Key events<\/p>\n
Swiatek, though, is not, Townsend playing really well hitting with heavy spin from the back , laying drops, and volleying with deft prejudice at net; she leads 5-1 in the second, a decider looking inevitable.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.41 EDT<\/p>\n I still find it odd that Hugo Boss makes tennis gear \u2013 is Fritz tempted to team his top with some dreadful loafers and a tie? \u2013 but he\u2019s in it and he\u2019s broken Lajovic to lead 6-3 6-4 3-2. He\u2019s close to round two.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I\u2019m enjoying Virtanen\u2019s performance against Shelton \u2013 he\u2019s serving really well and looks mentally very solid. They\u2019re level at 1-1 5-5 and, though I expect the no 4 seed to win, a breaker against so big a server is anything but a cert.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Er, you know that bit, not that long ago, when I said the champ\u2019s confidence would be up? Obviously she\u2019s now down a double break in set two at 6-1 0-3, struggling with Townsend\u2019s net play, and I wonder if there\u2019s something in her intense intensity that stops her playing as freely as she might want.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Townsend lobs Swiatek, who plays a tweener \u2026 but a glancing volley, beautifully controlled, seals the point, and another the consolidation. The champ leads 6-1 0-2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Brandon Nakashima (28) beats Jack Pinnington Jones 6-3 7-6(5) 7-5<\/p>\n Well that didn\u2019t last long. Nakashima breaks again and will meet Struff next.<\/p>\n Brandon Nakashima beats Jack Pinnington Jones in straight sets. Another Brit bites the dust. Photograph: Matthias Hangst\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.28 EDT<\/p>\n Swiatek took the first set off Townsend 6-0, but was broken immediately in the second; Shelton and Virtanen are level at 1-1 3-3; Fery has fought back against Dzumhur to lead 3-6 6-2 2-0; Fearnley is fighting back against Michelsen, trailing 3-6 4-6 3-1; De Minaur leads Burruchaga 7-6 6-1 4-0; Kokkinakis leads Bublik 5-4 with a break; and Pinnington Jones has broken Nakashima back to trail 3-6 6-7 5-6.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The big seed in Fritz\u2019s half is Zverev, whom he leads 10-5 in head to head and who doesn\u2019t love grass; in his eighth, there\u2019s really no one who should bother him \u2013 Bublik is the next highest seed, and no one would ever rely on him to do what\u2019s expected.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The last year or two, Fritz has looked like he might be ready to make the jump from contender to pretender \u2013 he got the semis last year, playing pretty much as well as he can in losing to Alcaraz in four. But this year, with Alcaraz knacked and Sinner in the other half of the draw, he has what is probably the opportunity of his life; can he make it happen? Well, he\u2019s broken Lajovic in set two to lead 6-3 5-3, and is settling nicely.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Valentin Royer beats Henry Wendelken 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-3<\/p>\n Wendelken gave a good account of himself but after the first set, couldn\u2019t play well enough for long enough to win another. Next for Royer: Blockx or Zverev.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ruthless from Swiatek, who breaks Townsend again for 4-1 in the first; Kokkinakis leads Bublik 3-2 with a break; Nakashima, returning after his match against Pinnington Jones was suspended last evening, now leads 2-0 5-3; and De Minaur has rushed through a 6-1 second set to lead Burruchaga 2-0.<\/p>\n Iga Swiatek is not messing around here. Photograph: Victoria Jones\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.05 EDT<\/p>\n Hanfman has beaten Mpetshi Perricard 6-7 7-6 6-2 6-3, which has me thinking, reason being Calv Betton, our resident coach, saw him a few years ago when he was still a teenager and was wowed by him. But he\u2019s not quite trained on \u2013 though he made round four of this competition in 2024, the first lucky loser so to do in a decade, otherwise he\u2019s done almost nothing at majors. I wonder if a little more finesse is required.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Swiatek eventually secures her hold, saving five break points in the process \u2013 she and Townsend are 1-1 in the first \u2013 while Shelton has levelled against Virtanen at a set apiece. De Minaur, meanwhile, is making a better first of things than Boulter, up 7-6 3-1 on Burruchaga \u2026 and, as I type, Swiatek reminds us who she us, showing Townsend how a break is secured. She leads 2-1, and that will, I think, do plenty for her confidence.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On Centre, Townsend\u2019s tactic is clear: take the ball as early as possible and try putting Swiatek under pressure. She holds for 1-0 then makes 0-40, and though the champ rallies with three first serves that takes us to deuce, another on advantage \u2026 is also saved.