6-3, 6-3 #Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/2fIL3GjSFi
Emma Raducanu loses to Caroline Garcia in straight sets
It’s all over. Garcia beats Raducanu 6-3, 6-3. Garcia wins the first point of the ninth and then Raducanu hits a weak forehand into the net. Groans echo around Centre Court. A cute drop shot pulls it back to 15-30 but Garcia earns a match point and seals victory with a stunning backhand winner. You have to say that was fully deserved and Garcia does a celebratory jig around the court. That’s now seven wins in a row on grass for Garcia who won a title in Germany last week.
Updated
Raducanu’s hopes fading. Back on Centre Court, Garcia goes long with a backhand and it’s deuce in game eight of the second. But Garcia just keeps going for it and thumps a forehand winner for advantage and then booms down a brutal serve to go 5-3 up. Raducanu serving to stay in the championship.
Norrie wins the fourth set and we’re into a decider! With Munar looking like he’s running out of steam, the home hero must be favourite to take it.
Norrie is racing through the fourth set against Munar and a double break helps him to a 5-0 lead. Munar takes a medical break for no obvious physical reason. Maybe just an aspirin or some wine gums. I wouldn’t like to say.
Garcia breaks again for 4-3! From 15-15, Garcia’s clubbing backhand and an equally fierce forehand win her two break points. Raducanu digs deep to force deuce but an untimely double fault gives Garcia another opportunity and a mistimed backhand from the Brit means she drops serve again. Garcia just two games away from victory.
Raducanu breaks back! The US Open champ goes 30-0 up on the Garcia serve by finding a brilliant angle and, from 30-30, the Frenchwoman serves a double fault and then sends a groundstroke wide. Back to 3-3. Hope springs eternal.
Norrie, still skipping around in sprightly fashion as he winds up those forehands, breaks Munar to go 2-0 in front in the fourth. Is this the start of his big comeback?
Norrie holds serve in the first game of the fourth set and gives himself a little ‘c’mon’.
Meanwhile, back on Centre, Garcia holds serve against Raducanu and then goes 30-0 up on the Brit’s serve after winning one of the rallies of the match. A deep groundstroke and volley gives Garcia three break points and a loose forehand from Raducanu seals what could prove a pivotal game for the Frenchwoman. Garcia a set up and 3-2 up with a break in the second.
Updated
An easy hold for Raducanu puts her 2-1 ahead in the second. There are signs, not jump out and backhand you in the face signs, but signs nonetheless that the Brit is upping her effort here. She has no choice though. Garcia’s levels are simply not dropping.
Thanks Michael. I’ll start with the news that Cam Norrie has lost the third set, 7-5, to the very lively Munar. The Spaniard deserves to be in front here; he’s been more aggressive on the key points. Norrie will have to go all the way to keep his hopes alive.
Going to grab a cuppa. David Tindall will be your guide for the next little bit. See you soon.
Raducanu is edging her way into this match. She earns break point after a brilliant passing shot at the net and is the width of a tape about repeating the trick to close out the game. But Garcia serves well from deuce and evens things up at 1-1 in the second set. But some promising signs for the Brit.
Harriet Dart is through, beating Masarova in straight sets!
A fantastic win for the British No 2, who moves into the second round.
Updated
A nervy/gutsy hold from Raducanu, to open the second set. How she needed that. Important mentally to get out in front on the scoreboard, and put Garcia under pressure.
Norrie and Munar remain deadlocked in their third set. 5-5 all, 30-30 on Norrie’s serve. And Munar breaks! The Spaniard will serve for the third set at 6-5 up.
And as I say that, Masarova breaks. We’re back on serve in the second set, with Dart having won the first.
Meanwhile, Harriet Dart is serving for the match against Rebeka Masarova. Two Brits, two performances.
Garcia wins the first set 6-3! Raducanu looking a little lost our there
Both players retire for a comfort break. Raducanu won just 47% of her first serves, and that is where the pressure has been. Garcia has been so aggressive in returning. I can’t really remember a Raducanu winner in that set. It’s been all Garcia, either the French player has bludgeoned her way to the point, or she’s been wayward. Raducanu needs to up her aggression and do it right now.
