Wimbledon 2024: Raducanu, Alcaraz, Sinner, Gauff win – as it happened

So that’s a wrap, on a day when Emma Raducanu, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff showed the exuberance of youth to win – and the old-timer Grigor Dimitrov also advanced – along with the new/old-timer Jasmine Paolini, the 28-year-old French Open runner-up who’s into the last 16 having never been beyond the second round of a slam before this year. Thanks for reading, do join us again tomorrow. Bye!

Sinner speaks.

I’m very happy about my performance. I was hitting the ball with a good pace. Thanks everyone for staying so long, I know it’s been a very, very busy day here on the Centre Court. I’m glad to finish it off.

It feels great to be back at Wimbledon, it’s a very special place, if not the most special place to play tennis. Me and my team are working very hard, my game has improved, but we still keep improving. We try to get better every day. Let’s see what’s coming this year here in London. Every year I feel like I’m improving [on grass].

15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game Sinner to make it 5-1. The Italian is showboating now. But still hasn’t quite reached these levels. So it leaves Kecmanovic serving to stay in the match … and the Serb holds to 15.

But now the match is on Sinner’s serve … and from 0-15 down he flashes an ace – no, he hasn’t! Kecmanovic challenges and is proved correct! – and Kecmanovic wins the point with a backhand down the line! 0-30. 15-30. 30-all. 30-40, break point, when Sinner serves up only his second double fault.

Sinner is stretching and sliding as if he’s playing on clay rather than grass to avert the danger. And from break point down Sinner soon has match point, and Kecmanovic hits long! The world No 1 is through to the fourth round and is now just two wins away from a potential semi-final showdown with Carlos Alcaraz.

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6-1, 6-4, 2-0 to Sinner soon becomes 6-1, 6-4, 4-1 as Sinner secures the double break when Kecmanovic clobbers long. The No 1 seed is on the home straight.

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Our man Kevin Mitchell on Murray and Raducanu playing their mixed doubles match last on No 1 Court tomorrow:

Sinner, clearly aware of my desire to have some dinner, breaks at the start of the third set. And then holds from 0-30 for 6-1, 6-4, 2-0. This match – as expected – is proving to be far more straightforward than his second-round tussle with Berrettini. They’ve only been playing for one hour and 13 minutes. Business-like from Sinner – but a bit of this would be good too (this was on his way to the Halle title a couple of weeks ago).

Tiafoe in the press conference room:

Q. It was a great exchange at the net at the end of the match. Are you able to share what was said between each other?
Tiafoe: Just ultimate respect. Him just saying, “It’s good to see you play like that.” Me just saying, “I can’t stand you.”

Sinner strikes. He scrambles back from 40-15 down on Kecmanovic’s serve to force deuce, and dispatches the volley for advantage. And duly breaks. That leaves him serving for a two-set lead – and at 40-30 his serve out wide is too hot for Kecmanovic to handle. The world No 1 leads 6-1, 6-4.

The final result of the day on No 1 Court: Croatia’s Donna Vekic has matched her best Wimbledon result – a fourth-round showing in 2018 – by taking out the 28th seed Dayana Yastremska in three sets, 7-6, 6-7, 6-1, on her ninth (!) match point. Vekic now faces Paula Badosa – who reached the last 16 earlier despite being told by doctors a few months ago that she should retire because of her injury problems. Vekic has endured her share of injury issues too, so it’s lovely to see them doing well here.

It’s a much more competitive second set on Centre Court, and it’s already been going for nearly 15 minutes longer than the first set did. Kecmanovic was broken twice in that opener, but is holding firm here. It’s 4-all, but the atmosphere is a little flat – I think the crowd are a bit worn out after Alcaraz’s five-set comeback and Raducanu’s win. But they are gasping when Sinner brings up 0-15 as the Italian looks to pounce at the perfect time in this second set …

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Centre Court, 1.30pm BST

Cameron Norrie (GBR) v (4) Alexander Zverev (Ger)
(10) Ons Jabeur (Tun) v (21) Elina Svitolina (Ukr)
Alexei Popyrin (Aus) v (2) Novak Djokovic (Srb)

No 1 Court, 1pm

(14) Ben Shelton (USA) v Denis Shapovalov (Can) to finish
(1) Iga Swiatek (Pol) v Yulia Putintseva (Kaz)
(4) Elena Rybakina (Kaz) v Caroline Wozniacki (Den)
Marcelo Arevalo (Esa) & Zhang Shuai (Chn) v Andy Murray & Emma Raducanu (GBR)

No 2 Court, 11am

Harriet Dart (GBR) v Wang Xinyu (Chn)
(5) Daniil Medvedev v Jan-Lennard Struff (Ger) to finish
(13) Taylor Fritz (USA) v (24) Alejandro Tabilo (Chi)

No 3 Court, 11am

Lucas Pouille (Fra) v (9) Alex de Minaur (Aus)
(11) Danielle Collins (USA) v (20) Beatriz Haddad Maia (Bra)

