The August 13-23 tournament in Cincinnati marks the 39-year-old’s first appearance there since his 2023 title.

“I am very happy to announce that I will be in Cincinnati this year, for the first time since 2023,” Djokovic said on the tournament’s social media.

“That year I played one of the top three Masters 1000 finals of my career.

“I really look forward to coming back, playing in front of you again, and seeing all the fans from around the world. See you soon!”

The Serb, currently ranked fifth in the world, joins a dream line-up ahead of the US Open including Wimbledon winner Sinner, world number two Alexander Zverev and no.3 Carlos Alcaraz, who has been nursing a wrist injury since April.

After Cincinnati, Djokovic is expected at the August 30-September 13 US Open, where he will bid for a 25th major title.

The Filipina ​competitor dropped five straight games to fall into a 5-1 second-set ‌hole before responding with five straight game wins and then a dominant tiebreaker showing against her Canadian opponent where she won the final four points.

Third-seeded Naomi Osaka of Japan didn’t fall into ​the same trap, reaching the DC quarterfinals for the first time after American ​Ashlyn Krueger retired due to a right ankle injury while trailing ⁠6-3, 3-1. Osaka hit just 47% of her first serves and won just ​54.5% of her first-serve points but covered for that by winning 18 of 25 (72%) ​second-serve points and never facing a break point.

Osaka will face Elisabetta Coccioretto for a semifinal spot after the Italian outlasted No. 8 seed Emma Navarro for a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 triumph. Russia’s Liudmila ​Samsonova also reached the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-2 defeat of China’s Xinyu ​Wang.

The Memphis Classic

The upsets continued in second-round action, with No. 4 seed Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey ‌and No. ⁠5 seed Camila Osorio of Colombia getting knocked off, leaving just one top-five seed left standing at the Tennessee tournament.

Sonmez jumped ahead before taking a 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 defeat against the U.S.’s Elvina Kalieva. Sonmez won just 50% of her service points ​and faced a ​staggering 18 break-point chances, ⁠only managing to save 10 of them, and getting broken in the final game of both the second and third sets.

Venus Williams makes first-round exit in DC

Osorio ​fell to Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. ​Osorio had ⁠all three aces in the match but also all nine double faults. She was broken to begin each of the sets and fell in a 4-0 hole in the ⁠second set.

Zakharova ​will next take on Mexico’s Renata Zarazua, who ​beat Germany’s Tatjana Maria 6-4, 6-4 in the final match of the day. Katie Volynets of the United ​States beat Iryna Shymanovich of Belarus 6-4, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals.

Williams, the 46-year-old star whose last singles win came at this event last year, won 78.4% of her first-serve points but just 24.1% of her second-serve points and 20% of her return points.

Potapova put just 44.4% of her first serves in play but still managed to avoid facing a break point to record her first win at the DC event.

Fifth-seeded Anna Kalinskaya of Russia was the only seeded competitor in action, and she beat Australia’s Daria Kasatkina 6-4, 6-1 by converting four of her six break-point chances.

Tuesday’s other first-round winners were Poland’s Magdalena Frech, who will next face No. 1 seed Jessica Pegula; Alexandra Eala of the Philippines, Uzbekistan’s Polina Kudermetova and China’s Xinyu Wang.

The Memphis Classic No. 1 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia and second-seeded American McCartney Kessler each lost their opening matches on a chaotic day of first- round action in Tennessee.

Alexandrova retired due to heat illness when she was two points away from defeat down 7-6 (2), 4-6, 5-4 against 16-year-old Russian Kristina Liutova, who was making her WTA debut.

The temperature, approaching 97 degrees Fahrenheit, and the match lasting more than three hours took a toll on the 19th-ranked player in the world, who collapsed on the court ahead of her retirement.

Kessler’s match went the distance as she took a 6-4, 6-1 loss to Mexico’s Renata Zarazua.

Kessler, who is still seeking her first WTA title this year after winning two in 2025, led 4-2 in the first set before dropping four straight games. She then was broken to begin the second set and never recovered.

Kessler won just 41.7% of her service points overall.

Eighth-seeded Ukrainian Yuliia Starodubtseva fell 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 against American Sloane Stephens.

No. 4 seed Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey, No. 6 Caty McNally and No. 7 Peyton Stearns all won three-set battles to stay alive.

Darja Vidmanova of the Czech Republic and China’s Ye-Xin Ma also recorded victories.

The Russian withstood 10 aces from Keys by winning 80% of her ​first-serve points (35 of 44).

It was a ​less stressful day for other seeded players, ⁠as eighth-seeded Emma Navarro defeated Sofia Kenin ​6-3, 7-5 and seventh-seeded Leylah Fernandez of ​Canada controlled Poland’s Magda Linette 6-1, 6-4.

Other winners on Monday were Ashlyn Krueger, Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Indonesia’s ​Janice Tjen.

Memphis Classic

Katie Volynets battled for ​a 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (3) upset win against third-seeded Viktorija ‌Golubic ⁠of Switzerland in first-round action at Memphis.

Volynets rallied after losing the first three games of the final set. Golubic was hurt by ​committing eight ​double faults ⁠without serving an ace in the match.

Sabalenka, Djokovic headline US Open mixed doubles field

The only other seeded player ​in action, fifth-seeded Camila Osorio of ​Colombia, ⁠defeated Australian qualifier Storm Hunter 7-5, 7-5. Osorio prevailed on 76% (26 of 34) of her ⁠first-serve ​points.

Other Monday winners were Australia’s ​Maya Joint, Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova and Tatiana Prozorova, Germany’s ​Tatjana Maria and Belarus’ Iryna Shymanovich.

Tiafoe, a ‌Washington-area native, was the tournament’s sixth seed.

Atmane got the decisive service break in the next-to-last game, then served out the match.

Earlier in the day, ​third-seeded Taylor Fritz swept his service games and rolled ​to a 6-3, 6-4 win over Belgium’s Zizou Bergs.

Fritz ⁠saved all four break points he faced while converting two ​of his four break opportunities. The California native was playing ​his first match since losing in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon to Germany’s Alexander Zverev.

Fourth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti won an all-Italian matchup when Matteo Arnaldi retired while ​trailing 6-0, 3-1. Musetti was returning from injury issues that ​kept him out since early May.

Fritz takes 250th hardcourt win in Washington, Draper pulls out

Also advancing to the second round were ‌Australia’s ⁠Aleksandar Vukic, Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo.

Mifel Tennis Open

Australia’s Bernard Tomic was nearly perfect in the first round at Los Cabos, Mexico, powering to a 6-1, 6-0 win over Mexico’s ​Alex Hernandez.

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Hernandez, a ​27-year-old qualifier ⁠who is ranked No. 498 in the world, held serve while trailing 5-0 in the first ​set to avoid a double bagel. Tomic, a ​33-year-old ⁠who is ranked 171st, made the main draw as a lucky loser from qualifying.

In other first-round action, fifth-seeded Cameron Norrie of the ⁠United ​Kingdom eased past Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 6-1. ​U.S. qualifier Tristan Boyer downed Canada’s Gabriel Diallo 7-5, 6-2, and Hong Kong’s ​Chak Lam Coleman Wong beat Darwin Blanch 6-3, 6-4.