Updated
An immense second serve saves set point for Raducanu, but the Brit is really struggling with the power of Garcia’s groundstrokes, even if they are sometimes a little wayward. Garcia obliges with two wayward returns as Raducanu holds but the French player will serve for the set at 5-3.
Shocked to see that Centre Court is not full! Crazy!
Lots of empty sets at 5-2 in the first set of Emma Raducanu’s match against Caroline Garcia. Been a pattern this Wimbledon. Anyone know why? pic.twitter.com/uqnk1TzV0l
— Sean Ingle (@seaningle) June 29, 2022
Raducanu is really struggling, down 5-2 with a double break. There’s plenty of bounce in her step between points, plenty of encouragement from the crowd, but not a lot of shotmaking. Garcia is the dominant force here, and it’s very much a case of whether the French player can keep her cool to close out this set.
Updated
Norrie breaks! Surely one of the best returns of serve we’ve seen in the tournament this year, as he rips a backhand from down the T right inside the tramline. Woof. That was special on break point. Norrie has quelled Munar’s momentum and we’re back on serve in the third set. All square.
A nasty slip for Raducanu on the baseline, but the teenager is up and OK. She’s again under pressure though, 3-2 down and down a break point on her serve … and Garcia converts the break point to go 4-2 up in this first set. Garcia was standing a good two feet inside the baseline for Raducanu’s first serve, so she’s being extremely aggressive and it’s paying off for the 28-year-old!
Harriet Dart is absolutely motoring on Court 12. She’s obviously got something on later because she is taking Rebeka Masarova apart, leading 6-1, 4-1!
Updated
There are a lot of camera shots of very posh looking people sipping very expensive drinks. I’m waiting for them to do something, but no. Just sip, sip, sip.
Meanwhile, Munar is edging the third set against Norrie, with the break of serve. The Brit has lacked his fluency of the opening set. After crafting a break point, Norrie can’t convert, and Munar holds to make it 3-1.
Updated
Raducanu has the break back! But this is more to do with Garcia’s profligacy than anything else. Garcia is a shotmaker but does also have the tendency to miss some balls.
Updated
Garcia has come out all guns blazing and has an early break over Raducanu. A brilliant volley and the net and a dodgy line call (sorted out by hawk eye) means the French player has a 2-0 lead! The start for Raducanu is so important, to get the crowd roaring and put some pressure on her opponent.
Raducanu and Garcia are on court on Centre. Here we go!
Norrie won just 54% of his first serves in that second set. How the tables have turned on Court One.
Despite being the smaller man (at 6ft), Munar is a big server and has been sending down 136mph bombs in the second set against Norrie. The Spaniard is serving for the set at 5-3 and despite going 0-30 down, Munar roars back to take the game and the set with a sumptuous lob! We’re all square going into the third set. What a game we have on our hands.
Despite being No 3 seed, it’s not a shock to see Casper Ruud tumble out in the second round, losing in four sets to the very talented Ugo Humbert. Ruud is not the biggest fan of grass, and while he has since said the below comment was a “silly joke”, it’s probably not too far from the truth.
Oh yeees😍 p.s. don’t take this quote too seriously, it was a silly joke during one of my press conferences in Miami, grass is a fun challenge and right now I’m honestly quite tired of running and grinding 5 meters behind the baseline on clay😅🌱
— Casper Ruud (@CasperRuud98) June 8, 2022
Next up on Centre Court … it’s Emma Raducanu. Here’s what she had to say in the build-up to her match today at Caroline Garcia, the former world No 4. A very tricky match for the Brit.
Djokovic speaks
Thanks for your support today, for both players. I’m very happy with my performance. I made him work for every point, bring a lot of variety to my game. It was tough to toss the ball in the wind, but I’m very pleased. I’m pleased with how I’ve raised my level in two days.
There’s also some quite earnest chat about tapping into your inner child to access the passion for the game, which seems a bit over the top for a second round win, but that’s just me.
Djokovic is safely through, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 against Kokkinakis
Kokkinakis carves out his first break point of the match, but a wondrous second serve down the T gets Djokovic on deuce before the Serbian closes it out with two unreturned serve. Looks every inch the champion elect with a supreme performance, and the crowd give last year’s winner a fine reception. That’s about as routine as it gets.
