Key events<\/p>\n
Muchova and Osaka are ready; last time they met, in the final at Bad Homburg, Osaka retired when down 6-1 1-0, but when they met in last year\u2019s Aussie and US Opens, she won both times. And today, she breaks immediately for 1-0, whole Zverev takes a break after losing set three; we\u2019re back playing again now, though.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Does Lehecka look like late Busby Babe, David Pegg?<\/p>\n Front row, far right\u2026<\/p>\n Photograph: Central Press\/Getty Images Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Heliovaara\/Patten have levelled against Andreozzi\/Guinard at a set apiece and look the better pair now, while Muchova wins the toss and will serve when she and Osaka are ready.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Osaka comes out in a slightly stripped-back version of her white kimono; Lehecka serves out to love, having won 12 of 13 points played today, and we might just have ourselves a ball-game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A decent return from Lehecka lands close to the baseline and he has 0-15; he then nails a block-back, again to the line, converts it, and at 0-30, are things happening? Maybe! At 15-30, Lehecka steams in to attack a mid-court ball, finishes the point, and when Zverev nets a forehand, his break is secure. At 5-3 in the third, he\u2019ll now serve for the set.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019re back under way on Centre, Lehecka holding to trail Zverev 0-2 4-3.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On No 2, Henry patten and Harri Heliovaara, legends of this blog \u2013 Henry\u2019s coach, Calv Betton, is our resident expert and they\u2019ve also won two majors \u2013 are behind. The no 1 seeds trail Andreozzi\/Guinard, seeded eight, 2-6 5-4\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lehecka and Zverev are out so, while they warm up, some thoughts on Gauff. I\u2019m continually blown away by how utterly she competes \u2013 she has the ability to improve through matches and willpower her best tennis out of herself when she needs it the most. If Sabalenka or Swiatek had her mentality, they\u2019d have several more majors each, and though I fancy Osaka or Muchova to beat her, she\u2019s a player i don\u2019t like backing against because though he faults \u2013 second serve, forehand \u2013 are obvious to all, her intangibles are off the scale.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Next on No 1: Naomi Osaka (14) v Karolina Muchova (10).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Sinner says Struff is very tough to play against, but deserves all he\u2019s done and achieved in his career as a great person off the court with an amazing team.<\/p>\n Early in the match, he felt he was struggling a bit with Struff the better player, but he started serving better and though he was a break up in set two and couldn\u2019t use it, he tried to stay there mentally and is happy to be back in the semis.<\/p>\n The second set could\u2019ve ended in a different way as he sees tiebreakers at 50\/50, but Struff\u2019s first-set percentage dropped and he\u2019s very happy to have beaten a difficult player to face.<\/p>\n Finally, asked about the heat, he laughs \u201cthanks for reminding\u201d. He and his team worked hard trying to work out what happened in Paris but they\u2019ve prepared in the best possible way, today was a huge test, he felt physically really comfortable, and it\u2019s a good step forward. If what happened in Paris happens again, he hopes not, but they\u2019ll change some things and go again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Next on Centre: Jiri Lehecka (13) 4-6 5-7 3-3 Alexander Zverev (2).<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Jannik Sinner (1) beats Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5 7-6(4) 6-3<\/p>\n Struff gave it all he had, but Sinner was far too good and might, perhaps, have played himself into a bit of form. Next for him: Auger-Aliassime or Djokovic.<\/p>\n Jannik Sinner celebrates after beating Jan-Lennard Struff. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.06 EDT<\/p>\n Sinner quickly makes 40-15\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n More on her in a sec, but back on No 1, Sinner has 2-0 4-3 15-30, lifting a backhand towards the sideline; Struff\u2019s attempted winner down the line is wide. Gosh, and then a forehand, larruped well long, means two break points which, should one be converted, means the champ will shortly serve for the match \u2026 but the first is saved, just about \u2026 for all the good it does. A booming backhand then a colossal forehand, sent to opposite corners, mean that, at 7-5 7-6 5-3, he\u2019ll shortly serve for the match.