Key events
Two break points down following a double and a mis-hit forehand, Choinski produces a second-serve service winner … but Hubert Hurkacz, owner of one of my favourite tennising names, then slams a monstrous forehand down the line, a winner that gives him 5-4 and the chance to serve for the match once he’s scranned his banana at change of ends. Meantime, trailing 3-4, Muchova is busy saving break points, three of them after patting a volley wide. And each time, she lands her first delivery, then nails a wrongfooting backhand for advantage, during which time Hurkacz serves out to love against Choinski for a 6-4 set.
There’s nothing better than someone who doesn’t look like an athlete performing athletics, and Stan Wawrinka of course looks like he’s come to court from the kluhrb; well, he’s taken the first set against Etcheverry 6-3.
And there’s the first set, 6-1 to Svitolina. Work for Mertens to do. Elsewhere, Musetti has broken Munar for 4-3 while we’re on serve in our other big matches.
Now a double-break for Svito, who’s playing with real venom, confidence and consistency. She leads Mertens 5-1.
At 3-2, Choinski has served five aces already, and against Hurkacz, not behind the door in that department himself, we may find ourselves enjoying a few breakers. He’s started well.
Niemeier has started the better on Court 12, Muchova forced to save two break points – which she does, the first with a superb backhand from baseline to baseline. A double, though – her third already – cedes another … so she skips onto a half-court ball and punishes an inside-out forehand winner that sends up a puff of dust as it kisses the sideline. From there she holds, and will feel more in the match now, I’m sure.
I quite fancy Svitolina to bin Mertens this morning and just as I type that she breaks to love, sealing the deal with a forehand of generous proportions. She leads 3-1.
Games I’d like to be watching but amn’t: Etcheverry 1-2 Wawrinka, Wang 1-2 Kenin, Musetti 1-2 Munar – all on serve.
Choinski and Hurkacz are now away and 1-1 in set one, which is the score in all our feature matches.
There is, I’ve heard, some other alright sport going on…
I’m watching Mertens and Svitolina, who’re just under way, Muchova and Niemeier who aren’t. and Choinski v Hurkacz who also aren’t.
Apologies! In taling you through our day, I failed to notice that the belowmentioned Krejcokova is playing Mitta Andreeva, the 16-year-old who gave us so much pleasure in Paris, There, she beat Riske-Armritraj and Parry then took the first set off Gauff, and is well on the road to becoming a superstar.
Regular readers may recall we’ve been wondering what on earth is going on as regards the colour beige – both Roger Federer and David Beckham turned up wearing it earlier this week, but this? This is something else.
Preamble
Morning all and welcome to Wimbledon 2023 – day four!
I can’t say I like it when it rains, but when it gives us a schedule like the one we’re about to enjoy, it’s hard to complain too much. The highlight is, of course, Andy Murray v Stefanos Tsitsipas, a battle between yesterday and today that could get extremely intense. We’ll preview it properly in due course, but Murray grew into his first-round match and is clearly more confident in his body than for some time. He’ll know that Tsitsipas is no grass-court specialist and will target an aesthetic but vulnerable backhand while keeping the points as long as possible. Tsitsipas, meanwhile, will feel grooved having won a five-set thriller last evening, and will look to keep Murray moving by attacking corners and lines.
But they’re not on till much later. Before that, Liam Broady meets Casper Ruud and Alize Cornet challenges the champ, Elena Rybakina – and that’s just on Centre. On Court 1, we’ve got Alexander Zverev, Jessica Pegula, and a nasty assignment for Donna Vekic, the number 20 seed, against the in-form Sloane Stephens.
And then there are the outside courts! No2 kicks off with a jazzer, Elise Mertens v Elina Svitolina, doesn’t let-up with Andrey Rublev v Aslan Karatsev, and also features a tricky engagement for Daniil Medvedev against Adrian Mannarino. Goodness me, I can’t list every match, but Tomás Martín Etcheverry v Stan Wawrinka could be great, I’ve been buzzing for Karolína Muchová v Jule Niemeier for what seems like a week now, and Mario Berrettini v Lorenzo Sonego has been great so far.
Add to that Caroline Garcia, Katie Boulter, Frances Tiafoe, Sofia Kenin, Barbora Krejcikova, Denis Shapovalov, Lorenzo Musetti, Choinski v Hurkacz, Bouzkova v Kontaveit and Raonic v Paul, and I’ve not a clue how we’re going to keep track of everything … but we will!
Play: 11am BST outside courts, 1pm BST Court 1, 1.30pm BST Centre Court