Updated
Jelena Ostapenko is making light work of Yanina Wickmayer. The 12th seed is a break up in the second set, having won the first 6-2.
The double break for Djokovic, who is just two games away from victory after one hour and 44 minutes. What is so impressive about Djokovic is his all-court game. Never before has a great of this game been so well rounded. There are no weaknesses, and to some extent, no USP. Just brilliant decision making, consistency and he can bring out the fireworks when he needs to.
A damning email from Gregory Phillips, who rightly puts me in my place.
“Just checked in on scores after some time working and saw you had posted in bold that Norrie was “out” against Jaume Munar. I thought for a moment he had lost. Which was especially jarring as he has a very decent draw and could go far. Except I have probably just jinxed him, so he probably will go out against Munar. Remember, you did this.”
Order of play, for Thursday.
THURSDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY (CENTRE COURT, FROM 13.30 BST)
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 29, 2022
Boulter vs Pliskova
Berankis vs Nadal
Gauff vs Buzarnescu#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100
THURSDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY (NO.1 COURT, FROM 13.00 BST)
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 29, 2022
Thompson vs Tsitsipas
Swiatek vs Pattinama Kerkhove
De Minaur vs Draper#Wimbledon
Updated
Norrie gets the break! The ninth seed follows it up with a strong hold and all of a sudden, he’s 5-3 up over Munar in the first set.
A sensational point from Djokovic helps him break Kokkinakis at the first attempt in the third set. Some ridiculous defensive play from the Serbian, who runs around the court like he’s 25, not 35. I’m not sure what he puts on those hamstrings, but they are surely the most supple to grace SW19. There may have been quicker players around the court, but none that combine speed with such flexibility. Feels like Djokovic could just do the splits any moment, and nobody would flinch.
Coming soon... 🍿@Venuseswilliams x @jamie_murray #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/y5ux1odtKZ
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 29, 2022
Their mixed doubles partnership has been confirmed! The 42-year-old Williams has not played on tour since August 2021 but has had a late wildcard entry accepted. You can read about that here.
On Court One, Cameron Norrie is out against Jaume Munar. The Spaniard puts a bit of early pressure on early doors but it remains on serve in the first set.
Updated
Back to reality. Djokovic closes out the second set 6-4 and leads two sets to love. He is inevitable. At least that Kokkinakis hold means that he will serve first in the third set, giving him a chance to get ahead.
An email from Nick Parish: “Talking of people who remind you of other people, don’t you think that in your picture, Djokovic has more than a touch of evil Lord Farquaad from Shrek, don’t you think?”
Lord Farquaad arrives at the #MetGala2022 pic.twitter.com/impcFqZnuM
— Kea (@jacquemusx) May 2, 2022
Not convinced about that. BUT! I would like to see one of the following:
1) Djokovic with Lord Farquaad’s hair.
2) Mark Bosnich at the Met Gala
3) Mark Bosnich in Shrek (playing himself).
After saving four break points, Kokkinakis holds! He battled really hard there, and finished the game with a neat overhead. The crowd are getting behind the Australian, and a wry smile emerges as he makes his way to the chair for the changeover. Djokovic, however, will serve now for the set.
Updated
Kokkinakis’s coach, Todd Langman (in a fetching red hat), has a touch of Mark Bosnich about him, no?
Updated
One hour and eight minutes, and Kokkinakis is serving to stay in the second set. He’s been a lot better, but Djokovic is effortlessly moving through this match. The Serbian leads 5-3 in the second after winning the first set.
Updated
Pliskova is through in straight sets, beating Tereza Martincova. The sixth seed is one of the favourites to challenge Swiatek for the title after finishing runner up last year and she looked very comfortable on the baseline. Next up for the Czech in the second round is … Britain’s Katie Boulter, who actually beat Pliskova at Eastbourne last week!
Updated
We all saw the epic match between Harmony Tan and Serena Williams last night, a three-hour epic that left both players eking out the last of their energy to finish the match. Well, it appears that Tan has withdrawn from the doubles competition, leaving her partner Tami Korpatsch high and dry, a “thigh injury” apparently meaning she is unable to play today.
Korpatsch has explained her feelings in the below Instagram post and this seems to be particularly poor form if Tan somehow recovers for her singles match tomorrow against Sara Sorribes Tormo. Tan and Korpatsch are regular doubles partners on the ITF circuit, but hard to see a way back for them after this.
