feather_ghyll (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
feather_ghyll) wrote2023-07-18 07:39 am
feather_ghyll) wrote2023-07-18 07:39 am
TENNIS: Wimbledon R1 to R4
I kept notes, but never got around to posting them during the fortnight, so here’s the first part of my round-up (believe it or not, but I’ve edited those notes.) On day one, I watched the clash of the wild cards, Venus Williams, aged 43, versus Elina Svitolina, new mother. One was looking to eke out her career, the other to return to the top (and was playing for Ukraine.) Venus had a fall early on and that may not have helped her movement, but Svitolina showed off her great return and played solidly, winning in two sets. Sam Smith did a great job of talking about the Ukrainian player’s background and what she’s done for young Ukrainian tennis players recently.
I forgot to watch Gauff vs Kenin, where the seeded, in-form player fell to the former Grand Slam champion who had had to qualify.
Thumbs-up from me for the retooled Today at Wimbledon. Qasa Alom wanders around, talks to commentators after matches, and making it a pre-record rather than live is just better all round. I could fast forward matches I’d already watched, but get a feel for the ones I hadn’t the morning after. (I was unimpressed by Isa Guha, who pulled the early shift; she always seemed to get something wrong, like mixing up Centre Court and No. 1 Court.)
Day two was mainly about the rain. It was a real advantage for those playing on the show courts, who included an impressive Alcaraz. Rybakina had to overcome nerves in a three-set match. Some of those nerves may have been because Roger Federer was watching play on Centre Court. Murray and Norrie won, and Dan Evans failed to when the resumption of his match got snuck in on Centre Court because there was no play on most of the outside courts for most of the day. This meant it was really confusing as to what round you were watching for the next few days, while some players had to play a match over two days or matches without a day’s break.
I think Kostyuk wore my favourite outfit of all the women, although I liked Martic’s high skirt. FWIW, I loathed the holey multi-layered thing Nike gave the players, while I’d liked the pre-Wimbledon version with green waves.
From when I first saw him on day three, I took against Medvedev’s deep returning position. I watched most of Tsitsipas vs Thiem’s fifth set – I remember thinking rather flippantly when I saw the draw that it would be good for Murray if they made it a five setter. Which they did. Thiem found some of his best tennis for that final set of a match played over two days, but Tsitsipas responded well, and was a smidge the better player at net. Certainly his serving was better in the championship tiebreak, but then, he’s been playing more pressure points recently than Thiem who’s been out in the wilderness since injury. But I sincerely hope that Thiem can repeat this level and return to the top flight.
I’d thought Liam Broady had a chance to be competitive against Casper Ruud, but it was quite something to switch the TV on and see Broady winning the fourth set of their second round match. In the fifth, he was clearly the better grass-court player. Ruud was back behind the baseline, while Broady was much better at the net. I don’t know if falling a couple of times made Ruud uncertain of his movement or his base for hitting his shots, but Broady merely had to stay calm and keep attacking…and with the crowd roaring him on, bagelled Ruud to get to the third round in a Wimbledon where you do get ranking points. Match of Broady’s life. Ruud has to rethink his approach to grass.
I watched Elena Rybikina play giant-slayer Alize Cornet, oozing class to win the first set. The second was a different matter and the time of day began to play its part, with the difference between the shade and the sunlight and the low sun causing problems in the 5-5 game, where Rybakina was down 0-40, and her normal serenity deserted her in frustration. But she battened down the hatches, leading to 10 deuces, and then Cornet slipped, crying out in pain and I think was trembling with tears. After a long timeout, Cornet could play, swathed in tape, and her movement wasn’t what it was. It ended up going to tiebreak, where Rybakina has an excellent record this year, and she won.
And so, Murray vs. Tsitsipas under the roof. From the off, it was clear Tsitsipas had come to play. His first serve percentage was high, and his forehand was mighty. So, the first set went to the tiebreak, and…Tsitsipas played the last four points better.
But ‘C’mon Andy’ regrouped, and played the second set tiebreaker much, much better. One set all, and a long toilet break from Tsitsipas. Which might have been a mistake, because Murray bossed the first game on Tsitsipas’s serve and backed it up. I went to bed at 2-1, even though I knew they could only play until 11 o’clock. In hindsight, I don’t think that going to bed later would have ruined my poor night’s sleep.
