© Ray Giubilo Novak Djokovic continues his Wimbledon title defence on Centre Court on Wednesday when he takes on the…
Photo © Ray Giubilo Out of Roger Federer and Marcus Willis, it seems unlikely to think that the player ranked outside…
| Wimbledon on the BBC |
|---|
| Venue: All-England Club Dates: 27 June-10 July |
| Live: Coverage across BBC TV, BBC Radio and BBC Sport website with further coverage on Red Button, Connected TVs and app. Click for more details |
Can British qualifier Marcus Willis achieved the unthinkable? He shared the front pages after his remarkable win on Monday and his reward is a second-round match against seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic and Britons Heather Watson and Johanna Konta are also in action on a packed third day at Wimbledon. Here is what you should not miss on Wednesday at SW19.
When asked for his top tip on how to succeed on your Wimbledon debut, Willis – who beat world number 54 Ricardas Berankis on the opening day – said that it helped to have a banana in the kit bag.
But the world number 772 will need a morph into Bananaman if he is to shock the world and defeat 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer.
They are separated by 769 places in the world rankings and by a few million in prize money. Before Wimbledon, Willis had earned £220 on the court this year, but he is now guaranteed at least £50,000 thanks to his feats in south west London.
Federer? The 34-year-old third seed is aware of the “cool” story which has captured imaginations.
“It’s going to be interesting,” said the Swiss. “Plus, he is serve and volleying, which I love to see. He came up with some great, great shots. To beat a guy of Berankis’ calibre in straight sets shows you how tough he is.”
Willis’ match with Federer is scheduled as the third match on Centre Court. They are expected to play at about 16:30 BST.
| Centre Court order of play |
|---|
| Agnieszka Radwanska (Pol) [3] v Kateryna Kozlova (Ukr) |
| Novak Djokovic (Srb) [1] v Adrian Mannarino (Fra) |
| Roger Federer (Sui) [3] v Marcus Willis (GB) |
Djokovic is the defending champion, the world number one and favourite to progress to the third round at the expense of France’s Adrian Mannarino, the world number 55.
The Serb, who has never played the 27-year-old, is scheduled second on Centre, following Agnieszka Radwanska’s match with Kateryna Kozlova.
| Court One order of play |
|---|
| Johanna Konta (GBR) [16] v Monica Puig (Pur) |
| Grigor Dimitrov (Bul) v Gilles Simon (Fra) [16] |
| Andreas Seppi (Ita) v Milos Raonic (Can) [6] |
Watson and Konta were unable to complete their matches on Tuesday because of the rain so the British pair will try again on Wednesday.
British number one Konta was leading Monica Puig by a set before rain stopped play and will resume on court Court One at 13:00 BST.
Watson’s match with Annika Beck did not even start before the skies opened. The pair will play on court 12 at 11:30 BST.
Dan Evans is the fourth Brit in action, he will play 30th seed Alexandr Dolgopolov on court two following the completion of Fernando Verdasco’s match with Bernard Tomic.
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Watch as World Number 227, Britain’s Tara Moore, beats Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck 6-3 6-2 to progress to the second round at Wimbledon.
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Former French Open champion Stan Wawrinka defeated American teenager Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon on Tuesday to set up a second-round meeting with Juan Martin del Potro.
Swiss fourth seed Wawrinka beat the 18-year-old 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 6-7 (2-7) 6-4.
Argentina’s Del Potro, winner of the 2009 US Open, saw off France’s Stephane Robert 6-1 7-5 6-0.
Del Potro is playing in his first Grand Slam since the 2014 Australian Open after a series of wrist surgeries.
Meanwhile, British number one Andy Murray, who beat Liam Broady 6-2 6-3 6-4, will next play Yen Hsun Lu after the Taiwanese player defeated Alexander Kudryavtsev of Russia 6-4 6-1 6-4.
Australian Nick Kyrgios overcame veteran Radek Stepanek to reach the second round.
The 21-year-old Kyrgios, a quarter-finalist here in 2014, beat the 37-year-old Czech 6-4 6-3 6-7 (9-11) 6-1.
Stepanek was aiming to become the oldest man to win a Grand Slam singles match in almost 25 years.
He initially struggled against a player 16 years his junior, and Kyrgios’ confidence came through when he played an outrageous between-the-legs winner early in the third set.
Kyrgios served for the match at 5-4 but Stepanek hit back, taking a marathon tie break 11-9.
It proved to be just a blip for Kyrgios, though, as he powered through the fourth set to win in two hours and 26 minutes.
“I do believe I can do good things in this tournament, potentially win it,” said Kyrgios.
The 15th seed will next face the unseeded Dustin Brown on Thursday after the German beat Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic 4-6 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4.
Brown made Wimbledon headlines last year when he beat Rafael Nadal in the second round.
The 31-year-old, who used to travel to tournaments in a camper van to save money, is ranked 85th in the world and found himself two sets to one down to Lajovic on Tuesday and facing the prospect of an immediate exit.
However, he staged an impressive fightback to progress.
Brown is now looking forward to facing his friend Kyrgios, saying: “We played IPTL (International Premier Tennis League) together, he’s a really nice guy.
“We are friends. We’ll go out and have fun and play good tennis.”
Serb Viktor Troicki, who beat Brown in the third round last year, is also through after beating Tristan Lamasine of France 6-4 6-2 6-2.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also progressed after the 12th seed beat Inigo Cervantes of Spain 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.
