Wimbledon 2023

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Wimbledon draw is published today. Should Djoko and Alcaraz progress at least they won't have to meet before the final unlike RG.

There might be less pressure on Carlos next week as most will have Novak as clear favourite. Alcaraz lost to Sinner in a terrific match last year but given another year's experience and a title at Queen's, Carlos can be expected to go deep this year.

Difficult to see much beyond the top two for the title but would be interested to hear what others might think and who they reckon we should watch out for. Expectations for Murray were somewhat dissipated by his defeat at Queen's by De Minaur in the sort of match you feel he should have done better at if he wanted to do well at SW19.

Still, as Dunblane's finest said himself, no one will fancy meeting him in the first round.

Swiatek went into Wimbledon last year on a massive unbeaten swing but then played horribly. Can't see that happening this year but she'll probably have to battle past the likes of Sabalenka and Rybakina if she wants to take the title.

Wonder whether players understimate Halys because they look at the draw and think he's a qualifier before realising the Q stands for Quentin.

Two-times Wimbledon champ Kvitova is thru after a 2 and 2 win today. Also into the next round is Ukraine's Kostyuk after Badosa had to retire early in the second set.

Rune was twice a break down in his match v C Baena but took the first set 6-3. Christopher O'Connell who is in the Norrie/Murray section of the draw is two sets up v Vesely.

Daniil Medvedev sees off the potentially tricky Adriano Mannarino in straight sets - 6/3 6/3 7/6(5).
Medvedev got tight at the end of the third set last night and in the tie break. But ultimately the Russian was far too good for the Frenchman.
Medvedev could be a dark horse.

The main question regarding Murray and his match with Tsitsipas is not who the break favours but rather has Murray recovered from his fall and "injury" at the end of yesterdays play.  If he has recovered then we can expect a highly competitive end to this second round match - either Murray winning in a highly competitive fourth set or it goes to a fifth set with anyone winning. If he hasn't recovered then there will be a difficult to watch last two sets with Murray struggling and fighting and Tsitsipas in control with solid service games and opportunities to break Murray's service games.

Medvedev, O'Connell, Rune, Hurkacz and Berrettini all winners today.

On CC, Alcaraz is two sets to love up v Frenchman Muller who is, at least, making it a good match. Alcaraz not quite at his best but still doing enough and every so often producing an amazing shot.

Sinner dropped the first set to Halys but took the second. Zverev is two sets to one up v Japan's Watanuki

Alcaraz comes thru in straight sets. Not at his best and he won't want to have a 2/15 in BPs if he faces a tougher opponent.

Norrie lost the first set v Eubanks but is 3-0 up in the second. Good to see former GS champ Andreescu, who has been beset by illness/injury, come thru today. She was 4-2 down in the final set v 26th-seeded Kalinina but came thru in a tiebreak (10-7).

Murray close to defeat. Lost the 4th set tiebreak and trailing in the 5th.

Cam Norrie OUT. Beaten by Eubanks in four. No change, then, to Norrie's fairly woeful GS record. He's a guy for the small occasion and is consistent in the minor tournies. When it comes to the Slams he's usually second-best.

Broady took first set v Shapo but it's now one set all.

Stefanos Tsitsipas beats Andy Murray 7/6(3) (2)6/7 4/6 7/6(3) 6/4.
The Greek definitely seemed to have to legs back today, he seemed very sluggish yesterday after that 4hr match with Thiem.

Tsitsipas has already spent nearly 9hrs on court after two matches, that’s not how you win these big events…

Andy Murray gave it everything and maybe if they played on yesterday, he would’ve won. But in reality Murray’s win over Winkle has been his only win on the ATP tour since he beat Radu Albot at Indian Wells. Maybe it’s time to call it quits…

Murray played quite well and could easily have won this in the 4th set TB and then we would be having a different conversation. Also, if he had had an easy draw he was playing well enough to go to R4 or so. A slightly unlucky R2 draw perhaps.

At the same time, there was something lacking. A little power overall, some weak second services. The physicality is a notch lower as you expect, given the age (and perhaps his hip, I don't know about that), and it makes a difference.

One option for Murray could be to just say now that he will retire after Wimbledon 2024, that way he gets 12 months of being treated like a legend everywhere he goes rather than seeing people start to look at him differently and wondering if they're saying "he should retire" behind his back.

