Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and Britain’s number one Cameron Norrie both won in contrasting circumstances on a rain-affected Day 2 at this year’s Championships, where only eight matches were completed as persistently poor weather conditions ensured play on the outside courts quickly became unfeasible. It means a rush today to catch up on what was lost, mind…
Alcaraz ends Chardy’s career, despite final set fightback
US Open champion and world no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz hit 38 winners and 10 aces en route to a 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 win over the departing Jeremy Chardy in little under two hours to kick off the day’s play on No. 1 Court.
The top seed’s forehand groundstrokes were fearsome, his motor never-ending during their longer rallies as Chardy found it difficult to keep pace with the 20-year-old and wasn’t helped by hitting seven double-faults in his first three service games.
The 36-year-old, who had lost each of his last four matches across three surfaces in straight-sets this season, had no expectations of a fairytale finish to a career that began when Carlitos was barely two years old.
He gave all he had in set three and briefly had a break of serve, but undid his hard work in the subsequent game as Alcaraz refocused to snatch the break straight back.
“It’s really beautiful to play here, I have great memories from last year – not only in Spain but around the world… I’m a really lucky guy to live this experience, feel the love in every country, while seeing Spanish people coming out to support me.”
- Alcaraz on playing at Wimbledon, the fan support he’s receiving
Alcaraz will play another Frenchman next: either Alexandre Muller or Arthur Rinderknech (7-6, 1-0*) in R2 on Thursday, with that match to be finished later today.
Jabeur, Sabalenka win well as Rybakina recovers vs. Rogers
Defending champion Elena Rybakina rallied back from a set down to topple Shelby Rogers 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the opener on Centre Court, before admitting nerves played a part in her stuttering start given the circumstances.
As reigning titlist, the 24-year-old was granted the honour of starting Day 2’s action on perhaps the most prestigious court across the entire sport and had an idol in 20-time Major champion Roger Federer watching her from the royal box.
“It was really tough for me today, I was pretty nervous – couldn’t hide it with the early double-fault. An amazing atmosphere but really pleased to get through, happy to enjoy the moment.
I feel much better, [the timing was] unlucky for me and not easy to get fitness and physical conditioning, hopefully this win gives me confidence for the next round.”
- Rybakina on managing the nerves, her physical condition and R2-bound
She won 41-of-44 first serve points played, while recording 69% returns in against a strong server in the 30-year-old. Their match stats by the end followed a pattern too: Rybakina had 31 winners and 18 unforced errors, Rogers 31 UEs and 20 winners.
Rybakina will play either Japanese lucky loser Nao Hibino or French giantkiller Alize Cornet in the second-round.
Ons Jabeur, who Rybakina recovered from a set down to beat in last year’s final, joked that returning to the scene of her first Major final wasn’t as enjoyable as one might think – seeing Rybakina’s face and name emblazoned around the grounds.
Nonetheless, she was also imperious behind her first serve (21/24 pts won) and Poland’s Magdalena Frech proved no match for the sixth seed in a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
“I had an amazing run last year, hopefully this year will be a little bit better. The atmosphere, beautiful grass, I love connecting to the nature, flowers, just trying to enjoy my time – play some cool drop shots – and see what happens.
The flair comes from my character, I hate routine and like to entertain.”
- Jabeur on returning to SW19 and variety in her game – she and Rybakina are in the same quarter of this year’s draw
Jabeur looks likely to play Chinese qualifier Zhuoxuan Bai next, as the 20-year-old Major debutant currently leads Belgium’s Ysaline Bonaventure 7-6, *4-0.
In the other completed women’s match of the day, Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka needed just 62 minutes to dismiss Hungary’s Panna Udvardy.
The 25-year-old had more unforced errors (19-13), but seven times as many total winners (29-4) against an opponent she’d never played before.
Couple that with eight aces while saving both break points faced and well, it proved a comfortable evening’s work for the Belarusian.
