Key events
Raonic and Novak are away, likewise Sakkari and Kostyuk.
I’ve been kind of dreading this, but it’s time to decide what to watch. I’m going with Sakkari v Kostyuk because there could be a shock; Haddad Maia v Putintseva because I think that could be the highest-level match of those starting now; Raonic v Novak because I’ve got a sneaky feeling the former might do something here; and Tiafoe v Wu because I think the former might be ready to do something serious. When No1 gets going in 20 or so, I’ll bin one for Medvedev v Fery.
“With regard to the scheduling,” emails Richard Caulfield, “it’s not just the late start time on Centre Court and Court 1 that’s confusing me. Of the six matches scheduled for those courts, four of them are second-rounders. A few showers this afternoon (to be fair not looking too likely now) or a few five-setters holding things up on some of the outside courts, and you could be going into day four tomorrow with some players already into the third round when others haven’t even played their first-round match.”
I guess they need to play the second-round matches, whose proximity to the final makes them bigger than the firsts, it makes sense to stick the names on the show courts.
It’s now sunny in SW19, which is more than can be said for fabulous north London. We’ve 40% chance of precipitation at 2pm and 5pm, but worst-case scenario we settle for our show courts for that period.
Every day, I try and share at least one thing that moves me – please send in your own choices – and today, that thing, or at least that first thing, is Potter Payper’s new album, Real Back In Style. Heartbreaking, dangerous and clever, it’s an absolute masterpiece.
The covers are off!
Which means it is on!
I agree, by the way, with rude-name bloke: I don’t quite get why we’ve not banged a couple of matches on Centre and No1 early doors. The outside courts still have bare action, and it avoids the embarrassing situation of no tennis despite having the means for it.
Thanks Dave and hi everyone. I said yesterday we had an indecent amount of tennis awaiting us but in the event, the weather intervened and we’d to satisfy ourselves with merely brilliant tennis. Today, however, we’ve an absolutely revolting amount of tennis on which to gorge and, with no rain scheduled, we can dive right in.
Centre Court sees the start of round two, and our first two matches are enticing in the extreme. First, Jodie Burrage takes on Daria Kasatkina, the in-form number 11 seed, before Iga Swiatek meets Sara Sorribes Tormo – pretty much as taxing an engagement as is possible at this stage of the competition. And if that’s not enough, we finish with Novak Djokovic, who will, presumably, devastate Jordan Thompson in disquietingly easy fashion.
Court 1 finishes wirth what might be the match of the day, Jannik Sinner v Diego Schwartzman – the former has the raw materials to win this one day, while the latter is starting to motor again after injury and form worries. And before that, Daniil Medvedev tries to avoid a second consecutive first-round elimination after his disaster in Paris – against Arthur Ferry of GB – then Heather Watson tussles with Babora Krejcikova.
Otherwise, we’ve got the matches we enjoyed yesterday playing to a finish – Dominic Thiem leads Stefanos Tsitsipas by a set, Holger Rune leads George Loffhagen by a set, Lortenzo Sonego leads Mario Berrettini by a set and Daria Saville leads Katie Boulter 6-5 – and one held over from Monday, Taylor Fritz and Yannick Hanfmann on serve in their final set. And if that’s not enough, we’ve a raft a players getting involved for the first time, including Francis Tiafoe, Maria Sakkari, Petra Kvitova, Bea Haddad Maia and Sloane Stephens; Victoria Azarenka, Jan Choinski, Lorenzo Musetti, Alex De Minaur and Sofia Kenin returning for round two; along with five matches that look seriously tasty – Karolína Muchová v Jule Niemeier, Elise Mertens v Elina Svitolina, Jiri Vesely v Seb Korda, Andrey Rublev v Aslan Karatsev and Tomás Martín Etcheverry v Stan Wawrinka. It’s a lot, but in the best possible way, and it’s right here.
Righty, that’s my hour of looking to camera and filling awkwardly. I’ll now hand you over to Daniel Harris for more.
A bloke on Twitter with a rude name says: “Someone should really let the suits at Wimbledon know that they have two courts with a roof on that they could be getting some games on whilst the weather is like this.”
Makes sense. Is there a brilliant reason I’m not aware of? A reminder of timings:
No.1 Court: 1pm (Daniil Medvedev v Arthur Fery)
Centre Court: 1.30pm (Daria Kasatkina v Jodie Burrage)
Andy Murray faces either 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem or fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in round two. Thiem led 6-3 3-4 before their game was suspended yesterday. It resumes later today.
Just checking Murray’s Twitter page and he has 3.5 million followers (Novak Djokovic has a mighty 9.2m). In the last hour, Murray has put this NHS tribute up.
And now we’re being told that there will be no play on the outside courts until 12.30pm. What? It looks quite sunny. I’ll let this left-handed tennis man express our collective reaction.
You came here for the tennis so take a butchers at this 31-stroke rally in Andy Murray’s game yesterday. Probably not ideal that he gets involved in too many rallies that run close to his age (36).
Here’s world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz rocking his bucket hat. A quick reminder of his fledgling Wimbledon record so far: R2 in 2021, R4 in 2022. But it’s only going one way and the Spaniard’s recent win at Queen’s – his first success on grass – looks ominous.
Forget that, it’s now 11.45am. As we see a sweeping drone shot of the outside courts, dark green covers mask verdant green grass. White/grey clouds are winning the battle for the skies although rain icons are present in the hourly forecast until 4pm. There’s a 70% chance of rain at midday. Sorry to be going all Jack Scott/Ian McCaskill on you.
Sorry to break it to you but play won’t start until 11.30am. Start times have been pushed back 30 minutes due to more rain in the air. Covers are on. Weather apps are being chekced.
The BBC’s coverage has started and John Lloyd, still looking somewhat dashing at the age of 68, reckons Andy Murray is a “genuine threat here”. Optimistic? Well, the Scot is seventh in the betting at around 40/1 so who knows.
Carlos Alcaraz and his Stone Roses bucket hat made it into Paul MacInnes’ diary. That and more here:
Let’s catch up with yesterday’s action even though the pesky wet stuff that drops from the skies ruined a big chunk of it. Andy Murray kept the diehards entertained. Good ‘ol Muzza. Here’s Barney Ronay’s take…
“It is a fascinating twist in Murray’s own career arc, the journey from gangling awkward teen to gangling awkward 36‑year‑old great of the summer game. But the fact is right now Wimbledon needs Murray a little bit more than Murray needs Wimbledon.”
Preamble
After yesterday’s near-washout on the outside courts, the forecast is much brighter today and there’s more tennis than you can shake a racquet at.
Later on, Centre Court will host Daria Kasatkina v Jodie Burrage, Iga Swiatek v Sara Sorribes Tormo and Jordan Thompson v Novak Djokovic.
Two more Britons get their shot at a big name on No1 Court as Arthur Fery plays Daniil Medvedev and Heather Watson faces Barbora Krejcikova, before Jannik Sinner takes on Diego Schwartzman in the second round.
The outside courts kick off right about now, with the likes of Maria Sakkari, Frances Tiafoe, Grigor Dimitrov, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Sloane Stephens, Milos Raonic and many more eager to hit the turf, so why not follow along with us.