Time to sign off for day one – here’s everything that’s happened so far. Join us again tomorrow. Goodnight!
A quick look around the grounds, where the light is fading fast – although play can continue on Centre, where Jannik Sinner leads Juan Cerundolo 6-2, 6-2. Dan Evans is unhappy to be playing on, and little wonder with Halys taking a two-set lead before play is suspended. Stan Wawrinka is through, and Taylor Fritz has taken his battle with Yannick Hanfmann to a fifth set.
Updated
Sofia Kenin speaks! “I just stuck to my plan, and I’m just glad to finish before it got dark, because I didn’t want to come back tomorrow! I had to come through [qualifying] to get here. I tried to play it like any other match, I knew Coco had a great year – I’m just super proud of myself.”
Sofia Kenin beats Coco Gauff 6-4, 4-6, 6-2!
Tension getting to both players, understandably, as they scrap to 30-all – before Gauff goes for an ambitious winner down the line, and misses by a couple of inches. Match point – and Gauff nets to end the game!
Updated
Kenin holds to 15, and then takes the first two points off Gauff’s serve at 4-2 ahead. She drops the next, but earns two break points via a lucky net-cord bounce. Gauff gets back to deuce, but two unforced errors leave her on the brink. Sofia Kenin to serve for the match …
Dan Evans is a break down to Halys in the second set, and looks to be free-falling out of this tournament. On Centre, Jannik Sinner leads by a set and a break. Also, just a heads-up that our coverage will be coming to a close when the Kenin v Gauff match ends.
Back to No 1 Court, where Kenin and Gauff are engaged in a battle royale on deuce. There are cross-court winners, overhead smashes, the lot, all played with a ferocious intensity. Gauff looks the marginally smoother operator, so it’s a surprise when she slaps a return into the net to let Kenin off the hook. She leads 3-1 in the decider.
Jannik Sinner is well on top against Juan Cerúndolo on Centre Court, serving for the set at 5-2. Juan’s older brother, Francisco, is a dark horse here after winning Eastbourne, but it doesn’t look like that form is running in the family.
Yannick Hanfmann and Taylor Fritz are locked at 4-4 on serve in the fourth, with Hanfmann 2-1 up in sets. Out on Court 18, Stan Wawrinka is two sets and a break up on Emil Ruusuvuori.
Here’s more on the teething troubles seen in the queue and on Centre Court today …
Thanks, Daniel. Well, this is shaping up to be a thriller – and just as it seemed momentum was with Coco Gauff, Kenin breaks to open the third set! She leads 2-1.
As for Dan Evans, he’s lost the first set 6-2, and got a code violation for an audible obscenity. Not really going to plan for the No 27 seed, who has been out of form.
Righto, my watch is over; here’s Niall McVeigh to finish off the day. Thanks for your comments and company I’ll see you tomorrow, but until then, peace and love.
You’d expect Gauff to turn up the power now – she won the big points and is also hitting the bigger shots. But Kenin is a proper competitor and will relish the ruckus, we can be sure of that.
And there it is! Kenin goes long on the backhand, and after two sets of roughly the best tennis she can play, she’s been reeled in! Kenin 6-4 4-6 Gauff [7]
On Court 1, we’re nearing the end of set two and Gauff, 5-4 up but a set down, will be worried. Kenin isn’t playing quite as well as in set one, but she’s been totally unfazed by the big points. However! She goes long to give Gauff 30-all, Gauff shanks a forehand onto the line that she can’t return, and suddenly on deuce the number seven seed has a set point…
Updated
Halys has broken Evans and leads 3-1, but as I type that a terrific backhand pass down the line followed by a return into the tootsies gives him 15-30 … only for Halys to close out from there. He’s playing pretty well while, on Centre, Sinner breaks Cerundolo in the first game of the match.
I should say, the Cerundolo about to take on Sinner is not the Cerundolo who got to the fourth round in Roland-Garros, losing to Rune in a fifth-set breaker; that was Francisco, world number 19 and his 24-year-old older brother; he is Juan Manuel, the 21-year-old previously believed to be the better of the two.
“Felix Auger-Aliassime’s dreams tonight (possibly)” says Richard Jefferys.
Back on Court 1, Gauff saves one break-back point with an ace but then, in control of the next, she doesn’t do enough with a drop shot and Kenin skates in to flick a winner down the line. She is pumped and now leads 6-4 3-3.
Let’s do some latest scores: Hanfmann now leads Fritz [9] 4-6 6-4 4-3; Masarova leads Sherif [31] 7-5 3-5; Bouzkova [32] leads Waltert 2-1; Siniakova leads Zheng [24] 6-3 1-3; Schwartzman leads Kecmanovic 6-0 6-3; Bautista Agut [20] leads Safiullin 6-5 6-6 (5-4); Galan leads Nishioka [24] 6-4 5-3; Choinski leads Lajovic 5-7 7-6(4) 6-2 4-2; and Wawrinka leads Ruusovuori 7-5 3-4.
On Court 2, Quentin Halys and Dan Evans has just started; I’m watching that, Kenin v Gauff and the next match on Centre, Sinner v Cerundolo.Bear with me while I seek a fourth scuffle.
Gauff wins a rrrrridiculous point on deuce, slipping having chased a forehand before punishing a tremendous backhand that sets up a putaway; an ace follows, and that hold gives her 3-0 in the second having lost the first.
Updated
Michael Mmoh beats Felx Auger-Aliassime [11] 7-6(4) (4)6-7 7-6(4) 6-4!
