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The Tennis Thread

Katie Boulter won the Nottingham Open after defeating fellow Brit Emma Raducanu in the semi-finals on the same day.

In Sunday's final she beat Karolina Pliskova, coming back after conceding the first set to take the match 4-6 6-3 6-2.
 
Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova began her grass-court campaign with a straight-set win over Spain's Rebeka Masarova at the Berlin Open.

The 24-year-old won 6-4 6-3 in the German capital and will play Russian Anna Kalinskaya next.

BBC
 

Norrie out of Queen's as Raonic breaks aces record​

Cameron Norrie was unable to turn his fortunes around on the British grass as he lost to huge-serving Milos Raonic in the first round at Queen's.

Canada's Raonic hit 47 aces - a record for the most in a three-set match - in a 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 7-6 (11-9) victory.

Norrie had two match points in the third-set tie-break but could not convert before Raonic took his third opportunity.

"He played a very good match. He served all the different spots. He was too good in the end," Norrie said.

"I tried to hold my serve. There is not much you can do when he is hitting it so accurately. It's impossible."

It is 28-year-old Norrie's second successive defeat on home soil after losing to 773rd-ranked qualifier Jack Pinnington-Jones in Nottingham earlier in June.

Source: BBC
 
Alcaraz starts Queen's defence with win

Carlos Alcaraz continued where he left off on the British grass by starting his Queen's title defence with a straight-set victory over Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo.

The 21-year-old Spaniard won 6-1 7-5 in his first match on grass since lifting the Wimbledon title last year.

Alcaraz won the third major of his career on the French Open clay earlier this month, before switching back to the surface where he has played the least.


BBC
 

Boulter retires with illness in Birmingham​

British number one Katie Boulter retired from her first round match against Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina with illness at the Birmingham Classic.

The 27-year-old was playing two days after retaining her Nottingham Open title, having coming back from a set down to beat Karolina Pliskova just hours after completing a three-set win over Emma Raducanu.

Boulter received a medical timeout in the first set and decided she could not continue after losing the opener 6-3 to Kalinina.

She later confirmed she was "fine" and said she had been motivated to still compete in Birmingham in an attempt to secure a seeding at Wimbledon.

"Obviously a long 10 days. I wanted to come up here anyway, I wanted to try, but I'm just not quite ready yet," said Boulter, who plans to play at Eastbourne next week.

"I was quite sick during Nottingham but I just tried to stay in the tournament as long as I possibly could, as bad as I was feeling.

"From my third match I was really struggling. But I just tried to get through it and finish the week. It's probably a little bit of a combination of everything."

Boulter is 31st in the world rankings, with only the top 32 guaranteed to be seeded at Grand Slams, but she added it was "not the be all and end all" should she slip from those positions.

Earlier, Caroline Wozniacki's first match on a grass court in five years ended in defeat by Elise Mertens.

Former world number one Wozniacki, who won the Australian Open in 2018, lost 6-4 6-1 to Belgian fifth seed Mertens.

Denmark's Wozniacki, 33, returned to tennis last year, three and a half years after she retired at the 2020 Australian Open.

Britain's Harriet Dart advanced to the second round with a 6-3 6-3 win over Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima.

But Heather Watson suffered a 3-6 6-4 7-5 loss to eighth seed Marie Bouzkova in a tussle lasting two hours and 53 minutes.

Watson took a medical timeout after the second set and led 5-2 in the decider before Bouzkova hit back.

"I am super tired but I think it was a great match. What a way to start the grass-court season," said Bouzkova.

Briton Amelia Rajecki was beaten 7-5 6-3 by Russian Diana Shnaider in her first WTA main draw match.

Source: BBC
 
World number five Daniil Medvedev and defending champion Alexander Bublik were both knocked out in the second round of the Halle Open.

Russian Medvedev, the 2021 US Open winner, lost a final set tie-break in a 6-3 2-6 7-6 (7-5) defeat by China's Zhang Zhizhen.

Kazakh Bublik, who defeated Russia's Andrey Rublev in last year's final, was beaten 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-3 by American Christopher Eubanks.

Second seed Alexander Zverev will play French 20-year-old Arthur Fils in the quarter-finals following a 6-4 7-6 (7-5) win over Italy's Lorenzo Sonego.

Elsewhere, Victoria Azarenka reached the Berlin Open quarter-finals before play was postponed because of rain.

Contesting his first grass court tournament of the season, Medvedev, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, lost out to Zhang as the world number 42 recovered from a 5-3 deficit in the decisive tie-break.

Zhang will meet Eubanks next after the Wimbledon quarter-finalist ended Bublik's title defence.

Also in Halle, former Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini, of Italy, won 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 against American Alex Michelsen.



BBC
 
Raducanu among major winners given Wimbledon wildcards

Former British number one Emma Raducanu has been given a wildcard to play at Wimbledon next month.

Raducanu, 21, is one of four Grand Slam champions given such an exemption for the women's singles.

Japan's Naomi Osaka, Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki and Germany's Angelique Kerber, who won the 2018 Wimbledon title, have also been invited to play.

Wildcards are given by the All England Club to players who are not ranked high enough to qualify directly into the main draw.

Raducanu is still on the comeback trail after missing most of last year - including Wimbledon - after wrist and ankle surgeries.

Osaka, Kerber and Wozniacki have all returned to the tour in the past year after giving birth.

British players Heather Watson, Fran Jones and Lily Miyazaki have also been awarded wildcards to the women's singles.

All seven of the initial wildcards for the men's singles have been given to British players.

Liam Broady, who has reached the third round in each of the past two years, heads the list.

Last year's boys' champion Henry Searle and Billy Harris, who earned the biggest win of his career at Queen's on Tuesday, have been invited.

Jan Choinski, Jacob Fearnley, Arthur Fery and Paul Jubb will also play.

Wimbledon announced the wildcards on Wednesday. The Grand Slam tournament starts on 1 July.


BBC
 
Draper beats defending champion Alcaraz at Queen's

Jack Draper says winning his first ATP title set him "free" of negativity and led to his stunning victory over Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz at Queen's.

New British men's number one Draper, 22, earned a 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 victory over defending champion Alcaraz in the second round.

Spain's Alcaraz, 21, saved three match points at 5-2 before Draper served out from 0-30 to the delight of an ecstatic home crowd.

It continued a memorable week for Draper after he claimed the first ATP title of his career at the Stuttgart Open on Sunday.


BBC
 
GB's Harris reaches first ATP quarter-final at Queen's

Britain's Billy Harris reached his first ATP Tour quarter-final with victory over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at Queen's.

The 29-year-old defeated the Frenchman 6-4 7-5 in front of 8,000 fans on Centre Court.

Harris has spent most of his career in the tiers below ATP level and used to travel to tournaments in a Ford Transit van to save money.

"It's massive for my confidence," Harris said.

"I didn't know how I would react coming out here today but as soon as I got on court I felt I was getting great support from the crowd and they helped me through the match."

Harris, who is from the Isle of Man, was ranked outside the world's top 300 as recently as October.

He will now move inside the top 150 when the latest rankings are updated on Monday.

Harris will make his Grand Slam debut this summer after he received a wildcard for the main draw at Wimbledon, which starts on 1 July.

"I came into this match knowing it would be very tough with his serve - in the first hour I was thinking this serve needs to slow down," added Harris, who broke at 5-5 in the second set and then served out the match.

"I managed to settle in quickly and just stayed in the zone."

He will face either American Brandon Nakashima or Italy's Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals.

There was more British success in the doubles as Joe Salisbury and American partner Rajeev Ram beat Sebastian Korda and Alex de Minaur 7-6 (8-6) 7-5.

Salisbury will face fellow Briton Neal Skupski, who is playing alongside New Zealand's Michael Venus, next.


BBC
 
Draper's breakthrough fortnight ended by Paul at Queen's

Jack Draper's breakthrough fortnight finally came to an end with a narrow loss to Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals at Queen's.

In the past two weeks, Draper has won a first ATP Tour title, become British number one and beaten reigning Wimbledon and French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz for the biggest win of his career.

However, he looked fatigued at times in a close 6-3 5-7 6-4 loss to the world number 13.


BBC
 

Musetti to face Paul in Queen's Championship final​


Lorenzo Musetti will play Tommy Paul in the final of the Queen's Championship following an exceptional day of action in West Kensington.

In the first game of the afternoon, Italian Musetti edged a three-set encounter 3-6, 6-3, 3-6 against Jordan Thompson to be the first to book his place in Sunday's final.

Having won the opening set, Thompson fought back to take the game to a decider. Despite saving five break points in the eighth game, the Australian was eventually beaten as Musetti booked his place in his first grass final.

Later that afternoon, Paul came through an all-American contest in straight sets, emerging a 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) victor over Sebastian Korda to set up a maiden encounter with the Italian.

27-year-old Paul quickly found a break in the second game against his opponent and despite Korda replying with a break of his own in the seventh game, was unable to recover from his slow start.

The second set flowed with both players trading break points, but an error-strewn display from Korda allowed Paul to see out the contest with relative ease to become the first American finalist at Queen's since 2010

www.beinsports.com

Musetti to face Paul in Queen's Championship final

Lorenzo Musetti and Tommy Paul confirmed their places in Sunday's Queen's Championship final after their semi-final successes.
www.beinsports.com www.beinsports.com
 

Sabalenka and Jabeur retire at Berlin Open​

Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur became the latest Wimbledon contenders to retire early from matches in the lead up to the Grand Slam tournament.

World number three Sabalenka appeared to struggle with a shoulder injury and retired while trailing 5-1 in her Berlin Open quarter-final against Anna Kalinskaya.

Two-time Wimbledon finalist Jabeur decided not to continue because of illness after dropping the first set 7-6 (11-9) to Coco Gauff.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and 2022 winner Elena Rybakina also retired from their matches earlier in the tournament.

The first round of the women's singles at Wimbledon starts on 1 July.

Jabeur saved eight set points against Gauff before the American top seed clinched the opener.

The Tunisian, who appeared to be having problems breathing, was seen by the doctor before deciding not to start the second set.

"It doesn't feel like a win. We had such a good first set," Gauff said in her on-court interview afterwards.

"I wish Ons the best, I think it's something that is just going to happen today and she'll be better tomorrow, so hopefully she'll be at Wimbledon."

Earlier in the week, Czech Vondrousova slipped and injured her right hip against Kalinskaya in the second round, while Rybakina withdrew from her last-eight tie against Victoria Azarenka because of illness.

Kalinskaya books spot in Berlin final

Kalinskaya was the first player to claim a place in Sunday's final with a 6-1 6-7 (3-7) 6-1 win against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

The Russian, who has a 7-0 win record against top-10 players this season, will face either top seed Gauff or Jessica Pegula next.

