Kevin Mitchell on late-night fun.
Barney Ronay on Kyrgios.
Here are today’s reports.
Otherwise, that’s us. Join me again tomorrow for the start of the last eight – in both men and women’s competitions. It should be an absolute belter, but until then, peace out.
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Nadal says he played a very positive match against a difficult opponent until that poor game at 5-2, praising his opponent’s recent improvement. He’s “so very very happy” to make the last eight after three years away from Wimbledon, though he knows Fritz is playing well, winning his first tournament – beating Nadal in the final. But it’s the last eight of a major , he says, so only to be expected, then thanks Wimbledon for the joy of being able to walk out alongside the other legends of the game at yesterday’s Centre Court centenary celebration.
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Rafael Nadal [2] beats Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4 6-2 7-6(6)!
Nadal wins his service point, then hoists a lob and Van de Zandschulp leaps, powers ... and annihilates fractionally wide! Nadal is into yet another major quarter, the Grand Slam - to which he’s halfway - is still on – and he meets Taylor Fritz next.
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...HOWEVER! Nadal nets a forehand down the line, comes in and is passed via backhand rocket, then on his own serve, Van de Zandschulp lands a groundstroke onto the baseline that gives him the advantage in the rally and Nadal whacks long! Three match points saved!
Van de Zandschulp retrieves one of the two mini-breaks, trying a pass down the line that incites Nadal to net on the volley. But when he misses a supersonic inside-out forehand, he’s three match points down at 3-6...
Not for long, an unforced error from Nadal ceding the advantage ... before a brilliant long rally ends with Van de Zandschulp netting. But to give him his due, he hung in there as Nadal sought winners, returning the attempts with interest until the pressure told. 4-2 Nadal, then an error for 5-2 and this now feels extremely over.
It’s Nadal with the immediate mini-break, punishing a backhand return down the line for a clean winner. Van der Zandschulp wins his second service point, but trails 1-2.
Now Van der Zandschulp holds to love, and it’s breaker time! Botic, with his serve, has a puncher’s chance.
Nadal holds to love for 6-5, and looks aggravated to still be out there. I’d expect him to go for winners when Botic serves for a breaker.
Desperate to redeem matters, Nadal goes long looking for a winner, then slips trying to chase down a clever drop. He does play a good point for 40-15, but then Van de Zandschulp annihilates backhand winner cross-court to level the set at 5-5.
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Nadal saves the first via ace, but a slice from the back zones long, and it’s now 5-4 in the third! No one saw that coming, least of all the most successful men’s player of all-time!
What is going on?! Nadal nets to end the kind of rally he almost always wins, and Van de Zandschulp has the break-back points!
A double then a long forehand, and Botic has 0-30...
Nadal forces him to deuce, but Botic hangs on for 3-5, forcing Nadal to serve for it.
Something I’m noticing about veteran sportsfolk these days: Nadal and James Anderson spring to mind but I’m sure there are others. Anyway, it seems like they’re getting more skilful at a quicker rate than they’re getting less athletic, so are better now than they ever were. Nadal holds to love, and Van de Zandschulp will now serve to stay in the match.
And it looks on the card when Nadal makes a terrific get, Van de Zandschulp doesn’t do enough with his put-away, and can only watch as a backhand pass screeches by him cross-court. But when he plays a miserable drop, left standing as Nadal rushes in for the kill, he’s reprieved by a a totally unexpected misjudgement when the volley goes long. No matter: consecutive errors hand Nadal two break points ... and though Van de Zandschulp saves the first with a glorious inside-out forehand, Nadal, sent a decent volley, somehow digs out a backhand pass cross-court on the stretch and in the corner! That is simply ridiculous behaviour - we’re accustomed to it but it remains so – and he leads 4-2!
A straightforward hold apiece, though Van de Zandschulp finds a lovely wrongfooting drop to win a point for 40-15. It’s 3-3 in set three, and we’re probably due the clinching break in the crucial seventh game.
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I posted tomorrow’s line-up a bit ago, but forgot to note that, for the first time, it’s no longer women’s quarter-final day on Tuesday and men’s on Wednesday. Rather, it’s the top half of both draws followed by the bottom, which I think is a nice change: it means that there’s no risk of people paying whatever it costs for a ticket, to see two hours of singles.
When these two met in Paris, Nadal was brutal in dispensing a 3, 2, 4 hiding, but on grass Van de Zandschulp is a different proposition. Nadal, however, is still quite good, and a backhand slice opens the court for a punishing topspinner down the line that gives him 15-40. A ninja’s forehand later, he’s back level in the set, and Botic’s brief shining moment has been ripped from his grasp. Nadal leads 6-4 6-2 2-1, because he’s just held easily.
A swinging second serve puts Van de Zandschulp on the stretch and he can only return into the net. The Dutchman loses the net point with a backhand into the net. Nadal decides to get on the double fault bandwagon to get Van de Zandschulp back into the game. He accepts the opening and quickly gets to deuce. Van de Zandschulp has the advantage after a Nadal miscue. Break point produces a fine rally with Nadal being moved around the court and it tires him to the point that he pings a shot into the net. Van de Zandschulp breaks!
Even better news: Daniel is back!
Nadal wins second set
First blow goes to Nadal who returns cross-court to win the opening point and then Van de Zandschulp whacks a forehand long. There are two break points for Nadal after the Dutchman caresses the net with a backhand. An ace gives Van de Zandschulp hope and an overhit backhand from Nadal takes us to deuce. Nadal gets advantage and soon after the set thanks to another double fault.
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No messing about from Nadal as he applies a few broad brush strokes to hold to love. Van de Zandschulp needs to hold to stay in the set.
Van de Zandschulp double faults to make it 15-15 and follows it up with another. Not what you need in a tense situation. On the upside he does then spear an ace past Nadal. He completes the hold with some impressive work at the net and a volley into space.
