Key events
Djokovic seems to be finding his rhythm now, dominating rallies, closing ruthlessly at the net, tempting his opponent into mistakes and pulling out a big ace for good measure. He holds to love and now leads the first set 4-3.
Djokovic and Kecmanovic get straight back to it, the younger man rattling off two quick points before his opponent drags it back to 30-30. Despite the slight wobble, Kecmanovic holds firm.
It’s time for a drinks break. In the other matches, Nakashima is 5-3 up and about to serve in the fourth set against Sonego, Shelton leads 5-2 in the first set against Fucsovics, and Cilic is 4-2 to the good in the third set against Munar.
Djokovic holds with ease again, blasting one forehand winner down the line which draws more gasps and satisfied murmurs from the stands.
Kecmanovic races to 40-15, but Djokovic responds with a drop shot so naughty it leaves the crowd gasping. His opponent sees out the game, however, with Djokovic sending one long.
Again, it’s a fairly easy hold for Djokovic. He defends a drop shot from his opponent brilliantly, sprinting to the net and producing a beautiful slice which leaves Kecmanovic stranded.
Djokovic breezes through his first service game and immediately tries to ramp up the pressure. He and Kecmanovic trade blows, Djokovic producing one enormous forehand winner along the way. Kecmanovic hangs in there at deuce, Djokovic’s accuracy going a little haywire. Still, a purposeful start from the 38-year-old.
De Minaur beats Holmgren 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-3
It’s all over on No 2 Court, De Minaur powering through to the fourth round with a relatively straightforward win. Now, back to Djokovic.
Elsewhere in the men’s singles, here’s how things stand: Marin Cilic and Jaume Munar have won a set apiece, Alex de Minaur is on the verge of beating August Holmgren in three sets, Lorenzo Sonego leads Brandon Nakashima two sets to one, and Ben Shelton and Marton Fucsovics have just got started. But let’s keep our focus on Djokovic for the moment.
Hello! Great timing, Alex, as Novak Djokovic has just emerged on to Centre Court and is ready to take on Miomir Kecmanovic. Let’s get into it.
Munar takes that second set 6-3 to level the match against Cilic. Is the 36-year-old tiring slightly after that epic effort in the second round? We shall see, a long way to go. I’m going to pass you over to an individual who simply does not tire: Will Magee, who’ll guide you through the next hour!
Jaume Munar is a break up against Marin Cilic, 5-3 in the second after Cilic took the first set. Novak Djokovic is getting the montage treatment on the BBC, from his youth career, early struggles to total domination. All with exactly the same haircut. Hey, why change a winning formula? Novak will be in action very soon.
Apparently pasta with strawberries is a Polish delicacy, so Iga Swiatek was not pulling anyone’s leg on Centre Court. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!
“I’m moving better this year on grass,” says a smiling Iga Swiatek, but – more intriguingly – she claims her favourite cheat meal is pasta with strawberries. I kid you not. You can get a strawberries and cream sandwich these days, but that really is an odd combination. Any takers?
Alex de Minaur goes two sets up against August Holmgren, he wins a tight tie-break 7-5. So no upsets on the cards – yet – at SW19 today. But we will get a new champion in the women’s singles. Emma Navarro’s “reward” for knocking out Krejcikova is a match against teenage ace Mirra Andreeva.
Navarro beats Krejcikova 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
The women’s defending champion is out! Emma Navarro keeps her composure, takes her second match point on serve and ends a contest which swung this way and that. Barbora Krejcikova was a set and a break up but her lack of play this year – only six matches – began to tell and the No 10 seed capitalised. A brave effort from Krejcikova, impressive cool from Navarro.
Swiatek beats Collins 6-2, 6-3
Absolutely clinical from the former world No 1. Iga Swiatek took control at the start against Danielle Collins and simply never let her grip loosen. Is she a genuine title contender or did her rival just not quite show up today? We shall see!
Swiatek is 5-3 ahead of Collins and the latter is serving to stay in the match. This highly anticipated contest has been pretty one-way traffic thus far.