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cOh my goodness,\u201d says Gauff when reminded she\u2019s made her first Wimbledon<\/a> semi. \u201cPretty insane\u201d \u2013 which I guess it is, but in her case, that it\u2019s taken so long, rather than that it\u2019s happening.<\/p>\n Considering I hadn\u2019t won a match on grass in two years before this tournament, I\u2019m just really happy,\u201d she says, praising Jess an \u201can incredible person and opponent,\u201d so she\u2019s just happy to be through.<\/p>\n Pegulas ball\u2019s are so flat and low she needed to trust that she\u2019d be there in the rallies and could just play the shots she wanted to play.She began to land more first serves and trust her shots \u2013 in the first, she made too many errors rushing out of the rallies too quickly but the last two sets she showed \u201creally great tennis\u201d and she\u2019s been going three sets every match so she doesn\u2019t panic when losing one.<\/p>\n After seven yeards playing Wimbledon, this was the first time she walked out on to Centre court and didn\u2019t feel nervous. She doesn\u2019t know if she\u2019s becoming a vet but it\u2019s a beautiful court and, waiting to come out, her attention was attracted by the beautiful artwork and artefacts, so she had to tell herself to stare at the door as she was losing focus with \u201cOoh what is that, what is that?\u201d<\/p>\n Otherwise, she\u2019s just really enjoying the process of being at Wimbledon, thanks the crowd, and she knows people are giving up days to be there, so she always works hard and tries her best, knowing people put their lives aside to watch her play.<\/p>\n What a brilliant woman she is; her parents must be very proud.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Back with the men, Sinner now leads Struff 7-5 7-6 3-3, but I can\u2019t lie: much as we\u2019d all love a contest, it feels more like we\u2019re waiting for the champ to seize a moment. Struff, though, is a gamer, going for his shots, but can he offer enough on return to break?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Coco Gauff (7) beats Jessica Pegula (4) 4-6 6-3 6-3<\/p>\n A colossal win for Gauff, who personalitied herself into playing well \u2013 her forehand and serve weren\u2019t bad today \u2013 and she meets Osaka or Muchova next. Pegula, meantime, will rue not forcing home her 1-0 advantage, but ultimately she surely knows: she doesn\u2019t quite have what it takes to win a major, and that\u2019s unlikely to change.<\/p>\n Coco Gauff celebrates victory against Jessica Pegula. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.33 EDT<\/p>\n At 30-15, Pegula nets a forehand, the resigned look on her face suggesting she\u2019s losing belief. A forehand down the line then falls long, meaning Gauff has match point at 5-3 30-40\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Another brilliant point on Centre, both players running side to side as well as back and forth. But it\u2019s Gauff in control, even when she\u2019s lobbed, and she secures her consolidation when Pegula chases in after a drop only to flick her forehand wide, just. Art 5-3 in the third, Gauff is a game away while, on No 1, Struff battles to hold for 0-2 2-2.<\/p>\n Jessica Pegula returns as she struggles in the deciding set. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.27 EDT<\/p>\n A Gauff forehand is too hot to return, then she does well at the net and a lob falls long; 0-30, the standard improving. And , as if to underline the point, offered a rare backhand, Gauff steps in and hits hard to the line, Pegula unable to respond, then she nets a forehand and that\u2019s the break, back. The lead is 4-3 in the third.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A terrific game on Centre, Gauff winning the rally of the match with a ridiculous drop from an improbable angle. But Pegula, playing with more energy and conviction, makes advantage, Gauff nets, and we\u2019re back on serve in the third at 3-3. This is intensifying.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A decent hold for Struff, meaning Sinner leads 7-6 7-5 1-1, but he just doesn\u2019t have the weapons to do much once he\u2019s served. Imagine a parent holding their child at arm\u2019s length, child swinging like Scrappy Doo, unable to reach their target, and you\u2019ll have a good picture of what this match looks like.