The semi-final between the two Americans was suspended mid-match because of rain, with Pegula taking the opener 7-5 and the second set heading for a tie-break.

Earlier on Saturday, fourth seed Pegula returned to complete a 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-3 victory over Katerina Siniakova after the match, which had started on Friday, was held up by the weather in Germany.

At the Birmingham Classic, Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic beat Anastasia Potapova of Russia 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 to reach her first WTA Tour final in five years.

Two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist Tomljanovic has dropped to 190th in the world rankings after an injury-plagued 2023.

She will face Yulia Putintseva in the final after the Kazakh overcame Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-2 6-2.

Tomljanovic has yet to win a singles title on the WTA Tour, while Putintseva is searching for her third overall and first on grass.

Source: BBC
 

Paul races to Queen's Title​

Tommy Paul captured his third ATP Tour title and first on grass Sunday at the cinch Championships, where he overcame Lorenzo Musetti 6-1, 7-6(8) in the final at Queen’s.

The fifth seed played with intensity and aggression throughout the 88-minute clash. After racing ahead, Paul recovered from failing to serve out the match at 5-4 in the second set, and he rallied from 1/4 in the tie-break, saving one set point at 6/7 against Musetti, who was competing in his third tour-level final.

With his 27th tour-level win of the season, Paul ensured he will surpass Taylor Fritz and become American No. 1 for the first time in his career on Monday. The 27-year-old is set to rise to No. 12 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Paul has been impressive all week on the lawns in west London, where he dropped just one set. The American clinched his first tour-level title in Stockholm in 2021 before he won this February in Dallas. His Queen’s Club crown is his first at ATP 500 level.

In front of a packed crowd, Paul raced out of the blocks, surging into a 3-0 lead in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. He did not let up in the first set, clinching it after 32 minutes. The American then recovered from failing to serve out the match at 5-4 in the second set, sealing victory on his second match point when Musetti misfired off the backhand.

Paul, who committed just six unforced errors, raised his arms in the air following his triumph and shared a smile with girlfriend Paige Lorenze.

www.atptour.com

Tommy Paul defeats Lorenzo Musetti to win Queen's Club title | ATP Tour | Tennis

Tommy Paul captured his third ATP Tour title and first on grass Sunday at the cinch Championships, where he dispatched Lorenzo Musetti in the final at Queen’s.
www.atptour.com www.atptour.com
 
Sinner wins first title as world number one

Jannik Sinner claimed his first title as world number one with victory over Hubert Hurkacz at the Halle Open.

Italy's Sinner won his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January and replaced Novak Djokovic at the top of the world rankings earlier in June.

He secured his first grass-court title with a 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (7-2) victory against Poland's Hurkacz, who he also played doubles with in Germany.


BBC
 

Dart beats Bouzkova to progress at Eastbourne​

Britain's Harriet Dart overcame Marie Bouzkova in a topsy-turvy match to progress to the second round at Eastbourne.

Roared on by a partisan home crowd, Dart fought back from a double break down in both the first and second sets before wrapping up a 7-5 6-7 (7-9) 6-4 victory in nearly three and a half hours.

It is Dart's best win of the year by ranking, with the 27-year-old wildcard ranked 68 places below Czech Bouzkova.

She had been due to face former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina next but the world number four - who had a first-round bye - withdrew from the tournament on Monday night.

Instead, Dart will play American lucky loser Sofia Kenin in the second round on Wednesday.

"It was an incredible match, so many ups and downs," said Dart, who revealed she was struggling with wisdom tooth pain throughout her match against Bouzkova.

"Marie's an incredible fighter and always makes it tough. I'm very happy that it turned my way this time."

With the hot sun beaming down on Eastbourne's centre court, it looked like it would be a difficult afternoon for Dart after falling a double break down early on.

But the British number two rallied to level the set at 4-4 before breaking again to snatch the opener.

Again, Dart found herself trailing 4-1 in the second set before launching another comeback as Bouzkova, a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 2022, faltered once more.

The world number 37 held sufficiently firm to force a tie-break, and while Dart saved three set points, a wayward forehand handed Bouzkova the set.

The pair traded breaks at the start of the decider before Dart broke again, an advantage she would never relinquish as she served out the match at the first opportunity.

"There have been some really tight matches that haven't gone my way, and so to be able to win this match really means a lot," she said.

Dart is one of four British players in the women's singles draw at Eastbourne this week, with Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu and Lily Miyazaki in action on Tuesday.

Elsewhere on Monday, Latvian fifth seed Jelena Ostapenko beat Greet Minnen of Belgium 7-6 (7-3) 6-1, while Poland's Magda Linette knocked out Russian eighth seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Harris beats fellow British wildcard Fearnley

Earlier, Billy Harris moved past fellow British wildcard Jacob Fearnley with a 6-4 7-6 (9-7) victory.

It continues a positive grass-court season for the 29-year-old, who moved inside the world's top 150 after reaching his first ATP Tour quarter-final last week at Queen's Club.

He was due to face the newly crowned Queen's champion Tommy Paul next, but the American second seed, who received a bye in the first round, has withdrawn because of fatigue.

Instead, Harris will face compatriot and lucky loser Charles Broom for a place in the quarter-finals.

"It's been an amazing last few weeks so hopefully I can keep it going here and on to Wimbledon," Harris said.

He and Fearnley will make their Grand Slam debuts this summer after they received wildcards for the main draw at Wimbledon, which starts on 1 July.

In the men's doubles, Britain's Lloyd Glasspool and Dutch partner Jean-Julien Rojer beat Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 17-15.

British number two Cameron Norrie and Liam Broady start their singles campaigns at Eastbourne on Tuesday.

Source: BBC
 

GB's Clarke beats Schwartzman in Wimbledon qualifying​

Jay Clarke denied former world number eight Diego Schwartzman one final trip to Wimbledon by beating him in straight sets in the first round of qualifying.

Clarke, the British number 15, won 6-4 6-3 against the 31-year-old Argentine, who plans to retire at the start of 2025.

World number 322 Clarke will face Frenchman Quentin Halys in the second round at Roehampton.

He will be joined there by compatriot George Loffhagen, who was the only other Briton to progress on Monday as he won 6-4 4-6 7-5 against Italy's Stefano Travaglia.

Wildcard Jack Pinnington Jones, who reached the quarter-finals in Nottingham last week, was beaten 6-0 6-3 by Frenchman Lucas Pouille, while former Wimbledon semi-finalist Richard Gasquet defeated Oliver Crawford 6-2 7-6 (10-8).

Ryan Peniston fell to a 7-6 (12-10) 6-2 loss against Benjamin Bonzi of France, while Felix Gill and Stuart Parker were also beaten in straight sets.

Anton Matusevich won the first set against Tomas Barrios Vera but the Chilean came from behind to win 3-6 6-4 6-3.

Elsewhere, two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist David Goffin of Belgium beat Australian Marc Polmans in straight sets.

The first round of the women's qualifying starts on Tuesday, with eight Britons in action.

Source: BBC
 
Norrie suffers another early exit in Eastbourne

Cameron Norrie's disappointing season continued as he suffered a first-round exit at Eastbourne with a straight-set defeat by Emil Ruusuvuori.

Norrie, who was replaced as British number one by Jack Draper last week, lost 7-6 (11-9) 6-3 to the Finnish world number 88.

The 28-year-old has had a below-par 2024, winning just 14 of his 27 matches and slipping to 44th in the world rankings.

He will not be seeded at this year's Wimbledon, which starts on Monday.

There was, however, a stunning win for Britain's Giles Hussey, who took a spot in the draw as a lucky loser just 45 minutes before the match against sixth seed Mariano Navone.

And the world number 359th made the most of it with a 6-4 6-2 win over the Argentine.


BBC
 
Emma Raducanu has cruised into the second round of the Rothesay International after a straight-sets win over fellow former US Open champion Sloane Stephens in Eastbourne.

Raducanu twice battled back from a break down to take the opening set before rattling through the second in impressive fashion, claiming a 6-4 6-0 victory to the delight of the home crowd.

SKY
 
Raducanu in first top-10 win after saving match point

Britain's Emma Raducanu saved a match point as she knocked out world number five Jessica Pegula to reach the quarter-finals at Eastbourne.

The 21-year-old wildcard had never won against a top-10 opponent before.

She rallied from a set down against Pegula and saved a match point in the second set tie-break before battling to a remarkable 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 victory.

"I'm pretty drained right now," said Raducanu.

"I want to say thanks to everyone for getting me through some really difficult moments in that match."

Raducanu's win continued an impressive day for British women's tennis on England's south coast as Katie Boulter moved past former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko with a confident 6-4 7-5 victory.

Harriet Dart also booked her place in the last eight, beating Sofia Kenin, a former Australian Open champion, 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 6-0.

It is the first time since 1978 there have been three British women in the quarter-finals at Eastbourne.


BBC
 
British trio beaten in Eastbourne quarter-finals

Britain’s Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart were all beaten in the quarter-finals at Eastbourne.

Raducanu was defeated 6-2 6-2 by Russian sixth seed Daria Kasatkina in blustery conditions.

Boulter, attempting to win a second grass-court title this month after Nottingham, lost 6-1 7-6 (7-0) to Italian third seed Jasmine Paolini.

Dart went down 6-2 6-1 in 67 minutes to Canadian Leylah Fernandez.

It was the first time since 1978 there had been three British women in the quarter-finals at Eastbourne.

In the men's event, Britain’s Billy Harris reached his first ATP Tour semi-final with a 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 win over Italian Flavio Cobolli.


BBC
 

Raducanu starts against seed on Wimbledon return​


Emma Raducanu has been drawn against Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round of Wimbledon.

Raducanu, 21, makes her return to the All England Club after missing last year's tournament through injury.

British number one Katie Boulter, who is seeded 32nd, starts against German veteran Tatjana Maria, who reached the semi-finals in 2022.

Boulter could play fellow Briton Harriet Dart in the second round.

Dart starts against Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan.

British qualifier Sonay Kartal has been rewarded with an opening match against Romanian 29th seed Sorana Cirstea.

Heather Watson – who reached the fourth round in 2022 – starts against Dutch player Greet Minnen.

Francesca Jones and Lily Miyazaki, also both given wildcards, play Croatia’s Petra Martic and Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch respectively.

www.bbc.com

Wimbledon 2024 draw: Emma Raducanu, Andy Murray and Katie Boulter find out opponents

Britain's Emma Raducanu is drawn against Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round of Wimbledon.
www.bbc.com
 
Wimbledon projected women's quarterfinals by seeding 👀

🇵🇱 Swiatek vs. Vondrousova 🇨🇿
🇺🇸 Gauff vs. Paolini 🇮🇹
Sabalenka vs. Zheng 🇨🇳
🇰🇿 Rybakina vs. Pegula 🇺🇸
 
Britain's Dan Evans expects to be fit enough to play Wimbledon after overcoming a knee injury caused by slipping at Queen's

The 34-year-old was left in tears after falling at the back of the court in his first-round match against Brandon Nakashima on 18 June.