I watched the rest of the third set over breakfast, and Murray’s first serve percentage was astronomical, Tsitsipas got frustrated, then a little distracted, then at the business end of the third set Murray slipped (roughly where Tsitsipas had slipped and Cornet had had her fall.) A scream of pain from someone who’s had a hip operation is no good thing, but he did get up, and served another rocket to win the third set.
Which is when they decided to end it, and leave the rest for the morrow, which was that night for me.
I got a glimpse of Berrettini vs De Minaur, for the Italian had got his revenge on Sonega, who’d beat him recently, in five sets. Berrettini seemed to be rediscovering his grass court form, for he was serving out the first set. I’d learn he won that match in three, impressive against a tough competitor who knows how to play on grass.
I managed to time it so I could watch the resumption of Murray vs. Tsitsipas. Both players were a little tense, but both kept their serve, meaning a tiebreak would decide the fourth set. And…Tsitsipas played tough, got the first mini break and held on.
It was deflating for Murray and the crowd, and by the fifth, a little fatigue was setting in for the Scot. Tsitsipas, the younger, fresher man won. (He would go on to play doubles that day.) I saw an interview with Murray, who knows exactly how much work he had to put in…for a second-round defeat at his best Slam. Perhaps a few days’ perspective will point out that he was competitive for four sets with a top 5 player (and there are top 5 players and top 5 players – imagine if he’d had Broady’s draw and faced Ruud at the same stage.) Unkind draws when time is running out and his competitive nature make for plenty to ponder.
Norrie was also out due to a barnstorming performance from Christopher Eubanks, so Liam Broady was the last British man standing, and he was up 5-2 when I joined the match in the third set (one set each). But that seemed to be when the ‘mercurial’ Shapavalov got it together and strung together a run of games to win the set.
I thought it best if I switched to another match, so I watched Swiatek vs Martic from the second game onwards. A few breaks, but then Swiatek got into control and Martic felt the usual smothering and lack of options, losing the first set. To her credit, she played better in the second, going big, but throwing in some variety. Swiatek’s movement is mighty impressive, though, and her return game is excellent. She broke and was serving out, when she got tight and lost the game badly. The world no. 1 didn’t like that, stepped it up in the next game to break again, and served it out convincingly. I thought she must hope to improve in terms of her results here.
They closed the roof for the last match in which Wawrinka, at 38, finally getting to face Djokovic on the grass. He was honest enough in a prerecorded interview about his chances – grass is his weakest surface and Djokovic is looking to beat Federer’s record (his last defeat on Centre Court was ten years ago when Murray beat him to win the Championships as we kept getting reminded.) And the only real competition was who was sweating the most. Djokovic always had an answer. He seemed motivated to get it done well before the 11 p.m. curfew, and was close to bagelling Wawrinka in the second set. I stopped watching in the third, but obviously Djokovic won.
The middle Saturday was a day of two halves. In the first half, I couldn’t settle down to a match, I saw bits of Kvitova’s and Medvedev’s. I was able to watch a replay of Svitolina very assuredly beating an inconsistent Kenin to win their match in two sets (I already knew the results.) I watched the first set between Alcaraz and Jarry, a seed, and a bit of a deliberate, lumbering giant between points, but with a monster serve. However, Alcaraz broke him, and would go on to win in four (long) sets.
I settled in for the Zverev vs. Berrettini match, because it would be a good barometer of where the two, coming back from different injuries, were at and ought to be quite the tussle. Berrettini was put in to serve first, and he wasn’t quite on it, so it became a bit of a scrap, but he won. Zverev won his serve easily, but then so did Berrettini. Even though there were so many thundering aces and unreturnable serves, it was an exciting enough match.
And then, after having very few problems on his serve, Zverev had what would become known as ‘the horror game’. His first serve deserted him, he gifted his opponent with errors, although Berrettini outright won one or two of the points, and Berrettini was serving for the set.
But Zverev returned to his good serving self in the second set, and things were going with serve until 4-4, when Berrettini was getting some play in and looking to force a break, replicating his success in the previous set, when…unexpected rain came down. (The roof had been open.)
After the roof was closed, there was an animated discussion between the players (mainly Berretini), the umpire and a referee at the net instead of a warm up. It was never clear what that was all about.