Updated
Peniston is out, Johnson winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
The American closes it out with an ace down the T. In truth, he was too good for Peniston, who can be very proud of his run here in the first week.
Updated
But what’s this?! Two double faults and some pressure at the net give Peniston his first break point of the match … but the Brit can’t convert, returning a slow second serve into the net. Another break point comes though, Johnson increasingly passive here, before Peniston sends his return long! Back to deuce, chances spurned by the Southend man.
Oh dear, the wheel are slightly coming off for Peniston, who is broken in the third set. The American has been bamboozling the Brit with an array for slices and spinning shots, and Peniston bins one in the net to make it 5-4 to his opponent in the third set. Johnson now is serving for the match.
Kontaveit, the second seed, is out!
That’s a huge win for Jule Niemeier, who only won her first grand slam match on Monday and the German gives the most mighty roar to the Court One crowd as she wins match point to close out the second set. It finishes 6-4, 6-0 to the 22-year-old. Very disappointing for Kontaveit, who has struggled since recovering from a bout of Covid. She was also knocked out early in French Open, in round one.
Updated
Djokovic, meanwhile, romps to the first set, 6-1, with a deft little pick up at the net. Delicious.
Hello everyone! Good to be here. Peniston has held serve and leads 4-3, the first time he has reached four games in this match.
Peniston holds from 0-30 down to edge back in front in set three. Now 3-2 to the Brit but, once more, how does he solve the riddle of breaking the Johnson serve?
To answer that, I’m going to hand over now to Michael Butler.
Updated
A quick whizz around the courts.
Djokovic leads Kokkinakis 4-1 in the opening set on Centre Court but on Court 1 women’s second seed Kontaveit is now in huge trouble against Niemeier. She lost the opener and trails 3-0 in the second.
Back on Court three, a Johnson hold makes it 2-2 in the third set against Peniston. The American leads two sets to love against the Brit.
Updated
Perhaps Peniston is just finding something. A superb cross-court volley on game point secures a 2-1 lead over Johnson in the third set. The concern is that he’s yet to have a single break point on the Johnson serve. Just to ram that home, Johnson pings down an ace.
The sun is shining at Wimbledon following those early rain delays. The cameras pick out a couple of spectators who have nodded off. Still, they probably had fun in the overnight queues.
Another American, Frances Tiafoe, is also making short work of his opponent. The 23rd seed has won the opening two sets, both by 6-2 margins, against Germany’s Max Marterer.
Back on Centre Court and an early break from Djokovic has seen him ease into a 3-0 lead in the opening set against Kokkinakis.
Updated
Johnson wins the second set against Peniston and now leads 6-3, 6-2. The American continues to do everything well and it’s hard to know what Peniston can do. The home crowd are rather muted over on Court 3, with the Brit getting a rather sympathetic clap as he prepares to serve at the start of the third set.
A shock - although plenty of shrewdies suggested it - brewing on Court 1 where unseeded Jule Niemeier takes the first set 6-4 against second seed Anett Kontaveit. A tight set; Niemeier had the only break point and she took it.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic and Thanasi Kokkinakis are warming up on Centre Court.
They’ve only played once previously and that was on clay in 2015 so not much head-to-head form to go on. Kokkinakis slipped outside the world’s top 250 last year but is now back up to 79th.
Updated
Steve Johnson absolutely in the groove against Ryan Peniston and breaks the Brit again to go 4-1 up in the second set. The American not giving Peniston an inch.
Over on Court 2, third-seed Casper Ruud has taken the opening set 6-3 against Ugo Humbert.
Meanwhile, Johnson is still looking too strong for Peniston and gains a break to go 2-1 up in the second. Just two unforced errors from the American so far. Combine that with 15 winners and he’s proving hard to stop.
Updated
Peniston loses the opening set (3-6) against Johnson. The Brit is finally getting his serve going and sends down three aces to win game eight to 15. But Johnson holds to close the set out. The American is winning 88% of his 1st serve points.
The action is underway on Court 1 where women’s second seed Anett Kontaveit from Estonia is playing Germany’s Jule Niemeier. Both win their opening service games.
