Wimbledon, it doesn’t really feel real … I’ve been having a lot of fun on grass, it’s been a theme of my time on tour so far, just trying to enjoy myself, and today was no exception.”Wimbledon and to have extended her stay by just a day. With the roof closed, the noise was especially good, and she’s really grateful for it.
The most important thing, she advises, is to create and stay in your own little world, then creases when asked if she’s playing her best tennis in a few years. The reaction of the crowd, though, convinces her to admit that it’s the case and she’s really happy with the improvements she’s made. Sadly she’s not asked what they are, instead pushed to talk about playing doubles with Andy Murray, “a hero to all of us”, saying she could never say no as it’s an honour, and she’s hoping to “learn a thing or two about coming to the net or something.”
Goodness me, you can taste her happiness through the screen, and it’s so affirming to behold.
An absolute hiding in the end. Navarro played superbly and gave away almost nothing, but Osaka will regret her circumspection, especially in set one. She meets Shnaider next, who’s just walloped Sloane Stephens 6-1 6-1.
Last time she was on No 1 Court she retired injured, but not today: she absolutely had her way with a fine, experienced player, who couldn’t find any way of hurting her. Raducanu meets Sakkari or Rus next – they’re 3-3 in set one – and has a pretty favourable run of things, Daria Kasatkina her projected quarter-final opponent.
For the first time in the match, Osaka gets to deuce on the Navarro serve, but a net-cord on advantage puts her off her forehand and at 4-6 1-5, she’s now got to hold to stay in the match.
We are, apparently, done with rain for the day. Let’s hope so.
Mertens is solid, she just doesn’t have the weapons to beat better players when they play well, and she holds to love, forcing Raducanu to serve it out. Kokkinakis, meanwhile, does just that, and he is now level with Auger-Aliassime, the number 17 seed, at 4-6 5-7 7-6(9) 6-4! He looked a beaten man even during that third-set breaker, but somehow he found a way to steal it and now look!
Raducanu holds for 5-1so Mertens will now serve to stay in the match, while Osaka is on the board in set two against Navarro, but at 1-4, probably too late to avert defeat.
Auger-Aliassime quickly secures what, pre-rain, had been a tricky service-game. Kokkinakis must now hold to earn himself a decider.
We’re back under way on our outside courts
This is a serious display from Raducanu, whose ability to reverse momentum during piints is excellent. She too secures a double-break, and at 6-1 4-1 is two games from victory. Mertens just can’t find a way to hurt her.
Oh Naomi! Down 30-40, standing just behind the line, she thinks a Navarro slice is going out, challenges the call having tapped it back … and the ball was good, clipping the edge of the line! Navarro leads 6-4 3-0 with a double-break, and this match feels o-ver.
Raducanu consolidates for 6-1 3-1 and Navarro for 6-4 2-0; it’s hard to see either losing from here, though of course Osaka can change the course of any match, against any opponent, if things start going for her.
Osaka is in colossal trouble, tamely netting a forehand when down advantage, and she just doesn’t look comfortable out there. The way this is going, she won’t have to suffer with it much longer; surely she’ll change tack and start attacking now?
Martina thinks Osaka doesn’t recover well when directed into the corners and she’s fighting through deuces to hold in the first game of set two; currently, she has advantage. On the other hand, Raducanu is all over Mertens, again earning break points and burning the first, but a delicious backhand winner, flicked flat cross-court, converts, and at 6-1 2-1, she can smell round three.
Navarro serves out well for a 6-4 set, Osaka hitting too few winners – 5 v 9 – says Martina. If she turns up the volume, she should still have enough to win form here, but playing safe hasn’t really worked for her.
Great news! The rain has stopped, the covers are off, and we’ll soon go again.
Back on Centre, Navarro breaks Osaka for 4-3 and is on a bit of a roll, 11 points on the spin taking her to 30-0. She holds and Osaka holds, so she’ll soon serve for set one at 5-4, and in that time, Raducanu and Mertens are still playing the first game of their second set, the Belgian rebounding from 0-40 and saving a further break point when down advantage thanks to a glorious forehand winner, sent hurtling cross-court. From there, she closes out, to trail 1-6 1-0.
Nauseation. We’re off on the outside courts, a particular issue on No 2, where Kokkinakis leads 5-3 in the fourth – though Auger-Aliassime holds advantage – and should he lose the game, he’ll still have the chance to serve for a decider. It looks grim out there, though, which is to say we may or may not get back on today.
