Key events
1h agoHappy couple Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur beat John Peers and Storm Sanders 6-2, 6-4
1h agoIga Swiatek beats Petra Martic 6-2, 7-6
1h agoDaniel Galan beats Mikael Ymer 6-2, 6-7, 7-6, 3-6, 61
2h agoAryna Sabalenka beats Varvara Gracheva 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
2h agoDenis Shapovalov beats Liam Broady 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, 7-5
3h agoAndy Murray is knocked out out of Wimbledon 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-7, 4-6
3h agoChris Eubanks beats Cam Norrie 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6
4h agoMurray v Tsitsipas heads to decider
5h agoAlcaraz beats Muller 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-3
5h agoZverev beats Watanuki 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
6h agoSabalenka beats Gracheva 6-2, 5-7, 2-6
10h agoPreamble
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“it’s like a highlight reel” McEnroe is having as good a game as Djokovic. The Serb chases down a lost cause, stretches out his right leg then his right arm and whips a cross-court forehand winner from what felt like a different area code. He proceeds to breeze through his service game. 2-0 up in the second set and with the scent of blood in his nostrils.
Djokovic breaks in the second set. Wawrinka has landed 1/11 first serves. Against the “best return player in history,” as McEnroe says, that’s not going to fly. Djokovic taking firm control of this.
Wawrinka takes it to deuce but again misses his first serve. He’s at 38% with it. His backhand isn’t faring much better. Another one goes awry and it’s break point.
Wawrinka misses another cross-court backhand. He’s facing a break point in the first game of this second set.
“They’re both sweating” McEnroe notices. “Despite playing indoors. Interesting”. It’s a hot, soupy evening in London.
We talk about the age of tennis greats a lot, but it is frankly astounding that they’re able to do what they do.
@danielgallan my first ever live tennis match was a 2007 edition of the rivalry between these two, a final in ATP Vienna. The longevity of these tennis greats is incredible. Gives the illusion of slow ageing.
— S (@S6396076672657) July 7, 2023 Never change Andy. So says Simon McMahon who says this might be a fitting end to one of the sport’s genuine greats:
“Hi Dan. If I know Andy (I don’t), the loss to Tsitsipas today is going to hurt badly, and for a while. A win, and he’d have been eyeing up a run deep into the second week. Now the prospect of it all being over seems closer than ever. If we have seen him for the final time at Wimbledon, a gruelling five setter on Centre Court, ten years to the day after he won his first Wimbledon, seems a fitting way to end. Not that he’ll think like that. But whatever happens, he’s still the greatest, for me anyway. Summers just won’t be same without him, but it’s been a helluva ride. Thanks, Andy, and don’t ever change.”
Djokovic takes the first set 6-3. A delicious lob seals it. Immense forehands, some delightful touches and brutal efficiency at the net. Trademark Novak. He looks on tonight.
Djokovic takes the opening set 6-3. Photograph: Alberto Pezzali/APDjokovic to serve for opening set. Wawrinka sees out his serve despite Djokovic dominating the longer rallies. He now has to break the champ to keep the set alive.
This is brilliant! Great tennis from both of them but another long rally goes to Djokovic. And that’s probably going to be a theme of this match. Still, Stan takes a 40-30 soon after.
“Sweet ball striking” says McEnroe. He’s talking about Djokovic who levels the game at 15-15 with a string of driving forehands.
Ruthless from Nole. 5-1 up thanks to a big first serve and a brutal volley after Wawrinka’s lunge defensive shot spooned in the air.
Stunning from Wawrinka. More of that please Stan. A superb passing backhand whizzes by Djokovic who advanced to volley from an innocuous second serve.
Djokovic scowls at the grass. He slips just enough as he peddles back to play a forehand that doesn’t get above shin height. He still has the edge in this game, 30-15.
Djokovic breaks. A marathon rally ends with Wawrinka searching for the corner with a flourishing backhand but he’s too long. 4-2 now to the defending champ.