Play resumed at a tricky time, 30-30 on Zverev’s serve, but he got two good serves in and shut the door. Both players served well, and it was into a tiebreaker, where the big first serves won through until one point where Berrettini got the better of his opponent and just had to win the next two on his serve, also known as That Serve.
So there we were, two quality players who had been serving well (overall, Zverev’s serving figures were better, although Berrettini was always ahead on the ace count), hitting big and winning points at the net when they went in of their own volition, but Berrettini was two sets up. (Henman had picked Zverev in four, and been sniffy about Berrettini’s backhand, but the former finalist was slicing well and won a few points with impeccable backhands down the line. In fact, his play was close to being back to its best, which is impressive, because his comeback from the latest injury is only starting.)
Third set, and Zverev kept serving well, but tried attacking more, while Berrettini kept doing what he was doing. There were a few more deuces, and one game where Berrettini had four break points, but both men usually pulled off a strong serve, and so it went to a tiebreak, with Berrettini hoping to win in three, Zverev needing to win to survive.
There were all sorts of breaks until wham, Berrettini settled stronger first. Three match points, but the first two were on Zverev’s serve: he defended them. The last was on Berrettini’s awesome serve, and he won.
Berrettini resurgent! Berrettini was clearer about what he wanted to do. I was reminded of how attractive a player he is BECAUSE OF HIS TENNIS. (And then as an added extra because of his looks.) In the on-court interview he talked about how devastated he’d been not to play in Wimbledon last year and how much the championship meant to him. It sounds like it feels like magic, to rediscover the best of his game so quickly. It set up the fourth round match of all fourth rounds: him versus Alcaraz. What a stiff test for both!
I switched to Centre Court to find that Rybakina was drubbing Katie Boulter, winning 6-1, 6-1 in under an hour. Sam Smith had her as hot favourite after that performance, and Rybakina terrified the tour by saying she was still working on her serve with her coach.
On Middle Sunday, I got a chance to see the much mentioned Mirra Andreeva (I had to physically stop myself from typing ‘teenage sensation’). She’s a 16 year old Russian who has got into the third round of the three WTA tour events she’s played (Madrid, the French Open and now Wimbledon.) (I feel sorry for her less successful older sister.) As I joined, she was winning the first set comfortably against Anastasia Potopova, the no. 22 seed (me neither, but also Russian, I think, and apparently she won the girls title at Wimbledon.) The older player – you could see Andreeva’s youth in her face – regrouped and was more positive and consistent in the second set until Andreeva resisted. She’ll just keep hitting the ball back, and pulled off some impressive shots to get through to the fourth round for the first time (other teenagers to do this are Kim Clijsters and Coco Gauff, which is good company to keep.)
That was one of the last third round matches to be completed, another involved Dimitrov thrashing Tiafoe, having found near to his best grass court tennis, apparently.
I chose to watch Rublev (hair like a lion’s mane, consistently top 10 but looking to get to his first QF here, and having never got beyond a QF at any other slam) against Bublik (at his highest ranking but famously prone to mentally imploding. I kept wondering if he and Kyrigos have ever played.) Rublev was way more focused, and needed to be, Bublik served a couple of underarm serves and came in disrespectfully to return a couple. Also, he kept hitting poor drop shots.
I missed most of the fourth set. In the fifth set, Rublev got a break, and then wonderously won the penultimate shot (probably the shot of the day/tournament) before acing on match point. I was rooting for him for discipline’s sake.
Then there was the tense proper tussle between Swiatek and Bencic to catch up on. In the first set, Swiatek was winning her serve easily, but Bencic saved a frustrating amount of break points to take it to a tiebreak. Neither seemed able to return the other’s serve all too well. You could tell Swiatek isn’t that used to tiebreaks, because she normally wins sets so easily. Bencic absorbed the pace and redirected well and won it.
Swiatek responded well, breaking Bencic in the first game, but after a few more, Bencic put pressure on Swiatek’s serve and it returned to parity, with Swiatek somewhat befuddled. And then Bencic got two match points on Swiatek’s serve…and this is where the clichés about a champion’s mentality kicked in. Back to the wall, Swiatek refused to lose. The ensuing tiebreak was the only time she’d faced two tiebreaks in a match, but she had learned from the last one and won the set. In the third set, she’d got her opponent. There was a break, backed up – Swiatek was so focused on her serving games, and maybe Bencic got a little emotionally tired, after a long, intense match. Swiatek must savour getting through to the Wimbledon quarters (at last) in this way.
