Carlos Alcaraz was again made to sweat on Centre Court before booking a quarter-final spot with a 6-3 6-4 1-6 7-5 win over stubborn 16th seed Ugo Humbert.
Having fought back from two sets to one down to defeat Frances Tiafoe in the previous round, Alcaraz seemed to be enjoying a much easier time of it as he stormed the opening two sets, only for Humbert to produce some sublime tennis thereafter.
The Frenchman too would have felt aggrieved to lose the second set, in fact, as he squandered four break points on Alcaraz’s serve in the fifth game. And then, having only coughed up four points all set on his own serve, Humbert was suddenly broken out of nowhere to lose the set 6-4.
Alcaraz vs Humbert: Tale of the Tape
Alcaraz
Match Stats
Humbert
14
Aces
10
6
Double Faults
1
66%
1st serve win percentage
67%
43%
2nd serve win percentage
47%
24/34
Net points won
26/41
6/8
Break points won
5/13
45
Total winners
47
33
Unforced errors
35
121
Total points won
117
He was not to be deterred, though, as he proceeded to break the Alcaraz serve on four straight occasions over the course of a dominant third set and early into the fourth.
The defending champion appeared to have no answer for Humbert’s immaculate return game, the 16th seed hitting thumping winners with regularity and mixing in the odd heavy ball to the back of the baseline to do for the flat-footed Spaniard.
That said, Alcaraz himself twice broke Humbert to start the fourth set, but things were back on serve by the end of the sixth game as the determined Humbert continued to dig his heels into the Centre Court grass.
More thunderous groundstrokes off the left-hander’s racket helped set up three break points in the eighth game of the fourth set but, as in the second, a wasteful Humbert would ultimately rue spurning every single one of them as three games later it would be Alcaraz who’d earn the crucial break before serving things out.
Paul wins to set up Alcaraz quarter-final showdown
American 12th seed Tommy Paul raced against the fading light on Court Two to dispatch of Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 and set up a quarter-final clash with Alcaraz.
Image: Tommy Paul is in good form, having triumphed at Queen’s in the lead up to Wimbledon
The 27-year-old took just over two hours to beat Bautista Agut who was bidding to reach his second Wimbledon quarter-final in his 10th appearance here.
Paul, whose grass game is finely tuned after he won the Queen’s Club warm-up event last month, had just too much power and variety for the 36-year-old, now ranked 112.
Bautista Agut made the American work in the second set but a couple of unforced errors lost him the chance to draw level and Paul raced through the final set, clinching the match with an ace.
The players had arrived on court late because of rain showers and the shadows were long across the court when they finished.
“He (Alcaraz) plays amazing tennis on grass but I’m playing pretty good too,” said Paul, who is on a nine-match winning streak. They have split their four previous career meetings, winning two each.
Elsewhere in the men’s singles, world No 5 Daniil Medvedev advanced through to the last eight after 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov was forced to retire with a leg injury while trailing 5-3 in the first set.
He will face world No 1 Jannik Sinner next after the Italian made light work of promising American youngster Ben Shelton, beating the 14th seed in straight sets 6-2 6-4 7-6 (11-9).
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Wild card Emma Raducanu was shocked by qualifier Lulu Sun as her encouraging Wimbledon run came to a disappointing end in the fourth round on a gloomy Sunday.
The 21-year-old had inspired hopes of more US Open-style heroics by coming through her opening three matches without dropping a set.
But she looked nervous against powerful New Zealander Sun, the first qualifier to make the women’s singles quarter-finals here in 14 years, and, despite battling to force a deciding set, slumped to a 6-2 5-7 6-2 defeat.
History for Sun at Wimbledon
Lulu Sun is the second-lowest ranked (123) player in the last 15 editions of the tournament to make the women’s singles quarter-finals at the Championships – ranked higher only than Serena Williams in 2018 (181).
“It was a great match against her. She really dug deep in there to try and get the win from me,” said an emotional Sun.
“I had to fight tooth and nail against her… she was obviously going to run for every ball and fight until the end.
“I was looking around [Centre Court] and just taking it all in for the first time.
“I’m super happy to be able to play on this court in front of all of you. It was an amazing experience for me.”
Left-hander Sun, who had never won a Grand Slam main-draw match before this week and is now on a seven-match winning streak, racked up 52 winners compared with just 19 from Raducanu and will now face Donna Vekic for a place in the semi-finals.
It has not been a comfortable 24 hours for Raducanu, with the positive vibes from her three impressive wins given a hammering by her decision to deny Andy Murray a Wimbledon swansong by pulling out of their mixed doubles opener citing a stiff wrist.