Six-times Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, ​world number two Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz, ​Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori, Jessica Pegula and ⁠Jack Draper, and defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori ​are among the high-profile pairings entered into the competition.

The mixed ​doubles championship will again be held during the week before the singles main draw, from Aug. 24-26, after organisers overhauled the ​format last year to attract more top singles players ​by reducing the field and offering a standalone place on the calendar.

The ‌entry ⁠window closes on Aug. 17, after which the top six teams by combined singles ranking will qualify directly for the 16-team main draw. Eight teams will receive ​wildcards, while the ​remaining two ⁠places will be decided through an eight-team qualifying draw introduced this year.

The reimagined format proved ​a commercial success on its debut last year, ​drawing ⁠sellout crowds and attracting many of the sport’s top singles players despite criticism from some doubles specialists who said ⁠it ​sidelined established doubles teams. Errani and ​Vavassori went on to retain the title by defeating Swiatek and Ruud ​in the final.

The American third seed, seeking his 11th ATP tour title and first Eastbourne last year, needed only 79 minutes to complete a 6-3, 6-4 triumph.

Wimbledon quarter-finalist Fritz will next face either countryman Tommy Paul or Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak.

“He had a few break chances, but when I served out the first and went up a break in the second, I felt like the momentum was on my side,” Fritz said.

“It’s really good to get out of those games and to finish the match unbroken.”

Britain’s Jack Draper withdrew from the event with a left arm injury after also missing Wimbledon.

“These last months have felt like nothing but adversity and setbacks,” the former world number four Draper wrote on Instagram.

“Most days I’ve spent in doubt, yet hopeful that I can keep taking positive steps forward and finding ways to progress.”

American lucky loser Mackenzie McDonald replaced Draper.

Fritz and Shelton set up all-American Dallas Open final

Japan’s Kei Nishikori, the 2015 Washington champion who will retire at the end of season, beat China’s Shang Juncheng 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 31 minutes in his first ATP tour match this year.

“It was not easy,” the 36-year-old Nishikori said after his first ATP tour victory in 14 months.

“I started playing better in the second set and, especially in the third set, I think I played really solid.”

France’s 56th-ranked Terence Atmane upset sixth-seeded hometown hero Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and five minutes.

Australian top seed and defending champion Alex de Minaur will face Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas on Tuesday.

In the women’s draw, defending champion and seventh seed Leylah Fernandez beat Poland’s Magda Linette 6-1, 6-4.

“Overall my game was solid. I didn’t give away too many free points, which definitely helped a lot,” said the Canadian 2021 US Open runner-up Fernandez.

“I’m feeling very good. So many good memories so starting off a win definitely helps.”

Fernandez will next meet either Alexandra Eala of the Philippines or China’s Zheng Qinwen.

Russian Liudmila Samsonova, the 2022 Washington winner, outlasted American sixth seed Madison Keys 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Venus Williams, 46, rolled back the years to win her doubles opener with Russia’s Diana Shnaider 6-3, 6-4 over Ulrikke Eikeri of Norway and American Quinn Gleason.

Organisers Tennis Australia said on Tuesday it would cap allocations of its A$49 ($34) “ground passes” during the first week of the main draw as they expected demand to be stronger than ever in 2027.

“This decision reflects the growing popularity of the AO and will help ensure fans are able to make the most of everything on offer across the precinct,” the governing body said in a statement.

Cruz Hewitt sets sights on playing Australian Open after losing Wimbledon boys’ final

Ground passes allow holders to roam between matches outside the major showcourts at Melbourne Park and are hugely popular among casual fans. However, a spike in attendances in recent years has contributed to long queues to access courts and raised concerns about a declining fan experience.

A record 1,368,043 fans attended the 2026 tournament through its three-week schedule which saw Carlos Alcaraz claim the men’s singles title and Elena Rybakina the women’s on the final weekend.

The ‌29-year-old Czech lost to compatriot Linda Noskova 6-2 5-7 6-3 in the Wimbledon final earlier this ​month.

It was the second Grand Slam ​final defeat of Muchova’s career, following ⁠her loss to Poland’s Iga Swiatek ​at the 2023 French Open.

“I had to ​undergo a small surgery that will keep me off the court for a few weeks. Everything ​went well, and I’m already working ​on my recovery,” Muchova posted on social media.

“Sad to ‌be ⁠missing Toronto this year. I was really looking forward to making my debut there, but recovery comes first.”

Finally healthy, music lover Muchova eyes Wimbledon glory

The world number ​six has ​struggled ⁠with a series of injury setbacks during her career, including recurring ​wrist problems.

Muchova did not disclose ​the ⁠nature of the injury or provide a timeline for her return, but she is ⁠expected ​to be fit for ​the U.S. Open, which begins next month.

Sinner, 24, retained his crown on the London grass against Zverev – who had won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open just weeks earlier – 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 6-4.

The 29-year-old German moves up one spot to push Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz down to third.

Spaniard Alcaraz was a finalist against Sinner at Wimbledon last year but was unable to compete with a wrist injury that also forced him to withdraw from Roland Garros.

Noskova moves into WTA Top 10 after Wimbledon triumph

Veteran Serb Novak Djokovic, 39, who fell to Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals, climbed one place to seventh.

Britain’s Arthur Fery leapt 78 places from 114th to 36th after the wildcard’s run to the semi-finals where he lost to Zverev.

“It’s going to change things, for sure,” Fery, 24, said.

“I’m going to be able to play Tour events at least for a full year, hopefully for more. It’s going to be interesting to see how I deal with that change and everything that brings in terms of expectations.”

ATP rankings

1. Jannik Sinner (ITA) 13450 pts

2. Alexander Zverev (GER) 8480 (+1)

3. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 8160 (-1)

4. Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 4740

5. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 4110 (+1)

6. Ben Shelton (USA) 3770 (-1)

7. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 3760

8. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 3670 (+1)

9. Flavio Cobolli (ITA) 3460 (+1)

10. Taylor Fritz (USA) 3365 (-2)

11. Alexander Bublik (KAZ) 2810

12. Jirí Lehecka (CZE) 2510 (+2)

13. Casper Ruud (NOR) 2435 (-1)

14. Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) 2315 (+1)

15. Learner Tien (USA) 2270 (+2)

16. Andrey Rublev (RUS) 2230 (-3)

17. Frances Tiafoe (USA) 2230 (+2)

18. Luciano Darderi (ITA) 2210 (-2)

19. Jakub Mensik (CZE) 2205 (-1)

20. Alejandro Davidovich (ESP) 2160 (+3)

Selected:

36. Arthur Fery (GBR) 1297 (+78)

The 21-year-old jumps five places to a career-high number seven ranking just behind compatriot Karolina Muchova who she beat in the final at the All England Club on Saturday.

Noskova won her third WTA title and first major in astonishing style, recovering from wasting five match points in the second set to beat Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in London.

Aryna Sabalenka, who crashed out of Wimbledon in the last 16 to Japan’s Naomi Osaka, remains world number one ahead of Kazakh Elena Rybakina, who fell in the third round to Belgian Elise Mertens.