He initially feared the problem could rule him out of his home Grand Slam - and possibly stop him representing Great Britain in an Olympics for the first time.

However, he sought a second opinion from a knee specialist last week, who diagnosed a "bad strain".

"The scan was showing a lot worse than it was but the test of my muscle, the structure of my knee was all good," Evans said.

"With some good and hard rehab, getting it and around it strong. It’s getting there."

Evans has been drawn against Argentine 24th seed Alejandro Tabilo in the first round, which will take place on Tuesday.

The world number 61 returned to practice on Wednesday, just eight days after suffering the injury.

Over the weekend, Evans plans to ramp up his court time and does not foresee any issues stopping him facing Tabilo.

"My knee is in a good stable structure," said Evans, who has spent "a lot of time" in the gym and swimming pool to regain fitness.

"There is no risk of aggravating it, unless I slipped again. That would be a bit of an issue.

"But I've been assured by the knee specialist there is no real risk of hurting it again – I trust his take on it."

Wimbledon begins on Monday and runs until 14 July.

Source: BBC
 
'Excited' Alcaraz opens Centre Court at Wimbledon

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz says it feels "more special" to return to Wimbledon as he prepares to open play on Centre Court when the tournament starts on Monday.

Spain's Alcaraz, now 21, beat seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in last year's final, despite it being only his fourth grass-court tournament.

Tradition dictates the reigning men's champion starts his defence in the first match on Centre Court.

Therefore, third seed Alcaraz meets Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal at 13:30 BST on the iconic show court.


www.bbc.com

Wimbledon 2024 order of play: Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu & Coco Gauff on Centre Court

Defending men's champion Carlos Alcaraz opens play on Centre Court when Wimbledon starts on Monday, with Emma Raducanu and Coco Gauff following.
www.bbc.com
 
Emma Raducanu to face new opponent in Wimbledon first round in last minute change to schedule

Emma Raducanu will face a new opponent in the first round of Wimbledon.

Her scheduled opponent, Ekaterina Alexandrova withdrew through illness.

Alexandrova was the 22nd seed and a proven competitor on grass and looked a very tricky draw for Raducanu.

She will now now take on lucky loser Renata Zarazua instead at Centre Court on Monday.

The Mexican, who won two matches in qualifying before losing in the final round, is ranked 98, 37 places above Raducanu, but has only won seven matches on grass in her career, none of them at tour level.

Raducanu will make her return to the Wimbledon Centre Court on Monday afternoon after missing last year's tournament following surgery on both wrists and one ankle.

The 2021 US Open winner admits she feels a little more settled heading into this Wimbledon than she has in recent times.

“I feel a lot more comfortable this year,” she said. “There’s a lot less going on. There’s a lot less stress or chaos.

"I’m more just coming here, doing my practice, playing the match. Like there’s not much else to it whereas in 2022 I was in a big rush.

"Would I be able to play? Would I not? And then last year obviously missing it and in 2021, I lost in a Brit Tour like a month before so I was not really feeling amazing.

"So I think that this is the most settled I’ve been in a while.”

Heather Watson and Liam Broady are among the other Brits in action at Wimbledon today in a bumper day of first round matches.

talksport.com

Raducanu to face new opponent at Wimbledon in last minute change to schedule

Emma Raducanu will face a new opponent in the first round of Wimbledon. Her scheduled opponent, Ekaterina Alexandrova withdrew through illness. Alexandrova was the 22nd seed and a proven competitor…
talksport.com talksport.com
 
Carlos Alcaraz opened his Wimbledon title defence with a hard-fought victory over Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal

The Spaniard won 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 6-2 to begin proceedings on Centre Court.

Alcaraz is attempting to win back-to-back major titles after triumphing at the French Open last month.

"Stepping on this court, it is the most beautiful court I have played on," said the 21-year-old. "I still get nerves when I play here.

"I practised for 45 minutes on Thursday and it was the first time I was nervous on practice because I was playing on this court."

Lajal, 21, battled hard on his first appearance in a Grand Slam main draw.

"Honestly it surprised me a little bit because I haven't seen him playing or practicing too much," added Alcaraz.

"He has the level to go up a lot. He is really young, the same age as me, and I am sure I am going to see him more often."

Alcaraz will face either Australian Aleksandar Vukic or Sebastian Ofner of Austria in the second round.

Qualifier Lajal frustrates defending champion Alcaraz
Following his deep run at Roland Garros, Alcaraz's preparations for this year's Wimbledon have been limited.

He played just two grass-court matches at Queen's where he suffered a surprise second-round defeat by Britain's Jack Draper.

The Spaniard looked somewhat rusty as Lajal, ranked 269th in the world, surprised the Centre Court crowd when he struck the first blow for a 3-2 lead.

Alcaraz was able to raise his level when it mattered, though, responding immediately with a break of his own before taking control of the tie-break to clinch the opening set.

His frustrations continued in the second set, with Lajal matching the reigning champion's energy with big hitting and crafty drop shots as the pair exchanged early breaks.

But the qualifier's confidence started to falter when Alcaraz broke to go 6-5 up before serving out the set.

There was no looking back for the three-time major winner, who raced through the third set and fired home a fierce forehand winner on his second match point.

Source: BBC
 
FearlessRoar said:
Emma Raducanu to face new opponent in Wimbledon first round in last minute change to schedule

Emma Raducanu will face a new opponent in the first round of Wimbledon.

Her scheduled opponent, Ekaterina Alexandrova withdrew through illness.

Alexandrova was the 22nd seed and a proven competitor on grass and looked a very tricky draw for Raducanu.

She will now now take on lucky loser Renata Zarazua instead at Centre Court on Monday.

The Mexican, who won two matches in qualifying before losing in the final round, is ranked 98, 37 places above Raducanu, but has only won seven matches on grass in her career, none of them at tour level.

Raducanu will make her return to the Wimbledon Centre Court on Monday afternoon after missing last year's tournament following surgery on both wrists and one ankle.

The 2021 US Open winner admits she feels a little more settled heading into this Wimbledon than she has in recent times.

“I feel a lot more comfortable this year,” she said. “There’s a lot less going on. There’s a lot less stress or chaos.

"I’m more just coming here, doing my practice, playing the match. Like there’s not much else to it whereas in 2022 I was in a big rush.

"Would I be able to play? Would I not? And then last year obviously missing it and in 2021, I lost in a Brit Tour like a month before so I was not really feeling amazing.

"So I think that this is the most settled I’ve been in a while.”

Heather Watson and Liam Broady are among the other Brits in action at Wimbledon today in a bumper day of first round matches.

talksport.com

Raducanu to face new opponent at Wimbledon in last minute change to schedule

Emma Raducanu will face a new opponent in the first round of Wimbledon. Her scheduled opponent, Ekaterina Alexandrova withdrew through illness. Alexandrova was the 22nd seed and a proven competitor…
talksport.com talksport.com
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Emma Raducanu said she had to "win ugly" as she sealed a 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 victory against Mexican lucky loser Renata Zarazua on her Wimbledon comeback.

Raducanu took advantage of her slice of good fortune to claim victory on her comeback at the All England Club and book a second-round clash on Wednesday with Belgium's Elise Mertens.

SKY
 

Osaka wins on first Wimbledon appearance since 2019​

Naomi Osaka said it "feels like a dream" as she made a winning return on her first appearance at Wimbledon for five years.

The four-time Grand Slam champion came through 6-1 1-6 6-4 against Diane Parry on court two.

Japan's Osaka returned to the tour in 2024 after giving birth to her first child, daughter Shai, a year ago.

The 26-year-old, who is now ranked 113rd in the world, was injured in 2022 and also missed the 2021 tournament while taking time off to deal with mental health issues.

'Emotional' Gauff sails into second round

In the final match on Centre Court, Coco Gauff breezed into the second round with a commanding 6-1 6-2 victory over fellow American Caroline Dolehide.

Exactly five years ago, a 15-year-old Gauff - ranked 313th at the time - inflicted a famous Wimbledon defeat on five-time champion Venus Williams on Court One.

Now she comes into the tournament as the world number two and reigning US Open champion.

www.bbc.com

Wimbledon 2024 results: Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini and Maria Sakkari into round two

Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini and Maria Sakkari are among the winners in the first round of the women's singles at Wimbledon.
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Marketa Vondrousova's Wimbledon title defence came to an early end as she fell to a surprise first-round defeat by Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro

The Czech became the first unseeded player to win the women's singles trophy when she triumphed against Ons Jabeur in last year's final.

But Vondrousova's game was riddled with unforced errors and double faults as the 25-year-old opened proceedings with a lacklustre performance on Centre Court.

World number 83 Bouzas Maneiro, 21, took advantage on Tuesday to win 6-4 6-2 for her first Grand Slam victory.

It is the first time since 1994, when Steffi Graf lost to Lori McNeil, that the women's defending champion has lost in the first round at Wimbledon.

"I am really happy, I think this is one of the most important moments in my life, in my career," said Bouzas Maneiro.

"This is the most beautiful tournament I have played in my life so thank you to everyone who came to watch the match today."

Vondrousova's early exit means there will be a different women's singles champion for a seventh consecutive year.

Serena Williams was the last player to successfully defend the Venus Rosewater Dish, winning back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016.

'It felt like playing at home'

Vondrousova came into the tournament on the back of an injury scare after a nasty fall forced her to retire early with a hip concern following her second-round match at the Berlin Open.

The sixth seed appeared to be feeling the after-effects of the problem, moving with difficulty.

Bouzas Maneiro capitalised on Vondrousova's physical struggles, breaking early in each of the first and second sets before firing a sublime backhand winner down the line on her first match point.

"I was just trying to enjoy the moment," said the Spaniard. "She is one of the best players in the world here, she won last year so I was like, I have no pressure, enjoy the moment, enjoy the tournament.

"I'm surprised with myself, honestly. I was at the beginning a little bit nervous, but since the first game, I don't know, the atmosphere was so nice, so elegant.

"I was comfortable playing here, it felt like I was playing at home."

Bouzas Maneiro will play compatriot Cristina Bucsa or Ana Bogdan of Romania in the second round.