Novak Djokovic breaks! Photograph: Dave Shopland/ShutterstockOooh. Sometimes Novak just makes you make a noise. That forehand from the baseline oozed class. He’s often dismissed as robotic but you’d be foolish to deny his silkiness. 30-30. Wawrinka misses his first serve. Could be a way in to break now for the Serb.
Wawrinka’s serve is hot and cold so far. He’s not landing most of them but the ones that do hit the target are kicking like a mule. Djokovic knows this and is taking on the second serve off the front foot. Wawrinka 30-15 up.
Stan Wawrinka is keeping pace with Novak, so far. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty ImagesWawrinka has never progressed past the QFs here. Tell you what, if he wins tonight I’m putting the farm on him going all the way (past the QFs).
Wawrinka gets up and over a lifting ball. He plays that backhand with so much force and Djokovic can’t return. But Novak holds his composure and the serve to lead 3-2.
Djokovic misses the forehand down the line. 2-2 in the first set. Wawrinka slick but Novak with those shark eyes.
Wawrinka digs out a return that skimmed the baseline. Class class class. Djokovic can’t clear the net and Stan then unleashes a blistering ace. 40-30.
Finally, we have the game on the telly. As it switches on Wawrinka balloons a forehand past the baseline. Djokovic 2-1 up.
The opening set is going with serve Photograph: Dave Shopland/ShutterstockRight?! Warwinka won the second game. Djokovic is 15-0 up in the third.
Well said…
Who ever thought that in 2023 we’d watch Djokovic play against Wawrinka in the 3rd round match of a grand slam. We are indeed the lucky generation #Wimbledon
— Ex (@Vananda27) July 7, 2023 Not sure what’s going on! Apologies for the delay in the report. The BBC have yet to show the game which has actually started. Djokovic won the first game. Wawrinka has the advantage in the second after it goes to deuce. Would be nice to watch if we could.
They’ve never met on grass before. Now that is a stat. Also they’re 4-4 in slams. Not sure that all adds up to an upset though.
Right then. All set for a thrilling conclusion to Friday’s action. A blockbuster clash between two grand slam champions.
Just in case you needed reminding, we’re outta here at 11pm. That took all the sting out of Murray’s match as he wilted in the heat of the day. So Djokovic and Wawrinka will want to get the business done this evening if they can.
Warinka wins the coin flip. He asks Djokavic to serve.
Is that the last we see of Murray? Man, I hope not. But time comes for us all and the two-time champion showed his age in the London heat.
“I don’t know,” he said when asked if that’s that. “Motivation is obviously a big thing. Continuing having early losses in tournaments like this don’t necessarily help with that.”
Read the rest of the report here:
Happy couple Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur beat John Peers and Storm Sanders 6-2, 6-4Who said you shouldn’t work with your partner? It’s clearly working for this Aussie and Brit. One of the best stories of this year’s Wimbledon continues as Boulter and de Minaur progress.
“He took away two Grand Slams from me.”
That’s what Djokovic said when asked to share some views on his opponent tonight. He was joking, of course, but it shows that Wawrinka is no slouch.
“He’s a great person and really inspirational what he’s doing at his age,” Djokovic added.
“He’s almost 40 and he still keeps going strong, that’s something not many people can do
“He’s had a fantastic career. We haven’t faced in quite some time. It will be the duel of the veterans of the tour.”
They’re closing the roof at Centre Court. Messieurs Stan and Novak are up next. They’ve met 26 times before. It’s 20-6 to the Serb. My guess it’ll be 21-6 in a few hours.
Here’s Swiatek:
It wasn’t easy. I tried to be focussed from the beginning to the end. I’m happy with my performance. I feel that I’m playing well on grass and that’s what’s most important.
There’s always something to improve. We have so many shots in tennis so it’s impossible to be perfect. That’s my motivation.
[Thoughts on her next opponent, Belinda Bencic] She’s a player who has a great game. It’s not going to be easy. I’m really looking forward to that match.