Frenchman Tsonga was making his return from a thigh injury that forced him to retire during his third-round match against Ernests Gulbis at last month’s French Open.
Cypriot in the spotlight
It’s hard to get Marcos Baghdatis to be serious. But in between the giggles, the popular Cypriot, who plays John Isner in the Wimbledon first round today, shares with ATPWorldTour.com ‘The Last Time’…
I cooked for myself?
I guess when I was home last time, maybe breakfast or something. Some eggs or something. I don’t really cook a lot. My wife does a bit and we live with my parents so they do a bit.
I paid to rent a court or buy tennis balls?
One or two months ago in Zagreb. I paid for the court to play for an hour.
I shared a hotel room with another player?
That was back when I was playing Challengers in Brazil and that player was Dudi Sela. It was in 2004, just before the Olympics. Was I a good roommate? I wasn’t, but he was! I’m just joking!
I cried at a movie?
I cry sometimes at X-Factor or Britain’s Got Talent, but not at movies! [Dissolves into hysterics]. There are some nice stories there! What’s so funny?! [Fans himself]. When Simon cries, it’s funny!
I went to a football match?
Hmmm, I don’t remember. It’s been a long time. I have two kids at home! Oh actually, I went last November with my daughter in Cyprus to watch my local team.
I changed a nappy?
I guess two and a half years ago, when my first daughter, Zahara, was born…
You didn’t change any for Baby No. 2?
No, never…
Were you that bad first time round?
Yes! My wife does everything so I don’t interfere in her business!
| Wimbledon on the BBC |
|---|
| Venue: All-England Club Dates: 27 June-10 July |
| Live: Coverage across BBC TV, BBC Radio and BBC Sport website with further coverage on Red Button, Connected TVs and app. Click for more details |
Defending champion Serena Williams reached the second round of Wimbledon with a 6-2 6-4 win over Switzerland’s Amra Sadikovic.
Top-seeded American Williams served five double faults and only four aces in 73 minutes against the world number 148.
The six-time champion, 34, has now won 80 and lost 10 matches at Wimbledon.
“It wasn’t tougher than I thought but it was definitely tough,” she told BBC Sport.
“I never underestimate anyone. I started fast, and that’s about it.
“This is me – I’m always shouting at myself, always pushing myself. It’s absolutely nothing different.
“It’s great to be back at Wimbledon. Mom was in the Royal Box and that was really nice.”
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Andy Murray takes time out of his Wimbledon preparations to answer a series of quick-fire questions from BBC Breakfast’s Mike Bushell.
Federer looks forward to the unique second-round contest
Count Roger Federer among the growing number of Marcus Willis fans at Wimbledon.
Federer, who won his first-round contest in straight sets over Argentine Guido Pella, said he’s thrilled for the 25-year-old Willis, a tennis teaching pro who had to win six matches in pre-qualifying and qualifying to make it to Wimbledon. On Monday, Willis also won his first-round match, sweeping World No. 54 Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.
“I think it’s one of the best stories in a long time in our sport,” Federer said after his first-round match. “This is the kind of stories we need in our sport.”
As much as Federer appreciates Willis, who was a Top 15 junior but lacked the drive he now possesses, the Swiss star would be OK if the feel-good story ended on Wednesday. That’s when the seven-time champion will face Willis, No. 772 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.
“I’m very excited to be playing him, actually. It’s not something that I get to do very often,” Federer said.
The second-round match will be a rare first for Federer, who has played more than 1,300 tour-level matches and is making his 18th consecutive appearance at Wimbledon. The 88-time titlist has faced up-and-coming players or players with very low Emirates ATP Rankings, but never before has he faced someone who still teaches tennis to kids and adults on the side for £30 an hour.
“This match is different. It’s picked up on momentum. People will hear about it. People will know about it. Naturally they’re going to support him. Rightfully so, because I think it’s a very cool story myself. It’s going to make the match difficult,” Federer said. “I saw him play today. He plays well. It’s not like he couldn’t play. Otherwise he wouldn’t be where he is. It’s going to be interesting. Plus he is serve and volleying, which I love to see. He came up with some great, great shots. To beat a guy of Berankis’ caliber in straight sets shows you how tough he is.”
Federer, who has served and volleyed a bit in his day, also delivered a scouting report on Willis, who likely will have to cancel more lessons to play against Federer. “A little bit more old school, using the slice, chipping the returns. Dangerous off the back… Saw some nice touch at the net,” Federer said. “First couple of days, it’s tricky to play anybody here at Wimbledon… I think his game is perfectly suited for these kind of conditions right now.”
Federer, whose story has been told thousands of times over the years, would even like to ask a few questions to Willis. “I just like the idea of him… It would be nice for him to tell me exactly how it went, the decision to enter pre-quallies. What went through his mind really, why he wanted to quit tennis, take up coaching… It’s just an interesting concept,” Federer said. “There’s a lot of cool things that are part of the story.”
Federer, who’s playing in only his seventh tournament of the season because of injuries, has said he has few expectations for this Wimbledon. He, like Willis, will be hoping for a great atmosphere and a good match in the second round. “If he gets more support, that’s awesome. If I get more support, that’s nice,” Federer said. “I hope he can play as good as he can and that I also can play a good match and everybody enjoys themselves.”