Source : BBC
 

Wimbledon: Katie Boulter sets up all-British clash with Harriet Dart after surviving first-round scare against Tatjana Maria​

Katie Boulter weathered an early storm as she produced an impressive first-set comeback to overcome Tatjana Maria and tee up a second-round meeting with fellow Brit Harriet Dart at Wimbledon.

It proved to be just about as gruelling and physically demanding a first-round test as Boulter could have imagined as the British No 1 battled to a 7-6 7-5 win over two hours and seven minutes.

Awaiting her is an all-British clash with Dart, who earlier in the day had beaten China's Zhuoxuan Bai 6-4 6-0.

Swiatek cruises through

Iga Swiatek safely negotiated a potential first-round banana skin by beating fellow Grand Slam champion Sofia Kenin 6-3 6-4.

The Polish top seed has yet to find her comfort zone on grass, having never reached a final on the surface, but any hopes of slowly finding her feet were dashed after the draw pitted her against the player who toppled Coco Gauff in the 2023 opening round.

Source: SKY
 

Draper fills Murray void with late-night Wimbledon win​

Jack Draper marked his first Wimbledon match as British men's number one by evoking memories of Andy Murray with a five-set success under the Centre Court lights.

Draper, seeded 28th, started tentatively against Swedish qualifier Elias Ymer - and lost his way in the fourth set - before coming through to win 3-6 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-3.

The 22-year-old replaced Murray in the evening slot on the iconic show court, with the former world number one having withdrawn through injury earlier on Tuesday.

Draper, making his return to Wimbledon after being injured himself last year, provided a timely pick-me-up for the home fans disappointed by Murray's misfortune.

In round two, he will face Cameron Norrie - the player he deposed as Britain's leading man last month.

Norrie, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2022, sealed a 7-5 7-5 6-3 win over Argentina's Facundo Diaz Acosta shortly before Draper's victory.

The pair were among 11 Britons playing on the second day of the 2024 Championships.

British number 13 Jacob Fearnley was the other notable home winner as he set up a second-round encounter with seven-time champion Novak Djokovic.

The 22-year-old from Scotland, playing in his first Grand Slam match, battled to 6-4 7-6 (14-12) victory over Spanish qualifier Alejandro Moro Canas.

But there were defeats for last year's boys' champion Henry Searle, Billy Harris, Paul Jubb and Jan Choinski.

Source: BBC
 

Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu to play Wimbledon mixed doubles as part of emotional farewell​


Andy Murray’s Wimbledon farewell will include an appearance in the mixed doubles alongside Emma Raducanu, with Britain’s two grand slam champions entering the draw as wildcards.

Murray was forced to pull out of his final singles match at the Championships after ruling that he had not recovered from a back operation in time, but the 37-year-old wants to maximise his opportunities at his final Wimbledon before he retires.

The two-time champion will play in the men’s doubles alongside brother Jamie on Thursday but his on-court swansong will continue in the mixed doubles alongside Raducanu, the former US Open champion.

Murray memorably played mixed doubles with Serena Williams in 2019 following his return to the sport from career-saving hip surgery, and his double-act with Raducanu is set to be another blockbuster pair.

The first round of the mixed doubles begins on Friday but Murray and Raducanu could also play on Saturday, depending on the draw.

Raducanu faces Elise Mertens in her second-round match in the women’s singles this afternoon, with the 21-year-old praising Murray as an example following her opening win at the tournament.

Murray and Raducanu are the only British players to win grand slam titles in the last 40 years, with the Scot ending Britain’s 77-year wait for a Wimbledon men’s champion in 2013 and Raducanu winning the US Open as a wildcard in 2021.

“I think the biggest advice is just how he’s always taken care of his operations, how he manages his people,” Raducanu said on Monday. “I haven’t really spoken to him so much. I think for me it’s just like watching him operate day to day, watching him be absolutely on it with everything. Even in practice now, he’s so on it to the minute.

“I think me, when I was a bit younger maybe, showing up 15 minutes before practice to do a few arm curls, swing my hand around and warm up, he’s there for an hour and a half doing treatment. He just sets really good examples.”

Murray said he was extremely disappointed to pull out of the singles on Tuesday but is set to have two opportunities to play in front of the Wimbledon crowd for a final time. The doubles format is less demanding physically and only plays best-of-three sets.

"I’m disappointed, I wanted to play in the tournament," he said. "I wanted to have a chance to go out there and walk out on my own on the Centre Court again and give it another go.

"But I also was only going to do that if I felt like I could be competitive, and I didn’t feel like that today. I’m sorry for everyone that came and wanted to support and watch again.

"I wanted that moment as well, as much for me as the people who have supported me over the years.

"The fans but also my closest friends, family, my team. It was important for me to do that with them as well. It’s one of those things. The timing was horrible, the surgery was a complex one and it wasn’t to be.“

www.independent.co.uk

Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu to play Wimbledon mixed doubles

Murray and Raducanu will play together in what is the 37-year-old’s final appearance at SW19
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Coco Gauff stormed past Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni to move into the third round of Wimbledon

The second seed entertained the crowd under the roof on Court One with big hitting to earn a 6-2 6-1 victory in 66 minutes.

A second convincing win this week marks progress for the American at SW19 after a surprise exit in the first round last year.

"Overall, I just learned about life a lot. I guess you do as you get older," the 20-year-old said.

"I realised what I do, yes I'm passionate about, but it's not that serious and sometimes the world can make you feel like there's so much pressure, so much expectation.

"At the end of the day, it's a game, it's a sport and I'm very privileged to be playing out here."

Todoni, 19, came into Wednesday's match on the back of a dominant win - and her first victory in a Grand Slam - over fellow qualifier Olga Danilovic, of Serbia.

But she faced a tougher opponent in US Open winner Gauff, who is among the favourites to go the distance at Wimbledon.

After dropping serve early, Todoni couldn't make the most of any chances to break back.

It was an uphill task from there for Todoni, who struggled to absorb Gauff's powerful ball striking and won just three points on her opponent's serve.

www.bbc.com

Wimbledon results 2024: Coco Gauff storms past qualifier Anca Todoni to reach third round

Coco Gauff entertains the crowd under the roof on Court One with big hitting to earn a 6-2 6-1 victory over Anca Todoni.
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🚨 Marketa Vondrousova is OUT of #Wimbledon 😲

She is the fourth player ever to lose in the opening round as defending champion ❌
 
Defending champion Alcaraz beats Vukic

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz entertained fans on Court One with a stunning second-round victory over Australia's Aleksandar Vukic.

The pair played out a thrilling topsy-turvy opening set before the Spaniard took control and wrapped up a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 6-2 victory.

Alcaraz is attempting to win back-to-back major titles after triumphing at the French Open last month.



BBC
 
Osaka beaten by Navarro as Gauff goes through

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka paid the price for too many errors as she lost in straight sets to 19th seed Emma Navarro.

The 26-year-old, playing at Wimbledon for the first time in five years, was beaten 6-4 6-1 in the second round.

The defeat means Osaka has still not progressed beyond the third round at Wimbledon after four attempts.

Earlier, Coco Gauff stormed past Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni to move into the third round of Wimbledon.

The second seed entertained the crowd under the roof on Court One with big hitting to earn a 6-2 6-1 victory in 66 minutes.

Gauff will play British qualifier Sonay Kartal, who claimed the biggest win of her career with victory over France's Clara Burel later on Wednesday.


BBC
 
Murrays and all-British battles headline day four

Andy Murray begins his Wimbledon farewell on Thursday as he teams up with brother Jamie in the men's doubles, while there are two all-British battles in the singles.

The Murrays play Australian pairing John Peers and Rinky Hijikata in the third match on Centre Court.

In the second round of the singles, 32nd seed Katie Boulter takes on Harriet Dart before British men's number one Jack Draper faces 2022 semi-finalist Cameron Norrie.

Opening play on Centre, British wildcard and recent university graduate Jacob Fearnley has the formidable task of playing seven-time champion Novak Djokovic.

Meanwhile, Lily Miyazaki aims to join Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal in the third round when she takes on 14th seed Daria Kasatkina on court 18 at 11:00 BST, in a match delayed by rain on Wednesday.

Murrays plan 'good run' in Andy's farewell

Two-time champion Andy Murray was cruelly denied the opportunity to play in the singles for one final time at the place he will always be synonymous with.

But, just 10 days after a back operation, he has declared himself fit enough to make a touching appearance with his older sibling Jamie in the men's doubles.

The pair have never played together at the Championships before, despite memorably teaming up during Great Britain's 2015 Davis Cup triumph and competing in the men's doubles at three Olympics Games, including London 2012.

This is their last opportunity at Wimbledon with 37-year-old Andy ready to retire later this year.

"Getting the opportunity to play with Jamie here will be special and I'll make the most of it," said Andy.

"It's easier said than done to just enjoy it when you're out there because you're competing, concentrating and trying to win the match.

"Hopefully we can have a good run."

Top two Britons go head to head - in women's and men's singles

Media caption,

Best shots as Katie Boulter beats Tatjana Maria

Court One is dominated by British players on day four with Boulter opening play at 13:00 against Dart.

The 27-year-olds were born just four days apart and Boulter says they "both know each other's games inside out, back to front".

Boulter has won both their meetings on the WTA Tour, including a tight three-set battle on her way to winning the Nottingham Open last month.

It is a meeting between the British number one and two with Dart, ranked 94th, saying her opponent has "been having an amazing year".

They will be followed on court by their male equivalents, left-handers Draper and Norrie, with the former recently taking over as Britain's leading player.

Draper, the 28th seed, said he has "huge respect for Cam" and was expecting an "incredibly tough" match.

The 22-year-old told BBC Sport: "He is one of these guys with incredible discipline and always treated me extremely well as a young player. Cam is someone who has really shown me the way."

Draper won his first ATP Tour title on the grass in Stuttgart last month before beating Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz at Queen's. Norrie, 28, said the younger man was playing at an "unreal" level.

"I'm really going to have to play my best to have a chance with him. He's really looking good," Norrie added.

"We have practised with each other a lot, we're good friends so it's a shame we have to face each other this early but I'm looking forward to the match."

Djokovic doing homework on Fearnley

Few outside of the inner circle of British tennis will have heard of Jacob Fearnley until now.

That included his opponent in Thursday's second-round match on Centre Court.

"I don't know much about him myself," said 24-time major champion Djokovic.

"I watched a couple of videos this morning of his first-round match and I'm going to have to do my homework better with my team with some video analysis and prepare myself."

Fearnley, a 22-year-old from Scotland who only left university in the United States in May, has enjoyed a productive summer on the British grass courts.

Ranked outside the top 500 last month, he won the Nottingham Open title on the second-tier ATP Challenger Tour and climbed into the world's top 300 as a result.