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.15 EDT<\/p>\n Both Sinner and Struff disappear between sets, then Sinner holds to love, setting the tone; I\u2019d not be shocked if he breaks next game. Back on Centre, meantime, Pegula does really well to rebound from 0-30 to hold, though she remains a break down at 3-2in the third.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s absolutely nuts that, at 22, Gauff is playing her seventh Wimbledon<\/a> \u2013 as it is that this is her first quarter-final. But she\u2019s looking good to move into her first semi, an inside-out backhand winner giving her 15-all, then a well-considered net victory making 15-40. Pressure for Pegula, whose approach isn\u2019t quite good enough \u2026 and nor is her volley, into the net, and Gauff has the break for 2-1 in the third \u2026 then consolidates to 15 for 3-1. She\u2019s serving much better now, and that part of her game is working, she\u2019s a proper threat here.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Another first serve, a return that misses the baseline by inches, and this must be soul-destroying for Struff, who\u2019s playing as well as he\u2019s being allowed to and making the sets close, only for Sinner to do whatever he needs to do to win them. A 7-4 breaker gives him a 7-5 7-6 lead, and this now feels like a formality.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Struff nets a backhand to give Sinner 3-1 and the mini-break; it\u2019s 4-2 at change of ends, the champ hitting every first serve. Struff is trying his best to attack, but the precision is extreme and he\u2019s just not got the tools to counter, soon down 5-2. He does, though, close to 4-5, meaning Sinner is under pressure \u2026 quickly alleviated with a service-winner that gives him 6-4 and set point.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Sinner holds to 30 and the match is right here: if he wins the breaker, it\u2019s as good as over; if Struff does, who knows?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Gauff makes 40-30 then lands a serve on the outside of the T, and that\u2019s one set apiece. She can play so, so much better than this, which is part indictment of her form, part praise for her mentality. I don\u2019t think Pegulas has the tools to beat her today, but I\u2019d not back her against whichever of Osaka and Muchova makes the semi.<\/p>\n Coco Gauff takes the second set against her compatriot Jessica Pegula. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.58 EDT<\/p>\n Pegulas first serve forsakes her and Gauff tucks in, unable to win points off return but setting up the rallies and making 0-40. A double follows, and at 4-6 5-3, she\u2019ll serve for the second set, while Struff holds to trail Sinner 5-7 6-5.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Sinner serves his way out of shtuck, three big first serves helping him to 7-5 5-5. I\u2019m not sure he\u2019s playing well enough to beat Djokovic, his potential semi-final opponent, but every match is different and he\u2019s doing enough to lead in this one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Pegula is, I think, nicely loose and playing her natural game; Gauff is relying on hitting more winners than errors. She finds herself down 0-30 just as Struff plays a lovely forehand-volley combo for 30-all, then Sinner hoiks a backhand wide and now faces a break point. He saves it well, though, a big serve good enough, while Gauff secures a tricky hold to trail 4-6 4-3.<\/p>\n Jessica Pegula in control against Coco Gauff. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.46 EDT<\/p>\n A quick hold apiece on No 1, meaning Sinner leads 7-5 4-4, and can Struff handle the business-end pressure this time? His first-serve percentage is going in the wrong direction, but he needs just two more holds to force a breaker \u2013 at least. I actually think he\u2019d be a threat were he playing in late-80s to mid-90s conditions, which suited serve-volleyers, but it\u2019s not as easy now you\u2019ve got to fight your way in, and when he turns 0-30 into 30-all, you worry for him. So it\u2019s no great surprise when Struff hits long \u2013 nor, in fairness, when he saves break-point with a service winner \u2013 and from there, he closes out the hold to trail 5-7 5-4. That\u2019s unlike Sinner, who I\u2019d usually expect to force home his ascendancy, but he\u2019s just not playing that well nor has he in quite a while now. Back on Centre, meanwhile, Pegula leads Gauff 6-4 2-3.