Court 12, 11am

(16) Ugo Humbert (Fra) v Brandon Nakashima (USA) to finish
Bernarda Pera (USA) v (13) Jelena Ostapenko (Lat)

Court 14, 11am

(31) Barbora Krejcikova (Cze) v Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (Esp)
Francisco Comesana (Arg) v (25) Lorenzo Musetti (Ita)

Court 15, 11am

Arthur Fils (Fra) v Roman Safiullin

Court 16, 11am

Fabio Fognini (Ita) v Roberto Bautista Agut (Esp) to finish

Court 17, 11am

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (Fra) v Emil Ruusuvuori (Fin)

Court 18, 11am

(17) Anna Kalinskaya v (15) Liudmila Samsonova
(15) Holger Rune (Den) v Quentin Halys (Fra)

Some match reports for you:

Raducanu’s victory means there’s one match left on Centre Court, and Jannik Sinner isn’t messing around. The new world No 1 has a 5-1 lead over Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic inside 19 minutes. That tough test against the 2021 finalist and his fellow Italian Matteo Berrettini in the second round looks to have sharpened him up nicely. And then as the match clock hits 20 minutes, Sinner seals the set with a hold to 15.

So up next for Raducanu is a (whisper it) very winnable last-16 match against Lulu Sun, the New Zealand-born, Swiss-raised 23-year-old who’s through to the fourth round on her Wimbledon debut. As it’s a match that Raducanu will be expected to win, it’ll be interesting to see how she deals with the pressure. But she’s looking so happy, calm and assured – it’s great to have her back in the mix.

She served strongly today, was aggressive on her return, played the big points well and is yet to drop a set. Aryna Sabalenka’s withdrawal threw Raducanu’s quarter of the draw wide open – and she could even be reaching for the semi-finals, as the winner of Raducanu v Sun will play the winner of Paula Badosa v Dayana Yastremska or Donna Vekic in the last eight. Yastremska and Vekic are currently locked at one set all on No 1 Court.

And confirmation that their mixed doubles match will take place tomorrow: Raducanu and Murray and scheduled fourth on No 1 Court, after the conclusion of Shelton v Shapovalov, and then Swiatek v Putintseva and Rybakina v Wozniacki.

“You’re on fire!” exclaims Annabel Croft in the on-court interview.

“I think today was up there with the most fun I’ve had on the court,” Raducanu replies. “I enjoyed every moment out there and I’m really grateful for the support.”

Asked what she’s most proud of after sealing her second win in two weeks over a top-10 opponent (after her victory over Jessica Pegula in Eastbourne), she says: “I was so focused and determined in every point. She [Sakkari] is top 10, in a way I came in with a free swing. But I knew I had to battle. I tried not to let the score affect me when I was break points down. I tried to play every point as if it was my last.

“Win, lose, I feel like every day I’m trying to win the day, giving my best, even if it’s not the best quality. As long as you give your all every single day.”

Raducanu – then, inevitably – is asked about playing mixed doubles with a certain Andy Murray. “Who’s the boss?” asks Croft.

“I’ll let him take the lead,” Raducanu says. “I need to do a crash course in doubles tonight. Of course I’ll cherish the opportunity. It’s going to be such an honour.”

Raducanu looks in the mood to end this match on Sakkari’s serve. The way she’s been returning so far, it would be a fitting way to complete the victory. 0-15, 0-30. But then Sakkari is swinging and hits the winner. 15-30. 30-all. Then Raducanu pulls off an incredible return winner from well within the baseline for match point! But Sakkari has the initiative in the point and Raducanu is forced into the error.

Deuce. Advantage Sakkari. Deuce, as Sakkari’s attempted pass whistles wide. Advantage Raducanu, a second match point. Sakkari saves it with an unreturned serve. Deuce. And here’s a double fault! Advantage Raducanu, a third match point. Sakkari tries a one-two punch but drags her shot wide! Suddenly it’s 2021 all over again and Raducanu is back in the Wimbledon last 16!

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A slip from Raducanu at the baseline as she struggles to get to Sakkari’s return. Luckily it went long. 15-0. But then Raducanu, perhaps a little unsettled from that fall, goes long herself. 15-all. Sakkari responds with another error of her own and it’s 30-15. She’s berating herself for that. Raducanu is getting to the Greek here. And a 14th forehand error from Sakkari makes it 40-15. Raducanu holds and is a game away from equalling her run to the Wimbledon last 16 in 2021.

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Raducanu has the Centre Court crowd in raptures with a fine forehand that clips the sideline. She still has much to do in this game at 40-15 down, though, but another aggressive return – she’s been returning so well in this match – makes it 40-30. She can’t get any further and Sakkari holds from there. Raducanu chews on a banana at the changeover and will come back to serve at 6-2, 4-3.

Johanna Konta, a former semi-finalist here, makes an interesting point on the BBC, saying that Raducanu probably has very mixed emotions about that US Open win, given all the scrutiny and pressure that followed. Raducanu is showing absolutely no signs of feeling any pressure here, though, and holds to 15 with a punchy forehand into the corner. It’s 6-2, 4-2.