What a win for Michael Mmoh! Auger-Aliassime, looking weary, serves a double, and that’s that! A big shock even if Felix was injured, and he meets Marterer next. That’s probably the biggest win of Mmoh’s career, and if he maintains that level of serve and groundstroke, he’s a problem.
And on Court 12, Mmoh has 30-40 and match point at 5-4 in set four!
Right, things are changing on Court 1 where Gauff has broken immediately in set two; she no trails Kenin 4-6 2-0.
Svitolina says she’s delighted to have won, especially on Centre against Venus, and asked about her daughter, she beams even more than before, saying she’s delighted she could get back to tennis so soon after giving birth.
Belinda Bencic [14] beats Katie Swann 7-2 6-2!
Swann played pretty well but class told in the end; Bencic meets Collins or Grabher next.
Elina Svitolina beats Venus Williams 6-4 6-3!
Venus Williams, what a human being; she ends the match with a double and departs to all the cheers she deserves, a player of courage, integrity and brilliance. But let’s not not forget Svitolina, who had a baby in October, is representing for Ukraine, and meets Mertens or Hrunakova next; Mertens leads 7-6(2) 5-2.
Updated
Venus Williams, baby! She breaks for 3-5, while Gauff finally has a glimmer, at 15-30 on the Kenin serve … so Kenin hangs in there and flips a terrific forehand cross court then gets herself to advantage.
Elsewhere, Venus has forced Svito to serve for the match at 5-2 in the second and nothing we’ve seen suggests she won’t; Bencic leads Swann 5-2 in the second; Mmoh and Auger-Aliassime are still struggling for breaks, 4-4 in the third with Mmoh leading 2-1 in sets.
A brutal backhand down the line gives Kenin 40-15, Gauff goes long, and that’s the first set! Kenin is playing beautifully, and the number seven seed is in trouble. In Paris, she had to come back from a set down in the first round against Masarova and also in the third against Andreeva, but this is a very different thing.
Kenin is really into this match – she’s little but she loves the competition – and will now serve for the first set at 5-4. She’s lost just three points on serve all match; can Gauff remedy the situation?
Updated
Svito breaks Venus for 6-4 4-1 and she’s playing nicely, keeping Venus moving and the ball in play, knowing that these days, that’ll get her the big dubya.
Venus forces Svito through deuce but she holds anyway and leads 3-1 in the second; Swann saves one break point, but successive backhands down the line convert Bencic’s second, and she’s up 7-5 4-2.
Auger-Aliassime, it should be said, has been struggling with a knee injury so this is his first grass-court match of the season. Mmoh, though, still deserves a lot of credit for exploiting that – he’s focused superbly, still playing the same game now as at the start.
Swann is hanging in there against Bencic, at 2-2 having lost set one 7-5, and I think it’s time to properly focus on Kenin, because she’s played beautifully in taking a 4-2 lead over Gauff. Meantime, Mmoh is still bang at it, 2-1 up on Auger-Aliassime in set three and in the match.
Svitolina breaks at the start of set two and, though Venus is moving and playing better now, she might be on her way out – perhaps for good.
There is just so much tennis on at the moment, but let’s try and update a chunk of it: Kenin leads Gauff 2-1 with a break; Fritz leads Hanfmann 6-4 2-1; Zheng and Siniakova are 2-2; Bautista Agut leads Safullin 6-2 1-0; Mertens leads Hruncakova 7-6(2); Lajovic leads Choinski of GB 7-6 (4)6-7 1-0; and Ruusuvuori leads Warinka 4-2.
And he only needs one, a heavy volley going nicely deep, meaning Auger-Aliassime has to respond almost from around his own body, and six points on the spin means Mmoh leads by two sets to one! The number 11 seed, a quarter-finalist in 2021, is in big trouble!
Well done Michael Mmoh! His groundstrokes have been very good today and he works his way back to 4-4, then keeps forcing Auger-Aliassime to hit another ball until he errs! He wins the longest point of the match, leads 5-4, slams down and ace, and now has two set points!
Ach, Venus earns a break-back point, loses it, and Svitolina, who is also great, closes out to lead 6-4; Swann saves set point with an ace, but is eventually broken and Bencic leads 7-5. And back with the men, Auger-Aliassime is 4-1 in front in his third-set breaker against Mmoh.
He only needs one: in this match of few breaks we again have two in two games, and here comes a third straight breaker…
Go on Venus! She battles through a hold for 4-5, meaning Svitolina has to serve for the first set; Swann is serving for a first-set breaker against Bencic; and Auger-Aliassime has three break-back points.
Updated
Serve still dominating on Court 12, and two wold forehands from Auger-Aliassime give Mmoh advantage and break point at 5-5. AND HAVE A LOOK! Auger-Aliassime serves well but when the return dips just over the net he’s to stretch to keep the rally alive, which he does well. But then he dumps a volley and Mmoh will now serve for 2-1 at 6-5 in the third!
A lovely inside-out forehand winner into the corner gives Venus her first game since slipping, and she now trails 4-3. She does still limp back to her chair, but hopefully things settle down for her.
Next on Court 1: Sofia Kenin v Coco Gauff [7]. That could be a really fun match – Kenin isn’t a natural grass-courter, but she won the Australian Open in 2020 and also made the final of the French. Since then, she’s struggled with form and injury, but if the best version of her turns up, she’ll have something to say to Gauff., also not at her happiest on the grass.
