Wimbledon 2021: Murray, Djokovic and Evans in action, Muguruza out – live! | Sport

One for the blooper reel as Korda suffers a low bounce and hits over the ball, his fresh-air forehand allowing Evans to fight back to 40-30. The Brit takes it to deuce but Korda levels at 2-2 by slinging down his fifth ace of the match.

Dan Evans, by contrast, measures in at just 5ft 9, but he stands tall in the third game. A couple of “c’mon” shouts as he holds to 30.

Evans settles again by holding to love in the opening game of set two but Korda says anything you can do and reciprocates. McEnroe continues to wax lyrical about the young American, who stands at an imposing 6ft 5.

Korda takes the opening set in just 28 minutes and that was impressive. He looks the part, strutting around Centre Court as if he’s played on it many times before. Korda goes 40-30 up in game nine and sees it out by leaping like a salmon to swat away a volley.

On No 2 Court, Roberto Bautista Agut wins a third-set tie break against Dominik Koepfer to complete a 7-5, 6-1, 7-6 victory.

After three service games without losing a point, Evans suddenly finds himself 0-40 down as Korda comes to the net and puts away a volley. He saves one but then puts a forehand long and there’s the break. 5-3 Korda.

Korda has to hang tough in game seven after going down 0-30 but he retrieves the situation to hold again and take a 4-3 first-set lead. As for Djokovic, he’s a set up and 4-2 up in the second against Kudla.

Tom Mason asks: “Why is Djok, 5-time Wimbledon winner, on court one, and Dan Evans on centre? All power to Dan, and I’m more an admirer of Djok than a fan, but it seems odd, a dis, even.”

Being British often trumps all at Wimbledon. Add in a dash of Korda being a famous name and the potential for a close game and that’s probably your answer. That said, Rog would probably have been given Centre.

Just nine minutes played and it’s 2-2 as Evans once more doesn’t drop a point on his own service. Korda’s first serves are landing too and he replies in kind. That’s 17 straight points to the server. 3-2 Korda.

John McEnroe reeling off some of Korda’s back story, commending mama and papa for not pushing him too hard too early. McEnroe believes we’re looking at a future Grand Slam winner.

Talking of world rankings, Dan Evans is currently 26th in the world having been outside the top 300 just three years ago. Korda bangs down two aces to win the opening game but Evans, the slight favourite to win this one, drills a lovely backhand down the line to take his own service game to love. 1-1.

Thanks Niall. Quite a time for the Korda family with Seb’s sister, Nelly, winning the Women’s PGA Championship last Sunday to go top of the world rankings.

Time for me to pass the racquet to my MBM doubles partner, David Tindall. He’ll guide you through Dan Evans’ match with up-and-comer Seb Korda, plus plenty more. Bye for now.

Around the courts: Roberto Bautista Agut has hit trouble against Dominik Koepfer, with the German 5-2 up in the third and poised to pull a set back.

Schwartzman and Fucsovics are on serve in the third, with the Hungarian holding a two-set lead. And in a third-round match out on Court 12, Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic is in charge against Madison Brengle, leading 6-2, 2-0.

Djokovic wins the first set! Attention now turns to No 1 Court, where in a not-entirely-surprising development, Djokovic has pounced on the Kudla serve at 5-4 up in the first set.

“I’m very happy, it’s the first time I’ve won on Centre, it’s an amazing energy,” says Jabeur. She’s asked if this is the best moment of her career so far. “It is! I’m so happy. Garbiñe is so good on grass, she beat me before so I got revenge here.”

Muguruza holds, forcing her opponent to serve it out. She misses her first chance at match point, but a big serve sets up a second. It’s one of the best points of the match, a ferocious rally that has Jabeur repeatedly digging in before powering home a forehand winner!

Jabeur rattles through her service game, routinely finding the baseline with her groundstrokes. Muguruza looks out of ideas, and the Tunisian leads 5-1 in the decider.

On No 1 Court, Novak Djokovic leads Denis Kudla 3-2, on serve in the first set. Bautista Agut is closing in on the fourth round – he leads Koepfer 7-5, 6-1.

Muguruza is still struggling with her first serve – a shade over 60% landing in so far. Jabeur thinks she’s got the double break as Muguruza goes long … but it’s called in! Hawkeye shows it was in by a millimetre. On we go, though, and Jabeur does eventually get it done, a short Muguruza return pummelled down the line! She’s two games away.