A beautiful backhand slice gives Van de Zandschulp no chance to lift Nadal to 30-0. Ooooof ... Van de Zandschulp just about returns a wicked Nadal serve, allowing the Spaniard to sprint to the net to finish the point but he instead volleys it very long. He need not worry as Van de Zandschulp pings a backhand beyond the baseline. Nadal holds to make it 4-1.
After losing the first three games of the second set, Van de Zandschulp finds his feet to win to love thanks to some ruthless serving. I think that game was over in less than a minute.
Van de Zandschulp is finding the net with plenty of unforced errors. Nadal is not messing about and completes a relatively simple hold when a return is sent long.
Van de Zandschulp tries to clip one over the net from the base but he gets it all wrong and it dips far too early for his liking. Nadal helps level the score at 30-30 with a wayward forehand. The Dutchman whips a more efficient forehand of his own to put him on the verge of winning the game but Nadal opens himself up at the baseline to ping a winner. Deuce. Advantage Nadal and he breaks after the Dutchman finds the net. Nadal is very much in control now.
Nadal gets us going in the second and Van de Zandschulp makes the most of an underwhelming serve to whack straight back past him. The Dutchman should make it 0-30 after racing across the back of the court to hit a backhand down the line but he sends it long after doing the hard work. Nadal loops one long to make it 30-40 but he holds his nerve with the next serve to earn deuce. The Spaniard gets advantage and Van de Zandschulp dinks the ball into the net to gift the hold.
Nadal wins opening set
A fine valley concludes with the Dutchman’s backhand volley at the net swerving into the tramlines to make it 15-30. He then double faults to give two set points. The first sees Nadal unable to return a serve but the second sees Nadal win the set after a Van de Zandschulp flies wide.
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Van de Zandschulp has a chance to make it 15-15 but needlessly volleys into the net. Nadal takes advantage of the error and sees out the game with a frisky serve which cannot be returned. Van de Zandschulp serving to stay in the set.
Van de Zandschulp does not look in any trouble in his service game. Two fine aces down the middle finish off a simple hold.
And what an hour it could be! Nadal holds to lead 4-3 in the first thanks to a lovely forehand down the line into space.
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A double from Van de Zandschulp gives Nadal 15-30, after which he punishes a backhand winner down the line for 30-40. But three huge serves in a row rescue the Dutchman and earn him 3-3, on which note I shall depart for a break; here’s Will Unwin to guide you through the next hour.
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Nadal rushes through a love hold for 3-2, but Van de Zandschulp is serving nicely.
Have a look!
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY (CENTRE COURT, FROM 13.30 BST)
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Djokovic vs Sinner
Bouzkova vs Jabeur#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY (NO.1 COURT, FROM 13.00 BST)
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Maria vs Niemeier
Goffin vs Norrie#Wimbledon
In recent times, the women’s quarters have been the most beguiling, but tomorrow, it’s the men’s to which I’m most looking forward. In particular, Djokovic v Sinner should be brilliant - Sinner’s performance against Alcaraz was the best I’ve seen from him, and though Djokovic is an entirely different challenge, if he serves and returns as he did yesterday, he’s a chance.
Every time I watch Nadal, I can’t believe what he’s doing. He’s got every chance of snaffling another one of these, and it still seems like he can win the French every year until we all die.
And then there were two. Nadal and Van de Zandschulp are away, Nadal holding in game one.
Anisimova is “super happy” to reach the last eight – the demise of the word “very” is to be lamented – thanking the Americans in the crowd for supporting her, while Tomljanovic notes that Cornet, who she also beat last year, is very tough. She’s the first Aussie to make back to back quarters since Jelena Dokic in 99/00, and doesn’t know who she’s playing next; told it’s Rybakina, she says anything is better than Ash Barty, who despatched her last term. Asked if she’s enjoying it more this time – she regretted not doing so a year ago – she reckons she is, especially as her mum is here, whereas last time, she went out walking the dog during her matches. It’s another lovely moment.
Ajla Tomljanovic beats Alize Cornet 4-6 6-4 6-3!
She reaches the last eight for the second year in a row and looks emotionally beat. Next for her it’s Rybakina, which will be a very serious test, but she’s got the moxie to make a match of it.
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Amanda Anisimova beats Harmony Tan 6-2 6-3!
It’s been an amazing, uplifting, affirming run from Tan, but Anisimova was too good, especially in the first set, and a lacerating backhand down the line secures the break and with it the match. She meets Halep next, and that should be an absolute jazzer.
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Tan makes her fight for it, but Anisimova eventually secures her hold and with it 5-3; she’s a game away from the quarters.
On Centre, Nadal and Van de Zandschulp are knocking up, so we’ll soon be away in our final tussle of the day.
Yup, Tan races into the net but Anisimova really should complete the stop-volley for 30-all. Instead, she dumps into the net, so faces two break points ... and saves them both! Meanwhile, Cornet has retrieved one of Tomljanovic’s breaks, so now trails 3-5 in the decider.
Oh man, every time Tan wins a game we cut to her 10-year-old daughter in her box absolutely having it, and it kills me every time. what a feeling that must be, for both of them. Anismova leads 6-2 4-3 with a break, but she’s tightening with the finish in sight.
Tomljanovic breaks Cornet a second time and it must surely be a matter of time before she’s into the last eight. She leads 5-1 in the third.
Next on Centre: Botic van de Zandschulp [25] v Rafael Nadal [2].
I said Tan was making Anismova work for her consolidation and she was, but the American got there in the end, and is now three holds away from Halep. She leads 6-2 3-2.
Halep is happy with how she played and delighted to be back on Centre Court, though hadn’t noticed she’s yet to drop a set – so she says. She feels she’s getting better in every round and was really happy to come out with all the champions during yesterday’s 100th anniversary celebrations. It’ll take something decent to stop her wining a second title here, because of all the players left in the draw, her best is probably the best - and she’s closest to it.
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Simona Halep [16] beats Paula Badosa [4] 6-1 6-2!
That’s an absolute tousing, and Halep is into the last eight having not dropped a set. She’s now the favourite for the plate, and rightly so – she’s playing so smoothly and, most importantly, being kind to herself. She meets Anisimova or Tan next.