Three games in a row for Svitolina, who’s won them all since Venus slipped; she leads 3-2 in the first. Meantime, Mmoh and Auger-Aliassime are 1-1 and 4-4, while Bencic broke Swann back and now leads 4-3.
Updated
Casper Ruud [4] beats Laurent Lokoli 6-1 5-7 6-4 6-3!
That’s only the second time he’s won at Wimbledon, and Lokoli, though he finished the match with a double, made it tricky for him for a bit But he’s through and meets Broady next. That’ll be alright!
Updated
I should’ve said, by the time Venus got hurt Svitolina had break-back point; she secured it then held for 2-2 and Venus was very ginger through that game … but slams down an ace at the start of the next.
Updated
Looking again, she slipped a little and her leg gave way under her. But she’s able to walk back to her chair, which suggests there’s nothing major untoward, and the trainer it out pressing and prodding at her. On Court 1, meanwhile, Ruud leads 5-3 40-30 in the fourth, but Lokoli finds a big serve to save match point.
Oh no! At the net, Venus stretches for a volley and goes down with a scream!
Let’s hope she’s OK, but the knee she’s clutching, her right, is already strapped.
Updated
I was on centre court watching Venus Williams win the women’s doubles in 2000 when I was 17. I’m now 40. It’s incredible that she is still playing
— Tom Adams (@tomadams83) July 3, 2023
And of course, Venus has broken Svito at the first tie of asking. She leads 2-0 in the first, while Swann has just broken Bencic to lead 3-2.
Interesting on Court 18 where Kasatkina, who’s looked good lately, leads Dolehide 6-1 3-4, a break down in set two; Munar leads Isner 2-1 and has a break in the fourth; and Lajovic leads Choinski 7-5.
Yup, Moutet has beaten Gasquet 6-3 7-5 7-5. He plays Safiullin or Bautista Agut [20] next.
Now Broady is don I’ve switched to Katie Swann, who’s just under way on Court 2 against Belinda Bencic [14]. Elsewhere, Sorribes Tormo leads Trevisan 6-3 2-1 with a break, Moutet is serving for the match against Gasquet, Vondrousova is doing likewise against Stearsm and Auger-Aliassime leads Mmoh 2-1 on serve in set three. Oh, and Ruud has just broken Lokoli for 3-2 in the fourth, forcing his opponent to play an extra ball, a volley glanced wide.
Liam Broady beats Constant Lestienne 6-1 6-3 7-5!
That’s an impressive win because Lestienne is no mug; Broady, whose middle name is Tarquin, meets Lokoli or Ruud next.
Venus and Svito are on court, but right as I’m poised to enjoy the affection the crowd show the former, my iPlayer lags, then when it returns, I see most people have cleared out after the Djokovic match.
Burrage is relieved, saying she’s “shaking like you’d not believe”, then steps away from the mic before she cries, overcome with the emotion of a monstrous day for her. She charts her horrendous injury schedule but says she hopes she can stay healthy now and in the meantime she’ll celebrate with her team and her family.
Jodie Burrage beats Caty McNally 6-1 6-3!
That’s a fine win, her first at Wimbledon, and it earns her asecond-rounds match with either Kasatkina [11] or Dolehide.
Updated
Goffin indeed served out against Maroszan for 6-2 5-7 6-2 6-0 win; he meets Barrios Vera next, who has just beaten Baez in four tight sets.
Mmoh will be feeling peaky – he’s played so well so far, only for a few loose service-points to cost him the set. Can he go again, or will Auger-Aliassime ease clear?
Next on Centre: Venus Williams v Elina Svitolina. Not bad!
Broady has broken Lestienne back and it’s now 5-5 in set three, while Auger-Aliassime fails to serve out at 6-5 in the breaker … but eventually levels his match with Mmoh at one set all.
Q. What does Wimbledon mean to Russia? Is it big over there? Just in terms of the part it plays in culture.
— Adam_Addicott (@AdamAddicott) July 3, 2023
VICTORIA AZARENKA: You do know I'm not from Russia, right?
LOL
“Ah, 7 July 2013,” says Simon McMahon, recalling the last time Djokovic lost on Centre. “I’ll never forget it, was in Rome on holiday and had to ask the folks at the campsite we were staying at to hook up a TV so we could watch. The tension was unbearable for the whole game as the shouts, groans and cheers from us Scots slowly got the locals interested and eventually rooting for Andy, before we all celebrated into the night. What I’d give for a repeat of that day this year. Happy days.”
Yup, I’d enjoy that too, but also am happy with what we got.
Updated
Back to Burrage, she and McNally are at 3-3 in set two, the Brit having taken the first 6-1.
Novak Djokovic [2] beats Pedro Cachín 7-3 6-3 7-6(4)!
He plays Thompson next, and is so so good at making his way through the rounds with as little effort as possible.
Ruud holds to secure set three; he now leads Lokoli 6-1 5-7 6-4.
Updated
Serving on set point, a wild forehand from Auger-Aliassime drops long, then an errant ball-toss results in a double and break point and have a look! A decent chipped forehand from Mmoh forces Auger-Aliassime to generate pace and angle, he drops long and wide, and we’ve got ourselves a breaker in set two!
Ruud has broken Lokoli and is now serving for the third set at 6-1 5-7 5-4; Goffin is serving for the match against Maroszan at 5-0 in the fourth; Gasquet, trailing Mouter 2-0, leads 4-1 in the third; and Vondrousova is 6-2 0-1 up on Stearns.