She found herself the subject of unwanted headlines, with the social media contribution of Judy Murray – albeit subsequently claimed not to be a criticism of Raducanu – adding fuel to the fire.
The strapping on her right wrist that had been present in practice on Saturday was nowhere to be seen, and Raducanu looked happy and relaxed hitting with fellow British player Liam Broady ahead of the match.
But, from the start of the contest on Centre Court, the former US Open champion, who knows all too well what qualifiers can achieve, seemed anything but comfortable.
Her serve, which has been a key strength all tournament, was off and her groundstrokes lacked their usual fizz.
Sun, on the other hand, looked like playing on Centre Court was something she had been doing all her life, the 23-year-old crunching the ball and breaking the Raducanu serve – which the Briton had not dropped since the first round – twice to go 3-0 up.
Raducanu retrieved one of the breaks but her comeback was short-lived as Sun, who defeated eighth seed Zheng Qinwen in round one, powered her way to another break and then the set.
The Brit was under pressure again at the start of the second but this time managed to hold on to her serve, with Sun, ranked 123, putting a simple forehand volley long on break point at 1-1.
Raducanu then had two break points in the next game but was unable to change the momentum, missing two backhand returns off second serves.
She hung on again in the seventh game but at least produced some of her best tennis to save two more break points.
Raducanu’s efforts in keeping her nose in front on serve were rewarded at 5-6 when Sun tightened up a little, missing an overhead and then going long on the second set point.
However, the mood changed in the opening game of the third set when Raducanu slipped while hitting a forehand, sitting on the ground shaking her head before calling the trainer, who worked on her left hip, leg and back, which she had been periodically holding during the second set.
Raducanu underwent surgery on her left ankle last year, as well as both wrists, after slipping at a tournament in Auckland.
She restarted in confident fashion with an ace but looked a little uncertain in her movement and dropped serve. The crowd tried to inspire Raducanu into another fightback but a double fault cost her a second break at 2-4 and Sun clinched a deserved victory after two hours and 50 minutes.
Sun vs Raducanu: Tale of the Tape
Sun
Match Stats
Raducanu
4
Aces
4
4
Double Faults
2
69%
1st serve win percentage
54%
54%
2nd serve win percentage
53%
23/28
Net points won
3/7
5/13
Break points won
2/7
52
Total winners
19
44
Unforced errors
21
111
Total points won
95
Jonathan Overend says it was a good call by Emma Raducanu to pull out of the mixed doubles event with Andy Murray
Paolini reaches Wimbledon quarters after tearful Keys retires injured
Image: Madison Keys was forced to retire injured against French Open runner-up Jasmine Paolini
French Open runner-up Jasmine Paolini reached the quarter-finals for the first time after a totally distraught Madison Keys was forced to call it quits at 5-5 in the third set with a suspected groin injury.
Playing under a closed Court One roof on yet another soggy day at the All England Club, Keys appeared to have one foot in the last eight when she went to serve for the match at 5-2 up the deciding set but clutched her left groin immediately after getting broken.
The American 12th seed called for the trainer one game later and limped off court for a medical time out before re-emerging with her left thigh heavily strapped.
Upon resumption, she started sobbing after netting a drop shot to fall 15-40 behind. Although the 29-year-old saved the first break point with a backhand winner, she was again in tears after surrendering her serve with a double fault.
Clearly struggling to even walk between points, Keys somehow conjured a lob to win the first point off Paolini’s next service game. But when she saw the next point whizz past her for an ace, she shook her head and signalled it was all over as she walked to the net to give her Italian opponent a tearful hug.
The Italian seventh seed had produced a stirring comeback from 5-1 down in the second set to force a tiebreak and the final score ended up being 6-3 6-7 (8-6) 5-5 in Paolini’s favour when a heartbroken Keys had to call it a day.
“I’m so sorry for her. To end the match like this it’s sad. We played a really good match. it was really tough, lots of up and downs. I feel a bit happy but also sad for her because it’s not easy to win like that,” Paolini, who had not won a Tour-level main draw match on grass before this year, told the crowd in a courtside interview.
“It was a rollercoaster. I started really well and was really focused on court but she’s a great champion and she raised her level so it was tough to return balls. I was repeating to myself stay in there. At the end I know she retired, but I’m here with the win.
“I hope you enjoyed the match,” added the 28-year-old after becoming the fifth Italian woman to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals in the professional era, equalling the country’s best result at the grasscourt major.
Paolini will next face either US Open champion Coco Gauff or American 19th seed Emma Navarro.
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Judy Murray has clarified her perceived criticism of Emma Raducanu for pulling out of the mixed doubles at Wimbledon.