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Back on No1, Anisimova has broken Tan for 6-2 2-1 – but has been forced to deuce as she attempts to consolidate – while Tomljanovic has broken Cornet again for 3-1 in the decider.
Halep has never beaten a top-five player on grass, but she rattles through a hold and is now just a game away from the quarters. Even bearing in mind Badosa’s frailty, this has been a seriously impressive effort so far.
A lot of the indignation about NK’s behaviour stems from an interpretation of it as gamesmanship/gaining undue advantage,” emails Will Wiles. “In my view top players all have their own ways to gain an edge outside of hitting the balls really well. “Tsitsipas left his opponents cooling their heels whilst he took breaks of 5-8 mins between sets (they were longer when he was losing) until the ATP clamped down. “Nadal makes them wait on his serve. “Novak has often feigned or exacerbated the appearance of injury. And a wide variety of players have tried to change the dynamic by arguing with the chair umpire and creating drama – Kyrgios just does that last one more than anybody else.
These are alphas butting heads, tennis is a game played between the ears as well as between the lines - if it was only played by the neuro-typical then we wouldn’t have nearly as much spectacle. Anybody who identifies with the outsider loves watching NK play and he certainly livens the game up! And those of us in that category certainly notice that he seems to get tagged a lot more than for example Andy Murray did when he had his LOUD internal monologue going for half the match or had a go at the umps. There hasn’t been a situation like this since Mac broke through in 1980 (a divisive player going deep in the tournament and dominating the conversation), maybe in 15 years Nick will be a national treasure too! I hope he goes all the way to the final.”
Yup, I agree with this. We don’t want robots, and if sport is an expression of personality, players who play with attitude will also display attitude.
Ach, Badosa plays a poor game right as Halep plays a decent one, ceding a tame break to trail 6-2 4-2. This is nearly over, and real talk, it’s barely got started.
“Lots more empty seats,” emails Diana Powell. “Is everyone just getting a blinder in the bar or are they bored? If they’re bored, send them to the races instead or out on a super yacht.”
I don’t think the tickets have all gone, but this is also a perennial Wimbledon problem: lots of people are there not because they love tennis but because they’re on a work jolly, so aren’t compelled by the tennis. I also wonder if the state of this draws has made a difference this year – both men’s and women’s are missing big names.
Reflections on earlier...
On No2, Tomljanovic broke Cornet in game one of the decider, but has just been broken back. I’ve not a clue who’s going to win this one.
Badosa goes long on the backhand, giving Halep 15-40 ... then finds a much better version of the same to wrongfoot her opponent before making deuce. We then go back and forth, Badosa saving another break point with a banging forehand, then another, before Halep nets and we’re level in set two at 2-2.
She needs five goes at it, but eventually Anisimova clinches the first set 6-2. Tan got better during it, but there’s no sign she’ll get better enough to avoid defeat here.
On Court 2, Tomljanovic has again broken Cornet, and is now serving for set two at 5-4. They go through some deuces, but as I type that, she secures the game, and we’ll now have a decider.
Hello! Halep is making the odd mistake now as Badosa changes up with some digs own the middle, inciting a backhand that drops long and earns her deuce. Then Halep goes long again, ceding break point, only for Badosa to go long herself ... before Halep’s forehand, unleashed with devastating war-cry, secures the game and gives her 6-1 2-1/
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Harmony Tan is one of the feelgood stories of this Wimbledon, but it looks like she’s run out road against Anisimova. It took a few deuces, but she finally succumbed to a second break and now trails 1-4.
Meanwhile, Cornet is coming again, breaking Tomljanovic back for 4-4. Suddenly, she’s two games away from the last eight.
Halep strolls through the first set 6-1 in 23 minutes. If Badosa, who struggles with confidence, doesn’t find some and quickly, she’ll be back in the locker room before she knows it.
A love-hold for Halep, who’s found a terrific length right away. She leads 5-1 while, on No1, Anisimova has broken Tan for 2-1 in set one.
Halep is playing beautifully, swiping a backhand winner cross-court for a double-break! She leads Badosa 4-1 and this first set is disappearing rapidly.
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Yup, momentum on Court 2 has shifted, Tomljanovic now up a break – consolidated as I type – in set two. Cornet still leads, 6-4 2-4, but she’s second-best at present.
Oh yes! Halep earns a break point then, as Badosa approaches, hooks a backhand from behind her ear, cross-court for a winner! Pythagoras couldn’t have created that angle, and she leads 2-1.
“I occasionally flick to the tennis - obviously my main focus is on Edgbaston,” says OBO pal Adam Roberts. “But whenever I did, it appeared that Kyrgios was making another unsuccessful challenge. Is he tennis’ Stuart Broad?”
He’s got a lot to do before we can call him that, but they do share a box-office attitude.
On Badosa v Halep, Calvin Betton, our resident coach says: “I would think Badosa wins, but it’s women’s tennis innit. Absolute chaos. The thing with Halep is that I think she’s been market corrected by a lot of the younger girls. They all do sort of what she does, but hit it harder. She’s solid, has good hands and moves exceptionally well – still better than anyone else. But there’s no weight of shot.”
On Court 2, Tomljanovic has improved and is now the better player, but it’s still 2-2 in set two, Cornet having won the first.
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Badosa and Halep are good to go, while Tan and Anisimova are knocking up.
“Something missed by Sam - and you when you support him - is that this is a game,” says David Sweet. “A game played as a profession, for high stakes, but a game. The point about a game is that the rules are more important than the outcome. We create these weird events precisely because we want to see what happens when everyone accepts a set of artificial constraints. If someone rejects the constraints he is not playing the game as agreed. He may, perhaps, be creating a better game (thank you William Webb Ellis) but that’s not the point here. If Kyrgios, or McEnroe, or anyone else thinks they know better than the umpire/line judge what happened, they may, objectively, be right but they are not playing the game as set out by Wimbledon etc. and that the crowd has paid to see. Any mental ‘conditions’ are no more relevant to the argument than, for example, a mental fragility that makes some players tense up on key points: both suggest that you are not cut out for the very top, in much the same ways that my inability to play an accurate backhand rules me out of the top drawer (and second, third … for that matter).”