Sabalenka ousted by Shnaider as shocks continue to rock French Open

American Jessica Pegula, a quarter-finalist in Wimbledon, moves up one place to third, ahead of compatriot Coco Gauff, who jumps three places to fourth after her run to the semi-final in London.

WTA rankings

1. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 8550 pts

2. Elena Rybakina (KAZ) 8143

3. Jessica Pegula (USA) 6301 (+1)

4. Coco Gauff (USA) 5649 (+3)

5. Mirra Andreeva (RUS) 5293

6. Karolina Muchova (CZE) 5168 (+3)

7. Linda Noskova (CZE) 5119 (+5)

8. Iga Swiatek (POL) 4539 (-5)

9. Amanda Anisimova (USA) 4353 (-3)

10. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 4351 (-2)

11. Marta Kostyuk (UKR) 3926 (+2)

12. Victoria Mboko (CAN) 3570 (-2)

13. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 3146 (+1)

14. Belinda Bencic (SUI) 2845 (-3)

15. Jasmine Paolini (ITA) 2783 (+2)

16. Iva Jovic (USA) 2636

17. Sorana Cirstea (ROM) 2535 (+1)

18. Diana Shnaider (RUS) 2458 (-3)

19. Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) 2301

20. Anna Kalinskaya (RUS) 2300

Nearly a quarter of a century after his father won the Wimbledon title in 2002, Cruz lost 4-6 6-4 7-5 to Lee at the All England Club.

The 17-year-old was looking to become the first Australian boys’ champion at Wimbledon since Luke Saville in 2011.

“I feel like I played some really good tennis and it was just a great battle today. Jordan played better and deserved to win,“ Hewitt said after his defeat.

Sinner beats Zverev to retain Wimbledon title after marathon battle

“I am feeling very disappointed but I am proud of my effort to make the final. Obviously I grew up around this tournament and I have seen my dad play here. It’s been a privilege to play here.

“That is the dream (playing in the Australian Open main draw). That is a big goal of mine to have that… I look forward to coming back here (Wimbledon) in the future for the men’s.”

The ​Italian world number one claimed his ​second ​title at the All ‌England ⁠Club and fifth Grand Slam trophy to ​close ​the ⁠gap on his ​rival Carlos ​Alcaraz, ⁠who has seven majors.

It will be a daunting challenge for the newly-crowned French Open champion though as his reward for reaching his first Wimbledon final is a clash with the Italian who has beaten him nine times in a row including winning the last 14 sets.

On the positive side though for Zverev – the first German to reach the men’s final at Wimbledon since Boris ​Becker in 1995 – is that he suddenly seems to be walking taller, which is saying something for a man standing at 6 feet 6 inches.

Zverev ​seized his chance at Roland Garros after a wrist injury ruled out 2025 champion Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner suffered a meltdown ⁠in a Parisian furnace in the second round.

The world number three went on to win a nervy final against Italian Flavio Cobolli, thus ending the Alcaraz-Sinner duopoly which ​had seen them share out the previous nine Grand Slam titles.

Wimbledon has never been a happy hunting ground for Zverev, despite his lethal serve and signature backhand, but the ​good vibes from Paris have followed him across the Channel and he appears finally to have cracked the grasscourt code.

His second-week wins over dangerous Czech Jiri Lehecka, big-serving American Taylor Fritz and then British wildcard Arthur Fery in the semi-final, smack of a player oozing confidence.

Fery keeps Britain believing ahead of Zverev showdown in Wimbledon semi-final

“Once you win a major you know how to do it and you feel like you can do it again. You ​have this feeling inside of you,” Zverev told reporters as he looked ahead to the final.

Turned forehand into a weapon

Noticeable during the fortnight is the way Zverev ​has turned his forehand into a weapon when once it was a chink in his armour. Against Fery he struck 22 winners with it, compared to eight on his money-maker backhand.

“I’ve been ‌trying to ⁠play a more aggressive game style. I’ve been trying to take on the game a bit more. For sure my forehand is a big part of it,” Zverev said.

Should Zverev prevail on Sunday, he will become the seventh man to complete the French Open-Wimbledon double in the same year.

Trouble is, however impressive as he has looked, the way Sinner dispatched seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets on Friday to reach his seventh Grand Slam final was an awesome statement of intent after arriving in London ​with doubts.

Sinner’s supposed susceptibility to heat and ​London’s third heatwave of the summer ⁠led some to question whether the ginger-haired player from German-speaking south Tyrol would be vulnerable as he set out to defend the title.

Since suffering a scare in the first round against Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, when he required five sets to avoid a first-round ​exit, he has moved smoothly through the gears.

By the time he came up against Djokovic, Sinner’s trademark power and precision ​were back with a ⁠vengeance while his serving was off the charts as he banged down 16 aces and lost only six points on his first delivery.

Sinner last lost to Zverev at the U.S. Open in 2023 and their previous meeting in a Grand Slam final ended in a straight sets demolition. That defeat at the 2025 Australian Open rocked Zverev to the core.

While, on ⁠paper, Sinner ​has Zverev’s number, the world number one knows Sunday’s match is played on grass and he knows ​Zverev will be fuelled with a new-found belief.

“Because he tried for so long, and then when you finally achieve it, it’s amazing and then gives you this confidence boost,” Sinner said of Zverev’s French Open ​win.

“We see it again here. We saw how aggressive he’s playing, serving very big. He is a tough player to play against.”

Under Fontang’s guidance, Auger-Aliassime won nine ATP singles titles and climbed to a career-high ranking of world number four.

The split brings an end to a decade-long partnership that began when Fontang started coaching Auger-Aliassime at the age of 16.

“After nearly ten years of working together, it has recently been decided that Wimbledon would be my last tournament with Frederic by my side as my coach,” Auger-Aliassime said in an Instagram post on Friday.

“Since I was 16 years old, he has guided my development and helped me experience incredible moments through this sport. He has also been by my side during the toughest moments of my career.

“In those difficult times, I always found in him the calm, composure, and wisdom I needed to overcome those challenges. Looking back today, I can say that beyond being an outstanding coach, he has been a true mentor throughout my journey into adulthood.”

Muchova will play in the first all-Czech Wimbledon final on Saturday against 21-year-old Linda Noskova.

It will be the second Grand Slam final for Muchova, a music lover and the daughter of a former footballer, after her loss at the 2023 French Open.

“I’m healthy, which I don’t like to say – touch wood,” said the world number nine, who was advised to quit tennis in 2022 because of a series of persistent injuries.

“I’m happy that now I’m selling my game and that I can use it. I’m definitely appreciating more the time that I’m here.

“I don’t have these big issues that I had in the past. I’m enjoying the moment that I’m here.”

If Muchova wins, she will become the sixth Czech Wimbledon women’s champion and the third in the last four year after Marketa Vondrousova in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova in 2024.

Before this season, Muchova hired Dutch coach Sven Groeneveld, who played a key role in the success of Maria Sharapova and Monica Seles.

It has proved an inspired move, with the revitalised Muchova winning titles in Doha and Bad Homburg.