Raducanu had been due to play with Andy Murray on Saturday evening but withdrew a few hours before, citing soreness in her right wrist, thus bringing the Scot’s Wimbledon career to a premature and unfortunate end.
Murray was understood to be devastated by the situation, and his mother Judy gave a quick reaction on the social media site X, replying to a message branding the decision ‘astonishing’ with a two-word reply: “Yes, astonishing.”
That was taken as criticism of 21-year-old Raducanu, who is due to play her fourth-round singles match on Sunday afternoon on Centre Court.
But on Sunday morning Murray put out another message, instead pointing the finger at the scheduling, saying: “Not sure anyone understands sarcasm these days. Pretty sure the scheduling (4th match court 1 with a singles following day) will have played a major part in any decision making.”
Former British No 1 Greg Rusedski, meanwhile, immediately backed Raducanu’s decision, writing on X: “More than understandable @EmmaRaducanu has pulled out of the mixed doubles. No need to take a risk with the wrist.”
Murray and Raducanu would not have begun their match against Zhang Shuai and Marcelo Arevalo until around 8pm, which could have meant not finishing their media obligations and other post-match duties until after midnight.
Wimbledon had little choice, though, with Arevalo needing to finish off a men’s doubles match earlier in the day and with the bad weather having delayed the singles competitions, which take priority over doubles in the scheduling.
The situation is hugely unfortunate given the momentum Raducanu, who finally appears to have settled into life on tour, has built up on court over the last few weeks.
Her main priority will be ensuring her wrist, which she had surgery on last year, does not become a major problem again and that this saga does not derail her singles run. She practised as scheduled on Saturday but with tape around the joint.
In hindsight, she will probably reflect that she should have turned down Murray’s invitation, however much she wanted to accept it, to avoid this possible outcome.
Last Briton standing
Image: Lulu Sun won three matches at Roehampton to make the main draw before stunning eighth seed Zheng Qinwen in the first round
Raducanu will record her best Wimbledon result if she wins her fourth-round match on Sunday.
Comparisons have been made to her run to the US Open title in 2021 after she beat ninth seed Maria Sakkari on Friday.
But this time she will be the one coming up against a qualifier as she takes on New Zealand’s world No 123 Lulu Sun, who won three matches at Roehampton to make the main draw before stunning eighth seed Zheng Qinwen in the first round.
Raducanu will start as favourite but her wrist could be a concern, while she can expect to face questions about her decision to withdraw from the mixed doubles.
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World No 1 Iga Swiatek was handed a stunning Wimbledon third-round exit as she lost to Yulia Putintseva on Saturday, while Britain’s Harriet Dart saw her championships end in defeat to China’s Xinyu Wang.
Swiatek was on a 21-match winning streak and looked on course to cruise into the last 16 at the All England Club when she claimed the opener, but the Kazakhstan player hit back with a brilliant second set where she broke twice.
Four-time French Open champion Swiatek raced off court before the decider and when she eventually returned faced boos from an impatient crowd.
It seemed to knock the top seed off her stride and she netted to give 30th seed Putintseva an impressive 3-6 6-1 6-2 victory on her third match point.
Moscow-born Putintseva soaked up the adulation before she said in her on-court interview: “It feels great, it feels really great.
“I was just so focused on playing fast and not giving her any time. So, that’s pretty much it.
“I was feeling it on the court and that is why I was like fire. I was trying to entertain you more and more with my shots.
“I just want to enjoy this moment, like cool down a little bit, do a stretch and eat. Important!”
Dart, who had rallied to defeat British rival Katie Boulter in the previous round, was beaten 6-2 5-7 3-6 in a match that lasted two hours and 18 minutes having been disrupted by rain delays earlier in the day.
The British No 2 was denied a spot in the fourth round after dropping six straight games in the deciding third set after leading 3-0 at one stage.
“I’m super happy to be in the fourth round,” Wang told the BBC in her on-court interview. “It was really tough today, Harriet was playing really good, her balls are super flat, she was serving good. It was just a really tough battle, I’m just happy.
“I was getting a bit more used to her balls and all the slices. I felt more comfortable each time as the match was going. Now I’m looking forward to my next match.”
World No 100 Dart opened up a 3-1 advantage to begin the match two hours after its scheduled 11am start, before responding emphatically to a Wang break to restore her two-game lead at 4-2.
A forehand winner chalked up the first set after 38 minutes and Dart looked on course for the next round when she held for 4-3 in the second after the pair had traded breaks of serve.
A double fault soon left her staring at a 15-30 deficit, before the Brit buried a smash into the net from deuce as Wang went on to rescue the hold for 5-5 followed by a defining break of serve.
