Key events
Fritz and Diallo are back under way after an 18-minute break. Meanwhile, a vulnerable Katie Boulter laments her shock defeat in the main interview room:
I mean, of course it hurts. It’s a really tough pill to swallow. It always is here. Unfortunately it’s just the way that it is.
Sometimes I just have to accept that my moment might not come at some point. I’m just going to keep working hard and keep trying my hardest. Ultimately that’s all I can do and keep putting myself out there and keep improving every single year.
Also suspended: the match on Court 17 between France’s Arthur Rinderknech and the Chilean lucky loser Cristian Garin with Rinderknech leading 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3).
British wildcard Arthur Fery, who was born in France but educated at nearby King’s College Wimbledon and then at Stanford, faces an uphill battle after falling behind 6-4, 6-3 against Italy’s Luciano Dardieri. But that battle will extend another day as their second-round title on No 2 Court has also been suspended for darkness.
Fritz has run away with the third-set tiebreaker over Diallo over on No 1 Court, rattling off seven unanswered points for a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(0) lead. The match has been suspended to the retractable roof. No such luck for Auger-Aliassime and Struff, whose match on Court 18 has been called for darkness only moments after the German leveled it at one set apiece by pulling out the second-set breaker, 11-9.
Bellucci breaks Lehecka with a gorgeous forehand passing winner, then closes out the 7-6(4), 6-1, 7-5 victory with a tidy love hold. That ensures one of Harry Fonseca, Bellucci or Norrie will reach the last eight.
Elsewhere on the outer courts, the No 31 seed Ashlyn Krueger from the United States has been eliminated in straight sets by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. That’s two more seeds out. Only five more singles matches still happening around the grounds.
Mattia Bellucci was on the cusp of knocking out yet another seed in No 23 Jiri Lehecka. But the 23-year-old Czech was unable to serve out the match and was broken in a marathon game spanning 12 points and more than 10 minutes. They’re back on level terms in the third set, but the Italian is still in firm control with a 7-6(4), 6-1, 5-5 lead.
A couple more results from the outer courts are trickling through. No 14 seed Elina Svitolina has seen off the Belarusian qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich in straight sets. Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak has brushed aside Ethan Quinn of the United States, also in straights. And the Aussie Jordan Thompson has fought back from a two-sets-to-one deficit to oust Benjamin Bonzi in five.
Turns out the carnage at the top of the women’s draw is historic. This marks only the second major tournament in the Open era (since 1968) where four of the top five women’s seeds failed to make it past the second round. The first was Wimbledon 2018.
Fritz could be in for another long night on No 1 Court. He’s breezed through the second set in 25 minutes to square things with Diallo at one set apiece. The American won 92% of the points on his first serve in the second frame, up from 69% in the opener.
Paolini beaten by Rakhimova in three sets
Another top player crashes out as fourth-seeded Jasmine Paolini bows 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to world No 87 Kamilla Rakhimova. It’s the biggest win of the 23-year-old Russian’s career and it comes against last year’s runner-up. Paolini’s departure makes it 28 seeds to have gone out of the tournament in less than four completed days – 14 apiece on the men’s and women’s sides – including the No 2, No 3, No 4 and No 5 women’s seeds.
“I knew today I had to be aggressive because Marketa would beat me if I pushed the ball around,” Raducanu says. “The atmosphere was electric and I’m just so happy to get to play another match here.”
Asked about her Friday date with Sabalenka, the British No 1 is to the point: “Of course she’s No 1 in the world right now, so dominant on the tour, has won literally everything. It’s going to be a very difficult match. All I can do is control my side of the court as much as possible. I guess there’s no pressure on me in the next round at all.”
Raducanu beats Vondrousova in straight sets
Raducanu closes it out like she’s got a taxi waiting. She breaks Vondrousova to close out a 6-3, 6-3 win over the 2023 Wimbledon champion in 82 minutes. It’s as well as we’ve seen her play in some time and her reward for her trouble will be a third-round date with top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka.
Upset watch on No 3 Court. Jasmine Paolini, the No 4 seed from Italy, is down a break in the decider against Kamilla Rakhimova. The Russian is serving at 4-6, 6-4, 4-3, threatening another blow at a women’s singles draw that’s already in tatters.
Center Court is buzzing as Raducanu is within touching distance of the third round after backing up a break for a 6-3, 4-2 lead over Vondrousova. Brilliant stuff from the 2021 US Open champion, who is all over the court and striking the ball brilliantly.
More good news for Canada. Felix Auger-Aliassime, the No 25 seed and a quarter-finalist here four years ago, has taken the opening set from Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff on Court 18.
Gabriel Diallo has taken the opening set from Taylor Fritz on No 1 Court. The 23-year-old Montrealer got the better of his opponent in a 16-shot rally, the longest of the match so far, to break for 5-4. From there he showed no nerve in coolly serving it out, closing the frame with a 115mph ace out wide.