Muchova beats Gauff in thriller to reach first Wimbledon final

For the self-proclaimed “late bloomer”, they were only her second and third singles singles titles.

“He has brought calm, a sense of perspective, lots of experience to the team. The things he tells me and that we do on court make sense,” Muchova said.

Lady Gaga, Beyonce…

Muchova comes from a family of footballers – her father Josef is a former Czech top-flight midfielder and now a football coach, while her brother Filip is a goalkeeper.

But Muchova herself is above all a music fan – she plays the guitar and goes to concerts whenever her packed calendar allows.

She draws inspiration from attending concerts by the likes of Shawn Mendes, the Backstreet Boys, Beyonce and Lady Gaga while getting ready for a Grand Slam.

“I always played well after that,” she said.

At the US Open in 2020, which was played under tight Covid restrictions, Muchova composed a song called ‘US Open Bubble’ about her Covid-hit life there, recorded a video at Flushing Meadows and published it on her Instagram.

Muchova is also a keen reader with a liking for autobiographies, but also “esoteric and educational literature”.

“I’m not saying I don’t read stories but I prefer to learn,” Muchova once said.

“The trip to a bookstore in itself is an adventure. I have also tried audiobooks, but I have found out I need paper and reading.”

“I want to use every hour to switch off – good food, good coffee, a phone call with someone close, going to a theatre, to have energy for tennis again,” Muchova added.

She has started a charity drive, donating $190 for each ace to a Czech foundation, and she is co-founding padel courts in her native eastern Czech city of Olomouc.

Facing Noskova in the Wimbledon final is special for her – the two became close friends when they formed an impromptu doubles pair for the Paris Olympics in 2024, finishing fourth.

Muchova won their only encounter so far in the third round of last year’s US Open – motivated by the “unreal” experience of watching a Lady Gaga show.

With a Wimbledon title on the line, Muchova will once again lose herself in song before attempting to make sweet music on Centre Court.

“It’s always music for me. Headphones, a room where I’m alone, I close my eyes and get inside the mental space through the music I like.”

Muchova held her nerve in a gripping final set tie-break, winning 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10) in two hours and 35 minutes in searing temperatures on Centre Court.

In the final, Muchova will face Czech ninth seed Linda Noskova or Ukrainian 12th seed Marta Kostyuk, who meet in the other semi-final later on Thursday.

Muchova is into her second Grand Slam final and her first since finishing as the 2023 French Open runner-up.

In her first Wimbledon semi-final, Muchova exorcised the ghosts of her previous dismal experiences in south-west London.

The 29-year-old had lost in the first round on her previous four appearances at Wimbledon.

Gauff had won six of her seven previous meetings with Muchova, but the Czech won their most recent encounter in Stuttgart this year and once again she got the better of the two-time Grand Slam champion.

“It sounds really nice to be in the final. It was such a big fight. You are up and down, no time to think but it was very nerve-wracking,” Muchova said.

After battling injuries earlier in her career, Muchova is finally fulfilling her potential, but even she has been taken aback by her success at Wimbledon over the last fortnight.

Muchova takes “pills, sprays, eyedrops” to manage a grass allergy, but she is no longer adverse to playing on the lawns of the All England Club.

Gripping finale

Muchova is at last unimpeded after suffering a multitude of injuries in recent years, including problems with her right wrist, left wrist, abdomen, back, thigh, ankle and foot.

In 2022, doctors told Muchova that it would be a good idea for her to quit tennis altogether, while in 2023 and 2024 right wrist surgery sidelined her for 10 months.

Now she is just one win away from a maiden Grand Slam title.

Gauff, seeded seventh, had struggled badly with her serve for much of the tournament and has the most double faults on the women’s tour this year.

Muchova took advantage of that glaring flaw to break in the third game of the first set and again in the fifth.

The Czech sealed the set with an ace, sending Gauff scurrying to the sanctuary of the locker room to compose herself.

Gauff had 12 unforced errors in the first set, but in keeping with her tenacious character, she hit back with a dominant second set that could not have been more different to her spluttering start.

Steadying her serve and playing with far more purpose and intensity, she broke for a 3-1 lead and emphatically closed out the set to force a decider.

The final set was a nerve-jangling battle, with break points saved by both players as the tension mounted and Muchova appearing to suffer an abdominal injury.

Muchova had a flawless record in tie-breaks this year, a run she maintained in style, diving full length to volley a stunning winner that even Gauff was forced to applaud.

Muchova was given a time violation for delaying her serve at 8-8 and the warning rattled the Czech, who blazed a forehand long to give Gauff a match point.

But Gauff let Muchova off the hook with a weak drop shot into the net.

Muchova floated a sublime lob over Gauff to bring up a match point but she slipped at the net as the American hammered a winner past her.

Undeterred, Muchova kept the pressure on Gauff and finally closed out the most memorable win of her career.

After Novak Djokovic’s late-night five-set epic ‌on Tuesday, the remaining quarter-finalists appeared keen to conserve energy in the midst of a heatwave as they raced through their matches on the famous lawns of southwest London.

Local favourite Fery became only the fourth male wildcard to reach the last four at a Grand Slam as the 23-year-old dismissed Italian ninth seed Flavio Cobolli 6-4 7-6(4) 6-0 to progress at a venue that is quite literally ​his backyard.

“I’ve always believed in myself and believed that I could be a top player in the world,” Fery told reporters, explaining that he has ​not left his bubble despite the national significance of his achievement growing.

“Obviously, a semi-finalist of Wimbledon is something else. I’ve taken ⁠it match by match. I haven’t looked ahead. I’ve just played every match as it is. Yeah, here I am.”

Zverev clears major wimbledon hurdle

As the French-born Fery was ​writing his name into folklore, French Open champion Zverev cleared a big hurdle in his bid for back-to-back Grand Slam titles by snapping a lengthy losing run against an ailing ​Taylor Fritz with a 6-4 6-4 6-2 win.

“I think winning Roland Garros definitely helps for sure. There’s no question about it,” Zverev said about his newfound confidence after winning a first match in eight meetings with fellow big-server Fritz.

“I changed my game a bit for grass (and) it’s working quite well … this year feels a bit different. Of course, I’m pleased about that.”

Fritz caught off guard ​by tendonitis flare-up

A panicked Fritz said he had been caught off guard by the right knee tendonitis that flared up three games into his clash, after having gained ​momentum in final runs at Stuttgart and Halle ahead of Wimbledon.

“I don’t want to take away from how well he’s playing,” said Fritz. “I’m not saying the result would have been any ‌different. He ⁠was playing aggressive, doing a lot of things that, I’d say, are big improvements to his game.

“It would have been an incredibly tough match. I’m really sad I didn’t get the chance to get into it, I guess. I felt like just because I was thinking about the knee, my focus was all over the place.”

Kostyuk brings focus, then fire

Earlier, Marta Kostyuk’s laser focus helped the Ukrainian make quick work of Italian 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini on a sweltering Centre Court to move into a maiden Wimbledon ​semi-final with a 6-3 6-2 victory.

The 12th ​seed was a woman in a ⁠hurry from the start as she took the opening set in 36 minutes as temperatures went over 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).