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.41 EDT<\/p>\n We\u2019re still on serve at 7-5 2-3 Sinner but Struff makes 15-30 and might he break for the second time in a row? Well, at 40-30 he whips a tremendous forehand winner cross-court .. so of course Sinner responds with an ace, then again when brought back to deuce. From there, though, the champ closes out to lead 7-5 3-3, while Gauff is serving at 4-6 1-1 deuce \u2026 then spanks down an ace, at 126mph her joint-fastest of the competition. That gives her advantage, and she converts with emphasis, an overhead annihilated with maximum prejudice. Pegula leads 6-4 1-2.<\/p>\n Jan-Lennard Strauff reaches for a forehand. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.35 EDT<\/p>\n Yes, it was roundabout 1988 I or anyone else used the word eggy to describe anger; what of it? Meanwhile, Gauff is in more trouble, down 15-40, and if she loses her serve here, she\u2019s in big trouble. She was fortunate to beat Solana Sierra in round two and in that match, as well as against Liu and Bencic, she more or less personalitied her way to victory \u2013 it was good character rather than good play that got her through. But she makes it to deuce, retrieves a lob then hits a winner for advantage, then closes out a vital hold. Pegula will have noticed, though she leads 6-4 0-1.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A framed forehand and a double give Struff an unlikely 0-30, then at 30-all, Sinner fails to put away a ball he really should, erring as the rally progresses. Then, on break-back point, he overhits a forehand, and somehow, Struff is back in set two at 2-2. Sinner is, by his standards, very eggy with himself.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n At 15-all, Pegula offers a tepid second serve so Gauff attacks it, but schlepping the ball from over her shoulder, she can only send it long, then a backhand down the line means she\u2019s down to break points. And only one is required, a very poor forehand landing in to the net, halfway up, and Pegula leads 6-4.<\/p>\n Jessica Pegula takes the first set. Photograph: Clive Brunskill\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.17 EDT<\/p>\n Struff\u2019s first-serve percentage is plummeting \u2013 I fear Sinner has his measure now. Two errors give him 15-30, then a backhand return is too good, earning two break points, and a forehand return then secures the break. Sinner leads 7-5 2-1 and already, this feels over; Gauff holds for 4-5, forcing Pegula to serve for the first set.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n All that effort and Gauff returns her break-back in tame fashion \u2013 she plays those kinds of games far too often, and they\u2019re one reason I was a little surprised she won majors when she did. Of course I expected her to eventually, but I didn\u2019t think she was ready, nor ready to win in Paris; Pegula consolidates and leads 5-3 in the first.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Down 15-30, Struff finds a service-winer, but then nets a volley, letting it drop too far below the level of the net. A service-winner follows then, playing the second break point, a ball falls out of Struff\u2019s pocket, so they go again \u2013 if it happens a second time, eh loses the point \u2013 but this time, he\u2019s good to go, another service-winner makes deuce, and from there, the German closes out. Sinner leads 7-5 0-1.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Gauff hits the tape and the ball clambers over then drops; 0-15. And when Pegula goes wide on the backhand, she\u2019s a chance to make something happen, lashing a return on to the line that requires too much footwork, too quickly, to get back. And when Pegula again goes wide, we have that predictable break-back, to love, and we\u2019re back on serve at 3-3 in the first.<\/p>\n Coco Gauff hits a shot to Jessica Pegula. Photograph: Glyn Kirk\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.16 EDT<\/p>\n Up 30-0, Sinner swats wide; a mahoosive ace out wide follows, then Struff sweeps a backhand wide, and that concludes a 7-5 first set, tight until it wasn\u2019t. There was one drop, the champ was there to take advantage, and that is a lesson in elite sport; can Struff learn from it?