<\/p>\n Swiatek was a surprise winner last year, but it made sense that her ability on clay eventually translated to grass; the ball bounces low and her excellent footwork is just as important on a slippy surface. I can\u2019t say I\u2019m expecting her to retain, especially after Kostyuk demolished her in Paris \u2013 the field are improving faster than her -\u2013 but if she hits her best level, she\u2019s capable.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Wendelken and Royer have swapped third-set breaks, so the Frenchman leads the Brit 2-1 2-2; Fritz has taken the first set against Lajovic 6-3; I\u2019m not sure if something\u2019s going on on Court 4 but having lost the first set 6-3, Halys then won the second 6-1 and leads Arnaldi 1-0 with a break in the third; Svajda leads Llamas Ruiz 6-1 4-0 and might just\u2019ve broken a barrier with his performance in Paris; and Dzumhur leads Fery 6-3 2-0.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Madison Keys (26) beats Kayla Day (5)6-7 6-4 6-3<\/p>\n Keys has made two Wimbledon<\/a> quarters but she\u2019s capable of better, if she trusts herself and turns up \u2013 though I wonder about her movement on grass. Still, she survives a fright and moves on to face Katie Swan next.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n There\u2019s so much going it\u2019s an outrage. On Centre, Swiatek and Townsend are knocking up, so I\u2019ve got that on; Fritz leads Lajovic 4-3 on serve; Shelton has broken Virtanen for 4-6 4-1; Keys has match point against Day at 5-3 in the third; and De Minaur has won a first-set breaker against Burruchaga.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Jasmine Paolini (13) beats Robin Montgomery 0-6 6-4 7-5<\/p>\n A brilliant win in a terrific match, sadly conceded with a double, but Paolini has so much heart and composure, earning a second-round match against Shymanovich or Golubic, who are level at 1-1 in the first. Montgomery gave so much to the match, but at just 21, she\u2019ll be back and better.<\/p>\n Jasmine Paolini celebrates after winning her first round match against Robin Montgomery. Photograph: Jaimi Joy\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.35 EDT<\/p>\n Back with Paolini, she hods for 6-5, then races to 0-40 and suddenly, after losing the first set 6-0 and being down a break in the third, she has three match points, Montgomery playing tentatively as she attacks thew opportunity with characteristic gusto.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Gosh, there\u2019s so much going on it\u2019s ridiculous. Bouzkova leads Gibson 3-1 in the third, Michelsen has broken Fearnley for 6-3 1-0, Dzumhur leads Fery 5-2, Burruchaga leads De Minaur 6-5 and Fritz leads Lajovic 3-2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Yup, Montgomery closes out her hold for 5-5 in the third, and this is a really intense tussle. Elsewhere, Arnaldi not only retrieved Halys\u2019 break but took one of his own and now leads 6-3 0-1; Keys has just broken Day for 3-2 in the third; and Zach Svajda, so impressive in making round four in Paris, leads Llamas Ruiz 5-2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Jacob Fearnley has also lost a set, trailing Michelsen 3-6, but let\u2019s go to 12, where Paolini has match point at 5-4 30-40, having lost the first 6-0 and been a break down in the third. And she has the chance to put away a backhand at net \u2026 only to telegraph it, allowing Montgomery to hit into space and save herself.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Virtanen makes 40-15, rains down a big serve, and Shelton can\u2019t return it. That completes an excellent 6-4 set for the qualifier, who won 100% on points when landing his first delivery, and we\u2019ve also reached the end of a set on 14, Wendelken saving the point for a double break before being broken anyway. Royer leads 4-6 6-3 6-3.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n There\u2019s not much to choose between the players on No 2 but, down break point, Shelton runs in to lift a forehand down the line \u2026 and it\u2019s wide, meaning Virtanen will shortly serve for the first set. On No 1, meantime, Fritz and Lajovic are under way, while Wendelken is down set point to Royer, serving at 1-1 3-5 30-40.<\/p>\n Ben Shelton in action on Court 2. Photograph: Adam Vaughan\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.22 EDT<\/p>\n I\u2019ve switched off De Minaur-Burruchaga to take in some Day-Keys but, in case anyone was wondering, yes Roman Andres is the son of Jorge.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I\u2019m afraid Mr Wendelken might soon be back in his rocking chair, Royer breaking him to lead 1-1 4-3; brilliant hitting from Paolini, moving Montgomery around, allows her to save break point at 4-4 in the third; and Keys has forced a third set against Day.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n There are bare Italians on Court 12, all whooping and hollering because Paolini has just broken Montgomery back for 4-4 in the third. It\u2019s a really good match, this, while elsewhere, De Minaur has broken Burruchaga back for 3-3 in the first; Virtanen and Shelton are 4-4.