The fiery Kostyuk dived into another hot topic that she has been outspoken about in the past, when she described the likely inclusion ​of Russian athletes in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as a “terrible” move.

Her immediate attention will, however, be on Linda Noskova, who ​became the second Czech ⁠woman into this year’s semi-finals after Karolina Muchova when she beat Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-3 7-5 in an under-the-radar match.

Noskova will look back on the success of former players from her nation to script her own fairytale.

Andreescu reflects on past triumphs over Williams ahead of Canadian Open

Barbora Krejcikova won the title most recently in 2024 with Marketa Vondrousova winning in 2023. Petra Kvitova triumphed in 2011 and 2014 and Jana ⁠Novotna in ​1998.

Before that Czech-born American Martina Navratilova won nine singles titles between 1978 and 1990.

“It’s always been a ​fact that as such a small country, we can definitely do big things in the world if we look up to the people that did it,” Noskova said.

“Czech tennis female players have always been incredible. ​If you look at 10 years back, 20, 30, there’s always been someone.”

Andreescu was just 19 years old when she defeated Williams, then 37, in straight sets, becoming the first Canadian player to win a Grand Slam title.

The two talked about their match afterwards ​but have not had much interaction since, Andreescu said, other than polite hellos.

“Maybe she just doesn’t ​like me very much,” Andreescu said with an awkward chuckle on Wednesday while talking ⁠to reporters on Zoom. “I wouldn’t blame her.”

She quickly added that Williams had some “very sweet” words after the ​match and praised the 44-year-old for returning to competitive tennis last month, nearly four years after her retirement.

Noskova reaches first Wimbledon semi-final

“To ​come back at her age obviously is not easy,” Andreescu said. “But she’s definitely becoming even more of a trailblazer than she already is to do something like that.”

Andreescu aims to return to her best

Having reached fourth in the world rankings ​but now 180th, the Canadian is staging a comeback of sorts herself after suffering multiple injuries in recent ​years and undergoing appendectomy surgery.

The 26-year-old started this season on the second-tier ITF circuit, claiming titles at Bradenton and Vero ‌Beach ⁠in Florida. She returned to the WTA Tour at the end of February, most recently losing in the first round at Wimbledon.

On Wednesday she was awarded a main-draw wildcard at the Canadian Open, which she also won in 2019 by defeating Williams, who retired in the final due to back spasms.

“Now that I’ve been ​super consistent, I think that’s ​also giving me even ⁠more confidence to finish the season off strong,” Andreescu said of her health and game this year.

“To me it feels like a miracle… I just feel beyond ​grateful and I’m just ready to continue to kick some butt.”

While Williams was ​not on ⁠the Canadian Open player list released on Wednesday, Andreescu hopes their paths will cross again one day – and that she can muster up the courage to seek advice from “the legend herself”.

“She said: ‘If you ever need any help, let ⁠me know’,” ​Andreescu said, recalling her conversation with Williams after the 2019 ​U.S. Open final.

“But I’m not brave enough to do that. Maybe now that she’s on tour, I’ll have the chance to talk to ​her.”

The Canadian Open runs from August 2-13 in Toronto.

Noskova dominated from start to finish in a last-eight clash lasting one hour and 50 minutes in searing temperatures on Court One.

The 21-year-old faces Ukrainian 12th seed Marta Kostyuk in Thursday’s semi-finals.

In only her second Grand Slam quarter-final, following her run at the 2024 Australian Open, Noskova sealed a place in the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time.

In the lead up to Wimbledon, Noskova won the Berlin Open, her first grass-court title.

She has taken that impressive form into the All England Club, dispatching former Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the last 16 before brushing aside Mertens.

Having reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year, Noskova is now just one win away from her maiden Grand Slam final.

“The feelings are incredible, like never before. This is what I am playing tennis for, these big stages and big matches,” she said.

“I was a little bit nervous before the match, I am not going to lie. When I am putting pressure on myself that is usually when I play my best. I really enjoyed this match.”

Mertens, 30, had been hoping to make the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time, but the 25th seed bowed out after a strong run featuring a win over second seed Elena Rybakina.

Sinner won 7-5, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Court One and will face Djokovic in the last four if the seven-time Wimbledon champion beats Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime later on Tuesday.

In the women’s tournament, Coco Gauff reached her first Wimbledon semi-final with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over fellow American Jessica Pegula.

With Wimbledon basking in sweltering temperatures this week, world number one Sinner had to answer some uncomfortable questions about his ability to withstand the heat.

The 24-year-old Italian wilted in the recent French Open when the mercury reached boiling point, sparking a stunning second-round defeat against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, who battled back from two sets and 5-1 down to beat Sinner.

Bidding to win Wimbledon for the second successive year, Sinner lived up to his claim that he would cope with the London heatwave against Struff – at 36 the oldest man to become a first-time quarter-finalist at the majors in the Open era.

The four-time Grand Slam champion wasn’t at his best, but his booming serve kept world number 74 Struff at bay as he reached his 10th Grand Slam semi-final and third at Wimbledon.

“It was a huge test today. I felt comfortable on the physical side, a good step forwards,” Sinner said.

“We worked a lot after Paris trying to understand what went wrong and prepared in the best possible way.”

Djokovic hopes to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon singles titles by winning a record 25th major.

That would make him the oldest man to win a Grand Slam in the Open era.

Victory for the 39-year-old Serb against third seeded Auger-Aliassime would take Djokovic into a record-extending 15th Wimbledon semi-final and 55th at the Grand Slams.

He would also reach the Wimbledon last four for an eighth consecutive time, setting a new record for the longest streak of men’s singles semi-final appearances at the All England Club.

Gauff in uncharted territory

The all-American encounter on Centre Court went Gauff’s way after the seventh seed recovered from a slow start.

Gauff – a two-time major champion – was appearing in the last eight at the All England Club for the first time.

The 22-year-old made a sluggish start as fourth seeded Pegula, 32, took the first set.

But Gauff hit back emphatically, seizing the momentum in the second set before sealing victory in the third.

Seven years after she became the youngest player to reach the Wimbledon main draw aged 15 and then stunned Venus Williams on her debut, Gauff is two wins away from an even more impressive feat at the All England Club.

She is into the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time since winning her most recent major at the French Open last year.

She is the youngest player to appear in all four Grand Slam semi-finals since Maria Sharapova in 2007.

In the last four, Gauff will face Japanese star Naomi Osaka or Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova, who meet later on Tuesday.

“Considering I hadn’t won a match in two years on grass before this tournament, I’m really happy with how I played today,” Gauff said.

Five years after she last won a Grand Slam, Osaka is finally making waves at Wimbledon.

The 28-year-old has twice won Grand Slams in both Melbourne and New York, but success in London had been hard to come by until her superb fourth-round win over world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

Having dazzled Wimbledon fans with her eye-catching walk-on outfits, Osaka wants make a statement with her tennis as she competes in the last eight at the All England Club for the first time.

Former French Open finalist Muchova, 29, is also hoping to make the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time.

French Open champion Alexander Zverev is also in action in his delayed last-16 tie against Jiri Lehecka after it was halted with the German leading by two sets on Monday evening due to the 2200 GMT curfew.