Frustration began to tell for Dart, who had fought through tears to overcome Boulter in a tense tiebreak earlier in the week.
Dart vs Wang: Tale of the Tape
Dart
Match Stats
Wang
2
Aces
0
7
Double Faults
5
61%
1st serve win percentage
59%
39%
2nd serve win percentage
42%
4/8
Net points won
28/40
6/13
Break points won
7/17
20
Total winners
32
36
47
14
105
Total points won
104
She initially appeared to have recovered well when she raced out to a 3-0 cushion, only for Wang to wrestle the match in her favour by reeling off sixth straight games.
Wang had arrived on the back of defeating America’s Jessica Pegula, making her first win against a top-five opponent.
“Really super happy to be here, I enjoy playing here. I hope to see you guys for my next match and hopefully you cheer more for me next time!”
Ons Jabeur meanwhile crashed out in her pursuit of a third finals appearance at Wimbledon as she lost 6-1 7-6 to Elina Svitolina, who will now go on to face Wang.
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Swiss Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
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Andy Murray has played his final match at Wimbledon after Emma Raducanu pulled out of the mixed doubles.
Raducanu was due to team up with Murray, in what is set to be the latter’s final year at Wimbledon before retiring, but has now withdrawn due to stiffness in her right wrist.
Murray, who was knocked out of the men’s doubles with brother Jamie earlier this week, is not permitted to name a replacement in the mixed doubles, as per tournament rules.
The Scot, 37, and Raducanu, 21, were scheduled to play Zhang Shuai and Marcelo Arevalo in the fourth match on Court One on Saturday.
Image: Raducanu has pulled out of the mixed doubles due to a right wrist issue
Raducanu reached the fourth round in the women’s singles following a straight-sets win over ninth seed Maria Sakkari on Friday and will next face Lulu Sun in the last 16 on Sunday.
A statement from Raducanu read: “Unfortunately I woke up with some stiffness in my right wrist this morning, so therefore I have decided to make the very tough decision to withdraw from the mixed doubles.
“I’m disappointed as I was really looking forward to playing with Andy but got to take care.”
Murray, who won the Wimbledon men’s singles in 2013 and 2016, is set to play in singles at the Olympic Games in Paris in July as well as in the men’s doubles with Dan Evans.
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A clinical Emma Raducanu conjured memories of her stunning US Open win by defeating ninth seed Maria Sakkari to ease into the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Raducanu had thumped Sakkari in the semi-finals in New York, and she again lost only five games under the roof on Centre Court, reminding the tennis world of her rare talent in a 6-2 6-3 victory.
Having not beaten a top-10 player in her career, the 21-year-old has now done it twice in a fortnight, as well as matching her best run at the All England Club from her breakthrough event three years ago.
“I think today was really up there with the most fun I’ve had on the tennis court. I really enjoyed every single moment,” said Raducanu.
“I told myself: ‘How many times in your life are you going to get to play in front of a full Centre Court?’
“I think I’m most proud of how I was so focused and determined on every single point and every single moment.
“I knew, playing Maria – she’s a top-10 opponent – I had to battle and fight hard. She’s so tough and has amazing weapons. I kind of saw it as a free swing.
“You just have to play every point like it could be your last.”
The British wild card will next face qualifier Lulu Sun, ranked 123 in the world, for a place in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
Image: Raducanu conjured memories of her stunning US Open win on Centre Court
She played down the parallels between this fortnight and New York after swatting aside Elise Mertens in the last round, but there certainly are some, not least the fact she arrived here feeling confident and with plenty of wins under her belt.
Over the last month she has reached her first grass-court semi-final in Nottingham and then beat a top-10 player for the first time, seeing off Jessica Pegula in Eastbourne.
Sakkari pointed out in a rather prickly fashion ahead of the contest that it is she rather than Raducanu who has been among the best players in the world for the last three years.
But she has also struggled at the Grand Slams since making the last four in New York and came into Wimbledon having won just one match in her last five major tournaments.
An error-strewn first game from the Greek, who has never been beyond the third round here, gave Raducanu an immediate break of serve, while the big difference between the two was their handling of the big points.
Raducanu was exceptional, saving five break points across three games in the first set, one with an ace and another a searing forehand down the line.
She had Sakkari at 0-40 in the fifth game without managing to break but found the cushion she was looking for when an Andy Murray-esque lob landed on the baseline to give her a 5-2 lead.
Sakkari had two more chances in the next game but again Raducanu was rock solid, and there was an air of real excitement around Centre Court when she secured another break to lead 2-1 in the second set.