Perhaps the match I regret missing the most of the championship was Svitolina coming back to beat Azarenka in the fourth round, a match with an obvious edge, given their nationalities.
I watched a little of Andreeva vs Keys fourth round clash, and was surprised that the teenager had won the first set. Indeed, she was up 4-1 in the second set, but Keys drew on all her experience (and apparently coaching from her finacee/coach) to change her tactics (going in more) and tighten up her game and win in three. I understand there was a kerfuffle over the umpire’s interpretation over a possible throw of the racquet by the 16 year old (she’d already been warned for a definite throw.) But hey, she’s 16 and she was losing the fourth round at Wimbledon.
The story of the day, though, was Christopher Eubanks beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in five sets. His run is remarkable (hitting partner to Donald Young, Challenger level events, started doing punditry, learned to analyse the game better, had an amazing run in Miami, topped by what’s happening on grass.)
Otherwise there were retirements, meaning Rybakina and Medvedev got through to the quarters. Djokovic lost a whole set! Jabeur bagelled a very flat, error-strewn Kvitova. The former champion was able to spare herself another bagel, but Jabeur didn’t waver and won in about an hour to set up a rematch of the ladies’ final in the quarters. Sabalenka won her match, and surprisingly, given their form in the previous round, Rune beat Dimitrov.
Like the crowd, I wasn’t sure who to support, Alcaraz or Berrettini. I ended up favouring Berrettini because there’s a longer history and injury really has plagued him. It wasn’t a great match as neither played well at the same time for any length of time, but compelling nonetheless. Berrettini took some time to settle on his serve, but was stronger overall in the first set, proving to Alcaraz that he may have played the Italian before, but not on grass. The difference was being able to take break points.
But in set 2, it was Alcaraz who was getting more and more break points, and though Berrettini found great serves and protected his backhand, he also made mistakes in a lump in one game, and Alcaraz took the set. Something similar happened in set 3. Part of it must be lack of match tightness, tiredness even, part of it must be playing the world no. 1, one of the very best. In the fourth set, it was more of the same, with Berrettini desperate to get the roof closed to change something. When it happened, little else changed, though. Alcaraz struggled to win match points, laughed at himself, tried again and succeeded. It was his forehand and returns that shone, although the commentators sniffed at some early shot selections. [Edited for typos 27/12/25.]
I forgot to watch Gauff vs Kenin, where the seeded, in-form player fell to the former Grand Slam champion who had had to qualify.
Thumbs-up from me for the retooled Today at Wimbledon. Qasa Alom wanders around, talks to commentators after matches, and making it a pre-record rather than live is just better all round. I could fast forward matches I’d already watched, but get a feel for the ones I hadn’t the morning after. (I was unimpressed by Isa Guha, who pulled the early shift; she always seemed to get something wrong, like mixing up Centre Court and No. 1 Court.)
Day two was mainly about the rain. It was a real advantage for those playing on the show courts, who included an impressive Alcaraz. Rybakina had to overcome nerves in a three-set match. Some of those nerves may have been because Roger Federer was watching play on Centre Court. Murray and Norrie won, and Dan Evans failed to when the resumption of his match got snuck in on Centre Court because there was no play on most of the outside courts for most of the day. This meant it was really confusing as to what round you were watching for the next few days, while some players had to play a match over two days or matches without a day’s break.
I think Kostyuk wore my favourite outfit of all the women, although I liked Martic’s high skirt. FWIW, I loathed the holey multi-layered thing Nike gave the players, while I’d liked the pre-Wimbledon version with green waves.
From when I first saw him on day three, I took against Medvedev’s deep returning position. I watched most of Tsitsipas vs Thiem’s fifth set – I remember thinking rather flippantly when I saw the draw that it would be good for Murray if they made it a five setter. Which they did. Thiem found some of his best tennis for that final set of a match played over two days, but Tsitsipas responded well, and was a smidge the better player at net. Certainly his serving was better in the championship tiebreak, but then, he’s been playing more pressure points recently than Thiem who’s been out in the wilderness since injury. But I sincerely hope that Thiem can repeat this level and return to the top flight.