The defending champions meet the African nation, spearheaded by Mohamed Salah, in Atlanta for the right to play Switzerland or Colombia in the semi-finals.

Argentina survived a huge scare from World Cup first-timers Cape Verde in the last 32, edging through courtesy of Diney Borges’ own goal in energy-sapping extra time.

They will hope to resume normal service against Egypt, who have never been beyond the round of 16 on football’s biggest stage.

“We are on the alert just like we were before the match against Cape Verde,” said Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni. “Egypt is also a good rival.

“It’s a very good team. They have important players and a coach that has been working with them for a while now. They play good football and always make it difficult for their rivals.

“Salah is a great player – it will be a pleasure to face him. Our team knows how to face these great players and we always work hard for it.”

Scaloni confirmed Messi, 39, is fit to start despite playing the full 120 minutes last week against Cape Verde.

Messi, France star Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland all have seven goals in the race for the Golden Boot, with the Frenchman leading the way due to his two assists.

Messi and Mbappe are also locked in a battle for the title of leading goalscorer in World Cup history, with the Argentine just one goal ahead, on 20.

The South Americans know they will need to up their game against unbeaten Egypt, who eliminated Australia on penalties in the last 32.

Salah, currently without a club after leaving Liverpool, has scored just once in four matches so far.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said he had been preparing his players “regardless of the colour of the opponent’s shirt, or what name they have, and what ranking they have”.

“This is a World Cup, a great opportunity to prove ourselves and that we belong here,” he said.

Dangerous Diaz

Switzerland and Colombia meet in Vancouver in another clash between two unbeaten teams.

The South Americans, supported by hordes of passionate yellow-clad fans, have been tipped as dark horses for the tournament.

Nestor Lorenzo’s men have conceded just one goal so far and boast the attacking prowess of Luis Diaz and 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez.

Switzerland have not reached the quarter-finals since 1954, when they hosted the tournament, but impressed in a 2-0 win against Algeria in the last 32.

All four teams will be vying to join the heavyweight line-up for the last eight so far – France, Morocco, Norway, England, Spain and Belgium.

Spain ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup dream on Monday, beating Portugal 1-0 while Belgium crushed the United States 4-1.

Defeat for Mauricio Pochettino’s men means none of the host nations remain in the 2026 tournament following the earlier exits of Canada and Mexico.

The build-up to the game in Seattle was overshadowed by controversy after forward Folarin Balogun was cleared to play despite being sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina last week.

It emerged that the bombshell ruling followed a personal call by President Donald Trump to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino urging him to review Balogun’s punishment.

Javier Tebas, the president of the Spanish football federation, on Tuesday attacked the reprieve.

Posting on social media, he called the decision “the tip of the iceberg of a governance model that has been eroding the credibility of FIFA and football in general for many years.”

He said that while the football world could see what was happening “far too many prefer to maintain a complicit silence.”

Williams, 44, played two doubles matches in preparation for her comeback to singles tennis at the All England Club, but lost in the first round last week.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion then had to withdraw from the doubles with sister Venus due to a knee injury suffered in the defeat by Australian Maya Joint.

“I’ll leave it to her to discuss her medical stuff and how she’s feeling but I know that for her trying to play, certainly something before the US Open will be something she would like to do,” Stubbs told reporters at Wimbledon.

“She doesn’t want to go and do what she did here, which was just play singles, at the US Open, but at the same time it’s going to depend on physically how she’s doing.”

There are WTA 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati ahead of the US Open, which starts on August 30.

Serena, who returned after almost four years away from professional tennis, has not confirmed her next steps.

“She’s got a lot of things to consider, her family, her businesses. But her goal is to keep going,” insisted Stubbs, who expected her to find life easier on hard courts, the surface on which Williams has won 13 major singles titles.

“Getting on the hard court will be a lot more stable for her. And we all know how well she plays on hard court,” Stubbs said.

“So it’s just a matter of getting her body back into the shape she wants. And then we’ll see.

The 21-year-old left-hander Eala is the first player from the Philippines to go so far in a Grand Slam and she pushed the 2024 runner-up hard throughout an absorbing contest.

Eala, seeded 29, has captivated Wimbledon crowds with her bubbly personality and the free-flowing game which accounted for defending champion Iga Swiatek on Saturday.

But it was the equally popular Paolini who raised her game at key moments to reach the quarter-finals for the second time.

‘Grass is a weird surface,’ Paolini says

The 13th seed’s participation at Wimbledon was in doubt with a foot injury that has dogged her season and meant she played just one grasscourt match in her Wimbledon build-up.

Her tournament began with her losing the first set of her opener against Robin Montgomery 6-0, but since that shaky start, the 30-year-old has rediscovered her bounce.

“I came here without many matches in the last month and after the first set in the first round, it was like ‘okay I can only get better, it can’t go worse’,” Paolini said on court.

“I’m feeling better point by point and game by game. Grass is a weird surface, sometimes you love it, sometimes you hate, but when you play well and feel good, it’s the best surface.”

Paolini had some celebrity support, with compatriot Kimi Antonelli, the F1 championship leader, in the Royal Box alongside Roger Federer.

Eala cheered on in Manila

Eala has become the darling of Wimbledon though and was also being cheered on by 8,000 fans at a PhilSports Arena watch party in Manila where her rise up the rankings has captured the public’s imagination.

She looked a little edgy to start with, however, as Paolini came out full of positive energy to lead 4-1.

Eala soon settled and she broke back as Paolini served for the set, only to drop her own serve in the following game with a baseline error.

With the mercury rising and some fans opting to leave the court in search of shade, Eala found more depth with her ground strokes in the second set as service breaks were swapped.

As errors began to fly off the Paolini racket, Eala got another service break and this time made it stick as she took the match into a deciding set.

The match was poised on a knife edge going into the third but Paolini’s greater experience told as she piled on the pressure to break serve for 5-3 and then finished the job in the next game as Eala sent a return wide.

Neither player ‌was at her best after a long wait to come on court but, while 11th seed Bencic, 29, started the steadier, seventh seed Gauff, 22, proved the more adventurous, hitting 35 winners to ​Bencic’s 19 though she also produced 46 unforced errors and nine double faults.

“I’m ​super happy to be in the quarters finally - I don’t know how ⁠many tries it’s been,” Gauff, who will now face fellow American Jessica Pegula, said ​in a hurried courtside interview.

Bencic, a semi-finalist here last year and Olympic champion in 2021, ​took the first set on her third set point when the erratic Gauff dumped a return into the net.

Gauff, a favourite with the Wimbledon crowd since she reached the fourth round as a bubbly ​15-year-old in 2019, found her range in the second set, breaking Bencic’s serve twice ​and dropping her own only once. She produced a drop shot and an exquisite lob to take ‌the ⁠match into a third set.

Playing some inspired tennis and finding the corners of the court, Gauff, twice a Grand Slam champion, had Bencic on the back foot in the third set.

With the clock ticking down to Wimbledon’s 11 pm closure deadline, Gauff set up match ​point with a smash ​and won the ⁠battle with a big serve that Bencic could not return.