The game, though, has rules/laws, so if you break them – via foul, dissent or whatever – punishments for that are built in, which tells us that infractions are part of the game, never mind part of the spectacle. Which takes me onto the crowd point, which reminds me of when football commentators say “that’s the kind of thing no one wants to see,” when the reality is that it’s exactly the kind of thing that almost everyone wants to see. Sport is about pushing and breaking boundaries, a naturally subversive and emotive activity, so we shouldn’t be surprised or even disappointed when those who play it confront authority. Are we richer or poorer for having enjoyed McEnroe?
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“Oooh. Some very interesting replies to my comment,” returns Sam Rajasingham. “Sorry to throw you in the middle of this!” That’s my job, all thoughts are appreciated. “Just as a quick reply: I don’t think I’m saying his behaviour isn’t damaging. I’d like to see a place where we look at both causes and consequences. I’m not sure what the answer to Kyrgios would be, I’m not a trained therapist, but I can’t see why we can’t be more compassionate. And yeah, I absolutely do feel for anyone officiating his matches! I hope no one thinks I don’t. Big hugs.”
Fritz said things might’ve gone differently had he lost his serve in the opening game of the match – he had to save break points – but says he was hitting it nicely thereafter, especially in the second. There’s no secret to it, he explains, just hard work, and he’s glad to see it paying off.
Next on No1: Amanda Anisimova [20] v Harmony Tan.
Next on Centre: Paulo Badosa [4] v Simona Halep [16]. This might just be the game of the day.
Taylor Fritz [11] beats Jason Kubler 6-3 6-1 6-4!
He needed four match points to clinch it, but that was a superb display from Fritz – the best I’ve ever seen him play – and he’s into his first major quarter-final. There, he’ll meet Nadal or Van de Zandschulp, and if he maintains that level he can beat either.
It took her a while, but Cornet did eventually win that first set against Tomljanovic, 6-4.
Kyrgios gets his Ar Jordan gear on like he’s off to the No Name Cafe in Golders Green, c. 1994. He begins by congratulating Nakashima, saying he’s a helluva player, and that he’s proud of how he steadied for set five - he’s never lost a match that’s gone all the way in SW19 and beat Nadal on his debut, which is what he was telling himself during the closing stages. But he’s played a lot of tennis lately, which is why he was in pain.
When he went on court, De Minaur was two sets up, so he was looking forward to playing him. But that’s gone now, and he’s going to have a glass of win tonight, then get ready for Garin.
Nick Kyrgios beats Brandon Nakashima 4-6 6-4 7-6(2) 3-6 6-2!
Kyrgios made hard work of that – Nakashima made him work hard for that – even in the final game, forcing him to fight back from 0-30 down. But as it so often does, that rrrridiculous serve got him out of trouble and arranged him a quarter final against Cristian Garin. He’d’ve took it.
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Cornet can’t serve out, broken by Tomljanovic for 5-4, while Nakashima forces Kyrgios to serve for the match.
“Back to Kyrgios,” begins Vernon Kringas. “So the argument expressed earlier by Sam is that because Kyrgios is sufficiently gifted to play elite level sport AND he has mental health issues we need to tolerate behaviour that is outside societal norms and the norms of the sport? Verbally assaulting umpires, linespeople and ball kids is not acceptable, especially when they are not allowed to respond, due to their adherence to societal norms and the rules of their employment. (Also, distracting his opponent is probably not good sportsmanship in most people’s judgments.) If he wasn’t hurting anyone, fine. But he is. No one likes to be verbally assaulted and no one should have to put up with it. All people should be treated with respect and Kyrgios doesn’t do that. He can still entertain and bring young people to the sport without verbal assaults, Appeasing people who act as if they are superior by denigrating others is a not a formula for a fair or harmonious society and I don’t think it’s best for his own mental health or his ability to flourish as a rounded human being, Being clear on limits won’t kill him and he can still play and entertain.”
I find it hard to get too in my feelings about words dispensed to officials – within reason, obviously. I wrote about that here, if anyone’s interested.
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Kyrgios holds to 15 – he’s a game away - while Cornet finds herself at deuce, serving for set one.
Tomljanovic broke Cornet back, only for Cornet to seize the advantage a second time. She leads 5-3.
Does anyone know what was gained by this?
A nifty inside-out backhand return from Kyrgios cramps Nakashima’s forehand – he wants to go down the line but he’s right on the line, wiping it just wide ... then Kyrgios plays a terrific point on advantage, a topspin forehand taking his opponent to the corner, opening the court for the backhand winner! He leads 4-1 in the fifth, and celebrates in suitable style.
Well done Brandon Nakashima! He finds two first serves and Kyrgios can’t get them back, so to deuce we lurch.
Kyrgios’ serve is up there with the most potent weapons in the history of our sport, and he consolidates just as quickly as you expect him to before earning two points for a double break – which, in the context of this match, feel like match points.
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“ I do mostly agree with Sam Rajasingham’s points of view concerning an athlete’s mental health,” says Dean Kinsella, “and also the pressure they are expected to perform under, but one must also take into account the affect of abusive language and behaviour on the recipient, the officials and, of course, the opponent.”
I agree, and also want to be clear that no one was saying Kyrgios isn’t responsible for his behaviour. But I think we need to retain some perspective and am not sure we’re comparing like with like.
Kubler has, at last, found something, breaking Fritz back to trail 2-3. He’s doing his best to get pumped too, quickly holding to the approcal of his box.
Kyrgios returns to the match, wins two quick points with good returns giving Nakashima more than he can handle, then it’s back to sounding off at the umpire, a 2-1 final-set lead in his skyrocket.