I’d thought Liam Broady had a chance to be competitive against Casper Ruud, but it was quite something to switch the TV on and see Broady winning the fourth set of their second round match. In the fifth, he was clearly the better grass-court player. Ruud was back behind the baseline, while Broady was much better at the net. I don’t know if falling a couple of times made Ruud uncertain of his movement or his base for hitting his shots, but Broady merely had to stay calm and keep attacking…and with the crowd roaring him on, bagelled Ruud to get to the third round in a Wimbledon where you do get ranking points. Match of Broady’s life. Ruud has to rethink his approach to grass.
I watched Elena Rybikina play giant-slayer Alize Cornet, oozing class to win the first set. The second was a different matter and the time of day began to play its part, with the difference between the shade and the sunlight and the low sun causing problems in the 5-5 game, where Rybakina was down 0-40, and her normal serenity deserted her in frustration. But she battened down the hatches, leading to 10 deuces, and then Cornet slipped, crying out in pain and I think was trembling with tears. After a long timeout, Cornet could play, swathed in tape, and her movement wasn’t what it was. It ended up going to tiebreak, where Rybakina has an excellent record this year, and she won.
And so, Murray vs. Tsitsipas under the roof. From the off, it was clear Tsitsipas had come to play. His first serve percentage was high, and his forehand was mighty. So, the first set went to the tiebreak, and…Tsitsipas played the last four points better.
But ‘C’mon Andy’ regrouped, and played the second set tiebreaker much, much better. One set all, and a long toilet break from Tsitsipas. Which might have been a mistake, because Murray bossed the first game on Tsitsipas’s serve and backed it up. I went to bed at 2-1, even though I knew they could only play until 11 o’clock. In hindsight, I don’t think that going to bed later would have ruined my poor night’s sleep.
I watched the rest of the third set over breakfast, and Murray’s first serve percentage was astronomical, Tsitsipas got frustrated, then a little distracted, then at the business end of the third set Murray slipped (roughly where Tsitsipas had slipped and Cornet had had her fall.) A scream of pain from someone who’s had a hip operation is no good thing, but he did get up, and served another rocket to win the third set.
Which is when they decided to end it, and leave the rest for the morrow, which was that night for me.
I got a glimpse of Berrettini vs De Minaur, for the Italian had got his revenge on Sonega, who’d beat him recently, in five sets. Berrettini seemed to be rediscovering his grass court form, for he was serving out the first set. I’d learn he won that match in three, impressive against a tough competitor who knows how to play on grass.
I managed to time it so I could watch the resumption of Murray vs. Tsitsipas. Both players were a little tense, but both kept their serve, meaning a tiebreak would decide the fourth set. And…Tsitsipas played tough, got the first mini break and held on.
It was deflating for Murray and the crowd, and by the fifth, a little fatigue was setting in for the Scot. Tsitsipas, the younger, fresher man won. (He would go on to play doubles that day.) I saw an interview with Murray, who knows exactly how much work he had to put in…for a second-round defeat at his best Slam. Perhaps a few days’ perspective will point out that he was competitive for four sets with a top 5 player (and there are top 5 players and top 5 players – imagine if he’d had Broady’s draw and faced Ruud at the same stage.) Unkind draws when time is running out and his competitive nature make for plenty to ponder.
Norrie was also out due to a barnstorming performance from Christopher Eubanks, so Liam Broady was the last British man standing, and he was up 5-2 when I joined the match in the third set (one set each). But that seemed to be when the ‘mercurial’ Shapavalov got it together and strung together a run of games to win the set.
I thought it best if I switched to another match, so I watched Swiatek vs Martic from the second game onwards. A few breaks, but then Swiatek got into control and Martic felt the usual smothering and lack of options, losing the first set. To her credit, she played better in the second, going big, but throwing in some variety. Swiatek’s movement is mighty impressive, though, and her return game is excellent. She broke and was serving out, when she got tight and lost the game badly. The world no. 1 didn’t like that, stepped it up in the next game to break again, and served it out convincingly. I thought she must hope to improve in terms of her results here.
