ATP
NADAL POWERS INTO THE THIRD ROUND
Rafael Nadal is through to the third round in Wimbledon following a four set win over Ricardas Berankis on Center Court on Thursday afternoon.
The top seed took the tie 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to extend his Grand Slam winning run to 16 and set up a third round showdown with Lorenzo Sonego.
Italian, Sonego eliminates Hugo Gaston in straight set on Court 14, taking it 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 to move one closer to equalling his best run in the Championship, which was a fourth round finish just last year.
In his way to equal that run is a man on form, Nadal, and both will settle the score in their first ever meeting on Saturday.
TSITSIPAS OVERPOWERED JONHSON
Stefanos Tsitsipas continues his Wimbledon campaign with a straight set win over American, Jordan Thompson to set up a third round meeting with Nick Kyrgios.
The Greek top seed won 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 and move one closer to matching his best run in the Championship.
Nick Kyrgios eases into the third round and will also be looking for a win to match his best run in Wimbledon, which was a fourth round finish back in 2014.
He made an easy work of Filip Krajinovic in a 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 straight set win to book the ticket for the cracker against Tsitsipas on Saturday.
FRITZ OR MOLCAN FOR PERSONAL BEST IN THIRD ROUND
Taylor Fritz breezes into the next round in Wimbledon following a 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 straight sets win over Alastair Gray on Court 12 yesterday.
Heading into the game as favourite, the American ensured he established his superiority to match his best run in the Championship and when he take on Alex Molcan on Saturday, he will be looking better his previous third round finish.
Alex Molcan also reaches the round for the first time ever in Wimbledon following a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 straight set win over American, Marcos Giron.
Both Fritz and Molcan lockhorns to set a personal best on Saturday.
GASQUET GRABS THIRD ROUND TICKET
French veteran, Richard Gasquet sealed progression into the third round following a rampant four set win over Mackenzie McDonald of the US, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
His third round opponent, Botic van de Zandschulp came from a set down to beat Emil Yuusuvuori on Court 18, taking it 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 to set his personal best run in the Championship.
GARIN FLOORS GRENIER
Cristain Garin eased into a 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 straight sets win over Frenchman, Hugo Grenier to move one win away from equaling his best Wimbledon run.
The Chilean will face US player Jenson Brooksby in the third round. Brooksby needed two tie breakers to overcome Benjamin Bonzi in straight sets.
7-6, 7-5, 6-3 it finished to the American, who sets a personal best in Wimbledon.
LUCKY ELAHI FACES NAKASHIMA
Daniel Elahi Galan benefited from the withdrawal of his opponent, Roberto Bautista Agut on Thursday to qualify for the third round of Wimbledon for the first time in his career.
His Spanish opponent, Bautista Agut announced he has tested positive for COVID-19, and would not be able to honour the clash.
Up next for Galán is Brandon Nakashima of the US, the 20 year old who upset Denis Shapovalov in the second round, winning the tie in four sets, 6-3, 6-7, 6-1, 7-6 to reach his first ever Wimbledon third round.
DE MINAUR AND BRADY BATTLE BACK TO SET UP THIRD ROUND MEETING
Alex de Minaur sealed progression into the third after coming from a set down to beat Jack Draper, 5-7, 7-6, 6-2, 6-3, matching best Wimbledon run where he will meet Liam Broady of the Great Britain.
Broady overcame top seeded Argentine, Diego Schwartzman to reach the third round on home soil for only the first time ever.
He won the contest in five sets, as many it required him to better Lukas Klein in the first round, taking it this time, 6-2, 4-6, 0-6, 7-6, 6-1.
W T A
BADOSA TO MEET KVITOVA
Paula Badosa eases to straight set win over her Romanian opponent, Irina Bara. The Spaniard won 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round against Petra Kvitova.
Kvitova needed a tiebreaker in the second set to beat another Romanian, Ana Bogdan.
The 25 seed won 6-1, 7-6 to set up the meeting with Badosa, whom she defeated via two tiebreakers in their only previous meeting in the Australian Open in 2020.
Badosa has enjoyed much improvement and will be looking for revenge on Saturday.
SWIATEK EXTEND WINNING RUN
Iga Swiatek dropped a set on her way to defeating Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove in three sets to book her place in the third round in Wimbledon, extending her winning run to 37.
The Pole won 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to set up a third round showdown with Frenchwoman, Alizé Cornet, who eases past home star, Claire Liu with a 6-3, 6-3 straight set score.
ANISIMOVA SURVIVES SCARE
Amanda Anisimova came from a set down to see off Lauren Davis 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the third round where she’ll meet French Open losing finalist, Coco Gauff.
Gauff secures a 6-2, 6-3 straight set win over Mihaela Buzarnescu to enter into the third round in Wimbledon, continuing her impressive form of late.
Both Anisimova and Gauff has won one apiece in their previous two meetings but the odds will be in favour of the later, due to her incredible form.
TAN AND BOULTER DEFY THE ODDS
Harmony Tan continues to defy the odds as she upsets Sara Sorribes Tormo in straight sets to secure her place in the third round.
She took it 6-3, 6-4 and set up with home star, Katie Boulter, who earned a third round spot thanks to to spirited comeback against top seed, Karolina Pliskova.
Despite going a set down, the Brit won the following set via a tie breaker and played her way to winning the decisive set as it finished 3-6, 7-6, 6-4.
ANDREESCU FAILED AGAIN AS RYBAKINA MEETS ZHENG
One time Grand Slam winner, Bianca Andreescu has failed again to go past the second round of any Grand Slam Championship safe her only win in US Open 2019.
Elena Rybakina ended her quest this time with a 6-4, 7-6 straight set win and awaiting Rybakina in the third round is Chinese star, Qinwen Zheng who secured a comfortable 6-4, 6-1 win over Belgium’s Greet Minnen.
HALEP TO MEET FRECH
2019 winner, Simona Halep continues her Wimbledon outing with a 7-5, 6-4 straight set win over Kirsten Flipkens to reach the third round.
The Romanian will meet Magdalena Frech, who defeated Ana Karolina Schimeidlova in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4 to reach her maiden Wimbledon third round.
PEGULA AWAITS MARTIC
Jessica Pegula will play in the third round following a come from behind win over Harriet Dart on Court 2.
The American won 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Awaiting her in the third round is Petra Martic who overcame Kristina Kucova in straight sets to reach another third round in Wimbledon.
The Croatian won 7-6, 6-3 to move one close to her best run in the Championship.
Other
Alja Tomljanović will also meet Barbora Krejčíková after both won their second round games.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