Raducanu botches a backhand and hands Mertens break point, but then dashes in to retrieve a drop which sits up, dismissing it down the line to make deuce. And from there, she closes out a tremendously impressive 6-1 first set!
Mertens averts the bagel – good for her, challah is way better – so at 5-1, Raducanu will now serve for set one.
On my fourth screen I’ve now got Rus v Sakkari (9)– they’ve just started.
She meets Paolini (7) or Minnen next.
We’ve not been going long, but already I’m loving Ash Barty’s co-commentary. It makes such a difference having someone who’s played against those we’re watching – Rio Ferdinand had that advantage when he first retired and now he doesn’t he’s a lot less good, while snooker coverage is even better now current players are in the box. Meantime, Tomas Mahac, who didn’t play Andrew Murray, has come from 2-0 down to beat David Goffin 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-1 7-6(5) and meets Roman Safiullin next.
Raducanu whips a forehand winner cross-court and she’s telling Mertens about herself here, now 4-0 in front and playing beautifully.
A great start from Raducanu, who leads Mertens 3-0 and has two points for 4-0; Kokkinakis has broken Auger-Aliassime for 4-2, and is now two games from forcing a decider; and Osaka leads Navarro 1-0.
Cobolli, by the way, is going to be a very fine player – he’s already pretty handy, and I’d not be surprised to see him do well here.
Evans still isn’t himself following injury – he refused to continue playing last evening when the dew made things slippery – and Tabilo, someone he’d hope to beat on grass, meets Cobolli next.
Sonego has made it a set each against Bautista Agut; Griekspoor (27) leads Kecmanovic 64 1-2; Stephens trails Shnaider 0-3; and Andreescu leads Noskova (26) 6-3 4-5.
Tommy Paul has levelled his match with Otto Virtanen at a set apiece, while Arthur Rinderknech has beaten Kei Nishikori 5-7 6-4 (206-7 6-2 6-2 and now meets Taylor Fritz (13). That should be decent.
And what a treat awaits us thereafter: Jannik Sinner (1) v Matteo Berrettini!
Next on Centre Court: Naomi Osaka v Emma Navarro (19).
Medvedev was really good once he was really in trouble, and though I can’t see him beating any of the top three, you never know.
“A very tough, physical match,” says Medvedev. There were times he was in trouble, like when he was a break down in set two, but he managed to regain a “calmer mind” so he’s really happy he turned the match around. And though he loves No 1 Court, he won on Centre but says the bounce was really slow so it’s good he had a match to get used to it.
Medvedeve does break, and that’s that. But a fine effort from Muller, who might just’ve conjured a shock had he managed to hold that second-set break or take that second-set breaker. Beating Medvedev, though, isn’t at all easy, and the number five seed moves on. He meets Zhang (32) or sturff next – they’ve just started.
On my fourth screen I’m going for – for now at least – Evans 2-6 5-7 3-4 Tabilo (24).
Back with Medvedev, he leads Muller 2-1 6-5; a break here and he’s home, a hold and we’ve a third breaker of the match.
Raducanu and Mertes come out – of course I’m watching them – and I’ve also got Auger-Aliassime and Kokkinakis on. They’re knocking up, with the Canadian two sets up from last evening.
Khachanov is through, Karatsev forced to retire when down 2-1 2-0; he meets Halys next.
Next on No 1 Court: Emma Raducanu v Elise Mertens.
Now let’s hear from the champ – I’ve had his interview paused for what seems like an hour. Asked about his next match – apparently Tiafoe says he’s coming after him – he says “I’m going for him!” They played a good match at the US Open, he thinks Tiafoe is a good player, and though it’ll be a difficult match he’s ready to take the challenge and play a really high level of tennis “and hopefully take him.”
“Guys … thank you,” says Fognini before convulsing in laughter. Then asked about his inability to close, he says “that’s why I love and hate this sport” before chuckling again. Ruud played three or four shots which if they’d gone out the match was over and he was tired and tense, thoughts coming into his mind about why the match wasn’t over, but he was in control because he was still ahead, concluding “I did a great job today.”
Wild celebrations from the 37-year-old, who finally gets it done. But the elongated match shouldn’t obscure how well he played and he meets Sonego or Bautista Agut next; the Spaniard leads 6-3 1-3. As for Ruud, he fought hard but 2/13 break points converted tells us the main reason he’s out.
Source: theguardian.com