Jabeur holds serve, finishing off the job with a silky cross-court volley. Another seed in trouble is Diego Schwartzman – the No 9 seed is two sets down to Marton Fucsovics. Meanwhile, Christian Garin has battled past Pablo Martínez in four sets, and will play Djokovic or Kudla next.

On No 1 Court, it’s time for the No 1 seed – no prizes for guessing – Novak Djokovic. He takes on qualifier Denis Kudla, who lost in straight sets to Djokovic here, and at the US Open, in 2019. Kudla is 30-1 to win this match, if you fancy his chances of pulling off a huge shock.

Make that 16 points in a row, Jabeur absolutely dominating the Muguruza serve and throwing in the odd drop-shot for good measure. With the match slipping away, Muguruza snaps out of it, putting points together to scrap back to deuce. After a titanic battle, the former champ holds on to keep herself in this. Jabeur still leads by a break, 5-7, 6-3, 2-1.

Muguruza looks a little deflated, handing over her opening service game to love in the deciding set. Jabeur follows up with a serve to love. I make that 13 points in a row she’s won, to completely turn this match around.

Roberto Bautista Agut has found some momentum in his match against Dominik Koepfer. From 5-4 down in the first, he’s won five games on the spin to lead 7-5, 2-0.

“If Mr Motivator’s first name is Derrick, does that mean he’s Mr D. Motivator?” asks Jeremy Roy Stevenson.

Jabeur loses her way on serve again, slipping to 0-40 down – but she digs her way out with some pinpoint first serves, and takes the set as Muguruza mistimes a cross-court shot. It’s 1-1!

Crowd-pleasing stuff from Ons Jabeur on Centre, a sliding drop-volley bringing up two break points. Muguruza saves the first, but Jabeur attacks the second serve and gets the break! She leads 5-3, and will serve for the second set.

Seeing as we have a wildcard in the last 16 (and another one later, if Andy Murray can battle through again), here’s some Friday afternoon reading:

Liudmila Samsonova, a wildcard here after winning in Berlin as a qualifier, has beaten Sloane Stephens over on No 1 Court. The Russian failed with her first two match points but claims the third with a big second serve.

A fine guess, Guy, but no – it was Danny Sapsford, a qualifier who took on Pete Sampras in the third round. Sapsford held his own, losing 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 in what proved to be his last match as a professional. And yes, I looked it up just now; I don’t recall the game.

Jabeur carves out a chance to take control of the second set, 15-40 up in the fourth game – but Muguruza defends doggedly to hold, then gets break points off her own. Jabeur saves with a ferocious forehand down the line.

More men’s doubles delight for a British player, specifically Joe Salisbury, who has progressed to the second round alongside partner Rajeev Ram. They’ve beaten Laslo Djere and Gianluca Mager 6-1, 6-2.

Around the courts: No 9 seed Diego Schwartzman is trailing in his first set against Marton Fucsovics; Christian Garin is 2-1 and a break up against Spain’s Pablo Martínez; and Roberto Bautista Agut has recovered from a slow start and a nasty fall to get back on serve against Germany’s Dominik Koepfer.

The stars on Centre have just watched Muguruza struggle through another service game. It’s 1-1 in the second set. On No 1 Court, wildcard Liudmila Samsonova leads Sloane Stephens 4-2 in the deciding set.

There’s a very famous face up in the posh seats on Centre Court. It’s Mr Motivator!

Oh, and the Duchess of Cambridge is here too, having made her way over from Court 14.

Muguruza wins the first set! A comfortable hold this time, and the 2017 champion is a set to the good. The winner of this match will take on Iga Swiatek, who is powering through the draw despite claiming her game doesn’t suit grass before the tournament.

“I feel like I’m playing better and better every match, and I’m getting more confidence because I have been on a grass court for some time now,” she said after routing Irina Begu 6-1, 6-0. “I just feel the surface much better than at the beginning of the tournament.”

Serving out the set does not go to plan for Muguruza, who slips twice early in the game and completely loses her rhythm on serve. The double faults pile up and Jabeur breaks back – but she can’t consolidate, Muguruza breaking straight back. She will get another chance to serve out the first set.

On No 1 Court, a much better second set from Sloane Stephens brings her level with Samsonova, and we’re into a decider there.

Muguruza breaks again, pouncing on a Jabeur second serve to move 5-4 up and will now serve for the first set.