He was rewarded with a Wimbledon wildcard and beat Spanish qualifier Alejandro Moro Canas on Tuesday.

"A British player playing in Britain is always a tough task," said 37-year-old Djokovic, who is still recovering from knee surgery last month.

"I watched him play and he's got a complete game. He's got a big serve, an aggressive style and loves to come to the net as well."

BBC
 
Norrie finds form to stun British number one Draper

Cameron Norrie looked back to his best as he stunned British number one Jack Draper with an assured second-round win at Wimbledon.

Norrie was displaced by Draper, 22, as Britain’s leading man last month.

The 28-year-old has struggled this season, suffering first-round exits at the French Open, Queen’s and Eastbourne.

But he moved past an in-form Draper 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 7-6 (8-6).

Norrie will play fourth seed Alexander Zverev in the third round.


BBC
 
Champion Alcaraz beats Tiafoe in five-set thriller

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz avoided a surprise exit at Wimbledon by holding off American Frances Tiafoe in a five-set thriller.

The Spaniard won an intense match 5-7 6-2 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 in front of a raucous Centre Court crowd.

It keeps Alcaraz's hopes of winning back-to-back major titles alive after triumphing at the French Open last month.

BBC
 
Top seed Iga Swiatek suffered a shock third-round exit at Wimbledon as she fell to world number 35 Yulia Putintseva.

Putintseva fought back from a set down to stun Poland's Swiatek 3-6 6-1 6-2.

BBC
 

Norrie and Dart miss out on fourth round at Wimbledon​

Cameron Norrie lost as Britain's interest in the Wimbledon men's singles ended, while Harriet Dart was unable to make the women's fourth round for the first time.

Norrie, 28, was beaten 6-4 6-4 7-6 (17-15) by German fourth seed Alexander Zverev.

Zverev, who has never gone past the last 16 at the All England Club, battled through after sustaining a knee injury early in the second set.

The 27-year-old could not take his first five match points in a monumental tie-break, where Norrie also had five set points, before clinching victory at the sixth attempt.

Shortly afterwards on Saturday, 27-year-old Dart lost 2-6 7-5 6-3 to China's Wang Xinyu.

Dart looked close to tears after letting a 3-0 lead slip in the deciding set.

The British women's number two was attempting to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time.

While Dart became emotional, China's Wang remained composed to wrap up victory in a rain-disrupted encounter.

Norrie and Dart's defeats mean Emma Raducanu, who beat Greek ninth seed Maria Sakkari on Friday, is the only Briton remaining in the singles.

www.bbc.com

Wimbledon 2024 results: Cameron Norrie loses to Alexander Zverev, Harriet Dart defeated by Wang Xinyu

Cameron Norrie loses to German fourth seed Alexander Zverev and Harriet Dart falls to China's Wang Xinyu.
www.bbc.com
 

Carlos Alcaraz sinks Ugo Humbert to progress to quarter-finals​


It is less than three weeks since Jack Draper showed his fellow left-handers that the way to beat Carlos Alcaraz on grass was to trust the natural southpaw advantages and to “play without fear”. Once he’d conquered his doubts and let his shots flow, the British No 1 joined only seven other lefties among 32 who have tried to beat the Spaniard on the game’s original playing field.

Was the dip at Queen’s on 20 June an aberration? In the early exchanges and more fevered surroundings of Centre Court in the fourth round of the championships, Ugo Humbert might have thought so, as his best efforts died on the racket in his left hand. But, like Draper, he believed, wholeheartedly so. It was not quite enough.

Alcaraz, a 21-year-old clay-courter who has fashioned a game for every surface, soared, was brought crashing back to earth and ultimately prevailed in a mighty struggle.

The defending champion has now beaten all seven lefties he’s played at Wimbledon. Ominously, in the two hours and 58 minutes it took him to win 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5, Alcaraz several times lifted his tennis from excellent to astounding – and survived a third-set pummelling and a gripping fightback in the fourth.

“Playing lefties is always tricky,” Alcaraz said courtside. “At Queen’s, first on grass [against Draper]. Very difficult, but I just played my own game. I feel great today. I played a really high level. I just had to stay in the point, show my opponent that I’m always going to be there, last ball. Now I will rest a little bit, recovering to be 100% for the next one.”

Left or right, the winning formula on grass invariably turns on sheer power, and there was plenty of that on show on Sunday.

There was another left-hander watching from the Royal Box on day seven, Rod Laver, who once patrolled this court like a king.

Would a peak Laver have confounded Alcaraz? It’s fruitless conjecture – but a thought to ponder as Spain’s new emperor carves his way through the draw. He and Novak Djokovic – 16 years his senior – are the only slam holders left in the men’s singles, and a final between them next weekend would be a fitting battle of the ages.

Jérémy Chardy, Humbert’s coach, felt the power of Alcaraz’s game in the first round here last year, so was more than just another interested onlooker.

Everyone was entranced. An errant shot almost struck a woman in the crowd, who did not spill a drop of her drink. Admirably cool. Would the Frenchman stay similarly calm under pressure from the Spaniard?

It did not seem so when he cracked first, after 20 minutes. The fluidity of Alcaraz’s movement through the shot is phenomenal, the power contained and unleashed as if from the barrel of a gun. And he threatens everywhere from the service line to the net, cruising in and out like a shark.

In the eighth game he hit a 107mph forehand that echoed around the enclosed arena for 40-love – only to see Humbert reply in kind on the next point. However, the world No 16 could do little more than stand and watch as Alcaraz threaded thunderbolts all around him in response to take the first set in 41 minutes. It was an exhilarating onslaught.

This was a different Alcaraz to the one who had to fight back from 1-2 down against Frances Tiafoe in the previous round, but Humbert was proving obdurate.

Alcaraz needed a pair of aces and a slew of big shots to save four break points in the long fifth game. Humbert came at him again in the seventh, and was similarly repulsed. Now we had a fight.

“As is often the case, Alcaraz finds the solutions,” Tim Henman observed. A delicious slice earned him set point and, when Humbert popped a forehand just over the line at the end of a remarkable rally [during which Alcaraz slipped behind the baseline], the Spaniard was 2-0 up after an hour-and-a-half.

Laver could hardly have asked for better entertainment; Chardy probably enjoyed it less. And the noble Humbert? Shattered, by the look of it – but he remained stubbornly committed and in a counter-attack that caught everyone by surprise – especially Alcaraz – broke three times to take the third set in a few ticks over half an hour.

Humbert trailed by a set, but he oozed self-confidence. He knew no fear.

As nerves rattled at both ends, neither player could hold until the fourth game of the fourth set, when Alcaraz rediscovered his rhythm, having dropped serve four times in a row, to lead 3-1. Victory seemed at hand, but Humbert, who paid no heed to the odds, red-lined to break back.

From love-40 in the eighth game, however, Alcaraz rebuilt his crumbling serve, held through two deuce points and got back in the contest. Trailing in the service cycle, Alcaraz had to hold to stay in the set. An astonishing passing shot that whirred past Humbert forced a raised racket of appreciation from the Frenchman and we were back on an even keel of sorts at five-all.

Alcaraz was now risking trademark clay-court drop shots to good effect, and opened his shoulders on the forehand, as the vigour and sharpness returned to his game under intense pressure. His vicious top-spin landed on the line and he broke to 15.

Humbert call on the crowd for support, and they gave it to him, craving a fifth set – but Alcaraz upped his serve to 132mph and closed it out with a drop shot and an unreturnable serve to his opponent’s backhand – a downside for lefties. It was a match to savour.

www.theguardian.com

Carlos Alcaraz sinks Ugo Humbert to progress to quarter-finals

Carlos Alcaraz moved into the Wimbledon quarter-finals after beating Ugo Humbert 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
 
Alcaraz into last eight as 'high level' overcomes Humbert as Sinner wins

Carlos Alcaraz inched a step closer to defending his Wimbledon title with a hard-fought victory over Ugo Humbert.

The 21-year-old Spaniard held off a late charge from 16th seed Humbert to win 6-3 6-4 1-6 7-5 and move into the last eight at SW19.

It took Alcaraz's winning streak at Grand Slams to 11 following his French Open triumph last month.

"I feel great playing today, I think I played a really high level," he said.

"Playing a leftie, I try not to think about it and play my own game."

Alcaraz will next face compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut or American 12th seed Tommy Paul, the Queen's Club champion.

Meanwhile, world number one Jannik Sinner defeated American 14th seed Ben Shelton 6-2 6-4 7-6 (11-9).

Shelton, who won in five sets in his first three rounds, had four set points in the third-set tie-break.

Sinner, 22, will play fifth seed Daniil Medvedev or 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov next.


BBC
 
Raducanu knocked out of Wimbledon by qualifier Sun

Emma Raducanu is out of Wimbledon after being hampered by a back injury in the deciding set of her fourth-round match against New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun.

British wildcard Raducanu, 21, lost 6-2 5-7 6-2 in a dramatic contest on Centre Court.

Raducanu had levelled the match and regained some confidence after a stunning performance from an inspired Sun.

Then Raducanu slipped on the baseline in the first game of the third set.

The 2021 US Open champion stayed down on the grass and shook her head before getting back to her feet.

The game was stopped at 15-30 on Raducanu's serve and she received treatment - on her hip and back - while laid out on the court.

A roar of encouragement greeted Raducanu when it became clear she would carry on, but she lost serve immediately and could not recover the break.

It means the world number 135 missed out on reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time in her career.


BBC
 
Musetti fights back to reach first major quarter-final

Lorenzo Musetti reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final by surging past lucky loser Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at Wimbledon.

The Italian 25th seed struggled against the big-serving Frenchman in the first set before adapting his approach to win 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-2.

It ends a remarkable run for 21-year-old Mpetshi Perricard, who was attempting to become the first lucky loser, man or woman, to reach the singles quarter-finals of a Grand Slam.


BBC
 
Medvedev beats Sinner in five sets to reach semi-finals

Daniil Medvedev ended his losing streak against Jannik Sinner in a five-set thriller to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for a second consecutive year.

Italian top seed Sinner, who was hampered by illness, had won his most recent five encounters against Medvedev - including January's Australian Open final.

But Russian fifth seed Medvedev avenged that Melbourne result with a 6-7 (7-9) 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 6-3 win after exactly four hours on Centre Court.

"I knew if I wanted to beat Jannik it needs to be a tough match," said Medvedev, who is targeting a first appearance in the SW19 final.

"I'm really happy to win, really happy with my game and looking forward."

The 28-year-old will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or Queen's Club winner Tommy Paul in the semi-finals.


BBC
 
US Open collapse not my toughest loss – McIlroy

Rory McIlroy says he will "learn a lot" from his late collapse at the US Open but insists it was not the toughest defeat of his career.