He might’ve allowed the final game of the fourth set to leave him, but Kyrgios is putting himself about in the fifth, chasing down a forehand to glide into the corner for deuce. Then he forces Nakashima to play an extra ball, eliciting the error ... so Nakashima saves break point with an ace. He’s not out of the woods yet, though, and needs to wait a moment because his opponent has words for the umpire.
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Fritz is playing beautifully today, and a backhand, the final fibre of which catches the outermost fibre of the sideline, gives him 3-1 in the third. He’s almost home, and they’ve only been out 88 minutes.
You’ve got to laugh. In seconds, Kyrgios secures his hold, and on we go.
Nakashima holds at the start of set five, then finds himself up 0-30. In co-comms, Tim Henman reckons Kyrgios will need aces because he’s not prepared to grind, and shonuff two arrive, then he races in to glide a lovely volley into the corner. It came, though, off a decent bachand from Nakashima, who finds another for deuce. This is intense, people.
We’re away on Court 2, Cornet leading Tomljanovic 2-1 on serve.
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Kyrgios tanks his service game, Nakashima takes set four, and at 6-4 4-6 (2)6-7 6-3, he’ll serve first in the decider! I can’t wait to see how it unfolds!
At 40-30, Nakashima nets a backhand and could be forgiven for experiencing the willies. But being 20, he might not even know what they are, and rushes through deuce for 5-3. He’s a game away from a decider.
Fritz now leads Kubler by two sets to love, having taken the second 6-1. He’s looking good.
Whaaaat?! Nakashima gets to 15-40, then Kyrgios slices a backhand wide! No one saw that coming amid all the aces, but credit to the kid: he hung in there, saw his chance, and seized it. He leads 4-3 in set four, his opponent sits chuntering to himself at change of ends, and are we headed for another decider? Let’s hope so...
Talking of KP, I was lucky enough to do a book with him a few years ago and there was one phrase he kept using that I think is a really good lesson for life: pick attacking options.
They’re knocking up on No2 and we learn that Cornet is playing her 62nd straight major, equalling Ai Sugiyama’s record.
I also think we expect sportsfolk to refrain from the idiocy that is an unavoidable part of every human’s life. I wrote a bit about that on Kevin Pietersen, here.
“We have to talk about Kyrgios,” begins Sam Rajasingham. “I think one of the things that’s very striking about the BBC commentary on this match and the last is the poor understanding of how mental health affects high-performance athletes. People seem to think Kyrgios is bad through some innate flaw. He’s been open about his struggles with mental health and clearly a lot of his chuntering comes from struggling with pressure. It feels like most of his complaints are either against the umpires, the rules... but really they seem more an expression of his anxiety. Listening to it makes me really wonder how painful it is to have that voice internalised.
And, so what if he swears? It seems really weird that people want tennis to be popular but don’t realise one of the barriers to that popularity is its perception as an upper class sport that only the rich can afford. Clearly some players are swearing in another language but they don’t get penalised at Wimbledon because it’s not in English. Why bother with these rules at all if they don’t apply across all languages?
No, Kyrgios isn’t perfect, and we all wish he had the ability to completely control his emotions and mind, but isn’t it unfair that we don’t let people be the complicated people they are, especially when the reason why they’re in the public eye is because they’re good at hitting a ball accurately?”
I agree wholeheartedly with all of this. We don’t know what’s going on inside anyone else’s head - goodness me, it’s enough trying to decode your own – so should always try and look favourably on those struggling, or those who appear to be struggling, rather than bitch about minor infractions that harm no one. Thing is, there’s an idea that sportsfolk owe us something – not just their full expression of their talent, but that they’re indebted to those of us who don’t have it, to compensate us for that. It’s a nonsense.
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Next on No2 Court: Alize Corner v Ajla Tomljanovic.
Phew! Elsewhere, Fritz has broken Kubler at the start of set two – he’s all over him really, and as I type that he breaks again for 6-3 3-0. Back on Centre, Nakashima is hanging in there, serving at 1-2 in the fourth, Kyrgios leading by two sets to one.
Garin is struggling to vocalise how he’s feeling, which makes sense because how on earth can you? I know I’m sort of firing myself here, but the words to describe coming back from two sets down to reach your first major quarter, the first man from your country so to do in 13 years? Yeah, good luck with that. He tells us Wimbledon is his favourite tournament, he tried to be aggressive in the breaker, and he’s worked all his life for this. Goodness me, what a feeling that must be. He says De Minaur is one of the best players on grass, and when it’s posited that clay is his favourite surface, he says now grass is. He’s a lovely young man, and I’m absolutely buzzing for him.
Tangentially, is Garín Chilee-an or Chilay-an? I’m going the former, but partly because saying Chilay-an nauses people.
Cristian Garín beats Alex De Minaur [19] 2-6 5-7 7-6(3) 6-4 7-6(6)!
What a comeback and what a match! The stones, wheels and lungs on the pair of these! De Minaur looked the better player for much of the match and much of the decider, but when it came to the p-r-e-s-s-u-r-e, Garin found better lengths and better weight of shot. He looks whacked, elated and shocked, rightly so, and will meet Kyrgios or Nakashima next.
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Eeesh, De Minaur shovels an ugly forehand long, and suddenly the end looks nigh. Garin will now serve at 8-5, an unlikely victory almost his...
Four points in a row give Garin 7-5, and he’s jut three points away from a quarter against Kyrgios or Nakashima.
By the way, Fritz has won the first set against Kubler 6-3; Kubler has taken a medical timeout.
Meantime, De Minaur has not only broken Garin back but taken the advantage for himself as we near the four-hour thirty mark. Except he then goes long, twice, and we’re locked at 5-5.
The way Kyrgios attacked that breaker, with such focused viciousness, was affirming to see. There was just nothing Nakashima could do – the power and accuracy were beyond anything he’s able to offer, and judging by the kipper on him, he knows it too.
Photograph: James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock
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Oh man, Kyrgios is so special when he’s special, lasering a backhand return down the line for 6-2 before astonishing a forehand for the set and a tie-break dematerialisation! He leads 4-6 6-4 7-6(2), and do we think shoulder might be OK, mates?