Krejcikova with one of the gutsiest holds you will see at Wimbledon this year. She is going to force Navarro to serve to win the match. On the BBC, Martina Navratilova praises her for holding her composure under some physical and emotional turmoil
Barbora Krejcikova is in tears on No 1 Court. Ah, that’s so difficult to watch. She’s one game from losing this third set, is clearly struggling physically but – as you would expect – she gets a rousing reception from the crowd as she gathers herself and starts her service game.
Iga Swiatek is 4-2 ahead of Danielle Collins in the second set. The American is looking better on her serve but cannot make a dent in her opponent’s service game as yet.
Miss the men’s No 1 seed in action earlier? Well Barney Ronay did not – and he got to witness a ruthless Jannik Sinner in cruise control.
Swiatek on cruise control with her serve, 3-1 ahead of Collins in the second set. No such luck for Krejcikova! Navarro breaks to go 4-3 ahead – five breaks in a row in this match, I believe.
Krejcikova breaks back against Navarro: that’s four breaks in six games in this deciding set. It’s 3-3 and there is absolutely no rhythm to this! It’s fascinating if oddly inconsistent.
Marin Cilic wins the first set against Jaume Munar 6-3, while Danielle Collins is battling to hold serve against Iga Swiatek … she does just that but is 2-1 down having lost the first set. So a huge uphill battle all the same.
Grigor Dimitrov wins in straight sets against Sebastian Ofner. The Bulgarian stylist claims the third-set tie-break 7-0. Krejcikova is playing on but looks in some physical pain.
Ekaterina Alexandrova is into the next round, a straight sets win over Zeynep Sonmez for the Russian. Navarro breaks Krejcikova; of course she does. She’s 3-2 up in the third set and the 2024 women’s singles champion is having a medical timeout. She does not look comfortable.
Swiatek breaks Collins in the first game of the second set! A double fault from the American. That pre-set pause has not altered the layout of this one – it’s all Iga on Centre Court.
As you might expect, Danielle Collins quickly went off court after that first set. She needs to regroup. Krejcikova breaks back when Navarro nets on the first break point! We are 2-2 in the deciding set. What a strange match – neither player seems able to build on their momentum.
Iga Swiatek takes the first set against Danielle Collins! 6-2 and straightforward for the former world No 1. Emma Navarro breaks Krejcikova. A mixed few minutes for two American players in SW19.
Two double faults to start the next game by Krejcikova. Yep, safe to say those missed break points may be playing on her mind.
Huge hold by Emma Navarro. It’s 1-1 in the third set but that is a missed opportunity for the defending champ Krejcikova; five break points not converted.
Swiatek is feeling it on Centre Court: she’s 5-2 up on Collins in the first set and will serve to win it. Meanwhile, Krejcikova is on a fifth break point in the third set. Navarro saves it again with dogged defence. Deuce again in a game that’s becoming an epic.
Barbora Krejcikova is a player revitalised in this third set. She holds serve then goes 40-0 ahead. Three break points… all saved by Navarro! We’re at deuce. What an intriguing, see-saw match this is.
Emma Raducanu went out last night – but in her close defeat by the world No 1, there plenty of positives to be found. Let Tumaini Carayol enlighten you.
Alex de Minaur, the popular Australian, has won the first set 6-4 against August Holmgren (let’s assume for balance he’s a popular Dane). Swiatek, meanwhile, is taking an impressive early control against Collins: she’s 4-1 ahead in the first set.
The second set point does it for Emma Navarro! Krejcikova nets and we go to a deciding set between this pair. Meanwhile, Cilic has won the first two games against Munar so the Draper display isn’t looking like a one-off/last hurrah just yet …
Iga Swiatek gets the first break against Danielle Collins, she moves 2-1 ahead in the opening set. Navarro has set point but a terrific Krejcikova return means we go to deuce.
Emma Navarro breaks Krejcikova – the American is in the ascendency, 5-3 ahead in the second set and she will serve to level the match.
Navarro is 4-3 ahead of Krejcikova in the second set – on serve after a break apiece. Swiatek and Collins are 1-1 on Centre Court as their match opens without any fireworks. Yet.
Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic is into the fourth round after an almost three-hour epic against Elisabetta Cocciaretto. She won the deciding set tie-break 10-7. Phew. In the women’s doubles, the British pair Sonay Kartal and Jodie Burrage are out after defeat by the seeds Beatriz Haddad Maia and Laura Siegemund. Kartal, of course, has her single’s match on Centre Court tomorrow to occupy her thoughts.
Navarro is 3-2 ahead in the second set, we’re back on serve – but she’s still a set down to Krejcikova. Elsewhere, Grigor Dimitrov is two sets up against Sebastian Ofner and Marin Cilic is strolling out to begin his match on court 18 – can the destroyer of Jack Draper’s dreams reel back the years once against and defeat Jaume Munar? We shall see!
Emma Navarro breaks right back! Two double faults from Krejcikova – is that her lack of matchplay this year telling? We’re at 2-2 in the second set. Intriguingly poised. Can Navarro back that up with a service hold?
Thanks John. So Barbora Krejcikova, the defending champ, is taking a hold on her match against Emma Navarro – officially the higher seed but a set and a break down to Krejcikova. She’s serving at 2-1 ahead in the second set. Meanwhile, grudge match alert: Iga Swiatek and Danielle Collins have stepped on to Centre Court. Wonderful stuff.
With that, I transfer the reins to Mr Alex Reid, the king of the overhead volley.
Krejcikova, the outsider on seeding after a mixed year, takes the first set 6-2 from Navarro, the 10th seed.
All courts back up now. Barbara Krejcikova, the defending champ, is playing Emma Navarro, and has a 5-1 first-set lead. Sinner will play the winner of Dimitrov and Odfner, and it’s Dimitrov who leads after the first set. Roof opening on Centre Court means it will take some time for Iga Swiatek and Danielle Collins to be ready to play next. They’re due on a 4pm UK time.
Sinner speaks: “We all saw he was struggling with his shoulder so full respect for him. Huge honour to play for you, all those sports people coming out. It’s a very special occasion, even more so at Wimbledon. I couldn’t make it to Silverstone. That’s a good thing, it means I am still in Wimbledon.”
Sinner beats Martinez 6-1 6-3 6-1
Oh dear, Martinez is 5-0 down to Sinner in the third set and must serve to stop the bagel, and preserve pride. At least he manages that, but soon enough checks out on the next game.
Tauson beats Rybakina 7-6 6-3
We’re back underway on the outside courts, and Rybakina holds serve. No matter. Tauson will serve for the match at 5-3 up in the second set. Rybakina smashes a baseline hit long, and Tauson has match point. The 23rd seed knocks out the 11th as Rybakina with the court beckoning blasts beyond the line. The 2022 champion is out as the seeds continue to go barren.
Sinner is 2-0 up now in the third and presumably final set. Martinez, clearly unfit, has done well to claim his £152,000 for his third round place.
Yara El-Shaboury reports
The Russian has now won 35 WTA Tour main draw matches in 2025, the third most behind the world No 1, Aryna Sabalenka, (44) and Iga Swiatek (37).
Sinner has meanwhile taken the second set, immediately breaking Martinez after saving all those break points on his own serve.
Play suspended on outside courts
Trouble for another big name: Clara Tauson 7-6 (8-6) 4-2 Elena Rybakina is the score on Court No. 2. The 11th seed gets time to think as it’s raining.
Racing’s AP McCoy is sat with rugby legend Jason Leonard in the Royal Box. Leonard looks well preserved, very smart. AP perhaps glad he isn’t get rained on at Sandown. Eclipse coverage to follow. Martinez is making a better fist of it – when he probably can’t even form a fist with his right arm but Sinner, at 5-3 up, is on course for the second set – but has to ride out a break point. Make that two with a heroic overhead. Now three…Sinner suddenly rocked. But he sees it out…at last.
Andy Martin
Should Sonay Kartal beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in Sunday’s quarter-final, the 23-year-old will become the first home female player to reach the last eight since Johanna Konta in 2019 and overtake Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter to become the country’s top-ranked woman.
“The drive comes from myself,” she said. “I’m super disciplined. I’m super determined. When I set my mind to something, I want to achieve it. I want to prove to myself that I can do it, as well. I’d say the drive is 100% me.”
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