Cachin has forced a breaker against Djokovic, who of course mini-breaks him immediately and leads 3-0.
It’s taken an hour and 48 minutes, but we’ve finally got a break on Court 12. Mmoh doubles at 30-0 then at 40-30 Auger-Aliassime lands on the line one that looked like dropping out; deuce. And, for the first time, Mmoh looks tentative, a forehand error allowing his 11-seeded opponent a point for 6-5, then Auger-Aliassime unfurls a colossal forehand and Mmoh, presumably thinking the point is gone, challenges rather than attempt a return; the ball was on the line, and the Canadian is a hold away from levelling the match.
Lestienne breaks Broady then is broken back himself, so they’re at 2-2 in the third, Broady having taken the first two. Elsewhere, Cachin holds for 5-5 in the third, and Auger-Aliassime makes 5-5 in the second. Mmoh, though, looks really solid.
Djokovic, by the way, hasn’t lost on grass for five years and the grass of Centre Court for 10. What a preposterous individual he really is.
Djokovic, two sets to the good, holds for 5-4 in the third, and Cachin will shortly serve to stay in the match – good luck with that one old mate. Meanwhile, Ruud and Lokoli are now 3-3 in the third having split the first two, and Mmoh, leading 7-6(4) 5-4 has forced Auger-Aliassime to serve to stay in set two.
Burrage, of course, attracted fame and fortune after dispensing Percy Pigs to an ill ballkid during last year’s competition and shonuff she had an unusual practice partner last week.
In British news, a few minutes ago Broady too the second set to lead Lestienne 6-1 6-3 1-0, and in the women’s competition, Jodie Burrage leads Caty McNally 6-1.
Updated
Otherwise, let’s have a look around the courts. Ruud and Lokoli are 1-1 and 2-2 in third; Goffin leads Lucky Loser, or Fábián Marozsán as he’s also known, 6-2 5-7 5-2; Moutet is serving for a 2-0 lead against Gasquet leading 6-3 6-5; Baindl and Fernandez will shortly begin a decider; and Kasatkina leads Dolehide 2-0.
Updated
Just before the rain, I put Mmoh v Auger-Aliassime on my third screen because I quite fancied the former, a big server who’s got more in him than we’ve seen in his career so far. And he leads 7-6(4) 3-3!
Thanks Will and hi again everyone. We’ve got so much more to come, so let’s get on with it.
Relief for Ruud, who breaks Lokoli in the third set to take a 2-1 lead. Some more good news! Daniel back from the school run.
Cachin saves a Break Point and then does the business at deuce. Djokovic might be on his way to victory but the Argentinian is not making it easy for the Serb. It stands 2-2 in the third.
It is great to see Lokoli make a game of this. He is 28 and has spent most of his career on the Challenger circuit, this being only his fourth time at a grand slam. To be doing this against one of the world’s best on Court No 1 must be an incredible feeling.
Lokoli wins the second set! Lokoli earns two break points against Ruud, to give him the chance to seal the second set. The first sees the Frenchman go long but the Norwegian does likewise straight after. Lokoli rightly enjoys the moment.
Some nice easy work for Swiatek earlier to kick off her competition. Here is the report.
Lokoli is on the money once more to lead 6-5 in the second. Ruud looks a little frustrated with this match dragging out.
Updated
Ruud holds his serve to make it 5-5 in the second. He admits to not being particularly comfortable and is yet to make it beyond the second round at Wimbledon, so Lokoli might sniff a chance.
Lokoli is, potentially, one game away from winning the second set against Ruud. The French qualifier has matched his more esteemed colleague throughout after a dismal start to the match.
Djokovic breaks to win the second set against Cachin. The Serb has one foot in the next round.
Baindl and Fernandez have just played a cracking rally, culminating in the latter volleying a win to take the first game of the second set, having won the first.
Cachin is causing Djokovic a few problems but the Serb always seems able to respond, whether it’s with an ace or clever passing shot. Djokovic leads 4-2 in the second after winning the opening set.
Updated
Broady wins his first set against Lestienne 6-1, despite only getting half of his first serves in.
Updated
Lokoli has settled into the match after a very nervous first set. The second is going with serve but Ruud has looked in trouble against the Frenchman, forcing the Norwegian to seek advice from his coach/father.
Liam Broady is about to restart his match out on Court 15 against Constant Lestienne. The Stopfordian is currently 4-1 up against the Frenchman, who seems to be playing in football socks.
The outer courts seem to be filling with players once more, which is good news for those in attendance. Plenty to feast the eyes upon.
And Djokovic breaks Cachin immediately, even if he did require three attempts to do so. I cannot see the matches on Centre nor No 1 going the distance.
In the blink of an eye, Djokovic wins his first service game of the second set against Cachin. Good luck, Pedro, old chum.
Updated
British is fine, do not worry.
Hello! It looks like we will have plenty of matches back on court very soon. Ruud has taken the first set against Lokoli with limited fuss. Djokovic is knocking up for his match, so will be in action imminently.
The problem with Centre, we learn, was the internal humidity preventing the grass from drying, but we’re here now, and here’s Will Unwin to tell you all about it – I’m off to do the school run. See you in an hour, mates.
Yes! We’re back out on Centre while, on No1, Lokoli has held for 1-5. Well done him, hopefully he now settles and does himself justice.