Johnson does finally convert a break point and goes 4-2 up on Peniston. Early days though.
A bit of an early pattern emerging on Court 3. Johnson is cruising through his service games while Peniston is having to scrap hard to hold. Still, it’s going with serve so far, Johnson 3-2 up.
Third-seed Casper Ruud is also in action right now. He’s playing Ugo Humbert on No 2 Court and leads 3-2 in the opening set.
Ruud, who reached the French Open final, won his very first match at Wimbledon on Monday, a straight sets success against Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
A look at what’s in store today.
An action-packed day is headed your way! 🔥
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 29, 2022
Who will advance? 👇
@Wimbledon | #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Rkh1piayYf
Court 3: Peniston throws in a double fault and slips to 0-40. But he gets his arm going with some strong groundstrokes and saves three break points before levelling it up at 1-1 against Johnson.
Plenty of eyes now on Court 3 where Brit Ryan Peniston takes on American Steve Johnson. Helped by a couple of booming aces, Johnson holds serve in the opening game.
Updated
Day three is underway
And we’re off. The action now in play includes the all-Ukrainian match between Anhelina Kalinina (29) and Lesia Tsurenko on Court 12.
Updated
We could be close to some action! Players are starting to arrive on court and some are even warming up.
No sign of play just yet. Time for another song then and this personal favourite seems appropriate. Perhaps there’s an umpire on duty this week called Kathleen.
A few tweets and emails suggesting Emma Raducanu has a tough task on her hands today.
That seems a fair assessment. Opponent Caroline Garcia from France is coming off a title win in the Bad Homburg Open (played on grass) and she fought back well in her opener here when defeating Yuriko Miyazaki in three sets. The 28-year-old has a career record of 34-21 on grass.
The bookies make it close, with Raducanu 4/6 and Garcia 6/5.
Aran Scutcher e-mails: “I can’t help but think this may be an end of an era match for Murray, this may be his last Wimbledon and therefore possibly today the last match - which would be tremendously sad. I know he’s got his detractors but I think overall he’s won a lot of people round with his grit, incredible range of shots, and his staunch support of women, particularly in tennis.
“The big servers like Isner rarely leave more than scraps on their serve and not sure Murray is still at the level to overcome the big man. Hope I’m proven wrong.
“My heart says Raducanu and Murray win, and Djoko loses but I’d bet the opposite. Fingers crossed.”
Weather update: The 15-minute increments continue. Now we’re told there will be no play until 12.30pm at least.
Weather update: Start put back another 15 minutes to 12.15pm.
What do you do during a Wimbledon weather delay? Sing, of course. No, not Cliff, it’s Half Man Half Biscuit.
After me.... “Who’s afraid... of Virginia Wade”.
Updated
Unlike us (awkward cough), the official Wimbledon Twitter page is struggling for content during the weather delay.
No chopsticks for your sushi, @NickKyrgios? 🥢 😉#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/0OtfS1mByX
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 29, 2022
Updated
A bit of Andy Murray news. A reminder that he’s the late match on Centre Court today and has an 8-0 head-to-head record against his big-serving opponent, John Isner.
Three-time Grand Slam singles champion @andy_murray will make his Laver Cup debut, representing Team Europe at The O2 in London from September 23-25, 2022.
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) June 29, 2022
Full story: https://t.co/gwOoK7msWq pic.twitter.com/42Evab4muV
Weather update: No play before 12pm. That’s about 15 minutes, nearly enough time to watch the Borg v McEnroe tie-break from 1980.
Emma Raducanu is back in action on Centre Court today. Tumaini Carayol looks ahead to her encounter with Caroline Garcia which follows the Novak Djokovic v Thanasi Kokkinakis second-rounder.
The BBC are now showing highlights so we’ll go back to sporting theme tunes. How about a top 40. Steven Pye is the man for the job. Wimbledon only 10th by the way!
I love a pointless stat but never know how to process that one about the amount of strawberries it would take to fill Centre Court. What do you do with that information? I feel neither inclined to say ‘wow’ or question the number involved. I have no response. Nothing. An emptiness inside.
Beyond my existential strawberry angst (good name for a 60s psych band), how about this one:
Andy Murray’s opponent today, John Isner, sent down 54 aces in his opening match. That leaves him just 40 short of Ivo Karlovic’s all-time ace record on the ATP Tour of... 13,728. That is worthy of a ‘wow’.