<\/p>\n Pegula, meanwhile, is playing nicely, up 3-2 with a break, but there were signs in Gauff\u2019s last hold that she\u2019s settling.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.01 EDT<\/p>\n OK, Sinner holds for 5-5, then nails a forehand and a return; Struff can\u2019t get close to the first, then nets the second, and at 0-30, he\u2019s in trouble \u2013 all the more so when his first serve is long. Sure enough, Sinner\u2019s return is on point, the riposte hitting the net, meaning hr\u2019s three break points. The first is confiscated via ace \u2026 and the second \u2026but then given a look at another second serve, an inside-out forehand winner secures the break, the champ upping it when he needed to, and he\u2019ll now serve for set one at 6-5.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Oh man, serving at 4-4 15-all, Struff doinks a simple smash into the net, which both reflects and brings pressure. But from there, he secures his hold for 5-5, while Pegula consolidates to lead Gauff 2-0.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019re away on Centre, Gauff netting a forehand for deuce, and Pegula will surely target that wing \u2013 if she has to, a netted backhand giving her advantage. And I\u2019m afraid no one will be surprised to learn that a double follows;[Pegula leads 1-0, with a break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.45 EDT<\/p>\n Down 40-0, Struff makes room for a winner sent from corner to corner, then Sinner frames a forehand and misses a first serve; pressure. And when he goes long, again off the forehand, we move to deuce, the German floating a poor rally-ball backhand slice over the baseline, then a netted forehand hands over the hold for 4-4 \u2013 but Sinner is not yet settled.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Another love hold for Struff and suddenly, Sinner will be noticing a bit of scoreboard pressure, down 3-4 in the first. He\u2019s not yet made any kind of impression on return, nor hit many winners, both of which are surprising.<\/p>\n Jannick Sinner reaches a forehand. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.53 EDT<\/p>\n On Centre, Gauff and Pegula are out; Pegula wins the toss and has to think for a short while before deciding to receive.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Struff makes 0-15 and is well in the next point, until he swipes a forehand wide, then he again loses patience in a 19-stroke rally, wellying wide once more. A service-winner follows for 40-15 then, offered a second serve, Struff attacks, coming in to dispatch a fine volley, doubles hands to the fore. The more situations of that ilk he can generate, the better for him, and when Sinner spins a forehand long, to deuce we go \u2026 but not for long. The champ quickly serves out, and we\u2019re level at 3-3 in the fifth.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.34 EDT<\/p>\n Now a love hold for Struff, who\u2019s started pretty well and leads 3-2 He looks confident, but he\u2019s not yet been put under pressure and I wonder if he can offer more testing returns. Even if he needs to stand back to give himself a better look at Sinner\u2019s serve, he has to try and dig into it rather than hope e can struggle to a tiebreaker.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Nana Sinner appears to have been busy knitting Jannik\u2019s top; that, or Nike have rinsed him with gear yet again.<\/p>\n Photograph: Matthew Stockman\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Here he is as Luigi.<\/p>\n Photograph: Javier Garc\u00eda\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Taking advantage of the US Open dress code to rock a fetching shade of rust.<\/p>\n Photograph: Yuki Iwamura\/AP<\/p>\n The famously complementary colours of olive, white and yellow.<\/p>\n Photograph: Rachel Bach\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Anyroad up, Struff makes deuce from 40-0 \u2013 for all the good it does him. Sinner secures the hold in short order and we\u2019re level at 2-2 in the first.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n At 30-0, Struff nails one down the T, then Sinner swipes an inside-out backhand wide and that\u2019s another comfy hold for the German; he leads 2-1, and they\u2019re still feeling each other out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Er yeah, about that. Sinner holds to love for 1-1; Struff is playing the long game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A 6\u201d6, 36-year-old man with socks pulled up and a baseball hat on backwards; has anyone got a number for The Hague? Meantime, Struff holds to 30 and will feel much better about life; I reckon he\u2019ll go at Sinner\u2019s serve, especially on second delivery.