Four-time major winner McIlroy led last month's championship by two shots with five holes to play but bogeys on three of his last four holes allowed Bryson DeChambeau to snatch a dramatic victory.

He immediately left Pinehurst without speaking to the media and has not played since.

"It's been a while since I've won a major. It hurt but I felt worse after some other losses," said McIlroy, who makes his return as the defending champion at this week's Scottish Open.

"I felt worse after Augusta in 2011 and I felt worse after St Andrews [in 2022]. It was up there with the tough losses but not the toughest."

Two years ago, McIlroy jointly led the 150th Open Championship at the Old Course by four shots with Viktor Hovland going into the final round and although he carded a two-under 70, Australia's Cameron Smith shot a 64 to take the title.

He also held a four-shot lead at the 2011 Masters, but collapsed to an eight-over-par 80 in the final round.

McIlroy 'too aware' of DeChambeau​

McIlroy, who also finished runner-up at the 2023 US Open, overhauled a three-shot deficit to DeChambeau to lead by two, but he dropped shots on the 15th, 16th and 18th holes.

"The short putt on 16 is one that I'll probably rue most because it was a pretty simple putt," admitted McIlroy, who last won a major in 2014.

"The putt on 18 was pretty difficult. There's not a lot that I would change about what I did on Sunday for the first 14 holes. That's the best I've played in that position in a long, long time.

Playing in the group in front of DeChambeau, McIlroy also admitted to feeling uncomfortable during the latter stages of his round because he was "too aware" of what the American was doing behind him.

"The way the course flowed made me aware of what he was doing at the same time.

"So it sort of got me out of my own little world a little bit.

"The few days after it were pretty tough at times but I've done a good job of thinking about it rationally and constructively, and taking what I need from it and trying to learn from it."

McIlroy defends caddie Diamond​



McIlroy, who spent "time alone with my thoughts" in Manhattan as he mulled over his latest major near-miss, has cut a relaxed figure at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, where he beat Scotland's Robert MacIntyre to the title last year.
The world number two appeared in good form during the Wednesday pro-am, where he stopped to take photographs and sign autographs in between the second and third holes.

But he had a stern rebuttal to a question about criticism of his caddie Harry Diamond at the US Open. Player-turned-analyst Smylie Kaufman and Tiger Woods' former coach Hank Haney have been among those questioning Diamond's credentials.

"These guys that criticise when things don't go my way, they never say anything good when things do go my way," said McIlroy, who will play with MacIntyre and Hovland when the Scottish Open starts on Thursday.

"Where were they when I won Dubai earlier year, or Quail Hollow, or the two FedEx Cups that I've won with Harry or the two Ryder Cups or whatever? They are never there to say Harry did such a great job when I win, but they are always there to criticise when we don't win.

"They are not there. They are not the ones hitting the shots and making the decisions. Someone said to me once, if you would never take advice from these people, you would never take their criticisms either.

" certainly wouldn't go to Hank Haney for advice. I love Smylie, but I think I know what I'm doing, and so does Harry."

BBC
 
Britain guaranteed men's doubles finalist

There is guaranteed to be a British player in the Wimbledon's men’s doubles final after Neal Skupski and Henry Patten both claimed victories with their respective partners to set up a meeting in the last four.

Skupski and New Zealand's Michael Venus beat German pair Constantin Frantzen and Hendrik Jebens 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-1) in their quarter-final.

Patten and Harri Heliovaara of Finland fought back from a set down to clinch a 4-6 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (10-7) win over El Salvador's Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic of Croatia.

Skupski won the title last year with Dutchman Wesley Koolhof and has combined well with Venus, who usually plays with Jamie Murray.

Skupski and Venus won the warm-up events at Queen's and Eastbourne and maintained their winning streak with victory in 91 minutes on court 12.

Patten, meanwhile, is through to the latter stages of a Grand Slam for the first time after he and Heliovaara knocked out the fourth seeds.


BBC
 
Briton Patten reaches first Wimbledon doubles final

Henry Patten has reached his first Wimbledon men's doubles final by knocking out fellow Briton and 2023 champion Neal Skupski.

Patten, alongside Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara, beat ninth seeds Skupski and Michael Venus of New Zealand 6-4 7-6 (7-1) on Court One.

They will face Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson in Saturday's final after the Australian duo defeated Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos of Spain and Argentina respectively in straight sets.

The unseeded pair broke Venus' serve at the start of the match and held their break advantage right through a tense opening set.

The second set stayed on serve with underdogs Patten and Heliovaara dominating the tie-break.

Incredibly, Patten, 28, had not gone beyond the third round of a Grand Slam before this fortnight and has only won two tournaments on tour, both with Heliovaara who he started partnering this year.

They are on a dream run having also squeezed past French Open winners Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic in a match-deciding tie-break in the quarter-finals.

Skupski was hoping to reach his second successive final having lifted the title with previous partner Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands last year.

He competes in the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles with American partner Desirae Krawczyk later on Thursday.

Venus, a former partner of Jamie Murray, finished runner-up in the men's doubles in 2018.

While Heliovaara, who won the mixed doubles title at the US Open last year, is into his first men's Grand Slam doubles final.


BBC
 
Jasmine Paolini edged out a tearful Donna Vekic in a thrilling semi-final to become the first Italian to reach a Wimbledon women's singles final.

In one of the best matches of the tournament, Paolini missed two match points and was 8-7 behind in the 10-point tie-break before recovering to clinch an incredible victory.

The match lasted two hours 51 minutes, making it the longest women's singles semi-final at Wimbledon, with the Italian winning 2-6 6-4 7-6 (10-8).

Seventh seed Paolini will now face Czech 31st seed Barbora Krejcikova after she claimed a remarkable 3-6 6-3 6-4 comeback victory against Elena Rybakina, the 2022 champion.

It means there will be a new name etched into the Venus Rosewater Dish following Saturday's final.

Paolini, who had never won a match at this tournament before this year but who has gained huge popularity with her enthusiasm, bubbly personality and incredible shot-making skills, said: "I was serving really bad so I am so happy. This match I will remember forever.

“I was just trying to think about what to do on the court, point by point, because I was really in difficulty.”

Vekic, who was also struggling with an injury to her lower right arm, was seen in tears at the changeover before the tie-break as the match was slipping away from her.

"I thought I was going to die in the third set," said a tearful Vekic in the post-match news conference. "I had so much pain in my arm, in my leg. It was not easy out there, but I will recover.

"I was more crying because I had so much pain, I didn't know how I could keep playing. My team tells me I can be proud of myself.

"It's tough right now. It's really tough to be positive right now. It was so close."

Source: BBC
 

Defending champion Alcaraz fights back to reach final​


Carlos Alcaraz is one win away from defending his Wimbledon title after clinching a comeback victory over Daniil Medvedev to reach Sunday's final.

Fifth seed Medvedev was attempting to avenge last year's semi-final defeat when he fell in straight sets to the Spaniard.

But after faltering at the start of a thrilling sequel, Alcaraz soon bounced back to wrap up a 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 6-4 6-4 win.

The 21-year-old stretched out his arms and let out a roar when Medvedev fired wide on the first match point.

He will play Italy's Lorenzo Musetti or seven-time champion Novak Djokovic, in what would be a repeat of the 2023 showpiece.

"It will be a good day for Spanish people as well," Alcaraz said when asked to look ahead to the final.

That led to the Centre Court crowd briefly - and jokingly - booing him for his view on Sunday's Euro 2024 final between England and Spain.

Smiling, the three-time major winner, added: "I didn't say Spain are going to win - but I say it will be a fun, fun day."

Alcaraz could become just the ninth man in the Open era to retain the Wimbledon title – after Djokovic, Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.

It's also his chance to win back-to-back titles at Roland Garros and SW19 - a rare accomplishment completed by his hero Rafael Nadal in both 2008 and 2010, and achieved most recently by Djokovic in 2021.

Alcaraz recovers from 'really nervous' start

An enthralling contest got under way with a seven-minute game that entertained the crowd with four deuces and a missed break point from Alcaraz.

But after struggling in his first service game, it was Medvedev who struck first and established a 5-2 lead.

The 28-year-old Russian, normally so comfortable behind his baseline, troubled Alcaraz with deft drop shots and nimble advances to the net.

Despite making his way back to 5-5, Alcaraz could do nothing to stop Medvedev from rattling through the tie-break impressively to win the opener and better his 2023 semi-final showing.

"I started really, really nervous," added Alcaraz. "Daniil was dominating the match, playing great tennis. It was difficult for me."

He burst to life in the second set and a single break of serve was enough for the defending champion, roared on by the crowd, to level the tie.

His intensity increased in the third set and he greeted each winner with a clenched fist and cries of "vamos" as he moved closer to a second straight Wimbledon final.

In a tense start to the fourth set, the players exchanged breaks before the pivotal moment arrived at 3-3 when Medvedev fired long to gift his opponent the lead.

After falling 0-30 down when trying to serve out the match, Alcaraz fought back and Medvedev's hopes of reaching a first Wimbledon final were crushed by a wide forehand.

'I am not new anymore' - Alcaraz ready for second straight final

Alcaraz came into last year's Wimbledon with a near-perfect build-up, having succeeded at Queen's Club for his first grass-court title.

But his title defence preparations for this year's tournament were stunted following his French Open triumph and he played just two matches on grass - falling in the second round of Queen's to British number one Jack Draper.

It makes Alcaraz's run to Sunday's final all the more impressive.

While he has looked far from convincing in some matches, winning in straight sets just twice, he has shown a new-found resilience to wrestle his way through matches.

Like his wins over Americans Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul, Alcaraz had to demonstrate impressive mental strength to battle back from a set down against Medvedev - something that will give him confidence for Sunday's final.

"I feel like I am not new anymore," he said.

"I know how I feel before the final I have been in this position before - I will try to do the things that I didn't do last year and be better."

www.bbc.com

Wimbledon results 2024: Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz fights back to beat Daniil Medvedev and reach final

Carlos Alcaraz moves one win away from defending his Wimbledon title after clinching a comeback victory over Daniil Medvedev.
www.bbc.com
 

Princess of Wales to award Wimbledon men’s trophy​


The Princess of Wales will award the Wimbledon men’s trophy to the winner of the final on Sunday, in a rare public appearance since her cancer diagnosis.

It will be the second time she has appeared in public after undergoing abdominal surgery in January, which led to the discovery of the cancer and the beginning of chemotherapy treatment in late February. Last month, she attended the trooping the colour ceremony for King Charles’s official birthday before which she released a statement saying she was “making good progress” but was “not out of the woods yet”.