Errors were flowing again from the racket of a frustrated Sakkari, who vented in exasperation at her support box as Raducanu survived another close game, saving two more break points, one with a second-serve ace.
Sakkari saved two match points serving at 3-5 but sent a forehand wide on the third to leave Raducanu grinning in delight.
One of these players will reach the Wimbledon semi-finals
Emma Raducanu
Lulu Sun
Paula Badosa
Donna Vekic
Raducanu on her form: ‘It’s all about winning the day’
“Well I think just having your inner passion. Win or lose, every day I’m just trying to win the day,” she said.
“Different days mean different things. Getting out on the court can sometimes be winning the day.
“Sometimes you win the day and you play amazing tennis. It’s give and take.”
Tale of the Tape
Raducanu vs Sakkari: Tale of the Tape
Raducanu
Match Stats
Sakkari
3
Aces
2
3
Double Faults
6
71%
1st serve win percentage
69%
50%
2nd serve win percentage
27%
3/3
Net points won
4/8
1/4
Break points won
9/10
15
Total winners
20
13
Unforced errors
31
69
Total points won
52
Kartal’s Wimbledon run comes to an end
Image: Sonay Kartal’s impressive Wimbledon campaign ended in the third round after a straight-sets loss to US Open champion Coco Gauff (left)
Sonay Kartal’s impressive Wimbledon campaign ended in the third round after a straight-sets loss to US Open champion Coco Gauff.
World No 298 Kartal only won three games at the All England Club last year but managed more than that against Gauff and even broke the American in the first set on Court One.
Kartal held her own in several long rallies before Gauff eventually proved too strong with a 6-4 6-0 victory, but the British No 9 could be proud of her week’s work in SW19, which has pocketed her £143,000 in prize money and memories to last a lifetime.
No obvious nerves appeared on show from the 22-year-old though, who had admirably tried to keep up with Gauff’s powerful-hitting and duly did when the American sent her backhand long after a 15-shot rally to get Kartal on the scoreboard.
Big cheers greeted the hold and a 104mph ace helped secure another before the home favourite fashioned two break points in the seventh game.
Gauff sent down a double-fault to get the first set back on serve, but consecutive backhand winners by the world No 2, the first after a successful challenge, was enough to earn her a break back.
The 39-minute opener was closed out with an ace and a wild forehand by Kartal gifted Gauff a break at the start of the second set.
It was largely one-way traffic after but Kartal delighted the crowd by saving three break points in the fifth game of the second set.
Second seed Gauff did eventually seal the break and an ace ended Kartal’s fine run before she exited Court One to rapturous applause.
“I think today was a really good test for me. I’ve never come out with someone like Coco before,” Kartal said.
“My first set today, that set and the whole week has given me confidence to prove that my level is up there.
“It’s important for me now to play the bigger tournaments, play the bigger WTA tournaments, mix in with that level.”
Elsewhere in the women’s singles on Friday, Italian Jasmine Paolini beat Bianca Andreescu 7-6 (7-4) 6-1, Spain’s Paula Badosa knocked out 14th seed Daria Kasatkina 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 6-4 and American Madison Keys beat Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-4 6-3.
Raducanu’s next opponent Sun beat China’s Zhu Lin 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (8-6), American Emma Navarro beat Diana Shnaider 2-6 6-3 6-4, and Croatia’s Donna Vekic beat Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (3-7) 6-1.
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Hamburg Open (ATP 500) 15-21 July
Newport Hall of Fame Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Swiss Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
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Emma Raducanu said “pressure is a privilege” after her third-round Wimbledon victory on Friday, adding she “thrives on the big occasion”.
A clinical Raducanu conjured memories of her stunning US Open title win by defeating ninth seed Maria Sakkari to ease into the fourth round at her home Grand Slam.
Raducanu had thumped Greece’s Sakkari in the semi-finals in New York, and she again lost only five games under the roof on Centre Court, reminding the tennis world of her talent in a 6-2 6-3 victory.
Having not beaten a top-10 player in her career, the 21-year-old has now done it twice in a fortnight, as well as matching her best run at the All England Club from her breakthrough event three years ago.
“I love playing on the big courts. For me, I thrive on such occasions, on big stages,” Raducanu said.
“It’s something I play tennis for. I just love the feeling of it, competing, especially here in front of a home crowd. It is really amazing.
“I think on the pressure side, you can flip it. I have a packed Centre Court who are all rooting for me to win. It really felt like that today. It really felt like that in my last two matches.
“For me, I just feel happy that that many people are behind me. That’s just in a microcosm of what’s going on in the wider world. Not everyone who supported me is in that stadium, as well.
“I think pressure’s a privilege. I thrive for those situations.”
