Game On: Sports News, Highlights & Commentary
- Arthur Fery beats Otto Virtanen to reach third round at Wimbledon, boosting British momentum.
- Iga Swiatek beats Karolina Pliskova 6-1 6-3, clinical and composed despite tricky wind.
- Madison Keys defeats Katie Swan 6-1 6-4, booming forehand and confident postmatch remarks.
- Rafael Jodar outlasts Pablo Carreno Busta in five sets, announcing himself as a rising major contender.
Key events
So on Centre it’s Berrettini v Fils, No 1 it’s Zverev v Royer and No 2 it’s Anisimova v Kenin. All are now under way, with Zverev and Anisimova both leading 3-1 in the opening sets, and Berrettini and Fils level at 1-1.
Fancy some trout sushi washed down with some coffee kombucha for breakfast? Why not:
Kostyuk and Blinkova are duking it out in a first-set tie-break, and Blinkova brings up set point at 6-5, to add to the three she had in game 10. This time she gets the job done with a big serve that Kostyuk can’t get back. So Kostyuk, the 12th seed, is in trouble.
“We had an insane match last year,” the 21-year-old Eala says. “It hit me hard, I cried a lot. I couldn’t watch the highlights for a few months. So I’m really happy now.” She then reveals it’s her coach’s birthday, so the strong Filipino contingent on No 3 Court start singing happy birthday. The only thing that may stop the party atmosphere is the news that she’s got to face Swiatek next. It’ll be Eala’s first ever appearance in the third round of a slam.
Eala defeats Joint 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
Alexandra Eala is screaming into the blue Wimbledon skies after completing a come-from-behind win over the player who scuppered Serena Williams’s singles return, Maya Joint. And with it the Filipino superstar gains a measure of revenge for last year’s epic Eastbourne final, when Joint saved four match points before defeating Eala.
Jacob Fearnley, after the superb victory for his fellow Brit Arthur Fery an hour ago, has got two break points in the opening game against Spain’s Jaume Munar, the 29-year-old Spaniard who’s never been beyond the third round at Wimbledon but does at least have the distinction of being the highest-ranked Mallorcan in men’s tennis since Rafa Nadal’s retirement. Fearnley can’t capitalise and Munar grabs four points on the spin to hold for 1-0 on court 12.
Thanks Daniel! So that flurry of wins means we’re waiting for Berrettini v Fils, Zverev v Royer, Anisimova v Kenin and Fearnley v Munar to get going. Meanwhile Kostyuk, a favourite of both Daniel’s and mine, who also gained many new fans at the French Open on her way to the semi-finals, has fended off three set points to break Blinkova who, erm, blinked serving for the set. It’s now 5-5.
Right then, that’s the end of my stint; that’s the good news. And the other good news is Katy Murrells is here to take over, so I’ll leave you with her to enjoy what promises to be a banging afternoon.
Swiatek is feeling more stable now than after an emotional first-round win; this one felt more like a day at the office. It’s always better when you’re able to do that, she was consistent, hit a good level of focus, and is happy with the performance.
Told that Martina gave her an A+ for her performance, it means a lot and she’s really happy. She doesn’t know if it was A+ – it was really tricky with the wind and she felt that, especially in the last game, she played “some dirty shots, but if you keep your margins it goes in so maybe B, not A+.”
She believed she could be the more solid player and thinks her spin gives her control; that’s about it.
Jodar says he was pretty nervous and wants to congratulate Carreno Busta for all he’s done. It was a tough match but he handled the pressure moments in the fifth set pretty well and he’s very happy about it.
He’s happy how he handled the recovery last evening after stopping and how he woke up and got his body ready. He and Carreno Busta know each other very well and he’s now down to prepare for the next round.
Jan-Leonard Struff has beaten Brandon Nakashima, meaning we’re just a few minutes away from Jaume Munar v Jacob Fearnley. Decent.
Next on Centre Court: Mario Berrettini v Arthur Fils (20). Oooh yeah!
It can’t just be me … who, the second they see or hear the name “Amanda” immediately thinks “Hugnkiss”?
Next on No 2 Court: Amanda Anisimova (6) v Sofia Kenin.
Iga Swiatek (3) beats Karolina Pliskova 6-1 6-3
Impressive stuff from the champ. Pliskova is still feeling her way back and didn’t move great before the surgeries, never mind after. She looked a bit wooden here, only holding twice when once she was the ace queen, but Swiatek was pretty good and meets Joint or Eala next.
Next on No 1: Valentin Royer v Alexander Zverev (2).
On Centre, Swiatek is a game away, leading Pliskova 6-1 5-3 … and she quickly makes 0-30. This is nearly over.
Rafael Jodar (23) beats Pablo Carreno Busta 3-6 6-3 1-6 6-3 6-4
Jodar is a superstar. He played beautifully today, and I can’t wait to see how he goes against Mochizuki – with Sinner probably awaiting him in round four.
Let’s get back to the tenins, where Jodar now has match point…
This shouting out ligging celebs has really got to stop. The point of the interviews is emotion and insight, not oh look, there’s an alright golfer or minor royal.