Lokoli can’t get himself settled, at all, and now trails Ruud, who is just so solid, 0-4. Oh and what’s this? I see we’ve got covers coming off around the courts! Meanwhile on Centre, still nowt.
Updated
Tell you what, though, how about this for nominative determinism? A lucky loser called actual Lucky Loser! Seriously, what’re the chances?
“Match Suspended – Slippery Surface” says the BBC’s caption on Centre. Ignoring their flagrant abuse of upper case letters for a second, it’s not really right that the line isn’t isn’t followed by one reading “Despite The Best Efforts of Novak Djokovic, Esq.” Disgraceful.
Updated
That guy…
Novak Djokovic is out here trying to dry the court with a towel during the rain delay 😅 pic.twitter.com/HDB6IXE2I8
— ESPN (@espn) July 3, 2023
Lokoli does well to force his way back from 0-40 to 30-40 – he looks nervous – then finds himself marooned at the net at a backhand whizzes past. Ruud leads 2-0.
We’ve started again on No1, Ruud serving against Lokoli. He holds to 15, and now we’ve got three lads with grass-dryers sorting Centre.
“There is some rain forecast next week at Wimbledon,” notes Faiz Muhammad AL-Noman. “I wonder if rain washes out the whole day’s play on an outside court how Wimbledon can manage their schedule? Are there any special arrangements like floodlights or something like that?”
It doesn’t get dark till pretty late in London – it starts closing in around 9pm – but both show courts have lights, so we’d start early and finish late if we had to.
Ah, there’s a lad drying the court now, with what looks like a leaf-blower. We can’t be far away from tennis.
Updated
Lovely stuff: our players are out on No1, and on Centre they’re patrolling, wiping up moisture and such. Djokovic, clubman that he is, fans the grass with his jacket, then solves poverty and brings about world peace. What more do people want, eh?
Updated
“I‘m back!” emails James, with whom I performed banter during Ronald-Garros. “So we can do it all again on the grass now (joke!) With the caveat that we largely agree on Novak as the statistical goat (if not the eye-test goat of the average, casual tennis fan aka most people watching Wimbledon!) for all the talk of the GOAT (men’s!) discussion being closed with Novak’s 23rd Slam, superior head-to-head with Federer/Nadal/Murray, most Masters 1000, at least 3 of each slam, most slam finals, most weeks (by a mile!) at world number 1, what might be overlooked is this”
Neither Federer nor Nadal have HELD ALL 4 SLAMS AT THE SAME TIME (2015-2016) - non-calendar grand slam, and none came within a match of winning a calendar year grand slam (2021) either! That might be Novak’s true greatness. I think Nadal won three slams in a row in 2010 and flamed out in the semis in Aus Open in 2011 to, I think, Ferrer (injury). Fed might have done it multiple times but he rarely won three slams in a row as the French (and Nadal) always got in the way (although I think he did do it in 2006-2007 and got to the Final of the French). Novak is halfway there and, as you rightly say, there’s no other obvious candidate for Wimbledon given how few past Wimbledon winners are left in the draw (basically an old and crocked Murray but he ain’t winning more than about three rounds I don’t think, given he won’t be seeded). Grass is a specialist surface and other than Kyrgios suddenly stringing it together (this aged well!), with Berrettini, the obvious outstanding grass court player not named Djokovic over the past three years, there’s just nobody. Which basically means Alcaraz, with under a dozen grass matches his entire career – probably wins it (nothing does irony quite like tennis!)
The closest since Laver to even get close to it and if he wins Wimbledon, you just never know. He’s never been the best on US hardcourts – all relative but five losing finals in Flushing Meadows) which is surprising given how good he is on outdoor hardcourts. He might just bookend a career (THE career) by putting that record straight this summer.”
Yup, the only metric by which Djokovic isn’t the greatest is the eye test. Actually, we might also say others have hit higher standards than his best – McEnroe in 1984, say – but all things considered, the numbers are overwhelming.
The umpire confirms that it’s taking longer than expected to dry the court, but hopes we’ll be back on soon – he doesn’t give a time period – while Djokovic continues showing he’s everyone’s best mate, chatting to people knocking around. He’s so loveable!
“These four, added to Mac Millings’s effort, will make a combined ‘Tennis XI’.” says Simon McMahon. “Hope he, and you, don’t mind:
Wimble-Don Budge
Andre A-grass-i
Clay-ton Hewitt
Pete Sampr-ace.”
Add to that a couple of mine: Manuela Maletva, Gabriela Sabbatennisini and
On Centre, the players are back out … and now they’re back in, presumably having experienced the damp for themselves.
Coming up next on No1: Laurent Lokoli v Casper Ruud [4].
Swiatek says that after the French Open she was able to take time out to “appreciate what happened” and that’s great to hear – too many sportsfolk look back and think they didn’t appreciate the good times because as soon as they happened, they were onto the next thing. She looks very confident indeed.
Iga Swiatek [1] beats Zhu Lin 6-1 6-3!
We get back on No1 and immediately, the top seed gets off it, polishing off Zhu to set up a second-round meeting with Trevisan or Sorribes Tormo.
Updated
On court, they’re rubbing the grass to check for moisture, so perhaps we’re actually looking at a slightly longer stoppage than I suggested while it dries out. I’m surprised as the rain wasn’t that heavy to begin with and they got the covers on quicksmart.
Djokovic is ready to come out again, chatting away to AELTC staff, so I don’t imagine we’re more than five minutes away from a resumption.