Catherine has been a patron of the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016, and it is customary for her to present the trophy to the winners of the men’s and women’s final. Last year, she presented the men’s trophy to Carlos Alcaraz after his victory against Novak Djokovic. The two will play each other again in this year’s final.

Catherine will not attend the women’s final on Saturday. Instead, the Wimbledon chair, Debbie Jevans, will present the women’s trophy on her behalf to either Jasmine Paolini or Barbora Krejcikova.

In March, Catherine released a video in which she announced her cancer diagnosis, after months of speculation prompted by her admission to the London Clinic on 16 January for abdominal surgery.

The speculation was partly fuelled by an image released to the press by Catherine on Mother’s Day, which was recalled by some of the world’s biggest picture agencies over claims that it was doctored. The princess later apologised for the “confusion” and admitted to editing the photograph.

In the video released in March, she said: “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”

Catherine said her focus was on reassuring her children. “As I have said to them, I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal, in my mind, body and spirits. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.”

www.theguardian.com

Princess of Wales to award Wimbledon men’s trophy

Catherine to make second public appearance since cancer diagnosis, at final on Sunday between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
 

Barbora Krejčíková wins first Wimbledon title, defeating Jasmine Paolini in tense final​


Barbora Krejčíková won her second grand slam and first Wimbledon title on Saturday, eventually overpowering Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6-2 2-6 6-4 in a thrilling women’s final.

The Czech has endured a difficult season, disrupted by injury and marked by a subsequent tumble down the world rankings, but all that faded away as she raised her arms to the sky in celebration and soaked in the applause of the crowd on Centre Court.

Though she initially raced to a one set lead, Krejčíková had to call on all her experience as a seven-time grand slam doubles champion and 2021 French Open champion in the face of Paolini’s spirited fightback.

The Italian, playing in her second consecutive grand slam final, dragged the match to a deciding set and fended off two championship points before Krejčíková sealed victory at her third attempt.

 
FearlessRoar said:

Princess of Wales to award Wimbledon men’s trophy​


The Princess of Wales will award the Wimbledon men’s trophy to the winner of the final on Sunday, in a rare public appearance since her cancer diagnosis.

It will be the second time she has appeared in public after undergoing abdominal surgery in January, which led to the discovery of the cancer and the beginning of chemotherapy treatment in late February. Last month, she attended the trooping the colour ceremony for King Charles’s official birthday before which she released a statement saying she was “making good progress” but was “not out of the woods yet”.

Catherine has been a patron of the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016, and it is customary for her to present the trophy to the winners of the men’s and women’s final. Last year, she presented the men’s trophy to Carlos Alcaraz after his victory against Novak Djokovic. The two will play each other again in this year’s final.

Catherine will not attend the women’s final on Saturday. Instead, the Wimbledon chair, Debbie Jevans, will present the women’s trophy on her behalf to either Jasmine Paolini or Barbora Krejcikova.

In March, Catherine released a video in which she announced her cancer diagnosis, after months of speculation prompted by her admission to the London Clinic on 16 January for abdominal surgery.

The speculation was partly fuelled by an image released to the press by Catherine on Mother’s Day, which was recalled by some of the world’s biggest picture agencies over claims that it was doctored. The princess later apologised for the “confusion” and admitted to editing the photograph.

In the video released in March, she said: “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”

Catherine said her focus was on reassuring her children. “As I have said to them, I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal, in my mind, body and spirits. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.”

www.theguardian.com

Princess of Wales to award Wimbledon men’s trophy

Catherine to make second public appearance since cancer diagnosis, at final on Sunday between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
Click to expand...

Princess of Wales arrives at Wimbledon for rare public appearance at men's final​

Kate, who is patron of SW19's All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, will present the trophy to the winner of the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.

The Princess of Wales has arrived at Wimbledon for the men's singles final, her second public appearance since she was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.

Kate, who attended Trooping the Colour last month, is watching defending champion Carlos Alcaraz play Novak Djokovic in a repeat of last year's tournament finale on Centre Court.

The princess was joined by her daughter Princess Charlotte and sister Pippa.

Kate, who will present the trophy to the winner, has been a patron of the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016.

She arrived less than an hour before the final was due to begin on Sunday afternoon and met players including Emma Raducanu.

Kate and Charlotte were cheered and applauded by the crowd as they took their seats in the front row of the royal box at Centre Court.

Kate smiled broadly and waved to the crowd as the pair sat down beside her sister Pippa Matthews.

The princess did not attend the women's final and Wimbledon chairwoman, Debbie Jevans, presented the trophy to Krejcikova on her behalf.

Earlier on Sunday, Britain's Alfie Hewett completed the career Grand Slam by winning his first wheelchair singles title.

While Kate is in the UK, Prince William is flying to Berlin to cheer on England as they play Spain in the final of Euro 2024.

Earlier in the tournament, the princess paid tribute to double champion Sir Andy Murray saying he should be "so very proud" after he missed out on a final match at Wimbledon.

In a personally signed message on social media, Kate wrote: "An incredible #Wimbledon career comes to an end. You should be so very proud @andy_murray. On behalf of all of us, thank you! C."

The princess visited the championships several times last year and presented Alcaraz with his first Wimbledon trophy after watching him battle with Novak Djokovic in the men's singles final.

Kate revealed in March she has been receiving preventative chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer since late February.

Ahead of last month's first public appearance since her diagnosis, she said she hoped "to join a few public engagements over the summer", but added she knew "I am not out of the woods yet".

"I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty," Kate said.

"Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much-needed time to heal."

news.sky.com

Princess of Wales arrives at Wimbledon for rare public appearance at men's final

Kate, who is patron of SW19's All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, will present the trophy to the winner of the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
news.sky.com news.sky.com
 
Can djoker take it to 4th set. Man if nole wins this he is the goat without a shadow of a doubt. If alcaraz wins I think this marks the final end of the big 3
 

Alcaraz crushes Djokovic to retain Wimbledon title​


Carlos Alcaraz powered to victory over an out-of-sorts Novak Djokovic in a bewildering final to retain his men's singles title at Wimbledon.

A repeat of last year's showpiece, it failed to live up to the five-set thriller of 12 months ago as Djokovic appeared mostly helpless against the dominant Spaniard.

After squandering three championship points when trying to serve out the victory, Alcaraz held his arms aloft after battling through the third-set tie-break for a 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-4) win.

"Honestly, it is a dream for me winning this trophy," said Alcaraz.

"I did an interview when I was 11 and I said my dream is to win Wimbledon."

Gracious in defeat, Djokovic shared a smile and warm embrace with Alcaraz at the net after the comprehensive defeat.

For a second straight year, Djokovic was attempting to equal Roger Federer's record of eight Wimbledon men's titles.

The 24-time major winner was also trying to move ahead of Margaret Court to take sole ownership of the all-time record for the most Grand Slam singles titles.

As tradition now dictates, Alcaraz climbed up to the players' box and was leapt upon by his team and family, celebrating a 14th consecutive match win at Wimbledon.

The result continues the four-time major winner's 100% record in Grand Slam finals, while he becomes the youngest man to win at Wimbledon and the French Open in the same year.

www.bbc.com

Wimbledon 2024 final: Carlos Alcaraz beats Novak Djokovic to retain men's title

Carlos Alcaraz powers to victory over an out-of-sorts Novak Djokovic to retain his men's singles title at Wimbledon.
www.bbc.com
 
FearlessRoar said:

Alcaraz crushes Djokovic to retain Wimbledon title​


Carlos Alcaraz powered to victory over an out-of-sorts Novak Djokovic in a bewildering final to retain his men's singles title at Wimbledon.

A repeat of last year's showpiece, it failed to live up to the five-set thriller of 12 months ago as Djokovic appeared mostly helpless against the dominant Spaniard.

After squandering three championship points when trying to serve out the victory, Alcaraz held his arms aloft after battling through the third-set tie-break for a 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-4) win.

"Honestly, it is a dream for me winning this trophy," said Alcaraz.

"I did an interview when I was 11 and I said my dream is to win Wimbledon."

Gracious in defeat, Djokovic shared a smile and warm embrace with Alcaraz at the net after the comprehensive defeat.

For a second straight year, Djokovic was attempting to equal Roger Federer's record of eight Wimbledon men's titles.

The 24-time major winner was also trying to move ahead of Margaret Court to take sole ownership of the all-time record for the most Grand Slam singles titles.

As tradition now dictates, Alcaraz climbed up to the players' box and was leapt upon by his team and family, celebrating a 14th consecutive match win at Wimbledon.

The result continues the four-time major winner's 100% record in Grand Slam finals, while he becomes the youngest man to win at Wimbledon and the French Open in the same year.

www.bbc.com

Wimbledon 2024 final: Carlos Alcaraz beats Novak Djokovic to retain men's title

Carlos Alcaraz powers to victory over an out-of-sorts Novak Djokovic to retain his men's singles title at Wimbledon.
www.bbc.com
Click to expand...
https://twitter.com/x/status/1812523928117723519
 
RexRex said:
I'm not sure about Sinner but Alcaraz might end up as the Bradman of tennis; not often you see Novak drubbed in 3 sets.
Click to expand...
But this is a half fit 37 yr old Djokovic. He made Alcaraz look even better than he is.

The big big question is what is the generation after Alcaraz like. Remember Nadal and Djokovic came within 5 years of Federer.
 
Draper, Norrie & Evans named in GB Davis Cup team

Jack Draper, Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans, Britain's leading three men's players, have been named in the Davis Cup team for the group stage in Manchester in September.

Doubles specialists Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski have also been included in the five-man team.

Captain Leon Smith can make up to three changes, meaning Wimbledon men's doubles champion Henry Patten could feature.

"We’ve got a really strong team once again and I’m sure it’s going to be another special week in Manchester," said Smith.

Drawn in Group D, Britain face Finland on 13 September, 2023 runners-up Argentina on 15 September and Canada on 17 September at the AO Arena.

A Britain team that included three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray reached the quarter-finals last year.

They last won the Davis Cup in 2015.


BBC
 
Norrie beats Kovalik in Swedish Open first round

Britain's Cameron Norrie beat Jozef Kovalik 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 in the first round of the Swedish Open.

A tight first set in which neither player managed to engineer a break point on the clay went to a tiebreak.

Norrie took a 5-3 lead after steering a shot down the line from a Kovalik drop shot and then won his next two service points to take the tie-break and first set.

The Briton was 40-15 up on the Slovak's serve in the second and sixth games of the second set but failed to take any of those four break points as his opponent resolutely held.

However, Norrie turned up the pressure at 5-4 when Kovalik was serving to stay in the match and, after going 40-0 up, took his second match point to claim victory in one hour 35 minutes.