Out on Court 18, Elena Rybakina is making light work of her match with Shelby Rogers. The No 18 seed leads 6-1, 5-3 and is closing in on a fourth-round meeting with Sabalenka.

Aryna Sabalenka wraps up a 6-0, 6-3 win over Colombia’s Maria Osorio Serrano. She’s into the fourth round for the first time here.

Also breaking new ground is Andrey Rublev. The No 5 seed beats Fabio Fognini 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the last 16 for the first time.

Ons Jabeur breaks back and takes a 4-3 lead in the first set, where we’re back on serve. Another early result to flag up: Russia’s Karen Khachanov has seen off Frances Tiafoe, conqueror of Stefanos Tsitsipas, in straight sets.

Perhaps Fognini v Rublev won’t go the distance – the Russian has broken in the fourth and is three games from victory. On Centre, Muguruza has taken a 3-1 lead after breaking her nervous opponent in the first game.

Dan Evans and Andy Murray are in action later on Centre, while Cam Norrie takes on Roger Federer tomorrow. It’s the first time three British men have made the third round since 1999: Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski and …? Answers on a postcard…

First up on Centre Court is Ons Jabeur v Garbiñe Muguruza. Tunisia’s Jabeur won a trailblazing title at Birmingham before arriving here, while Muguruza boasts an extremely uneven Wimbledon record. This is only the third time she’s reached the third round; on the other two occasions she reached the final, winning it all in 2017.

Rublev has wrapped up the third set against Fognini, and leads 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. Teenager Maria Osorio Serrano is on the board against Sabalenka – despite losing the first set 6-0, the Colombian racked up six break points.

On No 1 Court, Liudmila Samsonova has taken the first set against the predictably unpredictable Sloane Stephens. The Russian got a wild card after winning in Berlin as a qualifier, and is continuing her fine form.

Away from Wimbledon, things are heating up nicely on stage seven of the Tour de France. Throw open another window and join David Tindall for live coverage:

Jamie Murray has made a winning start alongside Bruno Soares in the men’s doubles, as they beat Nicholas Monroe and Vasek Pospisil 6-1 6-7 (5) 6-1 in the first round.

Murray is reuniting with Soares in a bid for his first men’s doubles title at SW19, having won the Australian Open and US Open with the Brazilian. The seventh seeds overcame a second-set wobble to set up a meeting with Robin Haase and Andrey Golubev in the next round.

On No 2 Court the second seed, Aryna Sabalenka, has made an ominous start against Colombia’s Maria Osorio Serrano, taking the first set 6-0 in exactly half an hour. On No 1 Court, Sloane Stephens is under way against Russian wildcard Liudmila Samsonova. One-all in the opening set there.

The match on No 3 Court could well go the distance – Andrey Rublev is a break up in the third against Fabio Fognini after the first two sets were shared. That one has already been going for more than two hours.

Some highlights from Thursday’s action:

The action on the main two courts starts soon, but there’s plenty going on elsewhere. One contender already through is Iga Swiatek. The 2020 French Open champ swatted aside Irina-Camelia Begu 6-0, 6-1 inside an hour.

Elsewhere, Karolina Pliskova is closing in on victory over Czech compatriot Tereza Martincova. On No 3 Court, No 5 seed Andrey Rublev is one set up against Fabio Fognini.

Hello. The Andy Murray comeback tour rolls on, although in reality it’s more of a residency. Can he serve up another crowd-pleasing Centre Court win today? His opponent, No 10 seed Denis Shapovalov, represents a big step up in quality.

Before that, we’ll see another British hope, Dan Evans, plus a former SW19 champion in Garbiñe Muguruza on Centre. On No 1 Court you can see the world No 1, Novak Djokovic, continue his march towards another final.

Order of play (show courts)

Centre Court (from 1.30pm BST)
(21) Ons Jabeur v Garbiñe Muguruza (11)
(22) Daniel Evans v Sebastian Korda
(10) Denis Shapovalov v Andy Murray

No 1 Court (from 1pm BST)
Liudmila Samsonova v Sloane Stephens
(1) Novak Djokovic v Dennis Kudla
(13) Elise Mertens v Madison Keys (23)

No 2 Court
(8) Karolina Pliskova v Tereza Martincova
Maria Osorio Serrano v Aryna Sabalenka (2)
Dominik Koepfer v Roberto Bautista Agut (8)

No 3 Court
(26) Fabio Fognini v Andrey Rublev (5)
(9) Diego Schwartzman v Marton Fucsovics