Djoko walking it against Stan the Man who has been serving horribly and just can't get the ball past the wall that is Novak. A pity, as I thought this might be a good match.

The more you see of contenders the more you think that only Alcaraz with his speed and weight of shot is a match for Djoko - and even then the Spaniard might not win.

Djokovic beats Wawrinka 6-3 6-1 7-6(5). The only Stan showed up in the third set. But too little too late.

Early break for Fucsovics in his match with Medvedev today. An upset in the making?...

What do people think of the commentators on BBC? Castle twitters on. John Lloyd I like, Inverdale brings a journalist's/club player's perspective.

BBC do insist on having someone whose first language is not English doing point-by-point commentaries. Becker was awful, Navratilova is fairly dreadful and Feliciano Lopez mumblingly, meaninglessly inaudible.

Alcaraz took a tight first set against big-serving Jarry but is 3-0 down in the second.

Jarry served bullets to start the match but a terrific point from Carlos at 3-4 led to the break and, eventually, the set.

But Jarry, looking good, broke in the second game of the second set. Big test here for the number one seed.

Meanwhile on Court 1 Medvedev has levelled the match and has gone a break up in the third. Still think he stands ridiculously far back to receive on grass. Just invites his opponent to come in and play stop volleys which he has no chance of reaching.

Daniil Medvedev sees off the big hitting Márton Fucsovics 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4. Solid win for the Russian.

Yes, good win by Medvedev who manages to defy the normal rules about playing on grass.

Alcaraz is having a real struggle on Centre v Jarry but has now taken a two sets to one lead. He could have lost the second set much more easily but in spinning it out to a tiebreak he may have taken a bit out of Jarry.

Two-times Wimbledon champ Kvitova is thru after a hard-fought two sets against spirited qualifier Stevanovic. Haddad Maia and Alexandrova also won.

Quite intriguing clash between Lehecka and Tommy Paul which has been suspended for rain with L two sets to one up and about to serve at 5-6 in the fourth.

Tsitsipas, who could well go deep having seen off Andy, won the first set 6-4 v Djere but was 2-0 down in the second when the rain arrived.

Alcaraz trails 3-1 in the 4th with Jarry playing an inspired game. Tommy Paul has saved an MP and taken a very, very tight 4th set after a long tiebreak with Lehecka to take the match into a 5th.

D Fokina and Rune are one set all. Norrie's conqueror Eubanks is two sets up against O'Connell.

Terrific near-4hr battle ends with Alcaraz taking the match 7-5 in the 4th.

Really fine effort by Jarry who not only served well but played some excellent ground strokes. Crucially, Carlos avoided going a double break down in the 4th set, broke back and then broke again at 5-5.

Many a young player would have panicked against a guy playing out of his skin. But Carlos was always either ahead or level in the match and you felt he would come thru in the end.

Tsitsipas and Eubanks both won and will now meet. Lehecka, having been close to victory in the 4th set, took the final set 6-2 to knock out Paul.

Jabeur-Andreescu into a final set. Dimi two sets up on Tiafoe. Some might consider this a surprise, but Dimi at his best is a match for anyone.

Extraordinary conclusion to the four-hour D Fokina-Rune clash when DK, who had been 6-2 up in the final-set tiebreak, chucked in an, unsuccessful, underarm serve at 8-8. Rune won the point and the next to claim victory. He'll play the winner of the Dimi-Tiafoe match.

What the hell was Fokina thinking hitting underarm 1st serve at 8-8 in champions tie break??? A shame because it also means Rune is through, struggling to think of a player I like less than Rune. Comes across a tool and it seems other players not mad about him either. Good player though obviously

Jabeur v Andreescu is a decent match. Shame Andreescu couldn’t hold onto the break. Hopefully she can break again when they resume and take the match.

Defending champion Elena Rybakina hammered Katie Boulter 6-1 6-1. In all honesty it was a complete mismatch.
Rybakina’s weight of shot was incredible.

I had to laugh when Anne Keothavong, before the Boulter match, described Rybakina as "vulnerable". The encounter showed just how far behind the top players the British women are.

Jabeur did well to see off Andreescu. Ons now plays Kvitova. Could be a good one. There could also be a good match today between Swiatek although you have to favour Iga.

