The big favorite Iga Swiatek showed flaws but managed to qualify for the third round of Wimbledon on Thursday, like Rafael Nadal who believes he still has to “progress” to go as far as possible.
The women’s table also lost the outgoing finalist Karolina Pliskova (7th in the world), eliminated to everyone’s surprise by the 118th in the world, the Briton Katie Boulter, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.
Nadal passed by beating the Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis (106th) 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, but as in the first round he gave up a set.
“I have to progress, analyzed the Spaniard hotly. The fourth set was better, the service in particular. The forehand also because I made too many mistakes in the forehand at the start of the game”.
In search of a third coronation on the London lawn (following 2008 and 2010) to bring his record of Grand Slam titles to 23, the Spaniard was nevertheless “very happy” to have qualified for the third round, to as much as he has not played on grass for three years and his defeat in the semis once morest Roger Federer in 2019.
Winner of the first two Grand Slam tournaments of the season, the Australian Open and Roland-Garros, the Majorcan will face the Italian Lorenzo Sonego (54th) in the third round.
Since the start of the tournament, he has not seemed bothered by his left foot affected by a degenerative and incurable disease (Müller-Weiss syndrome) which openly threatens the rest of his career.
– Choc Tsitsipas-Kyrgios –
This fourth day also promised a shock for Saturday, between Stefanos Tsitsipas who seems to have found the key to the game on grass, and the boiling Nick Kyrgios who calmed down following a stormy first round.
The Greek (5th) quietly defeated Australian Jordan Thompson (76th) 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in 2h04.
Finalist at Roland-Garros in 2021, three-time semi-finalist at the Australian Open, he had so far only passed the first round once on the grass of Wimbledon, in 2018 when he had reached the 8th finals.
“My grass game has evolved in a year. Now I feel at home on the grass, my game adapts perfectly to it”, he underlined with pleasure, saying he was “delighted” to face Kyrgios (40th).
For his part, the Australian swept the Serbian Filip Krajinovic (31st) 6-2, 6-3, 6-1. Without outpourings or drama, unlike Tuesday when he attacked an overage line judge, therefore with insufficient visual faculties according to him, and “disrespectful” spectators, until he spit in the direction of one of them. them, a gesture that led to the opening of an investigation.
“I was disappointed with my performance in the first round. And then there was this lack of respect from journalists, and all the rest,” he explained, adding that this time he was “very happy with his match” because he had “played really well in all aspects of (his) game”.
“I wanted to prove to everyone that I was really good,” he insisted.
– Tricky grass –
The qualification was more complicated for the world N.1 Iga Swiatek who even conceded a set to the 138th in the standings, the Dutch Lesley Pattinama, drafted from the qualifications, before winning 6-4, 4-6, 6- 3 and sign a 37th consecutive victory.
“I don’t think regarding this series. When I enter the court, I just hope to play my best. But I will do everything to extend the series!”, assured the 21-year-old Polish woman who had not played no preparation tournament on grass following his title at the beginning of June on the clay courts of Roland-Garros.
“The grass is a tricky surface for me. You can see that I’m not as effective as on the other surfaces. I have generally gained confidence in my game in recent months, but this tournament is tricky and I wonder always how to play my best tennis here”, she developed.
Her next opponent will be the French Alizé Cornet (37th) for a place in the round of 16.
The women’s draw gave rise to a moving hug between the Romanian Simona Halep (18th) and the Belgian Kirsten Flipkens (190th) whom she had just sent to retirement by beating her 7-5, 6-4.
On the French side, in addition to Cornet, Richard Gasquet and Harmony Tan, Serena Williams’ faller in the first round, will be there for the third round.