Weather update: The covers are off even though it still looks a bit murky overhead. Talk of play maybe, sort of, perhaps starting in about 25 minutes or so. So 11.45am. Possibly.
Updated
Key event
Andy Murray and Serena Williams have made the early headlines at Wimbledon but what of their siblings?
Well, it emerged yesterday evening that Venus Williams and Jamie Murray will be teaming up in the mixed doubles.
Rain delays start
Ah, no play until 11.30am at the earliest, according to official reports. No excuse not to check out more Keith Mansfield tunes in the meantime. This is nice.
Updated
This was the weather a little earlier. There’s talk of the covers being taken off but perhaps being put on again as drizzle levels divide opinion.
Keeping dry ☂️#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/0B13b4zVYI
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 29, 2022
Umbrellas are up at Wimbledon although the BBC’s Carol Kirkwood says the clouds will break and there’s only 5% chance of rain as we go through the afternoon. Still raining now though. Light winds, sunny intervals and temperatures around 22 degrees are expected although some ominous clouds could return later.
The BBC’s coverage is starting up so let’s have a listen to one of the great Keith Mansfield’s finest ditties: the Wimbledon theme music, ‘Light and Tuneful’. Keith there looking like he’s just taken a set of Borg.
Some further reading here while Tom Little’s version of the Grandstand theme is always worth a watch.
Here’s the Order of Play on the main courts today. Play is set to start at 11am on the outside courts. All times are BST.
Centre Court - 13.30
1. Novak Djokovic v Thansi Kokkinakis
2. Caroline Garcia v Emma Raducanu
3. Andy Murray v John Isner
No 1 Court - 13.00
1. Jule Niemeier v Anett Kontaveit
2. Cameron Norrie v Jaume Munar
3. Maria Sakkari v Viktoriya Tomova
No 2 Court
1. Casper Ruud v Ugo Humbert
2. Angelique Kerber v Magda Linette
3. Tallon Griekspoor v Carlos Alcaraz
4. Qiang Wang v Heather Watson
No 3 Court
1. Ryan Penison v Steve Johnson
2. Yanina Wickmayer v Jelena Ostapenko
3. Jannik Sinner v Mikael Ymer
4. Katarzyna Kawa v Ons Jabeur
Updated
We’re back to the top half of the draw in the men’s singles today and 64 are still standing. Rafael Nadal is in the bottom half and was pushed in his opener against Francisco Cerúndolo yesterday. Greg Wood reports.
Nick Kyrgios came through a five-set thriller against Britain’s Paul Jubb yesterday but, once more, it wasn’t without controversy. The Aussie is clearly a fan of punk shall we say. Hopefully Sean Ingle didn’t get in the way of it.
Updated
Nine Britons through to round two is the most since 1997. And it could yet become 10. Trying to keep an eye on them all was quite the task as Simon Cambers explains.
Let’s go in depth on that Serena Williams v Harmony Tan classic via our man at Wimbledon, Tumaini Carayol.
Preamble
Sometimes a Grand Slam can take several days to come to the boil. But not this one. After plenty of vibrant action on day one, the Wimbledon crowds were treated to a bona fide classic last night when Serena Williams lost to world No 115 Harmony Tan. Serena served for the match and led 4-0 in the deciding tie-break but just couldn’t shake her opponent off.
That Centre Court thriller ended less than 12 hours ago but now we look forward to what should be another belting day of oohs, aahs and oh I says. Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu are back on Centre Court today and both face tough second-round encounters against John Isner and Caroline Garcia respectively.
There’s more British interest on Court One with men’s No 1 Cam Norrie taking on Spain’s Jaume Munar while Heather Watson makes a swift return. She beat Tamara Korpatsch yesterday and makes her bid to reach the third round for the first time since 2017 against Wang Qiang of China on Court Two. Ryan Peniston does battle with American Steve Johnson on Court Three while Harriet Dart plays a delayed first-round match against Spain’s Rebeka Masarova.
Defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic opens the Centre Court action against Thanasi Kokkinakis at 1.30pm but there’s plenty of action (from 11am) to follow on the outside courts before then. Sound good? Okay, let’s play…