They closed the roof for the last match in which Wawrinka, at 38, finally getting to face Djokovic on the grass. He was honest enough in a prerecorded interview about his chances – grass is his weakest surface and Djokovic is looking to beat Federer’s record (his last defeat on Centre Court was ten years ago when Murray beat him to win the Championships as we kept getting reminded.) And the only real competition was who was sweating the most. Djokovic always had an answer. He seemed motivated to get it done well before the 11 p.m. curfew, and was close to bagelling Wawrinka in the second set. I stopped watching in the third, but obviously Djokovic won.
The middle Saturday was a day of two halves. In the first half, I couldn’t settle down to a match, I saw bits of Kvitova’s and Medvedev’s. I was able to watch a replay of Svitolina very assuredly beating an inconsistent Kenin to win their match in two sets (I already knew the results.) I watched the first set between Alcaraz and Jarry, a seed, and a bit of a deliberate, lumbering giant between points, but with a monster serve. However, Alcaraz broke him, and would go on to win in four (long) sets.
I settled in for the Zverev vs. Berrettini match, because it would be a good barometer of where the two, coming back from different injuries, were at and ought to be quite the tussle. Berrettini was put in to serve first, and he wasn’t quite on it, so it became a bit of a scrap, but he won. Zverev won his serve easily, but then so did Berrettini. Even though there were so many thundering aces and unreturnable serves, it was an exciting enough match.
And then, after having very few problems on his serve, Zverev had what would become known as ‘the horror game’. His first serve deserted him, he gifted his opponent with errors, although Berrettini outright won one or two of the points, and Berrettini was serving for the set.
But Zverev returned to his good serving self in the second set, and things were going with serve until 4-4, when Berrettini was getting some play in and looking to force a break, replicating his success in the previous set, when…unexpected rain came down. (The roof had been open.)
After the roof was closed, there was an animated discussion between the players (mainly Berretini), the umpire and a referee at the net instead of a warm up. It was never clear what that was all about.
Play resumed at a tricky time, 30-30 on Zverev’s serve, but he got two good serves in and shut the door. Both players served well, and it was into a tiebreaker, where the big first serves won through until one point where Berrettini got the better of his opponent and just had to win the next two on his serve, also known as That Serve.
So there we were, two quality players who had been serving well (overall, Zverev’s serving figures were better, although Berrettini was always ahead on the ace count), hitting big and winning points at the net when they went in of their own volition, but Berrettini was two sets up. (Henman had picked Zverev in four, and been sniffy about Berrettini’s backhand, but the former finalist was slicing well and won a few points with impeccable backhands down the line. In fact, his play was close to being back to its best, which is impressive, because his comeback from the latest injury is only starting.)
Third set, and Zverev kept serving well, but tried attacking more, while Berrettini kept doing what he was doing. There were a few more deuces, and one game where Berrettini had four break points, but both men usually pulled off a strong serve, and so it went to a tiebreak, with Berrettini hoping to win in three, Zverev needing to win to survive.
There were all sorts of breaks until wham, Berrettini settled stronger first. Three match points, but the first two were on Zverev’s serve: he defended them. The last was on Berrettini’s awesome serve, and he won.
Berrettini resurgent! Berrettini was clearer about what he wanted to do. I was reminded of how attractive a player he is BECAUSE OF HIS TENNIS. (And then as an added extra because of his looks.) In the on-court interview he talked about how devastated he’d been not to play in Wimbledon last year and how much the championship meant to him. It sounds like it feels like magic, to rediscover the best of his game so quickly. It set up the fourth round match of all fourth rounds: him versus Alcaraz. What a stiff test for both!
I switched to Centre Court to find that Rybakina was drubbing Katie Boulter, winning 6-1, 6-1 in under an hour. Sam Smith had her as hot favourite after that performance, and Rybakina terrified the tour by saying she was still working on her serve with her coach.
On Middle Sunday, I got a chance to see the much mentioned Mirra Andreeva (I had to physically stop myself from typing ‘teenage sensation’). She’s a 16 year old Russian who has got into the third round of the three WTA tour events she’s played (Madrid, the French Open and now Wimbledon.) (I feel sorry for her less successful older sister.) As I joined, she was winning the first set comfortably against Anastasia Potopova, the no. 22 seed (me neither, but also Russian, I think, and apparently she won the girls title at Wimbledon.) The older player – you could see Andreeva’s youth in her face – regrouped and was more positive and consistent in the second set until Andreeva resisted. She’ll just keep hitting the ball back, and pulled off some impressive shots to get through to the fourth round for the first time (other teenagers to do this are Kim Clijsters and Coco Gauff, which is good company to keep.)