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Can someone please confirm that Wendelken\u2019s locker-room nickname is \u201cMr\u201d? Thanks in advance.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Otherwise, he and Royer are level at 1-1 3-3.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Montgomery consolidates, then Paolini holds for 3-4 in the third, while Sakkari has dispatched the no 24 seed, Tauson beaten 3 and 3. Next for her: Kalinina or Rakhimova, the latter up 1-0 in the third.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Oh, Paolini nets and Montgomery has the third-set break at 3-2; the no 13 seed is in trouble. Elsewhere, on No 1, Fritz and Lajovic will soon be out, then Centre gets going half an hour later, at 1.30pm BST.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I know Alcaraz is missing, so all the seeds have moved up one, but Ben Shelton at four sits strangely with me. He\u2019s got talent, of course, but the fourth-best player in the draw? That\u2019s a reach, and I\u2019d not be at all surprised if he loses to Mensik, his fourth-round opponent should both progress \u2013 though al Mensik\u2019s half of the section are Fils, Berrettini and Dimitrov, so he\u2019s much work to do.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.07 EDT<\/p>\n Oh, and yet another Brit is now under way, Arthur Fery level with Damir Dzumhur at 1-1.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Keys has broken Day in set two to trail 6-7 4-3, and if that one goes to a third I\u2019ll really want to find a way of watching it; Halys leads Arnaldi, beaten semi-finalist at Roland Garros, 2-1 with a break; Majchrzak now leads Tabilo, a clay-court specialist but no 30 seed, 6-3 7-5 4-3 with a break; Kenin has beaten Marcinko 7-6 6-4; with Michelsen and Fearnley at 2-2 in the first.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So around the courts we go. Shelton leads Virtanen 2-1 on serve; Royer has levelled against GB\u2019s Wendelken at one set all, and it\u2019s 1-1 in the third; Paolini and Montgomery are level at 2-2 in the decider; and Burruchaga leads De Minaur 2-0, the Demon having seen his fianc\u00e9 wiped off the same court just a few minutes ago. Those are the matches I\u2019m watching.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Back to Anisimova, she said it\u2019s not easy playing a qualifier, as they\u2019re in form having won matches to reach the tournament proper, but she feels good.<\/p>\n It feels amazing to be back, all the great memories, and she\u2019s trying to carry the vibes from last year, enjoying every day. Any distraction she can get is great for her as grand slams are stressful and you don\u2019t just wan to focus on the tennis.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ah man, that was so good to see \u2013 elite sport is a cruel, brutal endeavour, and Swan was thinking about giving it all up now that long ago, but she persevered and enjoys the moment with her people in the crowd. I can\u2019t begin to imagine how she\u2019s feeling, mainly because it\u2019s a way most of us will never experience, but I\u2019ll tell you this much: it looks pretty good.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Katie Swan beats Irina Begu 6-4 6-4<\/p>\n What a win for Swan, the first Brit into round two and what great reward for all the pain, frustration, fear and doubt. Next for her it\u2019s Day or Keys, Day currently leading 7-6 2-1.<\/p>\n Katie Swan celebrates her victory on Court 16 over Irina Begu. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.06 EDT<\/p>\n \u2026and Swan immediately takes control of the rally but she\u2019s tentative trying to finish it, then the error comes. No matter: Begu goes long from the back, and match point number five is imminent, my concentration disturbed by a soul-curdling roar from elsewhere \u2013 Paolini breaks Montgomery to level at one set all.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026tells. Swan tightens on the forehand, sending one long, and to deuce we go. Meantime, Montgomery has broken Paolini back in set two to lead 6-0 4-5 \u2026 oh, and Begu nails a winner down the line for advantage. So Swan hammers down a service winner, and that\u2019s very impressive behaviour \u2026 and she follows it with another. Here comes match point number four\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Begu comes in, Swan tries to pass her, it\u2019s a pretty good effort \u2026 but the stretch-volley is excellent. 40-15, then 40-30, and that\u2019s two match points burned. Pressure\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Swan\u2019s had a terrible time with injury \u2013 not that long ago, she was unranked, having to fight her way back simply to compete. And she did, so she\u2019s here, sending down a slow second serve \u2026 that Begu overhits on return. And 15-0 is soon 40-0, all that pain and suffering leading to this point that she must\u2019ve feared she\u2019d never reach. Can Swan serve it out?