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Our players are almost ready. Sinner elected to receive, perhaps hoping that Struff, at 36 the oldest man in the open era to reach a first major quarter-final, is nervous. Play.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n To our first match, and how does Struff get at Sinner? Well, the unpalatable truth is I\u2019m not sure he does \u2013 if Sinner plays properly, this isn\u2019t a contest, whatever Struff does. But Sinner\u2019s hitting from the back, especially down the line \u2013 usually so consistent \u2013 has been a bit off lately, so perhaps, if Struff can\u2019t finish points early with his concussive forehand length, it might be worth seeing if he can incite the error by hitting balls deep and down the middle of the court.<\/p>\n More likely, though, I expect Struff to take the Stanimal approach and attack everything, hoping to hit a a seam. I also wonder if he\u2019ll try and drop-shots, looking to get Sinner tired but also to use his doubles-generated volleying advantage.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On BBC, they note that Gauff hasn\u2019t made a Wimbledon<\/a> quarter until this year, though she made round three as a 16-year-old. Mainly, that\u2019s because grass doesn\u2019t suit her game as well as other surfaces \u2013 her serve isn\u2019t where it needs to be, and it\u2019s harder to hide her forehand than it is on clay, where theres more time to adjust feet.<\/p>\n Pegula, on the other hand, is a better-rounded player, but without the big weapons you need to win majors. Her returning, though. is good enough to give Gauff fits and the two, who used to play doubles together, are good mates, which adds a further dimension to this match. Bottom line: I don\u2019t think either are ready to win this title.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Also going on:<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n Wotcha and welcome to Wimbledon 2026<\/a> \u2013 day nine!<\/p>\n Now we\u2019re getting serious. Two show courts, 10 players in form, and each of them tingling, contemplating the feeling of a lifetime.<\/p>\n We begin on No 1 Court with Jannik Sinner<\/a>, one of only two players in either draw to have won this title before. But, after an astounding run earlier in the year, his body failed him at Roland Garros and he hasn\u2019t looked his usual impregnable self since.<\/p>\n Naturally, elite sport being the ruthless brute that it is, the other players have twigged; where once they knew they were done for, now they fancy it, and though Jan-Lennard Struff isn\u2019t the likeliest candidate to dethrone the champ, to get to this point he\u2019s beaten Seb\u00e1stian B\u00e1ez, Brandon Nakashima, Daniil Medvedev and Hubert Hurkacz. Or, in other words, he\u2019s in form and feeling himself.<\/p>\n Opening up on Centre half an hour later, we\u2019ve got Jess Pegula \u2013 desperately chasing the maiden grand slam title but constantly crashing into her athletic ceiling \u2013 against Coco Gauff<\/a>, taken to a deciding set in three of her four matches so far, but one of sport\u2019s great explorers; few are better at finding a way to win. If Pegula plays well, pulling it off isn\u2019t beyond her and, at 32, she\u2019s running out of time so, given the way the seeds have fallen, knows she\u2019ll never get a better shot. She\u2019ll tell herself to the contrary because how else can she go on, but in her heart she knows: her career is on the line here.<\/p>\n The match of the day, though, comes second on No 1, where Naomi Osaka<\/a>, fresh from dispatching Aryna Sabalenka, now faces a very different challenge. Karolina Muchova \u2013 another chasing the debut major she\u2019s seen players of far less talent seize \u2013 blends touch, craft and power in a way that\u2019s ideal for grass courts. Can Osaka thrive against an opponent able to put her in uncomfortable positions and likely to haul her to the net? She\u2019s going to have to.<\/p>\n Second on Centre, an interlude: Alexander Zverev leads Jiri Lehecka by two sets to love, and the pair will return locked at 3-3 in the third to finish a match called off last evening. Most likely, the no 2 seed finishes the job in short order, but both players know that if his level drops, he\u2019s vulnerable.<\/p>\n