She’ll play either Varvara Gracheva or Camila Giorgi in the second-round, at the bottom of an intriguing section featuring her French Open conqueror Karolina Muchova vs. 2022 quarterfinalist Jule Niemeier still to be played.
Peniston no match for nervous Murray as royalty watches on
Cameron Norrie was thankful roles were reversed this time around, playing while potential rivals waited out the weather as he’s had to over the past two seasons.
He thanked his home fans for creating a great atmosphere and helping lift him during the most important moments, ultimately emerging victorious (6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4) without needing a deciding set against Czech qualifier Tomas Machac.
“It wasn’t straightforward but nice to get it done, my campaign going,” said the 27-year-old – a maiden Major semifinalist last season, hoping he can go deep over this fortnight too and prove that achievement was no result of a favourable draw.
The 12th seed will play either Thiago Monteiro or Mallorca champion Christopher Eubanks in R2, as part of a section that features a few notable names…
American talented duo Sebastian Korda [22] and Ben Shelton [32] feature, as does Norrie’s compatriot Andy Murray after the two-time winner dropped just four games – three in the first set – against plucky British wildcard Ryan Peniston (6-3, 6-0, 6-1).
Peniston produced a feel-good moment this time last year with his first-round win against Henri Laaksonen, but was unfortunate to be drawn against one of two active players who’ve clinched the title at SW19 this time around.
Murray started shakily and you could sense the tension around Centre Court as he tried hurrying his groundstrokes into rhythm and faced break points in consecutive service holds. After the first five games though, the 36-year-old broke Peniston.
He didn’t look back. Up next is either 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem or Stefanos Tsitsipas [5] on Thursday, after their matchup was suspended as Thiem led 6-3, *3-4 overnight. Given how he’s been playing, he’ll back himself to beat both.
Halys holds firm to deny Evans, Etcheverry wins in five
It’s consecutive first-round exits at Wimbledon for Britain’s Dan Evans, after the 27th seed couldn’t overcome a considerable scoreline deficit against an even-keeled Frenchman who absorbed his best and gamely fired back with more of the same.
Quentin Halys, who has provisionally moved up 10 ranking spots to world no. 69 with this win, relished an unforeseen opportunity to play on Centre Court and played some beautiful tennis to knock out a home hopeful.
Moved from No. 2 to primetime viewing after Sabalenka swept Udvardy aside in no time at all, Evans naturally played better than he had on Monday and needed to.
The 33-year-old savoured every point he won against an opponent whose painful slip at the back of the court two points in would’ve unsettled most.
He took it in his stride, received medical treatment at the next changeover and refused to give Evans any free points – Britain’s no. 2 had to earn every single one.
That he did, Halys left to rue a few frustrating misses at the net as Evans edged the third set tiebreaker (7-5), prolonging their battle into a fourth and potentially beyond.
Unlike most, Halys’ second-round opponent was already confirmed – Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic after beating Daniel Altmaier in four sets – so he couldn’t afford to give Evans renewed confidence and feed off the crowd’s partisan energy.
Set four followed the same pattern as the previous one, he saved a break point to lead 4-3 with scoreboard pressure flipped back onto Evans. Soon enough, it told.
“I’m proud, staying focused especially in the key points.
It’s very important to stay aggressive, he’s so good behind the baseline and if I wanted to win, I needed to go to the net many times – played some great shots – it’s one of the big keys in my game.”
French Open quarterfinalist Tomas Martin Etcheverry [29] became the first seed to recover from two sets down to win a match at this year’s Major, after doing just that against Spain’s Barnabe Zapata Miralles (6-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5).
His reward? A maiden matchup against three-time Major champion Stan Wawrinka, who won in straight-sets on Monday against Emil Ruusuvuori (7-5, 7-5, 6-4).
As usual, I’ll be producing daily pieces across the fortnight, so make sure you stay tuned to moandsports.com for the latest coverage.
Picture source: Getty Images, * denotes the next server
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