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Also going on:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Begu holds so, after a sit-down, Swan will serve for the match.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Next no No 3: Alex de Minaur (5) v Roman Andres Burruchaga.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Next on No 2: Otto Virtanen v Ben Shelton (4).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019ll do the interviews shortly, but out on 16, Begu is serving to stay in the match against Swann, down 4-6 3-5.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Tyra Grant beats Katie Boulter 6-4 6-2<\/p>\n There\u2019s no other way to slice it: that was a hiding, and the biggest win of Grant\u2019s career; I cn\u2019t wait to see how she does from here. Boulter, meanwhile, who beat Rybakina at Queen\u2019s, will be so disappointed, but she\u2019ll know she didn\u2019t turn up today. Next for Grant: Gibson or Bouzkova, Bouzkova currently leading 6-1 1-3.<\/p>\n Tyra Grant celebrates victory in her first round match against Katie Boulter. Photograph: James Marsh\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.21 EDT<\/p>\n Amanda Anisimova (6) beats Lina Gjorcheska 6-3 6-2<\/p>\n A domineering performance from the beaten finalist in last year\u2019s competition \u2013 and US Open. She belongs at this level and she knows it; though her season hasn\u2019t gone as she\u2019s have hoped, do not sleep on her here. Next for her: Kenin or Marcinko, Kenin currently leading 7-6.<\/p>\n Amanda Anisimova makes quick work of her match against Lina Gjorcheska. Photograph: Matthew Stockman\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.17 EDT<\/p>\n Our top two matches look and feel almost over: Anisimova is serving for the match against Gjorcheska at 6-3 5-2, while Boulter is now down a set and a double-break at 4-6 2-5, the 18-year-old qualifier Grant about to serve for the match.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So I\u2019m already watching Anisimova, and Boulter; to that, I\u2019m going to add Paolini and Swan.<\/p>\n Katie Boulter plays a forehand against Tyra Caterina Grant. Photograph: Clive Brunskill\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.11 EDT<\/p>\n Anisimova is almost into round two, up 6-3 5-1 on Gjorcheska; Boulter, bidding to be the first Brit to win a match at this year\u2019s tournament, trails Grant 4-6 2-4; Montgomery leads Paolini 6-0 1-3; Keys and Day are playing a first-set tiebreak; Sakkari leads Tauson 6-3 4-3 with a break; Majchrzak leads Tabilo 6-3 3-4; and in other, better Brit news, Wendelken leads Royer 6-4 1-2 and Swan leads Begu 6-4 3-2 with a break<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.06 EDT<\/p>\n Righto, let\u2019s begin with some latest scores, then we\u2019ll talk about where eyes are best allocated\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n Wotcha one and all and welcome to Wimbledon 2026<\/a> \u2013 day two!<\/p>\n As you\u2019d expect, we\u2019ve a faintly daunting and thoroughly thrilling banquet of tennis awaiting us today, so let\u2019s dig right in.<\/p>\n Early doors, last year\u2019s double-bagelled finalist, Amanda Anisimova, gets herself and that work-of-art backhand going, with Katie Boulter<\/a> also up first. Others in action are Jasmine Paolini, Madison Keys and Donna Vekic, while Maria Sakkari\u2019s match with Clara Tauson has the potential to be a highlight.<\/p>\n Then, when No 1 gets going, Taylor Fritz takes on Dusan Lajovic \u2013 it was meant to be the bone-bruised Jack Draper \u2013 while on Centre, Iga Swiatek<\/a>, the defending champion, meets doubles specialist, Taylor Townsend.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s second on No 1 that really looks like the match of the day, Elena Rybakina, a former winner and this year\u2019s second-favourite, drawn against Lo\u00efs Boisson, surprise semi-finalist in last year\u2019s French Open.<\/p>\n Then, if to that, we add Alexander Zverev\u2019s first appearance, along with those of Ben Shelton, Eline Svitolina, Alex de Minaur, Marta Kostyuk and the in-form Jakub Mensik, we know we\u2019re flying \u2013 but of course that\u2019s not the size of it. Jacob Fearnley meets Alex Michelsen in a match that has five-set epic written all over it; the surging Arthur Fils returns after injury; Griggzy Dimitrov, so unlucky to injure himself last year when two sets up against Jannik Sinner is back; Flavio Cobolli meets Mariano Navone; and No 1 finishes for the day with an aesthete\u2019s banger, the great Stan Wawrinka beginning his final campaign against Mario Berrettini.<\/p>\n We have, though, kept the best till last: the Queen returning to her palace! Yup, four years since her last appearance, Serena Williams<\/a>, the seven-times champion and greatest of all time, is back at the age of \u2026 44 \u2013 ! \u2013 and will close out the action on Centre, facing Maya Joint for a place in round<\/p>\n Or, put another way, of all the things going on in the world today, the most exciting, the most affirming and the most inspirational is coming right up \u2013 at SW19 and in these pages. This is going to be very, very special. Here we go!<\/p>\n