Image: Raducanu defeated world No 9 Maria Sakkari at Centre Court on Friday to book her fourth round place
The British wild card will next face New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun, ranked No 123 in the world, on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals.
The 21-year-old was clear she is not looking too far ahead, however.
“I don’t think I ever will until I’m in the situation. I just have to keep going point by point. Today was a really good example of me just taking it moment by moment and fighting,” Raducanu said.
“I think also for me to be winning that match against a top-10 opponent on Centre Court, it’s a beautiful feeling and one that I really want to savour.
“But tennis is pretty brutal in the way you have to enjoy it tonight and then tomorrow you’re already thinking about the next one. It’s just like that. You can win the tournament but you can lose first round the next week. It’s the sport. I’m just trying to cherish every moment I have here.
“I’m very grateful just being healthy. I think I missed the feeling of being on the grounds very much. It was really painful last year coming here and not being able to compete, being on the other side of it. I think that feeling has been pulling me through a lot this week. Just remembering how I felt then, bringing it back to the present.
“I’ve just been having so much fun that I really just want to stay. I don’t want to go home. It’s a good, different type of motivation.”
What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?
Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours
In the run-up to the final Grand Slam of 2024 – the US Open – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the hard-court season.
Hamburg Open (ATP 500) 15-21 July
Newport Hall of Fame Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Swiss Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Bastad Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Palermo Ladies Open (WTA 250) 15-21 July
Hungarian Grand Prix (WTA 250) 15-21 July
Prague Open (WTA 250) 21-26 July
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After the emotional farewell, it’s back to the day job for Andy Murray at Wimbledon as he prepares for a mixed doubles campaign alongside Emma Raducanu on Saturday.
The two-time former singles champion was honoured with a ceremony on Centre Court on Thursday evening to celebrate his career after he and brother Jamie lost in the first round of the men’s doubles.
But the Scot was back on the practice schedule at the All England Club on Friday to prepare for his mixed doubles opener alongside former US Open champion Raducanu.
Super Saturday at Wimbledon
Centre Court from 1.30pm BST
Norrie vs Zverev
Jabeur vs Svitolina
Popyrin vs Djokovic
Court One from 1pm
Shelton vs Shapovalov
Swiatek vs Putintseva
Rybakina vs Wozniacki
Arevalo/Zhang vs Murray/Raducanu
Court Two from 11am
Dart vs Wang
Tim Henman and Andy’s brother Jamie pay tribute to the three-time Grand Slam champion and former world No 1 as he nears closer to playing his final match at Wimbledon and retirement from the sport
Murray had considered playing singles just over a week after back surgery before deciding on Tuesday morning that it would not be a good idea.
The extent to which he was physically hampered was apparent from the start of Thursday’s match, which the Murrays lost 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 to Australian duo Rinky Hijikata and John Peers.
He is entered into singles as well as doubles at the Olympics in Paris later this month, which is set to be the final tournament of his career, although whether he plays singles depends on how he continues to recover from the surgery.
“There’s no question that, even with the physical issues around the hip, I was still able to compete at the highest level,” said Murray. “Not as consistently as I would have liked, certainly not having the results I would have wanted.
“I could definitely still win matches here on the grass once I’m recovered from the back injury. But I don’t want to do that now. I know I could do it, but I have no plans to play singles again.
“Because I knew definitively that that was going to be the last time I’m playing here, the last week and everything has been really emotional for me. Every time I was on my own, I find myself getting a bit emotional and thinking about it.
“Obviously I’ll try and enjoy the mixed doubles. It should be fun. Then I’ve got a family holiday planned after this, then the Olympics. That’s it.”
Watch Murray showing his more humorous side on the ATP Tour in his funniest moments
Raducanu said she had no hesitation in accepting Murray’s mixed doubles proposal and will fulfil a childhood dream by playing with him at Wimbledon.
He revealed Raducanu was at the top of his list when he decided to enter the event on Tuesday evening, and he did not have to wait long for the reply.
“Literally like 10 seconds,” said Raducanu. “For me, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I think some things are bigger than just tennis.
“I think some things are a once-in-a-lifetime memory that you’re going to have for the rest of your life. To play at Wimbledon with Andy Murray, those things don’t come by.
“At the end of my life, at the end of my career when I’m like 70 years old, I know I’m going to have that memory of playing Wimbledon with Andy Murray in a home slam. For me, it was an honour to be asked.”
Dan Khan and Raz Mirza give their thoughts on Andy Murray’s chances, as he pairs up with Emma Raducanu in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon
Dart dreaming of reaching fourth round
Harriet Dart is looking to break new ground by reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time after one of the most emotional victories of her career against long-time rival Katie Boulter.
