Britain’s no. 1 Cameron Norrie was bested in four sets, Casper Ruud’s conqueror Liam Broady led early but suffered the same fate while Andy Murray was left to rue what might’ve been as Stefanos Tsitsipas recovered from an overnight deficit to beat him in a decider. Katie Boulter is now the country’s last remaining singles hope, Aryna Sabalenka survived a scare and more seeds fell.
Eubanks ecstatic after career-best scalp on biggest stage
- Norrie concedes in post-match presser, he got outplayed by the Mallorca champion: “I couldn’t really get into the match how I wanted, wasn’t feeling the ball that well… disappointed and want to play well at Grand Slams, I’m tougher to beat over five sets but need to keep improving.”
- Two-time champion Andy Murray speaks of unbelievable disappointment at losing in second-round for second consecutive season (John Isner, 2022) after leading Tsitsipas by two sets to one on Thursday, but missing chances and being duly punished for that during Friday’s restart
- Carlos Alcaraz’s forehand was largely misfiring, but the world no. 1 served his way out of trouble during important moments against France’s Alexandre Muller in straight-sets while Novak Djokovic did similar in a third set tiebreak to beat the 11pm curfew against old foe Stan Wawrinka
After an excellent start where he was imperious behind his first serve, Mallorca champion Christopher Eubanks held firm while producing some excellent volleys en route to a four-set win over last year’s semifinalist Cameron Norrie.
Into the third-round on his debut appearance at SW19, the American had this to say afterwards as he relished the surroundings and wasn’t overawed by the occasion:
“This is by far the biggest win of my career, not even a question!
There’s tons of really good tennis players who never get the opportunity to play the no. 1 Brit at Wimbledon, an atmosphere like this – whether you were for or against me – I will never forget this for the rest of my life.”
The 27-year-old recorded a whopping 63 winners to Norrie’s 20, as well as serving up 21 aces and winning 68% of points behind his second serve. Those statistics alone show how difficult it was for Norrie to keep pace with a man in form.
He’ll play Australia’s Christopher O’Connell today, who won 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 vs. big-serving Czech Jiri Vesely – the latter unable to back up his Sebastian Korda R1 scalp.
“In a couple of critical moments, Tsitsipas came up with the goods – that’s all you need at this level – two grass court challenger titles emphasises the desire still burns bright within him, I really hope there’s more to come from him,” four-time Wimbledon semifinalist Tim Henman on Murray postgame after his interview
Jabeur reels off 45-minute win, while Swiatek-Bencic set
- “I’m 22 and still got a lot to learn, my coach has good ideas which gives me hope I’ll get better and better for many years to come,” world no. 1 Iga Swiatek says in on-court interview after 6-2, 7-5 win over Petra Martic [30]
- Marie Bouzkova [32] holds her nerve, having squandered two match points, outlasts Caroline Garcia [5] 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 while Svitolina beats Kenin… compatriot Lesia Tsurenko stuns Ana Bogdan 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (20-18)
- Bouzkova now plays Marketa Vondrousova, who ended #20th seed Donna Vekic’s run – meaning at least one Czech Republic representative is quarterfinal-bound. Petra Kvitova [9] and Jiri Lehecka are still involved
Last year’s beaten finalist Ons Jabeur is on a mission to go one better than twelve months ago and was honest when asked how she felt performance wise against Chinese qualifier Xhuoxuan Bai – having just won 6-1, 6-1 in 45 minutes.
“I’m working on my serve, play clean, trying to play like a top-10 player,” as the crowd responded jovially to her honesty.
Having dropped just three points behind her first serve (20/23, 87%), she doesn’t need telling that tougher opposition awaits: Bianca Andreescu is next after the Canadian’s gutsy three-set win (6-2, 4-6, 7-6 – 10-7) over Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina.
Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka was understandably said to be super happy after a crazy match, recovering from a set down to overcome the challenge of France’s Varvara Gracheva 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.
“You can’t imagine how much [the crowd support] means to me, it’s very important.”
On the secret to playing good grasscourt tennis: “Stay low, don’t think, just hit the ball!” – she’ll play Anna Blinkova in R3, having previously beaten the Russian twice in three-set encounters (2017, 2020). Will it be three on the spin here?
Stay tuned to moandsports.com for the latest coverage, as I continue producing daily pieces across the fortnight with the year’s third Major intensifying…
Picture source: Getty Images
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