Still to come today, we’ve got – among other things:
Williams v Svitolina
Sinner [8] v Cerundolo
Lokoli v Ruud [4]
Kenin v Gauff [7]
Swann v Bencic [14]
Halys v Evans [27]
Shapovalov [26] v Albot
Ruusuvuori v Wawrinka
“I’ve dug up a few appropriately-named tennis players for you, emails Mac Millings, and of course he found some belters:
“Serve and volleander Paes
Stephanos Tsitsipasing shot
Iga SW19ntek
Boris Backhand
Frances Tiafoehand
Jannik Sinner Out?
Bjorn Balls.”
This break is a good time for to remind you that these blogs are for sharing tennis, yes, but also for sharing other types of joy and love to elevate our days. So please feel free to send stuff in, and pending that, here’s something to get you tapping your feet.
In the French derby, Moutet has taken the first off Gasquet 6-3 while Karatsev leads Van Assche 2-1 and 5-4 in the fourth.
On Centre, the roof is closed and the net’s in place.
I don’t think it’ll be long before we’re back under way – on Centre and No1, the roof will soon be closed – and I don’t think we’ll have a long clear-up elsewhere because play was stopped promptly. In the meantime, though, you might want to watch this old, rarely-seen footage I’ve dredged up from the depths of the archive.
Ach, Broady and Lestienne go off, then Mmoh and Auger-Aliassime do too. It’s not raining, so we can reliably conclude the rain must be coming.
Good news: we’ve still got play on outside courts, so i’ve kept with Broady 4-1 Lestienne, switched to Mmoh 4-4 Auger-Aliassime and Volynets 4-6 3-4 Garcia.
‘“Sorry to disappoint Kerrith Britland,” says Jeremy Boyce, but it’s not Novak’s fault that all the rising stars of the last 5-10 years haven’t been able to make the big step up from contender to Champion. At 35 years young he’s given them enough time, hasn’t he ? Yes, the ATP is fun, but the serious boys keep their extra 10% in reserve for the big occasions, the Slams. Your history will not be written in the number of ATPs you won, but in the number of slams. As the old saying goes, “if you’re good enough you’re old enough” (worked for Lord Ferg and his Man U team), but if you’re not good enough, stop complaining and be better.”
I agree with all of this and I’m sure Kerrith does too – enjoying a surprise outcome isn’t to criticise those so good you’re unsurprised when they succeed. I enjoyed Venus and Serena, and now I’m enjoying how many new winners we’ve had since their imperial phase.
Updated
There’s a bit of mizzle in the air, I’m afraid, so we may have a pause on the outside courts in the next bit … and yup, it’s now raining. Centre is already covered, and I wonder if they’ll close the roof so we can just get on, or wait because this shouldn’t last long.
Updated
There’s an indecent amount of quality tennis going on and I’ve got Djokovic v Cachin back now … just in time to see a succession of forehands give the champ the break and 5-3 in the first. Elsewhere, we have: Goffin 6-2 Maroszan; Garcia [5] 6-4 2-3 Volynets, Volynets up a break in set two; Van Assche 7-6 4-6 2-6 3-4 Karatsev, Karatsev up a break in set four; Mmoh 3-4 Auger-Aliassime; Broady 3-1 Lestienne; Isner 1-2 Munar; Linette [23] 3-3 Teichmann; and Ramos-Vinolas 1-6 4-6 Hurkacz [16].
Yeah, very good Zhu old mate. Swiatek breaks again, and after a tentative game, looks back on her business.
Ach, we’ve now lost coverage from Centre, but on No1, Zhu has broken Swiatek back for 2-2in set two. Not bad. I’ve just put on Broady v Lestienne – Broady holds for 1-0 – and I’m searching around for a third match to watch, but hoping we’ll get Djokovic back soon.
Switaek now leads Zhu 6-1 2-1 with a break while Djokovic has, of course, broken Cachin back for 3-3 in the first.
Updated
Victoria Azarenka [19] beats Yuan Yue 6-4 5-7 6-4!
She faces Podoroska next, who beat Martincova in three.
YES! We’re back on iPlayer, meaning I can watch tennis, know what’s going on, and describe that to you! Incredible scenes.
Petra Martic [30] beats Linda Fruhvirtova 7-5 (5)6-7 4-1!
I think what happened – I can’t confirm as iPlayer has forsaken us – is that Fruhvirtova hurt her knee winning the breaker, struggled on, then called it. But look at this lovely touch from Martic, who meets Parry next.
Pic of the day at #Wimbledon
— Daniel (@5teelersfan) July 3, 2023
18yr old linda fruhvirtova goes down with a knee injury in a tiebreak & her competitor petra martic sits down w her while she waits for the doctor 👏 @WTA @Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/ylyztPmzpi
It’s pretty windy in London today, and looking out my window I’d not be surprised were we to see a bit of rain this afternoon. The forecast concurs – a 40% chance of precipitation around 3pm – but the forecast for after that is good.
Updated
Now then: Cachin has broken Djokovic for 2-1 in set one. That calendar year grand slam suddenly looks precarious…
“Glad to hear that tennis officials take time violations seriously, emails Simon McMahon. “We need more of this. One of my pet hates is in snooker, when after virtually every frame, especially towards the end of a tight match, players simply leave the arena. Drives me mad. Would be like a football team deciding after going 1-0 up with a few minutes left to play that they’ll collectively nip back into the changing room to check their phones. Maybe I should just get out more.”
Simon, football is football. No one involved would ever do anything a dishonest as timewaste.