BBC
 
The Billie Jean King Cup finals in November have been switched from Seville to Malaga, organizers the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said on Wednesday, causing an overlap with the Davis Cup which will be held at the same venue

The tournament will kick off at the Martin Carpena Arena in Malaga, Spain, on Nov. 13 and end on Nov. 20, with the last two days of the competition overlapping with the first two days of the Davis Cup finals taking place from Nov. 19-24.

"The relocation was required by the event's host partner, Junta de Andalucia (government of Andalucia), and supported by the city and diputacion (provincial council) of Malaga," the ITF said in a statement.

"The Billie Jean King Cup, formerly the Fed Cup, will join with the Davis Cup to create a unique, world-class fortnight of international team tennis...

"All existing ticket holders for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Sevilla have been offered the chance to exchange their tickets for the same sessions in Malaga or receive a full refund."

The tournament, which used to feature 12 national teams in four round robin groups, will have eight teams in a knockout round one, with four seeded teams receiving a bye to the quarter finals.

Reigning champions Canada will face either Germany or Britain in their quarterfinal tie, with runners-up Italy against Japan or Romania.

"We remain dedicated to ensuring a seamless experience for players and fans and delivering an event that will be both special and memorable," ITF CEO Kelly Fairweather said.

"We are confident that this move will uphold the prestigious legacy of both tournaments and look forward to hosting the world's best 20 teams, their players and fans to Malaga this November."

Source: BBC
 
Borges beats Nadal in Swedish Open final

World number 51 Nuno Borges beat Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 to win the Swedish Open in Bastad.

Spaniard Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, slipped to a resounding defeat in his first final since 2022.

Hampered by injury in recent years, the 38-year-old has fallen to 261 in the rankings and opted against playing at Wimbledon this summer to prioritise the Olympics.

Portuguese Borges, playing his first ATP final compared to Nadal's 131st, took the first set in 46 minutes and won three games in a row in the second to seal victory.


BBC
 
Injured Vondrousova withdraws from Paris 2024

Olympic silver medallist Marketa Vondrousova has withdrawn from the Paris 2024 Games due to a hand injury.

The Czech, 25, made the decision following her first-round exit during the defence of her Wimbledon title earlier this month.

She became the first Wimbledon ladies singles champion since Steffi Graf lost to Lori McNeil in 1994 to go out in the first round, after defeat by Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

Vondrousova won silver at Tokyo 2020 but posting on her Instagram, external, she said she would not play at this summer's Games and would focus on preparing for the US Open, which begins on 26 August.


BBC
 
World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Paris Olympics with tonsillitis

The Italian struggled with illness during his Wimbledon quarter-final loss to Daniil Medvedev earlier in July.

Sinner was one of the favourites for the gold medal on the Paris clay, reaching the French Open semi-finals after winning his first major title at the Australian Open in January.

"After a good week of clay training I started to feel unwell," the 22-year-old posted on X., external

"I spent a couple of days resting and during a visit the doctor found tonsillitis and strongly advised me against playing.

"Missing the Games is a huge disappointment as it was one of my main goals for this season."

The tennis tournament takes place from 27 July to 4 August.

Source: BBC
 

Sinner out of Olympics with tonsillitis​


World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Paris Olympics with tonsillitis.

The Italian struggled with illness during his Wimbledon quarter-final loss to Daniil Medvedev earlier in July.

Sinner was one of the favourites for the gold medal on the Paris clay, reaching the French Open semi-finals after winning his first major title at the Australian Open in January.


BBC
 

Carlos Alcaraz makes ‘nervous’ confession about his ‘idol and role model’ Rafael Nadal​


Carlos Alcaraz has admitted that speaking with tennis legend Rafael Nadal, who he describes as his “idol” and “role model”, still makes him nervous.

The world No 2 believes that feeling nerves when he meets with Nadal is “something that’s impossible to pull out” even after speaking to him a lot of times.

Alcaraz has played Nadal three times, with the first matchup coming in the last 32 of the 2021 Madrid Open, where an inexperienced Alcaraz was crushed 6-1, 6-2.

The Spanish duo next faced off in the semi-finals of the 2022 Indian Wells Masters, and Nadal triumphed again – this time 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 – in a close and entertaining contest.

The pair then contested their third and most recent matchup in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open in 2022, with Alcaraz winning 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 to claim his first win against his legendary compatriot.

The two stars could renew their rivalry in 2024, with Nadal having returned to play his first event since the 2023 Australian Open at the Brisbane International earlier this month.

Nadal withdrew ahead of the 2024 Australian Open, which started on Sunday, due to a hip injury he suffered in his three-set quarter-final defeat to Jordan Thompson in Brisbane.

Prior to Brisbane, Nadal had not played a competitive singles match since losing to Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of last year’s Australian Open due to a hip injury. The former world No 1 underwent arthroscopic surgery to treat the psoas muscle in his hip in June 2023.

Speaking at a charity match with Casper Ruud on Rod Laver Arena ahead of the Australian Open, Alcaraz was shown a picture of him with Nadal when he was 13 and was asked if he was nervous.

“He (Nadal) makes me nervous, obviously. I mean, I’ve met him a lot of times right now, but I still have nerves when I am speaking with him,” the Spaniard said.

“Yeah of course, he is my idol, he is my role model since I started playing tennis. So, I think the nerves will appear. It’s something that’s impossible to pull out.”

In a video shared by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) last year, Alcaraz discussed the players he idolised growing up and revealed Nadal was, and remains, his biggest hero.

“My hero was Rafael Nadal and it’s still Rafael Nadal. Since I started playing tennis, I look up to Rafa every time that I watch his matches,” the 20-year-old said.

“Of course I look up to Roger Federer, but it has always been Rafa. I’ve always watched tennis, you know the big things he has achieved, big matches he has played.

“Yeah, the first time I met him, I was 12 years old. It was in the Mutua Madrid Open, I was playing the under 12, and he was in the semi-final or something like that in the big one. And yeah, I took a photo with him and this was the first time that I was with him.”

Two-time major winner Alcaraz will face Richard Gasquet in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday.

www.tennis365.com

Carlos Alcaraz makes 'nervous' confession about his idol Rafael Nadal

Carlos Alcaraz has admitted that speaking with tennis legend Rafael Nadal, who he describes as his "idol" and "role model", still makes him nervous.
www.tennis365.com www.tennis365.com
 
GB's Draper out as Gauff suffers shock Olympics defeat

British men's number one Jack Draper faded in the sweltering Paris heat as the nation's interest in the Olympics singles ended in the second round.

Draper, 22, lost 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 2-6 to American seventh seed Taylor Fritz on the Roland Garros clay.


BBC
 
Alcaraz, Djokovic and Swiatek advance in Olympic singles

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz will join 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the Olympic men's singles quarter-finals.

But Alcaraz and 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal were beaten in the men's doubles by USA's Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram - losing 6-2 6-4.

Reigning French Open champion Alcaraz defeated Russian Roman Safiullin, who is competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete, 6-4 6-2.

Earlier, Djokovic beat Germany's Dominik Koepfer 7-5 6-3 in very humid conditions, as the Serb continues his quest for the Olympic men's singles gold that has so far eluded him.



BBC
 
Boulter & Watson reach women's doubles quarter-finals

Katie Boulter and Heather Watson advanced to the quarter-finals of the Olympic tennis women's doubles with a straight-set win over Brazilian duo Beatriz Haddad Maia and Luisa Stefani.

After two dramatic wins from compatriots Andy Murray and Dan Evans in the men's doubles, this was much more straightforward for GB's women as they won 6-3 6-4.

The British duo struck early in the first set and held on to their advantage comfortably, but were challenged in the second set as the Brazilians put the pressure on, forcing them to save two break points.

The pair responded strongly, breaking the Brazilians and saving more break points before closing out the match on their third match point. Boulter used her power from the baseline, leaving Watson to show off her speed and agility at the net.

They will next face the third seeds from Italy - Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, who have both reached the French Open semi-finals.


BBC
 
Raducanu knocked out of Washington Open by Badosa

Britain's Emma Raducanu was knocked out of the Washington Open in the quarter-finals by Paula Badosa.

Spain's Badosa fought back from going a set down and a break down in a dramatic decider to progress with a 4-6 7-5 6-4 win in two hours 45 minutes.

"She was playing amazing and she took me to the limit," said Badosa, 26. "I knew I had to play aggressive. At the beginning I was missing a little bit and I had to adjust but she was also making me miss.

"I've never played her so it's the first time I've experienced her and I was surprised how smart she is on court. I really like how she plays. It was a very nice fight."

Raducanu had promisingly broken in the first game of the third set and then saved a break point on her way to going 2-0 up.

However, Badosa, the world number 62, worked another break point in the sixth game and the Briton succumbed with a double fault.

Raducanu, who is 89th in the world, failed to take three break points in the next game and, on the back of that, lost her serve to fall 5-3 behind.

With Badosa serving for the match, the 21-year-old found the line with a backhand to save a match point as she broke her opponent.

It was only a temporary reprieve as Raducanu let a 40-15 advantage on her serve slip in the next game and, facing match point, served a double fault.

Raducanu was out for eight months - during which time she had operations on both of her wrists and her left ankle - before returning to the tour in January.

She turned down the chance to play for Great Britain at the Olympics because she did not want to switch back to playing on clay at Roland Garros.

Instead, Raducanu has prioritised hard courts the forthcoming US Open - the tournament she won in 2021 as a qualifier.


BBC
 
Korda wins Washington Open 32 years after father

Sebastian Korda said it was "probably the most special moment" of his career as he emulated his father by winning the Washington Open.

The 24-year-old beat Flavio Cobolli 4-6 6-2 6-0 on Sunday to win the second title of his career.

Sebastian's father, Petr, won the competition in 1992, making them the first father and son to win the same title in ATP Tour history.


BBC
 
Boulter through as Haddad Maia retires after two games

British number one Katie Boulter reached the third round of the Canadian Open in Toronto as opponent Beatriz Haddad Maia was forced to retire injured after just two games.

Haddad Maia, the world number 33 and 13th seed, received treatment for an issue with her lower back after the first game.

The Brazilian attempted to return, but retired once Boulter, 28, levelled the first set at 1-1.

Boulter, who advances to the third round of the competition for the first time, will play the winner of the game between world number three Aryna Sabalenka's match against China's Yuan Yue on Friday.

Elsewhere, American top seed Coco Guaff beat China's Wang Yafan 6-4 6-4 to set up a tie with Diana Shnaider - who knocked out Britain's Harriet Dart in the first round.

Third seed Jessica Pegula won 7-5 6-4 against Karolina Pliskova, while world number 17 Anna Kalinskaya beat Lesia Tsurenko 6-2 6-2.


BBC
 
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