Djokovic makes Wimbledon history to reach quarter-finals

“I was looking at the clock in the last service game and on ​that match point I was going for serve and volley as ​I was ⁠wanting to end the point.

“I’m not used to racing for time as we’re not used to having to finish by a certain time.”

The All England club is in a residential district ⁠of ​southwest London and has a strict curfew.

Gauff said she ​was hungry for more after finally reaching the quarter-finals.

“Even though it was a tough match I feel this was ​my best match of the tournament,” she said.

Djokovic’s 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin in the fourth round took the seven-time Wimbledon champion past Federer to 106 men’s match-wins at the grass-court Grand Slam.

Only Martina Navratilova (120) has won more singles matches at the All England Club across the men’s and women’s events.

The 39-year-old is through to his 17th Wimbledon quarter-final and his ninth in a row.

In his record-extending 66th Grand Slam quarter-final, Djokovic will play Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime or Spanish 22nd seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Djokovic’s win kept him on course for a blockbuster semi-final showdown with defending champion Jannik Sinner, who faces Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki in the last 16 later on Sunday.

“Survive to thrive, that’s how I feel. So hopefully the thriving part is coming,” Djokovic said.

“Our mind wanders all the time, it’s very hard to keep it in the present moment, whoever does that is a winner.

“I don’t get to feel inferior from the back of the court with too many players. Today was one of those days I didn’t want to stay in the rally for too long to be honest, so I had to mix things up.”

Djokovic has a 100 percent record in 20 Wimbledon matches against players outside the top 100, winning all 34 matches he has played against qualifiers at the Grand Slams.

After dropping a set in two of his first three matches at the All England Club this week, Djokovic again looked out of sorts at times but did enough to keep his bid for tennis immortality on track.

The Serb is aiming to win a record 25th Grand Slam singles crown, which would break a tie with Margaret Court and take him level with Federer on eight Wimbledon titles.

It would also make Djokovic the oldest man to win a Grand Slam in the Open era.

Apologetic Djokovic

Djokovic is the only man to have reached five Wimbledon men’s singles quarter-finals aged 35 or over, surpassing the record previously held by Federer.

But improvements are needed from Djokovic before he can get his hands on the trophy on July 12.

Safiullin is ranked a lowly 132nd and had been in dismal form before this week.

The 28-year-old gave Djokovic a scare with his free-hitting style and it took the Serb three hours and 25 minutes to finally subdue him on sweltering Centre Court.

Djokovic seemed troubled by his vision as he constantly rubbed at his eyes in the first set.

But if Djokovic couldn’t believe what he was seeing when Safiullin moved 5-2 ahead, the Serb’s view gradually became more rosy.

He hit back to force a tie-break that he won with a far more focused approach.

Djokovic took a six-minute break before the start of the second set, reemerging to dominate the second set in ruthless fashion.

There was a notable dip in his intensity as he lost the third set, gesticulating and grumbling as points slipped away, before a ball smashed in frustration drew boos from the crowd.

“The outbursts as well, the meltdowns, I had a few of those today as well, I apologise,” he said.

But Djokovic restored order in the fourth set to wrap up a hard-fought victory.

Disgruntled Polish third seed Swiatek lost a titanic first-set battle that lasted almost 90 minutes and had no answer to a fearless Eala after that as ‌she lost 7‑6(9) 6-2.

Rybakina, the 2022 champion who doubled her Grand Slam tally this year by winning the Australian Open, also fell away badly after a close first set, going down 7-6(4) 6-1 to Mertens who has reached the last 16 for the fourth time.

“Definitely I need to analyse and change something because it’s not working,” said Rybakina, for whom a run to the quarter-finals here could have seen her become world number one.

There was American disappointment on the ​day of the nation’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence as Serena Williams, one of its greatest ever athletes, withdrew from her eagerly-awaited doubles with sister Venus because of injury.

Andreeva out, Gauff hangs on, Sinner and Sabalenka ease into round three

In an ​Instagram post Williams, who returned to the tournament after a four-year absence but lost to Maya Joint in the singles, said she was “heartbroken to have ⁠to withdraw”.

But there were July 4 fireworks on Centre Court as 26th seed Madison Keys upset last year’s runner-up Amanda Anisimova, seeded six, 3-6 6-2 6-3 in an all-American blockbuster.

Americans take centre stage

Keys, ​on a roll on the grass after her title run in Eastbourne last week, was one of eight American singles players in action on the nation’s big day.

There was further U.S. success as qualifier Ashlyn Krueger ​enjoyed a comprehensive 6-3 6-2 victory over Ukraine’s Daria Snigur but 23rd seed Emma Navarro went out to Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in three sets.

The shocks did not continue to the men’s draw though where second seed and newly-crowned French Open champion Alexander Zverev maintained his impressive start with a 6-2 7-6(4) 6-4 victory over American Marcos Giron.

Frances Tiafoe, the 17th seed, fell 4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(11) 4-6 6-3 to Kazakh 10th seed Alexander Bublik.

With defending champion Jannik Sinner already through, ​Italy began the day with hopes of four men in the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time since the 1947 French Open.

French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli, seeded nine, lost ​the opening set 6-0 against Russia’s Karen Khachanov but rallied to win in five 0-6 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 6-2 6-2.

Cobolli will face Australian Alex de Minaur next after he beat American Zachary Svajda 6-2 5-7 6-2 6-4.

Lorenzo Sonego could ‌not join ⁠the Italian surge though despite a strong start against American sixth seed Taylor Fritz, losing 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(5).

Former runner-up Matteo Berrettini then went down 6-3 6-4 3-6 5-7 6-3 to Grigor Dimitrov in a late Centre Court duel.

Eala sets up paolini clash

Eala, seeded 29, the first player from the Philippines to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam, has a message in Tagalog etched on her cap which translates as “once it grows, it cannot be stopped”.

That motto will be tested by 13th seed Jasmine Paolini after the 2024 runner-up thrashed Greece’s Maria Sakkari 6-1 6-2.

“For someone who grew up in the Philippines… I ​went to training with my brother and my ​grandfather every day after school with my ruffled ⁠socks and my light-up shoes and chubby cheeks, so… to her, this is everything,” Eala told an enchanted Centre Court crowd.

“But because I’m emotional does not mean I’m satisfied, so yeah, okay, next round. Let’s go.”

She went toe-to-toe with Swiatek in a gripping first set and saved a set point in ​the tiebreak as her opponent netted a forehand – the Pole laughing sarcastically and shouting at her entourage in the stands.

Eala remained composed in the ​second set as she sprinted ⁠clear and held her nerve to claim a famous win.

While Eala’s joy was uncontained, six-times Grand Slam champion Swiatek slumped off, trying to digest another disappointing loss.

“Honestly, I don’t care anymore about the results. I’ve been so focused on them that it’s hard to continue like that,” she told reporters later. “So I’m really trying to let it go.”

The biggest roars around the grounds on Saturday were reserved for British battler Arthur Fery who ⁠kept the home ​flag flying with a thrilling comeback victory against Belgium’s Zizou Bergs on a raucous Court 18 despite three nosebleeds.