Swiatek has taken the first off Zhu 6-1. Earlier today, I heard her give an interview to BBB in which she said she was more relaxed on grass because she expects less from herself and would be happy with a quarter-final here. I don’t know, she may even believe that, but generally champions expect to win everything, all the time, and I’d bet that, come a week, tomorrow, she’ll be feeling victory and defeat as deeply as anywhere.
Tenys Sandgren, of course, is one…
Question from management: you will not, I don’t think, have failed to notice that Katie Volynets is a good name for a tennis player, so can you think of any more? The desk has come up with Anna Smashnova….
On Centre, Djokovic and Cachin are away while, on No1, Swiatek leads Zhu 5-1; the crowd has just given the Chinese a big hand for taking her first game. Otherwise, Garcia leads Volynets 4-3 on serve; Karatsev is now 2-1 up on Van Assche; Mmoh and Auger-Aliassime are just starting; Martic leads Fruhvirtova 3-1 in the third; and Hurkacz leads Ramos-Vinolas 6-1 1-1.
Jessica Pegula [4] beats Lauren Davis 6-2 (8)6-7 6-3!
That’s a really good win for Pegula, who doesn’t love grass, whose opponent can play, and who was a break down in the decider;. She meets Bucsa or Rakhimova next.
“As great as Novak’s achievements have been,” says Kerrith Britland, “I’ve become a little jaded with the Grand Slams. At least with the ATP stuff you get some wacky results, like Bublik and Gasquet winning titles. Can the grass throw up a surprise this year? I guess Nick getting to the final was pretty cool.
More interesting is considering which dark horse will have a deep run this year? I’m going with Covid-ball winner Aslan Karatsev, Dustin Brown-slapping his way into the quarters, or the clown himself - Bublik. You love to see Mannarino do well - we’re missing some follically challenged players. What’s your pick?”
That’s a good question. I was wondering if Griggzy Dimitrov might be ready for something good, but I’d like to see how Milos Raonic does and I’ve been waiting for Seb Korda to really explode for a while.
Diane Parry beats Harriet Dart (4)6-7 6-0 6-4!
A fine comeback from Parry, after two hours and 18 minutes, sees Parry into a second-round match against Fruhvirtova or Martic; Dart, who shanked a backhand into the net, is fuming, destroying a racket to feel better. She arrived at SW19 in nick, so I’m not surprised she’s so aggravated.
Updated
Eeesh, with Dart serving at 45, she finds herself 0-50 down, thrashing a backhand then a forehand to reduce her arrears. But then a netted forehand and Parry has two match points…
Updated
Still no joy from iPlayer, so we’re updates only I’m afraid, save Parry v Dart which remains on serve in the decider at 4-4 – but with Dart looking to open her shoulders. Swiatek leads Zhu 3-0, Pegula leads Davis 3-2 on serve in the third, Fruhvirtova didn’t let me down, levelling her match against number 30 seed Martic by taking a breaker, and Azarenka is up a break against Yuan in the decider.
“Re Phil Udell,” says Philip Hall, “the Wimbledon app has three radio channels, one Centre Court, one Court 1 and a general one.”
Yup, that should do it.
Lorenzo Musetti [14] beats Juan Pablo Varillas 6-3 6-1 7-5!
A comfy passage for the young Italian, who meets Isner or Munar next. I like a him a lot, even if the kicking Alcaraz gave him in Paris made clear hwo much work he’s to do to compete when things get heavy.
Updated
…and very quickly secures the situation, to the delight of my accumulator. She did really well to up the intensity there, hitting it harder when she might’ve played safe. Come on Haz!
Now then: Dart races to 0-40 and three break-back points…
Parry takes advantage of a miserable second serve from Dart, climbing into it and spanking a forehand cross court that facilitates the putaway. That gives her the break and she leads 3-1 in the third.
Updated
Pegula has broken Davis back for 1-1 in their decider; on No1, Swiatek and Zhu have just got under way; and on Court 5, so have Volynets and Garcia, the women’s number five seed.
So far we’ve got people unable to get in and people unable to watch; it’s going nicely in SW19, a pure, uncut dose of Britain.
Interesting, Davis has broken Pegula for 1-0 in their decider – the no4 seed is in trouble; Karatsev has levelled at 1-1 against Van Assche; Martic is serving for a second-set breaker against Fruhvirtova; and Azarenka is a break up in her decider against Yuan
Coming up on Court 1: Swiatek [1] v Zhu. That starts at 1pm BST, with Djokovic beginning his defence against Pedro Cachin half an hour later.
Parry has broken Dart back for 1-1 in set three, and this is beautifully poised.
I fear we’ve a problem: none of the BBC channels are working, via web or app, save the main programme. I’ll keep trying and keep updating you on what’s going on, but without pictures I’m afraid you’ll have to do without my florid prose describing the action.
Parry and Dart are away in their decider with Pegula and Davis about to being theirs; Davis took the breaker 10-8, problem being BBC’s coverage cut out as they neared the business end, so I’m not totally sure how it went down. Oh and have a look, Dart has broken at the first time of asking and is now five holds away from round two.
Both of those are difficult matches, as it goes – Van Assche is 19 and breaking through this season, Karatsev is older and wily. I’d look forward to that if I was allowed, but I’ve recently been ordered to live in the moment and we’ve got all sorts going on between now and then.
Andrey Rublev [7] beats Max Purcell 6-3 7-5 6-4!