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Kyrgios get the first mini-break which, given the way he serves and is serving, might be enough. Nakashima closes to 2-3, but when it’s Kyrgios’ go, he spanks down a brutal ace ... talking of which, Garin unfurls a murderous forehand during a brutal rally, which he parlays into the first mini-break of that breaker. He leads 3-2.
A love-hold for Kyrgios means we’re getting a third-set breaker, while on Court 2, Garin has just about fought through a nervv service-game for a super-duper-breaker-decider. Ooh yeah!
By the way, it’s all going on at Edgbaston.
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Superb stones from De Minaur, who marches through deuce for his hold. However, Garin bussed his final challenge early in the game, so when he didn’t like the service winner that clinched it, he had no way of remonstrating other than with glares and grumbles.
...so saves the first break point with an ace and the second with a serve out wide followed by a forehand to the corner. Meantime, Kyrgios holds for 5-5 in the third, but he’s not exactly charging about if he thinks Nakashima has played a decent shot.
De Minaur hasn’t adjusted after the break, and he’s quickly 5-5 and 15-40 down...
Kyrgios looks in trouble here, clutching his arm as Nakashima holds for 5-4. In comms, they’ve been wondering if a different kind of personality would be hiding their discomfort, citing feats of endurance performed by Hewitt and Nadal, but that depends as much on the nature of the injury than it does on mental fortitude.
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Oh man, diving behind the baseline to try and return the aforementioned, De Minaur grazed his hand and there’s claret, so we’ve a little break while it’s sorted.
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But De Minaur nets a forehand, then Garin finds a huge serve, cleaning up with a forehand of similar proportions, so to deuce we go.
Hello! De Minaur gets to 15-40, and now has two match points!
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Which is to say yes, there are Aussie men in each of our featured matches, De Minaur noting that he’s never seen Kubler in a bad mood. He’ll be in one himself, though, if he loses to Garin having led by two sets to love, but he leads 5-4 in the decider and still looks the likelier winner. Kyrgios, meanwhile, takes more shoulder treatment at 3-4 in set three.
On No1, Fritz has won the first three games. one of them a break. Kubler, his opponent, is a 29-year-old Aussie who has, in recent times, started to fulfil his potential – he’s a former world junior no1.
BBC show us an interesting graphic, noting that the consistency of Kyrgios’ ball-toss is what facilitates his serve: it means he knows where it it’ll be, and also that it’s almost impossible for his opponent to get a read on him. But he’s got the trainer out for his shoulder, so we have a little break with Nakashima leading 3-2 in the third.
On No1, Kubler and Fritz are away, and what an opportunity this is for them. The winner here meets Nadal or Van der Zandschulp in the quarters.
Back on Centre, we’re on serve in set three, Kyrgios rushing through yet another dismissive love hold for 2-2. It’s hard to look beyond him at the moment, because his serve is so reliable that even if we go to breakers, you’d back him.
A netted backhand gives De Minaur 15-30, but Garin fights back for his hold, then De Minaur rushes through a love hold for 3-2 in the fifth. He’s serving really well again now, so I’d back him to see this home, but a couple of decent returns or a double and some second serve will is all it’ll take to make those words look silly.
On Court 3, Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, seeded nine, have lost the first set on a breaker to John Peers and Filip Polasek, sseded seven.
I say that, but here we are at 30-all ... so here comes a booming serve, handing Kyrgios set point; delivery into the body, a return into the net, and it’s one set apiece! Will class and experience now take over, or can Nakashima reassert?
And yup, De Minaur secures the break-back. This has been a really excellent match, on which point we’re brewing on Centre, where Kyrgios is now serving at 4-6 5-4. I don’t know how many points Nakashima has won receiving in this set, but it’s not many.
“I hope you are getting a swell of Australian tennis fans to you right now,” emails John Murphy, “as Channel Nine binned De Minaur’s interesting match to televise the lower-ranked player for people hoping for a bit of drama. Would’ve liked to have watched the rest of the quality match that I’d watched from the start. Please keep us up to date.”
I can see why they did that, but Kyrgios is also a very fine player, just as this De Minaur-Garin match is dramatic. On which point, Garin broke in the opening game of set five ... though now trails 0-30 hoping to consolidate.
Next on No1: Jason Kubler v Taylor Fritz.
At the second time of asking, Garin serves out in set four to level the match 2-6 5-7 7-6(3) 6-4. De Minaur doesn’t look demoralised at forsaking his advantage though, so I’d expect him to give this final set his best.
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Rybakina thanks everyone who came to support, then a wide shot shows us Rishi Persad is wearing white pumps with his blue blazer and beige chinos. I don’t know. Anyway, Rybakina says Martic improved through the match but she’s pleased with how she responded and after watching Wimbledon on telly as a kid, she’s happy to move on.
Back to De Minaur, he saved a further set point on advantage, such that Garin is now serving for the fourth set at 5-4. A decider looks imminent.
Elena Rybakina [17] beats Petra Martic 7-5 6-3!
She served out beautifully, meets Cornet or Tomljanovic next, and given the current way of things in women’s tennis – anyone can win anything – she can win this thing.
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Kyrgios is serving beautifully now, consolidating his break and just this moment securing another love hold for 4-2 in set two. He’s putting in effort, and incredibly, that’s making a difference.
As I type that, Garin forces two set points; De Minaur saves both, one with an ace and one with a big serve, while on No1, Martic holds to force Rybakina into serving for the match. Can she keep loose?
Back on Court 2, De Minaur has retrieved one of Garin’s fourth-set breaks, now serving at 3-5. It might not be enough to win this set, but he’ll be happy to get going again with a decider looking imminent.
Rybakina has dropped just two points on serve this set, but can she hold it down with the line in sight? I said earlier that I felt Martic was the better player, but to clarify, I didn’t mean for evermore – at 23, her opponent will do some serious improving over the next few years. But in the meantime, she’s looking at a last-eight match with either Tomljanovic or Cornet, and will fancy herself against either, if she can get through this.