That was one of the last third round matches to be completed, another involved Dimitrov thrashing Tiafoe, having found near to his best grass court tennis, apparently.
I chose to watch Rublev (hair like a lion’s mane, consistently top 10 but looking to get to his first QF here, and having never got beyond a QF at any other slam) against Bublik (at his highest ranking but famously prone to mentally imploding. I kept wondering if he and Kyrigos have ever played.) Rublev was way more focused, and needed to be, Bublik served a couple of underarm serves and came in disrespectfully to return a couple. Also, he kept hitting poor drop shots.
I missed most of the fourth set. In the fifth set, Rublev got a break, and then wonderously won the penultimate shot (probably the shot of the day/tournament) before acing on match point. I was rooting for him for discipline’s sake.
Then there was the tense proper tussle between Swiatek and Bencic to catch up on. In the first set, Swiatek was winning her serve easily, but Bencic saved a frustrating amount of break points to take it to a tiebreak. Neither seemed able to return the other’s serve all too well. You could tell Swiatek isn’t that used to tiebreaks, because she normally wins sets so easily. Bencic absorbed the pace and redirected well and won it.
Swiatek responded well, breaking Bencic in the first game, but after a few more, Bencic put pressure on Swiatek’s serve and it returned to parity, with Swiatek somewhat befuddled. And then Bencic got two match points on Swiatek’s serve…and this is where the clichés about a champion’s mentality kicked in. Back to the wall, Swiatek refused to lose. The ensuing tiebreak was the only time she’d faced two tiebreaks in a match, but she had learned from the last one and won the set. In the third set, she’d got her opponent. There was a break, backed up – Swiatek was so focused on her serving games, and maybe Bencic got a little emotionally tired, after a long, intense match. Swiatek must savour getting through to the Wimbledon quarters (at last) in this way.
Perhaps the match I regret missing the most of the championship was Svitolina coming back to beat Azarenka in the fourth round, a match with an obvious edge, given their nationalities.
I watched a little of Andreeva vs Keys fourth round clash, and was surprised that the teenager had won the first set. Indeed, she was up 4-1 in the second set, but Keys drew on all her experience (and apparently coaching from her finacee/coach) to change her tactics (going in more) and tighten up her game and win in three. I understand there was a kerfuffle over the umpire’s interpretation over a possible throw of the racquet by the 16 year old (she’d already been warned for a definite throw.) But hey, she’s 16 and she was losing the fourth round at Wimbledon.
The story of the day, though, was Christopher Eubanks beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in five sets. His run is remarkable (hitting partner to Donald Young, Challenger level events, started doing punditry, learned to analyse the game better, had an amazing run in Miami, topped by what’s happening on grass.)
Otherwise there were retirements, meaning Rybakina and Medvedev got through to the quarters. Djokovic lost a whole set! Jabeur bagelled a very flat, error-strewn Kvitova. The former champion was able to spare herself another bagel, but Jabeur didn’t waver and won in about an hour to set up a rematch of the ladies’ final in the quarters. Sabalenka won her match, and surprisingly, given their form in the previous round, Rune beat Dimitrov.
Like the crowd, I wasn’t sure who to support, Alcaraz or Berrettini. I ended up favouring Berrettini because there’s a longer history and injury really has plagued him. It wasn’t a great match as neither played well at the same time for any length of time, but compelling nonetheless. Berrettini took some time to settle on his serve, but was stronger overall in the first set, proving to Alcaraz that he may have played the Italian before, but not on grass. The difference was being able to take break points.
But in set 2, it was Alcaraz who was getting more and more break points, and though Berrettini found great serves and protected his backhand, he also made mistakes in a lump in one game, and Alcaraz took the set. Something similar happened in set 3. Part of it must be lack of match tightness, tiredness even, part of it must be playing the world no. 1, one of the very best. In the fourth set, it was more of the same, with Berrettini desperate to get the roof closed to change something. When it happened, little else changed, though. Alcaraz struggled to win match points, laughed at himself, tried again and succeeded. It was his forehand and returns that shone, although the commentators sniffed at some early shot selections. [Edited for typos 27/12/25.]