He meets Van Assche or Karatsev next; currently, Van Assche leads 7-6(4) 3-5.
“Really enjoying your updates but can you please report on the issues with the queue?” asks Emma Pottle. “We have been here since 6am and not made it in yet, apparently fewer than 500 people in the queue have been let into the grounds so far with well over 15000 in it. No updates from the stewards, feels like abject chaos.”
Oh no, that’s so annoying. I hope you’ve brought adequate refreshment, at least, and hope you get in soon – feel free to send us a photo and updates.
Updated
Rublev has broken Purcell and will now serve for the match at 6-3 7-5 5-4; Parry has bagelled Dart so they’ll now play a decider.
“Following the action from here in Ireland,” writes Phil Udell, “and wondering if there’s anyway of accessing the radio coverage overseas as with TMS? The copyright geoblock kicked in at 12.30pm on the dot.”
Not as far as I know, but if anyone thinks to the contrary, please let us know. In the meantime, but, have you tried the Wimbledon app? That should give you something similar.
Davis has held so Pegula will now serve for a second-set breaker. She’s made her way to four in the world almost by stealth, and looks for all the world like a solid player who doesn’t have the chops to win a major. Even looking at who’s taken them recently, most of the surprise winners have a special power, whether Ostapenko’s power or Krejcikova on clay, and I don’t see that with Pegula. But a gorgeous backhand hooked to break the sideline makes 6-6, so here we go…
Parry has again broken Dart early in a set – she leads 3-0 in the second – and her forehand is working nicely. Oh and what’s this, serving on advantage, a foot fault contributes to a double and Parry has 4-0 in set two! A decider looks imminent…
I’ve switched away from Fruhvirtova 5-7 2-1 Martic because, on Court 2, Davis is serving for the second set against Pegula … but as I type, Pegula breaks back for a 6-2 4-5 lead.
Email! “Love your reference to ‘cooler climbs’,” begins Richard Hirst. “Think you may have mixed up the tennis and a rainy day in the mountains in the Tour de France. But it has set a high standard for the fortnight!”
Ha, yes – I may have in fact meant cooler climes, or I may have been neologising. Who can say?
You don’t see this often: after losing that first set to Martic, Furhvirtova received a time violation for taking too long when she left the court. But she’s back now, saving two break points before holding for 5-7 1-0. Meantime, Musetti, the men’s 14 seed, has now won consecutive 6-1 sets against Varillas, Parry has seen off a break point in holding for 6-7 1-0 against Dart, and Rublev has won three games straight to lead Purcell 6-3 7-5.
I’m so pleased BBC have retained Isa Guha, who joined the presenting team last term. She’s brilliant on the cricket, and not just because she played the game, but because she’s a supremely calm, likeable and natural broadcaster.
Terrific work from Dart, who hung in this set well when Parry started quickly – she’s been a great form recently so had gone reason too – and when her opponent nets a backhand, she forges in front 7-6(4).
With Purcell serving for the set, Rublev has broken back to lead Purcell 6-3 4-5 and how often do we see that, the better player upping it when they need to. Meantime, on Court 12, Dart has come back from 1-3 down to lead 6-3 in her first set breaker against Parry…
Updated
The reason I’m watching that final match is to see Linda Fruhvirtova. She’s just 18 and is a very serious prospect; her younger sister, Brenda, is also brilliant but lost in qualifiying to Yuan Yue.
I’m watching Parry 6-6 Dart, Rublev [7] 6-3 3-5 Purcell and Linda Fruhvirtova 5-7 Martic [30].
Updated
Before we look at what’s to come, a quick look at what’s going on: Pegula leads Davis by a set, on serve in two; Rublev leads Purcell by a set but is down a break; Musetti leads Varillas by a set and a double break; Azarenka leads Yuan 6-2 2-2; and Harriet Dart has come from a break down to lead Parry 6-5 on serve.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Wimbledon 2023 – day 1!
Unavoidably, we begin with a question: can anyone beat Novak Djokovic when it matters? And equally unavoidably, we know that if we have to ask the question, we almost definitely know the answer: “No,” as Don Logan once said.
There are players in the draw who know what it takes – Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka, neither of whom has lasted as well – along Daniil Medvedev, who struggles on grass – but otherwise, we’re hoping does something they’ve never done before, and when that something is beat Novak Djokovic at a grand slam, it’s probably worth waiting until you see if with your own eyes. And even then…
However, there is Carlos Alcaraz. Until cramp intervened – a factor of Djokovic’s bionic monomania, yes, but one unlikely to recur on a different surface in cooler climes – their meeting at Roland-Garros was one of the best sporting contests we’ve seen this year. It’s true that on grass, the kid is a relative novice, but he won Queens and, given how quickly Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal adapted – when Centre Court played significantly less like a hard court than it does now – means that, if both players do the necessary we could be set for a final for the ages which also establishes our next great rivalry
And then there’s the women! Frankly, it’s impossible to predict anything with any confidence because we’re blessed with so many brilliant players able to do brilliant stuff on a good day. It’s probably a year too early for Iga Swiatek to win on grass, but if she’s in nick she can beat anyone; Aryna Sabalenka might just be ready to translate to the surface a game that looks perfect for it; and Elena Rybakina is the defending champion for a reason. Otherwise, though, Ons Jabeur, Coco Gauff, Petra Kvitova and Karolina Muchova look threats, likewise roughly half of the draw. Or, put another way, I’m sorry, I haven’t a clue … but I can’t wait to find out!
Updated