We’ve got a marathon unfolding with the shadows lengthening on Court 15, where Australian’s Justin Thompson has dragged Medvedev-slayer Benjamin Bonzi into a fifth set in a match that just entered its fourth hour.
A rocky start for No 5 seed Taylor Fritz on No 1 Court. He was broken in his opening service game and finds himself in a 0-3 hole against Gabriel Diallo, the in-form 23-year-old from Montreal who is fresh off his first tour-level title at ’s-Hertogenbosch.
Elsewhere, fourth-seeded Jasmine Paolini is headed to a decider with Kamilla Rakhimova after dropping the second set on No 3 Court.
Raducanu takes the first set, 6-3. After breaking Vondrousova in a marathon eighth game for a 5-3 advantage, the British No 1 served her way to triple set point. She frittered two of them away before Vondrousova overcooked a forehand, sending the Centre Court crowd into roars.
Naomi Osaka has reached the third round at Wimbledon for the first time in seven years after finishing off a 6-3, 6-2 win over Katerina Siniakova. She will face the winner of tonight’s match between Ashlyn Krueger and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for her first ever place in the Wimbledon round of 16.
Emma Raducanu appeared to have drawn first blood on Centre Court, passing Marketa Vondrousova with a dazzling backhand winner for 4-2, only to quickly go triple break point down in the ensuing game. Raducanu saved two of them but a biffed forehand from the baseline gifted the break back to Vondrousova, who will serve at 3-4 after the change of ends.
It got late early for the No 12 seed Diana Shnaider over on Court 18. She dropped 10 of the final 11 games in a 6-4, 6-1 defeat to the French qualifier Diane Parry, who progresses to face the British 23-year-old Sonay Kartal next.
Solana Sierra backed into the main draw after losing in the third round of last week’s qualifying tournament. It’s been a much longer time in London than expected, which has forced her to change her apartment three times. Today’s win means she and her mother will be moving house a fourth time. “Like we said, it’s a good problem,” she says.
Boulter beaten by Sierra in three sets
Katie Boulter is out in the second round at Wimbledon for the second straight year. Last year it was Harriet Dart who did the honours. This time it’s Solana Sierra, the 21-year-old lucky loser from Argentina who has won 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-1 for her first career win over an opponent in the top 50.
“It feels amazing,” Sierra says. “I knew it was a tough match. Katie is an amazing player, so I tried to focus on myself and enjoy the moment because it’s a dream to play at Wimbledon and on this court and in front of this crowd.”
It was a day to forget for the 28-year-old from Leicestershire, whose 36 unforced errors included 14 double faults.
Amanda Anisimova is through to round three after a straightforward 6-4, 6-3 win over Mexico’s Renata Zarazua. The No 13 seed from the United States advances to face Hungary’s Dalma Galfi, the world No 110 who upset Beatriz Haddad Maia earlier today.
Emma Raducanu and Marketa Vondrousova have taken Centre Court for their peach of a teatime fixture between former grand slam champions. The Briton impressed in her first-round win over Mimi Xu, showcasing a more aggressive forehand, the product of recent technical tweaks under new coach Mark Petchey. That shot will be vital against the 2023 Wimbledon champion, a clever lefty who thrives on disrupting rhythm with spin and court craft.
Also in trouble is the No 12 seed Diana Shnaider. She is being given a run for her money on Court 18 by the French qualifier Diane Parry, who has won four straight games from a break down to take the first set, 6-4.
Elsewhere, the No 24 seed Elise Mertens has finished off Philadelphia’s Ann Li, fighting back to win 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-2 and book a place in the third round. She will face the winner of today’s match between Aliaksandra Sasnovic and the 14th-seeded Elina Svitolina.
More trouble for Katie Boulter, who is broken at love to open the third set. Sierra, the world No 101 making her main-draw debut here, quickly backs up the break for a 6-7(7), 6-2, 2-0 edge.
Thanks, Will. The British hope Katie Boulter is into a decider with the Argentinian lucky loser Solana Sierra on No 1 Court after dropping the second set, 6-2. Boulter won just 8% of her points behind her second serve in that set and her negative body language has prompted some spirited words of encouragement from her coach.
On that note, I am going to head off and Bryan Armen Graham will be taking over for the remainder of this blog.
Alcaraz embraces Tarvet warmly at the net and offers a few kind words and some obvious respect.
Alcaraz beats Tarvet in straight sets
Carlos Alcaraz has seen off Ollie Tarvet (6-1, 6-4, 6-4). It was anything but straightforward for the Spaniard who was made to work extremely hard by the British qualifier, allowing the loser on this occasion to leave with great pride and a growing reputation.
Tarvet’s service game begins with raucous noise from the stands. Tarvet, however, pings a backhand into the net as Alcaraz sense victory. Not to worry, he wins the next couple of points as the Spaniard struggles returning. Alcaraz will have to serve to win this match.