Martic hasn’t played the big points well so far and she tightens on an overhand forehand, netting to give Rybakina break point. But she saves it superbly, mashing forehands until she can nail one down the line ... only to find that Rybakina isn’t letting her off the hook. She forces another break point. Martic mets tamely, and suddenly this is nearly one, Rybakina leading 7-5 4-2.
Meantime, an error from Nakashima hands Kyrgios break point, and he whips a backhand return cross-court ... only for it to drop wide, just. Still, Nakashima doubles – that’s his second in the game – then frames a forehand! It’s tough at the top, and Kyrgios now trails 4-6 2-1.
Perhaps Kyrgios thought he could win this without extending himself, but the way Nakashima is playing, that’s not going to happen. They take a hold apiece at the start of set two, but it feels like Kyrgios is waiting to blaze successive winners, rather than working his opponent to work opportunities.
Nakashima breaks to take the first set off Kyrgios 6-4! He is playing beautifully, while Kyrgios is playing in flashes.
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Rybakina holds for 2-1 in set two, with the aid of a net-cord. But Martic is, I think, coming – though I might just be saying that because she’s in my accumulator. I think she’s a better player than Rybakina though, and as I type that, she unleashes a gorgeous hooked, wrongfooting forehand. This isn’t over, not by a long chalk.
Thanks John and hi everyone. It’s not quite Manic Monday, but there’s loads to get us going. In particular, I’m buzzing for Badosa v Halep, but also enjoying the three matches we’ve got going on the now, so let’s wade right in to those.
And, with that, I shall pass you over to Daniel Harris for the afternoon session, and two matches that, while at different junctures, are very tight. It was Rybakina 7-5 Martic in the first set on Court No 1.
Kyrgios, by the way, has already dished out an underarm serve. Nakashima appears unruffled so far by the ruckus being brought to him. It’s 4-3, and new balls. The same cannot be said of De Minaur, who is now 2-0 down to Garin, whose drop-shot winner squeaked over the line, off the let-cord. A five-setter seems inevitable and the Chilean appears to have the greater energy.
An early break in the fourth set, with Garin, in the ascendancy and the beneficiary of De Minaur missing a gaper of a chance at the net. 0-1 in the fourth set. 1-2 on sets.
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While De Minaur has failed to put away Garin, his possible next opponents, Nakashima and Kyrgios are at 3-2, serve being held. Already, Kyrgios is having an open dialogue with the umpire though it all seems to be cordial so far, and he is let sprawling by a lovely passing shot from his opponent. Kyrgios was complaining about the camber of the baseline. There’s always something.
De Minaur serves, and swiftly holds. Here’s the tie-breaker, and his chance to put Garin away. 6-6. He punches a volley for 1-1, despite a challenge from Garin. Great call from the line judge. Good serve and it’s 2-1 De Minaur. Garin spots the chance for a winner but then misjudges his forehand. 3-1 to De Minaur. An ace makes it 3-2. Then it’s 3-3 as Garin advances and crashes one beyond De Minaur’s reach. Then it’s De Minaur’s turn to get too excited and miss, to go 4-3 down. Then Garin’s serve and volleying takes him to 5-3, real dogged play from him. His serve is just as good for the next and there’s three set points. And, on the De Minaur serve, Garin is offered an overhead he isn’t going to miss. That set took over an hour, and there’s some way longer to go now. 2-6 5-7 7-6
On Centre Court, they are underway, with Nakashima holding serve to go 1-0 up. Soon enough, Kyrgios holds, and it’s 1-1 in the opening set.
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Garin attempts to put the previous game behind him, and at 30-30, he whips a disguised forehand to fox De Minaur. They play a hue rally at 40-30, and Garin can only net. Deuce. Then an error from him on the same forehand, and a break point to De Minaur. Then, a quite incredible rally, both of them scrambling all over the place, and Garin saves himself by forcing De Minaur to scoop the ball back from the baseline. A gutsy, gutsy hold from the Chilean. It’s 6-5 in the third.
Over on Centre Court, Nick Kyrgios is now knocking up with Brandon Nakashima. The afternoon show is almost with us. On Court No 1, Elena Rybakina is up against Petra Martic, and having been 3-0 up is now at 3-3.
Another wobble on De Minaur’s serve at 15-30, but a huge forehand sends Garin sprawling. Then comes a failed drop shot and deuce. And De Minaur pulls off an unlikely escape in somehow rescuing what should have been a winner from Garin, instead lobbing it back. Then, when Garin attempts a drop, he reads it, for 5-5.
De Minaur chases across the net to volley home, and then drops a beauty to level the third at 4-4. The pressure is now on Garin to hold. A stop/drop volley takes him to 15-0, then De Minaur’s error grants him a 30-0 lead. Then a crasher of a smash, and it’s 40-0. But then De Minaur reads a faded drop shot, and Garin can’t dig out a low-flying forehand, and suddenly the pressure is back on, only for him to come to the net and volley home. 5-4 in the third, and now De Minaur needs to save himself.
Another double fault by Garin, and it’s 30-30, though he comes off best at a point they both race to the net and he crashes the ball towards his opponent. Then, however, he can only net from the baseline. A big serve, an ace, is challenged. It was miles in, a true waste of a challenge. And then a fine lob sends De Minaur scrambling and keeps his nose in front in the third set.
De Minaur is still struggling with the Garin return of serve, and his own, too. He throws in a double for a break point. And he saves that by crashing down the line with a backhand poke down the line. He does the same to quell the next break point. Then Garin can only launch a forehand out of bounds. Then comes another double fault. The nerves are heightening and the energy lessening. A dangerous combination but still, he manages to hold, Garin netting after a long rally.
A double fault, a highly untimely one, hands De Minaur two break points and he takes them, meaning we are back on serve at 2-3 in the third, the Australian two sets up.
Big hold from Garin, to love, and with an ace. 3-0 in the third set, a commanding lead. De Minaur recovers his step a little with a service hold for 3-1. This is now an even contest with the Chilean in the ascendancy.