Thought Zverev would have too much for Berrettini, mainly due to my irrational dislike of the Italian. If Jarry, serving hugely and playing the match of his life, couldn't beat Alcaraz, I doubt Berrettini will.

Dimi is two sets up in his unfinished match with Tiafoe, with the winner meeting Rune. That could be the end of Rune which should please Slasher (see above) for whom the Dane is a bete noir.

The standard has been quite good this year, with more and more players looking comfortable on grass.

The Rybakina match was an absolute demolition. The gulf in class was so huge, can't understand how people thought an upset might be on the cards in that one.

I wouldn't rule out Rune against Dimitrov. I have always loved watching Dimitrov play but we know he can be so hit and miss on any given day. He has tended to be good on grass, I always remember the time he took down Murray on centre court and thought how is this guy not winning slams but he would then go out the next day and have an absolute howler. He is just too inconsistent.

I wonder is there a potential for an upset with Berritini vs Alcaraz. Unlikely but if Berritini brings his best game that could go the distance.

I think Hurkasz could be a big test for Djokovic today, that has a tie break or two written all over it and could easily go 4 or 5 sets

What chance of Berrettini upsetting Alcaraz in the fourth round?  The 2021 Wimbledon runner up who took Djokovic to four sets, who then had a few injury issues plus Covid (preventing him playing last year), who now seems to be back to full health, I would say every chance.  I don't think he has been broken on his run to the fourth round: 6 break points faced no breaks of serve against him.

No name Bertie wrote:What chance of Berrettini upsetting Alcaraz in the fourth round?  The 2021 Wimbledon runner up who took Djokovic to four sets, who then had a few injury issues plus Covid (preventing him playing last year), who now seems to be back to full health, I would say every chance.  I don't think he has been broken on his run to the fourth round: 6 break points faced no breaks of serve against him.

Unlike Sir Fred I see Matteo having a really good chance

16 year old Mirra Andreeva beats fellow Russian Anastasia Potapova 6-2 7-5. Andreeva is literally a defensive wall. Incredible talent.

Andreeva won that by continually making her opponent play the extra shot. Looked remarkably mature for a 16-year-old.

Dimi on the brink of victory v Tiafoe with a match against Slasher's favourite to come.*

You'll hardly be surprised to hear that I can't share your optimism about Berrettini's chances against Alcaraz. If Carlos was going to lose it would have happened against Jarry.

*Dimi, looking impressive, has won.

Saw quite a lot of the all-Czech clash today which saw the big-hitting Vondrousova overcome the golden-retrieving Bouzkova.

Rublev has taken a two sets to love lead v Bublik who has been struggling with DFs and has twice resorted, successfully, to underarm serves.

Rublev has cuts and bruises on his racquet hand from an earlier dive although he doesn't look too out of sorts.

Pegula of the USA, who is highly ranked but receives little or no attention, came thru easily v Tsurenko. Shapo has taken the first set v Russian Safiullin

Andrey Rublev wins the battle of the Russians as he sees off Alexander Bublik 7-5 6-3 (6)6-7 (5)6-7 6-4. The ending was quite incredible.

Jannik Sinner beats Daniel Galán 7-6(4) 6-4 6-3 to become first Italian man to reach multiple quarterfinals at Wimbledon. Not bad for 21 year old boy.

Belinda Bencic takes the opening set against Iga Swiatek on the breaker.

Jeff Navarro wrote:Belinda Bencic takes the opening set against Iga Swiatek on the breaker.

Swiatek takes the second set on the breaker.

Brinkmanship by Swiatek. Second best for long periods against an inspired Bencic, Iga saved two MPs at 5-6, 15-40 and then won the ensuing tiebreak.

Has Bencic missed her chance? You would think so. Difficult to come back from that.

In the grudge match, Svitolina has just levelled at one set all against Azarenka.

Swiatek won (4)6-7 7-6(2) 6-3. Swiatek would get pummelled by Rybakina…

Svitolina cons her way into the quarterfinals. Genuinely can’t imagine a  less talented player

Djokovic takes the opener against Hurkacz on the breaker. Djokovic saved 3 set points in the TB.

Jeff: Swiatek will win the whole thing now although a final with Rybakina would be a good one.