Fery trailed ​by two sets to one and a double break at 1-4 but refused to roll over and came back to win the longest match of the tournament in a deciding-set tiebreaker.

“I was down for pretty much the whole match, managed to scramble ​back from two breaks and 4-1 in the fifth, and just tried to put up as much of a fight as I could,” he said.

The Australian fifth seed has reached seven quarter-finals at the majors but never gone any further, with only Russia’s Andrey Rublev failing more often at that stage, with 10.

On Thursday though, he dispatched tricky Frenchman Adrian Mannarino with ease to reach the Wimbledon third round and the draw offers him hope of making his deepest run yet.

“I’m super stoked, super grateful to be playing some great tennis here in London,” the 27-year-old said after his 6-3 6-2 6-2 win on Court Three where he received almost home levels of support thanks to his fiancee being British player Katie Boulter.

De Minaur, one of the best movers in the sport and whose all-court game is a good fit for grass, is yet to drop a set in his opening two rounds.

Serena set for remarkable Wimbledon return, Swiatek survives scare

Left-hander Mannarino’s unusual game style means his flat strokes propel the ball low over the net, skidding off the lush turf. De Minaur dealt with it superbly though to take his record over Mannarino to 6-1.

“We have played each other many times and we both hate playing each other,” De Minaur said. “There wasn’t much net clearance today, not much topspin out there today.

“I’ll probably need some treatment on my lower back! I love playing on this court, it’s a great atmosphere and I just hope I can stay for a long time.”

De Minaur, a quarter-finalist in 2024, when he gave Novak Djokovic a walkover because of a hip injury, will face either Zachary Svajda or Kamil Majchrzak in his next outing.

But fifth seed Mirra Andreeva’s dream of becoming the first female player since Serena Williams in 2015 to win the French Open and Wimbledon ‌back-to-back was shattered by former champion Barbora Krejcikova despite saving six match points.

For all her fight and fury, the 19-year-old Andreeva went down 4-6 7-5 6-4 as the understated Krejcikova showed the cool grasscourt craft that took her to the 2024 title.

Novak Djokovic completed the day’s action as he turned his Centre Court clash against Stefanos Tsitsipas – a player he has twice beaten in Grand Slam finals – into an exhibition.

The Serbian veteran, bidding for an ​eighth Wimbledon crown at the age of 39, was superb in a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win.

The day after seven-times Wimbledon champion Williams’ eagerly awaited comeback ended in defeat, Gauff, ​the player who took the baton from the American great, again looked vulnerable on the grass but dug in to beat Solana Sierra 6-3 ⁠3-6 7-6(10-7).

VICTORY WITH AN ACE

Gauff, the seventh seed, looked on the brink of a third first-round upset at Wimbledon in four years as Argentina’s Sierra served for the match at 5-4 ​in the third set.

But she channelled the warrior spirit of Williams to drag herself back and after trailing 7-4 in the tiebreak she conjured a moment of magic at 7-7. Out of ​position, she flicked away an improbable half-volley winner on the turn from behind the baseline to break Sierra’s spirit.

She sealed victory with an ace to set up a third-round clash with fellow American Claire Liu.

“Honestly, we’ve worked on half volleys and stuff. Because my coach is French, I feel like it’s something they like to do and stuff,” twice Grand Slam champion Gauff, who has never got past the fourth round at ​Wimbledon, said.

“Probably couldn’t recreate it if I wanted to.”

Golfers in the royal box

A clutch of European Ryder Cup winners watched from the Royal Box on Centre Court as top seed Sinner ​took on Portugal’s Nuno Borges and after the hazards the Italian faced in his five-set win over Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic the 24-year-old kept it straight down the middle to reach round three.

World number 48 Borges had ‌a set ⁠point in the second set, but Sinner was relatively untroubled as he raised his game at the pivotal moments for a 7-6(4) 7-6(2) 6-4 victory.

“Second match on grass, I was not looking for perfection,” Sinner said. “I tried to improve. Felt like at times I did. Now we’ll see how it goes.”

Sabalenka, bidding for her first Wimbledon title, was cruising against American McCartney Kessler but had to fight back from 5-2 down in the second set to win 6-1 7-6(9).

Kessler had two set points at 5-3 and another two in the tiebreak but four-times Grand Slam champion Sabalenka raised ​the intensity levels to set up a third-round ​slugfest against big-hitting Latvian Jelena Ostapenko.

Sabalenka gave ⁠herself eight out of 10 for her first-round win over Teodora Kostovic and passed another test on Wednesday.

“She played incredible and played super aggressive and it was really tough to handle the second set and I am glad to have powered through,” Sabalenka said.

Seeds make progress

Four-times Grand ​Slam champion Naomi Osaka swapped her first round “Kill Bill” kimono for a more toned down outfit for her second-round clash against Russian qualifier Anastasia ​Gasanova but dazzled with ⁠her tennis in a 6-3 6-2 win.

Several other women’s title contenders progressed. Fourth seed Jessica Pegula beat Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-6(6) 6-1 while American teenager Iva Jovic, seeded 16th, easily solved the puzzle that is 38-year-old Tatjana Maria, beating the wily German slice merchant 6-1 6-2.

There were also wins for Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic against China’s Wang Xinyu and 10th seed Karolina Muchova of the ⁠Czech Republic, who ​beat China’s Zhang Shuai to set up a third-round match against Thai qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew who impressed in her ​win over American Alycia Parks.

In the men’s draw, Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Croatia’s Dino Prizmic 7-6(2) 6-3 7-5, eighth seed Daniil Medvedev enjoyed a four-set win over Spain’s Daniel Merida, French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli, seeded ninth, beat ​Mariano Navone and Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca was roared on by his yellow-clad fan club as he blazed past Jesper de Jong.

Imagining she had injured the Serbian great in front of a global audience of ​millions, the shocked girl took a step back clutching her chest, ​possibly thinking she was just about to have a heart ⁠attack after messing up a simple job.

Within a fraction of a ​second, Djokovic burst out laughing - much to the relief of his unsuspecting victim who ​also dissolved into giggles as she realised it had all been a big joke.

“These kinds of things surface when you are two sets to love up rather than ​two sets to love down, but … I’m sorry if I scared ​her… it made me a bit more relaxed on the court. I was just having ‌some ⁠fun,” the 24-time Grand Slam champion said after handing Tsitsipas a 6-3 6-4 6-2 flogging on Wednesday.

The manner of his crushing victory over his Greek rival meant the jokes kept flowing for Djokovic, who spotted twice ​Masters champion Rory ​McIlroy wearing his ⁠Green Jacket in Centre Court’s Royal Box.

“Rory, what a beautiful jacket,” Djokovic, who had slipped back into the ​personalised cream blazer that he has been sporting during ​this year’s ⁠championships, said during the on-court interview.

“Is that a Masters Jacket?” Djokovic asked the smiling Northern Irishman, who nodded his head to confirm that it was.

“I ⁠want that ​jacket. I’ll play you. This jacket for ​that jacket, we play tennis, no golf,” he added, tugging at his own blazer with ​the bemused crowd roaring their approval.