Sinner, Sabalenka advance as Andreeva crashes out at Wimbledon

LONDON: Jannik Sinner moved into the Wimbledon third round on Wednesday after overcoming Portugal's Nuno Borges in straight sets, while top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka also advanced and Mirra Andreeva was knocked out in one of the day’s notable results.

The defending men’s champion beat Borges 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 at the All England Club. The Italian world number one was again made to work hard after also being tested in his opening match, when he came from two sets to one down to defeat Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic on Monday.

Sinner had been left bloodied in that first-round contest after an awkward fall hurt his right foot. He did not appear hindered by the injury in his return, but found it difficult to fully take control against the world number 48.

After the match, Sinner said the contest had been demanding, especially in the middle stages.

The second set was very tough. First couple of sets we were serving very well. These matches, where you don't have a lot of control, I'm happy to win.

“I didn't do a lot of practice because the first match was very long. There's a couple of things I need to improve. I felt some moments where I still need to get back to this rhythm”, he added.

Sinner, who ended Carlos Alcaraz’s two-year hold on the Wimbledon title by beating the Spaniard in last year’s final, will next face American world number 81 Jenson Brooksby.

Andreeva’s run ends

Andreeva came into Wimbledon with significant attention after claiming her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in June, but the Russian teenager was unable to carry that form through. Former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova recovered from a set down to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Krejcikova, the 30-year-old Czech who also won the French Open in 2021, said she was proud of the result on Centre Court.

“What a match! It's always been a huge fight against Mirra. She is such a young and unique player. I'm extremely proud I managed to win on this beautiful Centre Court, the best court in the world”, he stated.

Sabalenka survives second-set test

Sabalenka beat American McCartney Kessler 6-1, 7-6 (11/9) on Court One to book a place in the last 32, where she will meet former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. The Belarusian came through a tight second set after taking control early in the match.

Reflecting on the win, Sabalenka said:

That was a true battle and I'm super happy that I was able to stay in that second set,

Sabalenka has yet to win Wimbledon and has lost in the semi-finals in each of her last three appearances at the tournament.

Other matches

Novak Djokovic was due to play Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final match on Centre Court on Wednesday as he continued his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam singles title. The 39-year-old, seeking to become the oldest man to win a major in the Open era, had a difficult start to the tournament against Wu Yibing in the first round on Monday. Djokovic, who last won Wimbledon in 2022, had also exited the French Open in the third round after surrendering a two-set lead to Joao Fonseca. He had won his previous 11 matches against world number 87 Tsitsipas.

Elsewhere, Serena Williams’ return to Wimbledon was put in doubt after she sustained a knee injury during her singles loss to Maya Joint on Tuesday. Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, is scheduled to play doubles with her sister Venus later this week in her comeback after four years away from the sport. Her agent said Serena is doing everything she can to be ready for her doubles match.

Naomi Osaka beat Russia’s Anastasia Gasanova 6-3, 6-2 as she looks to reach the Wimbledon last 16 for the first time. American seventh seed Coco Gauff came through a final-set tie-break against Solana Sierra, while fellow American Jessica Pegula, seeded fourth, also progressed.