This is not offence to Ollie Tarvet but what these opening two matches have shown for Alcaraz is that he is certainly not at his best. Others looking to challenge for the title will be less worried about him than when they arrived. Admittedly, he is one game away from being in the third round but is really having to work for it.
And Boulter is broken, Sierra sending a rocketing forehand that is too fast for the Briton. This game could be going the distance at this rate.
Once again, being broken has irked Alcaraz. Bish, bash, bosh and the Spaniard has three Break Points. A ripping return to a second serve does the job. 4-3 to Alcaraz in the third, he serves next.
TARVET BREAKS BACK! Tarvet earns himself two break points after Alcaraz’s backhand volley at the net goes awry. Tarvet drops to his knees after Alcaraz loosely sends one long.
It is not vintage stuff in Boulter v Sierra but the Briton is gritting it out. It looks plain sailing in her opening service game of the second set but she throws away a couple of set points, leading to Deuce. After a few false starts, she eventually fires and Sierra can’t do much about it.
Tarvet has great speed across the court and takes plenty of pleasure in chasing down an Alcaraz drop shot, sliding across the turf to do so, winning the point in the process. He offers up a hot dog on the next point but to no avail. The game eventually goes to Deuce where Alcaraz takes control and breaks with a whipped forehand.
It is going with serve on Centre in the third. Alcaraz finishes off his latest service game by pushing Tarvet out wide. The Briton manages to return but Alcaraz has little trouble finding the vacant space to make it 2-2 in the third.
BOULTER WINS THE FIRST SET! Boulter and Sierra end up in a first set tie-break. Boutler rattles to an early 4-1 lead. Sierra manages to battle back and the tie-break reaches 6-6 as she maintains her composure in a lengthy rally. Boulter earns the chance to serve for the set but needlessly whacks a backhand into the net. Boulter and Sierra seem to be fighting themselves as much as one another. At the fourth time of asking, Boulter wins Set Point to get her up and running.
Tarvet will keep fighting to the bitter end, that’s for sure. The opening point of Alcaraz’s service game producing a lengthy rally, ended by a pummelling forehand from Tarvet at the baseline. From here on it, however, it is all Alcaraz, who does not give Tarvet anything to work with.
Tarvet went for a little break and is back on court against Alcaraz. He opens the third – and probably – final set and battles his way to Deuce with a cracking serve down the middle as he saves two break points. It takes a bit of back and forth but eventually Tarvet completes the hold to earn a roar on Centre Court.
Nuno Borges knocks out Billy Harris. The Briton gave it everything in the third set tie-back but his opponent progresses (6-3, 6-4, 7-6).
After all that hard work, Boulter opens with a double fault. Boulter does, however, recover from this mishap and takes the game after Sierra miscues a return. The scores are level at 5-5!
Billy Harris battles to extend the match against Borges, taking the third set to a tie-break.
BOULTER BREAKS! Sierra leads 5-4 but Boulter takes things back on serve.
Alcaraz wins the second set 6-4 against Tarvet.
Boulter produces some big serves which Sierra cannot return as she manages to hold and stay in the opening set. Sierra, however, has the chance to serve it out.
You can tell how hard Alcaraz is finding things because he is really celebrating every point won. The Spaniard wins the first few points of Tarvet’s service game, leaving the Briton irked by his own profligacy. Alcaraz breaks and has the chance to serve for the second set.
A double fault from Boulter gifts Sierra a second break of the opening set. Boulter needs to improve her serving quickly to avoid a dismal afternoon.
A stunning rally finishes with a stupendous Tarvet forehand from the baseline which has too much pace and power for Alcaraz, who sticks out a forlorn racket. He eventually beats the hold by racing to reach a drop shot and just getting it back over, leaving Alcaraz with little chance to return.
Tarvet is certainly not being outclassed, producing some fine tennis that any of the top 20 would be proud of and is certainly making Alcaraz work. Tarvet has an impressively mentality where he fights for every point to the end, unperturbed by who his opponent is. Admittedly, it is not enough on this occasion as Alcaraz holds to make it 3-3 in the second.
Naturally, Sierra breaks straight back against Boulter and then holds to take a 2-1 lead in the opening set.
Tarvet does hold! Tarvet is doing his bet to work Alcaraz around the court but it is an unenforced error as the Spaniard sends a drop shot into the net.
A fine day for Cameron Norrie.
After a couple of breaks in a row, Alcaraz holds. There is a moment of amusement after Tarvet top edges a shot into the crowd and a fan does not want to give it back until a sheepish steward shows up. Can Tarvet hold?
Things start very well for Boulter as she breaks Sierra in the first game of the match on Court One. That should be a useful confidence booster.
Katie Boulter is underway in her clash with Solana Sierra. One to keep an eye.