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Sakkari is such an athletic, versatile player, but can be up and down and doubt herself in the big moments, and that’s been the pattern here. Raducanu has brought her best on those break points, coming up with seven first serves, and her belief appears to have remained constant during the match, even when she’s made errors. Sakkari holds to 30 with a smash and Raducanu is 6-2, 3-2 ahead.

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Here’s that underarm serve from Bublik that I was talking about earlier:

From 30-0, a sudden shift in momentum as Raducanu goes 30-40 down. But Raducanu, so full of belief at the moment, is up for the fight and battles to deuce. Sakkari edges ahead once more to advantage … and there’s a third ace from Raducanu! Deuce. Advantage Raducanu. Sakkari’s return clips the tape and agonisingly trickles over. Deuce. Advantage Raducanu. Game Raducanu. She leads 6-2, 3-1. And Sakkari has now seen seven break points come and go during this match.

Unfortunately all matches on the outside courts have been called off for the day. But Donna Vekic and Dayana Yastremska have been moved to No 1 Court, with Vekic leading 7-6. That makes sense, as finishing that match will ensure that the bottom half of the women’s draw is completed today. In the men’s, however, Medvedev v Struff, Nakashima v Humbert, Fognini v Bautista Agut and Shapovalov v Shelton will resume tomorrow.

Raducanu jumps on two second serves with two big returns. 0-30. She’s all energy on the baseline, ready for the next return, but this time goes long. 15-30. But then it’s 15-40, two break points. And the story of this match so far is that Raducanu has played the big points better. She does so again here, as Sakkari’s shot flies beyond the baseline. Raducanu breaks for 6-2, 2-1.

I like this version of Raducanu. It’s like the 2021 version, but with more experience and physical durability. These two did actually play each other in Raducanu’s unlikely run to the US Open title that year, with Raducanu winning their semi-final 6-1, 6-4. Raducanu has been through so much since then, of course – a loss of form, injury hell, trying to grow up in the glare of the world – but this is by far the strongest run of form she’s had since that autumn three years ago. Sakkari holds at the start of the second set – Raducanu replies with a hold to 30. Raducanu leads 6-2, 1-1.

After pulling off an unlikely lob to break Sakkari again, Raducanu is serving for the first set at 5-2. But it’s not quite going to plan as she slides 30-40 down. Raducanu averts the danger but is soon facing another break point. Sakkari has had four break points in this match so far – and hasn’t taken any of them. And she doesn’t come good in this one either, because Raducanu rams away the winner. Deuce. Advantage Raducanu. Game and first set Raducanu. She is looking so strong and confident.

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Gauff will play fellow American Emma Navarro in the last 16. “Last time I played Emma was earlier this year,” Gauff continues. “She’s had a great tournament, this is her first real season on grass. If I play good tennis hopefully it’ll go my way.”

Gauff’s thoughts:

I thought I played really well. She was playing at a high level in the first set, it’s been a great tournament for her. She wasn’t giving me much to work with and she does a good job of mixing up variety so you never feel settled. I was missing but eventually I was able to do well.

This is my first time playing a British player here, so I was a little bit nervous, I knew you guys would be for her. Thankfully you guys were pretty nice to me so that helped. Playing in front of the British crowd is great, you’re respectful, so I appreciate that.

At 15-0, another lengthy rally to match the last point from the previous game, but Gauff just isn’t missing now. 30-0 – with Kartal’s 12th unforced error of the set. And Gauff seals it with an ace. A competitive first set – but the second set went by in a blur for Kartal. The Brit can still hold her head high, having come through qualifying to claim the biggest wins of her career in rounds one and two, but it’s Gauff that moves on and she’s very much the player to beat in this half of the draw.

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Gauff is running away with it on No 1. She holds for 4-0 – that’s her sixth consecutive game – and then works her way to advantage on Kartal’s serve. Deuce. Advantage Gauff, another break point. Deuce. Advantage Gauff. The pair trade forehands – the one weakness in Gauff’s game can be her forehand – and to totally disprove that point Gauff shows unwavering consistency on that wing and Kartal eventually makes the error. Gauff will serve for the match at 6-4, 5-0.

There was so much to like about Raducanu’s performance in the second round – it was so commanding and assured – and she’s looking good here too, despite blowing three break points at 0-40 on Sakkari’s serve. She still has the one break though, and leads 3-2.

Gauff, perhaps having seen in the locker room how Alcaraz finished off Tiafoe, has put her foot on the pedal now. After breaking Kartal at the start of the first set, the US Open champion does the same at the beginning of the second, though she was helped by a double fault from Kartal. Gauff consolidates the break for 6-4, 2-0 – and now it’s starting to unravel for Kartal as Gauff grabs the double break. Kartal, having held her own in the first set, is finding herself unable to match the world No 2’s power and aggression. Gauff leads 6-4, 3-0.