All thru the bits I was seeing Bencic looked a winner....up to the MPs. Very difficult to come back from that disappointment.

Jeff- you may not care too much for Svitolina's style but she is a fighter and she has silenced, literally, the noisiest player on the circuit.

Unless Djoko has an express win his match will have to be carried over into tomorrow after the 3hr Swiatek epic.

Centre court crowd have had two five-setters today and those with CC tickets tomorrow will have, on paper, more intriguing encounters with the schedule showing Haddad Maia-Rybakina, Jabeur-Kvitova and Alcaraz-Berrettini.

Awful end to the tiebreak from Hurkacz when he had the set at his mercy. Looked like the worst public park scrapper.

Djokovic wins the second set on the breaker. Play finished for the day.

Has anybody served better than Hurkasz did in those first 2 sets..absolutely outrageous serving. 135-140mph serves and about 80% of them hitting the lines. He must be wondering how he can possibly be 2 sets down

Hurcasz's serving was ludicrous but everything else was ludicrously bad from the bits I saw, making errors on routine rally balls after just a few shots. He absolutely choked the first tiebreak, didn't see the second though.

Hurcasz's serving was ludicrous but everything else was ludicrously bad from the bits I saw. He was making errors on routine rally balls after just a few shots. He absolutely choked the first tiebreak, didn't see the second one though.

Hurkacz got into positions when he had the opportunity to serve out both sets in tie-breakers, so he could have been two sets to love up.  How someone like a Djokovic is able to handle that and to stay focused to take his chances if and when they arrive only a winner knows.

Looks like Alcaraz will be the one to have his match left over given the scheduling today on CC.

There was drama aplenty in the women's matches yesterday and the two on Centre today could be good match-ups. Apparently, Zverev told Berrettini that if he played like he did in their match he would win Wimbledon. Not a chance.

Those who think Berrettini has a chance against Alcaraz might want to look at his record against top 10 players. As far I can see his only two wins since the beginning of 2021 were in the Untd/ATP cup matches v Ruud (this year) and, in Jan 2021, Thiem (then 3 in the rankings).
  Defeats since have included three against Djoko (to be expected) but his losses this year to top-tenners have included two to the relatively-inexperienced Rune.
  Now I know that Matteo may have been far from fully fit for some of these last few months. But it's surely a big ask to expect him to beat a rampant Alcatraz.

* Incidentally, did you see that amazing shot from Rublev to get to MP yesterday? Incredible. Certainly the shot of this or any other Championship.

Watching the start of the Andreeva-Keys match in which the 16-yr-old went 2-0 down but has now got it back on serve.

The teenager, who will move up to at least 65 in the rankings, is an interesting watch. I was expecting to see a young girl blazing shots off, but she plays quite conservatively and maturely. Looks a real prospect.

I enjoy your passionate opinions on Berrettini sirfred, but I think you could be in for a shock. In my mind Berrettini will have a significantly easier time breaking Alcaraz's serve than vice-versa, and for that reason I'd make him the favourite in that match. Could be totally wrong of course!

Berritini and Alcaraz have only ever played once in a slam and Berritini won. I wouldn't rule out a Berritini win

Alcaraz is still developing and Grass had been his weakest surface but this year he has improved on it and gained confidence.  Whether that is enough to beat Berrettini I don't know.  I would make Berrettini the favorite but of course this match is going to be intriguing no matter the result.

just catching on the highlights from Hurkacz - Djokovic
looks like Hurkacz played well until the big moments

excellent first serve % for Hurkacz and got to 6-3 in 1st set TB with one minibreak before hitting two weak shots into the net on his serve
his first serves were hitting the mark superbly for much of the TB but then the big point and one was about a foot long

second set got to 5-4 on serve in the TB before another error

just shows you how important the mental strength and consistency is

Djokovic didn't have to play his best in the big moments when he realized Hurkacz was feeling the pressure he realized he just had to get the ball back in

I missed the Stan - Novak match but looking at the highlights the embrace at the end was very perfunctory - especially from Stan's side - give that this was perhaps he close of a somewhat storied rivalry

Maybe he isn't a Novak fan or Stan is not keen on anti vaxxers or maybe they just don't get on or who knows maybe I'm reading too much into it