Key events
John Brewin
Katie Boulter is 5-4 up in that second set, so she has the chance to go through if she wins the next game on Court 3. Maria to serve.
Righto, I’ve gotta go and collect a daughter, so here’s John Brewin to hang for the next bit. See you shortly.
Jacob Fearnley beats Alejandro Moro Canas 7-5 6-4 7-6(12)
A monstrous win for the young Scot, who’s overcome all sorts of aggro to get to here, so well done him – an amazing day and terrific performance. And he only faces Novak Djokovic next!
Moro Canas, though, opens shoulders to hammer a forehand inside-out into the corner, and we’re level at 10s. Meantime, Kenin and Swiatek are swapping holds – the former leads 6-4 2-3 – Boulter leads Maria 7-6 3-3 – and Ymer leads Draper 3-2.
Tremendous from Fearnley, who nails an ace down the T when down 6-7 to save set point and as I type, we’re at 9-9 … sorry, 10-9, so match point, to the Brit.
I have, though, binned Felix, because on Court 8, Fearnley and Moro Canas are locked at 6-6 in their fourth-set breaker, Fearnley leading by two sets to one.
Ha, of course Ymer breaks straight back, while Auger-Aliassime leads Kokkinakis 2-1 with a break. Boulter and Maria are now 2-2 in the second, Boulter up a set, and Kenin is improving, down a set to Swiatek but up 2-1 in the second.
Draper breaks Ymer immediately, and I’m buzzing to see how he does here. Not just because of ho well he did at Queen’s, beating Alcaraz, but because of how good it’s been clear he can be for quite some time. His leftiness is helpful, of course – and amazingly, he uses that hand for nothing but this – but also, he’s a grounded, calm competitor who expects to succeed. No one will want to play him.
Boulter breaks Maria back for 1-1 in the second, while Swiatek serves out for a 6-3 first set against Kenin. Otherwise, Samsonova (15) has beaten Masarova 6-3 4-6 6-2, Searle leads Giron 6-3 0-1, Bouzkova has beaten Riera 6-2 6-1 and Tsitsipas leads Daniel 7-6.
With all that’s going on, I’ve not reall cast eyes over Swiatek v Kenin. I feared as little for the world number one as on grass, her balls can sit up and request treatment, and Kenin has the game to punish that. Well, not so far, but she does hold to force her opponent to serve for set one at 5-3.
Again, Maria breaks Boulter early in a set to trail 6-7 1-0; on No 1, Swiatek leads Kenin 5-2; on Centre, Draper and Ymer are out; likewise Auger-Aliassime and Kokkinakis on No 2. Those are, for now, the four matches I’m watching.
Next on Centre Court: Jack Draper (28) v Elias Ymer. Don’t mind if we do.
Oh, and Rune leads Kwon 6-1. There’s so much going on, it’s ridiculous.
While all that was going on, Boulter won the breaker against Maria to six, so she leads 1-0; Swiatek is 4-1 up on Kenin; Ostapenko leads Tomljanovic 6-1 3-1; Tsitsipas leads Daniel 5-4; and Kalinskaya (17) has beaten Udvardy 6-3 6-2.
Comesana is very happy. He doesn’t really know what he did, he just enjoyed the match, everything is perfect at Wimbledon so he just did his best. Simple really, and the crowd love him; I can’t wait to see him again.
Thiago Seyboth Wild beats Paul Jubb 1-6 3-6 7-6(6) 6-4 7-5
Seyboth Wild, who rose to fame after beating Daniil Medvedev in Paris last year, just about gets it done, coming back from two sets down for the first time in his career. He bussed five match points before finally seeing out a fantastic match, a late break allowing him to serve out. He faces Rune (15) or Kwon next.
Francisco Comesana beats Andrey Rublev (6) 6-4 5-7 6-2 7-6(5)
What a performance that is from the 23-year-old, a coming-out party of coming-out parties! He played superbly today, with energy and fire but also composure and patience. Spare a thought for poor Rublev, who took out his fury on himself once again – I hope someone offers him an ear and some advice – but otherwise, the day is Comesana’s. Prior to today he’d only played once on grass in his life, but he’s be playing at least once more this week – against Coria or Walton. He’ll fancy himself against either, I shouldn’t wonder.
Ach, and he swipes a backhand down the line and wide to cede his advantage. A big serve, though, means Rublev is still down match point when he gets the balls, the crowd going wild. AND RUBLEV NETS A BACKHAND!
Rublev finds a terrific kick-serve that Comesana can’t return, then an inside-out forehand into the corner makes 4-5. Comesana, though, has two serves with which to finish this.
Comesana gets the mini-break for 4-2 – he’s three points from victory, and a booming serve out wide is too good! Rublev is almost gawn!
Comesana holds for a fourth-set breaker against Rublev, while Boulter and Maria are just starting theirs … and what on earth?! Paul Jubb, having saved five match points, breaks Seyboth Wild back, and they’re now 5-5 in the fifth! What an incredible match this is!
Biggup Paul Jubb! He saves all three match points, then another … and holds for 4-5! Seyboth wild will have to serve for it!
Novak Djokovic (2) beats Vit Kopriva 6-1 6-2 6-2
Routine for Djokovic, who faces Fearnley or Moro Canas next.
Now then! At 5-5 30-all, Comesana hangs in a rally – with help from Rublev, who should finish it but doesn’t – and a forehand pass down the line raises break point! Rublev, though, finds first serves when he needs them to go up 6-5, while Seyboth Wild raises three match points against Jubb…
Comesana, tatted and earringed up, secures a monstrous hold for 5-5 in the fourth, and Rublev is ticking. Of course he is.
Djokovic now leads Kopriva 6-1 6-2 4-2 – we’re nearly done there, I’d imagine – while Boulter is serving to stay in set one, down 4-5 to Maria. Oh, and on 12, GBG favourite, Jelena Ostapenko (13) leads Ajla Tomljanovic 4-1, but never underestimate her ability to ruin things for herself.
I neglected to note that De Minaur is through, but he is – in good time to watch Boulter, his significant other. He saw off Duckworth 6,6 and 6, to set up a meeting with Jaume Munar – who beat Billy Harris in four.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard beats Sebastian Korda (20) 7-6(5) (4)6-7 7-6(6) (4)6-7 6-3
In my French Open preview I drew your attention to this lad – he ended up losing a thriller to David Goffin in round one – but keep focused, because he’s going to be something. Next for him it’s Nishioka.
Maria started like a train but Boulter breaks back and is now serving at 3-4. She lacks the weapons to get all that much higher than the 32 she’s seeded her, and she’s not someone I’d expect to see in the later stages of a major, but she’s solid and tough, so you ndever know.
Next on No 1 Court: Iga Swiatek (1) v Sofia Kenin. This should be a belter, and if Kenin is at it, I actually fancy her.