Dart’s only previous appearance in the third round at a major came here five years ago, when she lost to Ashleigh Barty.
This time she appears to have a better chance up against unseeded Chinese player Wang Xinyu, who defeated fifth seed Jessica Pegula in round two.
Image: Harriet Dart is looking to break new ground by reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time
Dart is ranked 58 places below Wang but did win their only previous match in Australian Open qualifying two years ago.
“She’s a great player,” said Dart. “Hits the ball really flat, low. I’m not surprised she’s doing really well here. She’s been having a phenomenal year.
“She’s been beating some really good players. Jess is an incredible player. She’s also been winning so much on grass. I know that I’m expecting a very tough match. I’m excited for it. It’s another opportunity for me.
“I think for me to be able to make the second week has been a really big goal. I tried not to put too much pressure on it. I wasn’t really expecting too much coming into Wimbledon this year.
“But it means more than anything for me to be sitting here and getting ready to compete in the third round.”
Norrie faces rematch with Zverev
Image: Cameron Norrie upset British No 1 Jack Draper to reach the third round but he faces Alexander Zverev next
Both Thursday’s British No 1 versus No 2 battles went the way of the lower-ranked player, with Cameron Norrie finding his best form for months to see off Jack Draper.
Norrie lost top spot in the domestic rankings to Draper a couple of weeks ago after a difficult run but was delighted with his showing against his younger compatriot and now faces a rematch against fourth seed Alexander Zverev.
The pair met in the fourth round of the Australian Open this year, when Norrie pushed Zverev to a deciding tie-break before losing out in five sets.
“My level’s been really good,” said Norrie. “I’ve been losing a lot of close matches recently, so nice to win one of those, especially in a grand slam.
“I’m building. It doesn’t get any easier. I’m going to have to keep raising my level. I’m looking forward to the match. It’s against another top player. He’s in form. He’s serving well. He likes the grass.
“All the skills that I’ve been practising I can use in this match especially. I played him in Australia. I know what to expect. I’ve never beaten him before so I think it’s a really tough, tough draw for me.”
British tennis stars Cameron Norrie and Emma Raducanu revealed what their ideal days away from tennis would look like!
What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?
Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours
In the run-up to the final Grand Slam of 2024 – the US Open – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the hard-court season.
Hamburg Open (ATP 500) 15-21 July
Newport Hall of Fame Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Swiss Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Bastad Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Palermo Ladies Open (WTA 250) 15-21 July
Hungarian Grand Prix (WTA 250) 15-21 July
Prague Open (WTA 250) 21-26 July
Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.
Taylor Fritz told his Wimbledon opponent, Arthur Rinderknech, to “have a nice flight home” after beating him in their second-round match on Thursday.
Fritz was involved in a heated French Open clash with the Frenchman Rinderknech at Roland Garros last year, in which he shushed the rowdy home crowd after winning match point and was booed for minutes afterwards.
Rinderknech made reference to the match ahead of their Wimbledon meeting, and said in comments reported by French media: “The atmosphere will be quieter and he won’t cry as much.”
The pair got into a bit of a back-and-forth at the net after the 13th-seeded American’s 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-4 victory at the All England Club.
Image: Fritz exchanged some words with Rinderknech after his win
Fritz revealed he had “extra fire” and motivation to beat the Frenchman after hearing his comments.
“I’m a very chill person. I don’t do anything that could rub people the wrong way, so when someone kind of just goes out of their way to take a shot at me, then I’m not just going to take it,” said Fritz. “It gave me the extra fire to win.”
So when it was time for the post-match handshake Thursday, there were some words exchanged. “I just said, ‘have a nice flight home’,” Fritz recounted.
According to Fritz, Rinderknech responded by pointing out that he’s still around in doubles. “I said, ‘oh, congrats. Good for you.’ Then he started acting like, ‘why are you blah, blah, blah?’ I’m like, ‘dude, you know what you said’.
“Don’t disrespect me before the match and then expect me to be all nice after the match,” said Fritz, who will take on 24th-seeded Alejandro Tabilo of Chile on Saturday for a spot in the fourth round. “That’s not how it works.”
Image: Fritz won their 2023 French Open contest in front of a rowdy partisan crowd, which he shushed afterwards
Fritz said it was hard not to see Rinderknech’s comments, which were posted on social media before their meeting at the All England Club.
“It’s tough not to [see the comments] when someone goes out of their way to take a jab at you. It’s tough not to see it because everyone is just going to tag me and make sure I see it,” he said.
“As soon as I saw it, the match was basically over.”
Nick Kyrgios took to social media to say: “This is what the sport needs @Taylor_Fritz97 cheeky…”
What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?
Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours
In the run-up to the final Grand Slam of 2024 – the US Open – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the hard-court season.
Hamburg Open (ATP 500) 15-21 July
Newport Hall of Fame Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Swiss Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Bastad Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Palermo Ladies Open (WTA 250) 15-21 July
Hungarian Grand Prix (WTA 250) 15-21 July
Prague Open (WTA 250) 21-26 July
Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.
Emma Raducanu is looking at the top of her game and the 21-year-old has realistic hopes of winning Wimbledon following the withdrawal of some big names in her half of the draw.
Raducanu powered her way into the third round of the women’s singles on Wednesday with a comfortable 6-1 6-2 victory against Belgian Elise Mertens.
The British No 3 has struggled for fitness since her stunning US Open triumph in 2021 but looked in fine fettle as she pummelled Mertens into submission from the baseline, shouting and fist-pumping at almost every point won.
The British wild card is now through to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time since her title win at Flushing Meadows, raising tentative hopes of a first British women’s singles triumph at Wimbledon since Virginia Wade in 1977.
If she can maintain the form she showed against Mertens, ranked one place outside the seedings at 33, she could yet do some serious damage in this tournament.
Who’s next for Raducanu?
Take a look back at Raducanu’s incredible win at the 2021 US Open
She will play ninth seed Maria Sakkari on Friday in the third round. Raducanu beat the Greek in the semi-finals en route to her US Open win, when she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam in the Open era.
“[The] circumstances are different. Like, in a third round compared to a semi-final,” Raducanu said. “At the time the dynamics were also different. I was an unknown player pretty much.
“I’m expecting a really tough match. She’s top 10. It’s going to be a really difficult one.
“Again, it’s going to be one where I’m the complete underdog and I can just enjoy playing in [front of] my home crowd, home Slam, just keep having fun and trying to stay an extra day.”
Sakkari ‘pumped’ for Raducanu challenge
Image: Maria Sakkari has never played on Centre Court before
Sakkari defeated Netherlands’ Arantxa Rus 7-5 6-3 to set up the clash with Raducanu, which she feels is an “opportunity” for both of them.
“She’s also playing a top-10 player. Let’s not forget that. She’s an unbelievable player. She’s very talented. She’s very promising. Even after winning a Grand Slam, she’s still very young. Obviously, she’s going to be the favourite because she’ll be playing home. If anything, that’s normal,” said the Greek.
“But I’m excited. It’s another challenge. That’s why we play tennis. That’s what we play for. It’s going to be pretty exciting. I’m pumped.”
Sakkari has never played on Centre Court before, but she said: “I don’t feel like it’s something new for me. I’ve been a top-10 player for the last three years or even more, so I’ve played in big courts. It’s not like I’m just coming into this and it’s my first time.”
Raducanu’s projected path to the final
Image: A red-hot Daria Kasatkina could be in line to face Raducanu for a blockbuster meeting
Raducanu could face a very winnable fourth-round date with either New Zealand-Swiss player Lulu Sun or world No 61 Zhu Lin from China.
After that the Brit could take on Daria Kasatkina with the former Wimbledon quarter-finalist underlining her grass-court credentials with a title success at the Rothesay International at Devonshire Park.
She has already demolished fellow Brit Lily Miyazaki 6-0 6-0 and would be a tough opponent.
Image: US Open champion Coco Gauff could be a potential semi-final opponent for Raducanu
Other potential quarter-final opponents are Dayana Yastremska, Donna Vekic and former world No 2 Paolo Badosa.
There are two players who stand out as clear possible semi-final opponents for Raducanu with US Open champion Coco Gauff and French Open finalist Jasmine Paolini in the kind of form to reach the last four.
Who could Raducanu face in the final?
Image: Iga Swiatek is favourite to win her maiden Wimbledon title
There are a number of big names Raducanu could face in the final, scheduled for 2pm on Saturday July 23, including world No 1 Iga Swiatek who will be aiming to win her maiden Wimbledon title.
Former champion Elena Rybakina and two-time finalist Ons Jabeur are also in the frame.
Dan Khan and Raz Mirza give their thoughts on Andy Murray’s chances, as he pairs up with his brother Jamie in the men’s doubles and Raducanu in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon
What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?
Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours
In the run-up to the final Grand Slam of 2024 – the US Open – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the hard-court season.
Hamburg Open (ATP 500) 15-21 July
Newport Hall of Fame Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Swiss Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Bastad Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Palermo Ladies Open (WTA 250) 15-21 July
Hungarian Grand Prix (WTA 250) 15-21 July
Prague Open (WTA 250) 21-26 July
Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.