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Garin holds the first game of the third set with some ease, and then races to a 0-30 lead on the De Minaur serve. De Minaur yelps in delight when he pummels home for 30-30. Hell of a rally follows, and De Minaur, grimacing, coughs up another break point. And this time, Garin grabs it. He’s back in this, long way back but a glimmer. He’s 2-0 up and serving for the third.
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De Minaur a bit wobbly when serving out. This happened against Broady on Saturday, and a double fault, his first of the match, pegs him back to deuce. Garin spots his chance and claims a break point. De Minaur saves it with an ace, then gets to advantage and set point again, but can only net. Still, he gets another chance when Garin goes for broke and clanks the ball way out. And eventually, with his 24th unforced error, though off quite a zippy serve, Garin nets and it’s two sets up to De Minaur. 6-2 7-5 so far, and on course to meet Big Nick Kyrgios should both the Australians progress.
De Minaur forces a break point, and looks to have saved himself with a defensive forehand, and the momentum swings back to De Minaur, who can now serve out the second set for the second time at 6-5 up.
Garin’s eye is definitely in now, and he gets to 0-30 on the De Minaur serve, and then to 0-40 with a winner that beats his opponent at the net. That’s the shot of the match so far. De Minaur has to save himself as he did in the first set when serving out. This time, he can’t do so, and nets to level the second set at 5-5.
It’s soon enough 5-3 to De Minaur, via a successful challenge of a Garin baseline hit that goes long. Garin at least makes him serve for the set for a two-sets lead.
Garin continues to fight for his life, and a break point chance comes his way. And at the net, he manages to take it, via the top of the net. There’s visible relief as he prepares to serve the next game at 3-3. But then he offers up his own two break points, the first of which is taken, and it’s 4-3 to De Minaur.
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Evidence that Garin hasn’t quite given up the ghost, as he clatters an overhead home, and then serves out. It’s 3-2 to De Minaur now.
A beaut of a drop shot rushes De Minaur to 40-0 up, and then Garin, who seems to be losing heart cranks a baseline shot way out of bounds. It’s 3-1 in the second.
Then, having held his own serve, De Minaur breaks the Garin serve. He’s 2-1 up and serving a break and a set up.
A break point at 0-40 is soon forced by Garin but De Minaur sees that out, then clatters a volley home with a backhand overhead, followed by an ace. 1-1 in the second and De Minaur looks very strong.
Garin suffered from an eye problem in that first set, suggesting the pollen count in SW London was getting to him a little. He did seem to improve after a short chat with the trainer, and his accuracy seems to be returning. He takes the first game for an early lead in the second set.
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De Minaur soon enough has two set points at 40-15, he’s dominating Garin while not being asked to play anywhere near his best tennis. And, after a couple of let-cords, Garin nets, and it’s a 6-2 first set in just about 40 minutes.
Nice serve and volley from Garin as he responds well to De Minaur’s speed at deuce, only to misread on the next point to find himself back at deuce. He eventually concedes the double break to a whipped lob from the Australian who at 5-2 will serve for the first set.
Garin’s serve is looking better than in that shaky first game, and he’s testing De Minaur a little more. He does, though, change his racket at 30-30 on his opponent’s serve, but to no avail, it’s soon enough 4-2.
Good, easy hold from Garin ahead of the first break in play, but De Minaur’s speed round the court means he holds quickly enough, too. 3-1 up now, the Australian, Garin needs to stay within the lines of the court a bit more often.
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Garin seems to recover his step quite quickly and forces two break points on the De Minaur serve, though can only backhand into the net for the second, meaning it’s deuce. He makes an error to present game point but his speed is causing De Minaur problems, and another break point is on offer. A big serve snuffs that out but this is turning into a long old first service game but eventually, he holds for 2-0 and a clear lead in the first set.
De Minaur and Garin get underway, Garin none too promisingly by double faulting on the very first point of the match, and an error on a forehand presents two break points. And the first is gobbled up, meaning it’s 1-0 with an early break for the Australian.
Before we begin with Alex de Minaur’s match with Christian Garin, let’s relive the golden moment of the fortnight so far, Ricky Livid himself, Sir Cliff Richard.
Cliff singing 'Summer Holiday' on Centre Court. #CliffRichard pic.twitter.com/lDn2mlfnBB
— Cliff Richard News (@SirCliffNews) July 3, 2022
Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion and BBC pundit, has taken a dim view of Nick Kyrgios’s antics against Tsitsipas on Saturday. The word “mayhem” was used.
Per Reuters:
He’s brought tennis to the lowest level I can see as far as gamesmanship, cheating, manipulation, abuse, aggressive behaviour to umpires, to linesmen. Something has got to be done about it. It’s just an absolute circus. It’s gone to the absolute limit now.
Tsitsipas would make a line call and he’d go up there and start complaining, he’d be in his face - that’s part of gamesmanship, that’s the sort of stuff he does and I think there’s a limit.
Let’s hope he doesn’t drop tennis there to a lower level than he did on Saturday.
Here’s the reports from yesterday’s first official Middle Sunday.
Preamble
The second week of Wimbledon is here, and it features the hero/villain of the piece in Nick Kyrgios, whose Saturday night was alright for fighting with Stefanos Tsitsipas in perhaps the most entertaining match of the fortnight so far. He’s taking on Brandon Nakashima today on Centre Court. The pick of the women’s matches looks to be Paula Badosa against Simona Halep.
Here’s the singles order of play:
Centre Court, starting at 1.30pm UK time
- 1. Brandon Nakashima v Nick Kyrgios
- 2. Paula Badosa v Simona Halep
- 3. Botic Van De Zandschulp v Rafael Nadal
No 1 Court, starting at 1pm
- 1. Elena Rybakina v Petra Martic
- 2. Jason Kubler v Taylor Fritz
- 3. Amanda Anisimova v Harmony Tan
No 2 Court, starting at 11am
- 1. Cristian Garin v Alex De Minaur
- 2. Alize Cornet v Ajla Tomljanovic
😆
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) July 3, 2022