“It’s never easy to beat a Bitish player at Wimbledon,” Keys is advised having won 6-1 6-4. She’s really happy, saying she loves the court and even though the crowd are against her, it’s good fun.
She’s also happy to have won Eastbourne and wants to have the courts moved to here, but pending that hopes to go deep. But we’re now done with the sensible questioning – Keys is told the Princess of Wales was previously here – the so what of it is left to our imagination – and that’s pretty much it.
Madison Keys (26) beats Katie Swann 6-1 6-4
A booming forehand winner, whipped cross-court, has Keys bellowing, and she seems to fancy herself this year. Next for her, though, a proper tussle against either Kenin or Anisimova ; if she gets through that, we’ll really be talking.
Keys, though, plays a poor shot with Swan caught at net, the putaway volley inciting the Brit to noise up the crowd. But a netted backhand means another match point … then Keys goes long on the forehand, a careless shot suggesting she’s not feeling much jeopardy. A third opportunity to close follows…
Oh dear. Pliskova sends down a double to cede a break, Swiatek leading 6-1 3-2, while Swan gets to 15-30 then attacks a second serve. But Keys takes over in the rally, her backhand too strong, and a match-point raising ace follows.
A standing ovation on No 1 as Swan breaks Keys back for 4-4 in the second .. then is broken again, meaning keys will shortly serve for the match at 6-1 5-4. Elsewhere, Kostyuk leads Blinkova 2-0, Eala has just taken set two off Joint to force a decider, ad Svajda leads Majchrzak 1-1 3-2
Rafael Jodar is undeniable. After an iffy display yesterday, today he’s attacking Carreno Busta’s second serve in the proper manner and generally hitting it harder and truer. He breaks again for 4-1 in the fifth and is seeded to meet Jannik Sinner in round four; tasty.
Ach, Swiatek breaks Pliskova back, but now it’s time to give Fery his moment and check in with his interview .. oh, there isn’t one. Instead, though, Kostyuk and Blinkova are out, the former now firmly installed as a favourite of this blog, so let’s stay with that match for now.
Perhaps settling on the grass and trusting her body, perhaps a bit less nervous, Pliskova has appeared into the match, breaking Swiatek for 1-6 2-0. She’s serving well now, and when that’s the case, anything can happen.
On No 1, meantime, Swan is making a better fist of things, trailing Keys 1-6 3-3 – they’ve just exchanged breaks and, as I type, a second serve barely clambers over the net and is given the treatment, the American then nailing a return to break once more. And Jodar has broken Carreno Busta in the fifth for 2-1, consolidating as I type for 3-1.
Arthur Fery beats Otto Virtanen 5-7 7-6(3) 6-3 6-3
Arthur Fery is a player. a forehand winner seals the deal – that’s the technical aspect – but the mental one is equally impressive. Next for him it’s Bergs or Faria – he now has the no 4 seed’s path through the draw – and he’ll fancy himself to do whichever of those he faces.
Back on 18, Virtanen holds, but at 2-1 5-3, Fery will shortly serve for the match.
On Centre, Swiatek is serving for the first set at 5-1 and she closes it out in short order. So far, this is a performance or authority and ruthlessness from the champ.
Swan, I’m afraid, has nothing for Keys, who leads 6-1 1-1, while Jodar is serving for a decider against Carreno Busta. It’s amazing, really, how just eight months ago, he was nowhere and now he’s seeded at majors, his level improving alongside the level of his opponents. He gets the job done and at 3-6 6-3 1-6 6-3, it’s time to enjoy a fifth set.
Swiatek is just so much surer and swifter about the court than Pliskova, allowing her 0-40 and closing to 30-40 … only to send down a second double of the game. So Pliskova, who had a full year off getting ankle surgery, then getting it again and not walking for four months – gosh, imagine how much she loves tennis to put herself through all that – has one break back. Can she use that as a springboard to force her way into the game?
Swiatek is all over Pliskova, breaking a second time for 4-0, and she’s playing really well, nailing a decent second serve for a forehand winner to secure the advantage. Similarly, Fery has broken the back of it against Virtanen, leading 2-1 3-1 – what must Ben Shelton be thinking – and Jodar has turned up and exploded, a brilliant return game giving him a 5-2 fourth-set lead over Carreno Busta, who can feel it happening again. Jodar, though, is a superstar, so.
We’re under way on Centre, Swiatek holding then making 15-40. And, though she’s sent out wide on return, she lands her shot on the baseline and Pliskova can’t return. Good start from the champ, who leads 2-0.
A few close games give Swan a sniff but Keys still leads 4-1 and now has two points for a double break. The first is snatched away with a forehand cross-court winner, but the no 26 seed is also useful off that flank and dominates the next rally to go further in front at 5-1.
“At what age is it no longer acceptable to wear a baseball hat backwards?” wonders Darrien Bold. “Asking for a 43 year old friend.”
I’m just not a hat guy, but I am known for many other crimes against age-appropriate dressing, centring around but not limited to shorts, flip-flops and brightly coloured Air Max, as well as a variety of hoodies and tracksuits.
Back on 18, Fery has Virtanen all at sea, breaking him a second time in set three to take it 6-3 and lead 2-1. The way he’s playing, he’ll take some stopping.
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