Wimbledon thinks it isn’t.
Though it’s not unreminiscent of this, which is far cooler on account of actually meaning something.
Wimbledon 2023, regains her break, and at 5-3 in the third will now serve for round two. Medevedev, meanwhile, lost his break while my eyes were elsewhere, so now leads Muller 4-3 in the third.
It takes – I think – six deuces, but Linette eventually beaks Svitolina back in their deciding set, so now trails 3-4. Meantime, Khachanov and Karatsev are playing a third-set tiebreak having split the first two.
Emil Ruusuvuori has beaten Mackenzie McDonald 7-6(6) 4-6 5-7 7-6(6) 6-3. He faces Stefanos Tsitsipas next.
Alcaraz closes out a 20-minute set, while Ruud takes the breaker 7-1 to trail Fognini 2-1. I may or may not have backed him in an accumulator I may or may not have, and closed down the page in annoyance 10 minutes ago.
Back with Ruud, he now leads 2-0 in the third set breaker and Fognini looks tired – despite his bleached barnet. Wasn’t that cool in about 1995? Oh, and on No 1, Alcaraz is serving for the second set at 5-2.
The Frenchman has had a great year and meets the surging Brandon Nakashima next. That should be a decent tussle.
That’s one match I’m watching. I’ve also got on Muller 7-6 6-7 1-3 Medvedev (5), Alcaraz (3) 7-6 4-1 Vukic and Linette 5-7 7-6 2-4 Svitolina (21).
Thanks Katy and afternoon mateys. I thought I was going to begin with a game, set and match, but Casper Ruud has just broken back Fabio Fognini, who was serving for the match at 6-4 7-5 5-4. It’s still a long way back for the number eight seed, but he’s on the way.
And with that, it’s time for me to take my leave today. Daniel is here to take you through the rest of the action…
Just as Alcaraz won a tight first set on a tie-break, Medvedev has done the same in the second against Muller, sealing it with a forehand flourish. The world No 5 is looking much more settled now … as is Kartal, who has a match point at 5-3 in the third set against Burel! The British qualifier takes it, and she’s through to face Gauff on Friday! Much credit to the world No 298, who recovered her composure after losing the second set to come through strongly against the world No 45 in the decider.
It’s the first time Tiafoe has won back-to-back matches in three months.
A few more results to bring you: Frances Tiafoe is through to round three with a 7-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Croatia’s Borna Coric; another American, the qualifier Katie Volynets, has won her delayed first-round match against Maria Lourdes Carle 6-2, 7-5; the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia is also into round two, but out has gone the Argentinian 26th seed Francisco Cerundolo, in five sets against Roman Safiullin.
… but the momentum shifts as Vukic takes the next two points – and then the third when he chases down a drop shot and pulls off a wonderful angled winner! Alcaraz, undeterred, goes for another drop shot, and brings up two set points at 6-4 … before making a total mess of his volley! Even the line judge is smiling. But a strong serve down the middle settles the first set after 52 minutes of see-sawing play. Alcaraz takes the tie-break 7-5.
Alcaraz, now with his game face on, claims the early advantage for 3-1. He gets to 4-1 thanks to his supreme movement. And then 5-1 thanks to his ferocious forehand. The defending champion is nodding to himself as he changes ends …
