Świątek takes the initiative

New York Times

6 hours ago

Follow our reaction from day four at SW19 with Sinner, Djokovic, Andreeva and Świątek into the third round Getty Images
Day four of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships finished with two men's singles matches being suspended because of darkness: Ben Shelton-Rinky Hijikata and Márton Fucsovics-Gaël Monfils.
Jannik Sinner (1) and Novak Djokovic (6) cruised on the men's side, while Mirra Andreeva (7), Iga Świątek (8), Emma Navarro (10) and Alex de Minaur (11) made it through on the women's side. Get involved: [e-mail]
Świątek 5-7, 6-2, 3-0* McNally
This is much better from Świątek, and it feels like she might have ground down Caty McNally here.
For the third time in this match, Świątek breaks McNally in the second game of a set — but this time, you wonder if it might be decisive.
Paul 6-1, 5-7, *0-0 Ofner
Ofner finished off the second set with his third straight game one, and we're even at a set each. Paul looked a little unsure after he came back from the injury and the retaping of his foot. He'll need to bounce back quickly now.
Draper 4-6, 0-2* Čilić
This is getting dangerous for No. 4 Draper. Čilić breaks his serve again after an unforced error.
You can see Čilić's confidence continue to build. Getty Images
Everyone's a bit in shock here on No. 1 Court. Marin Čilić has just pinched the first set 6-4 against the world No. 4 and great home hope, Jack Draper.
Deja Vu from last year when Draper was beaten on this court at the same stage in straight sets by Cameron Norrie.
A big problem for Draper is that Čilić's best shot is his backhand, which is neutralising Draper's favored serve on the ad side that swings away over to that wing for a right-hander. Draper tried it down set point, and Čilić responded with a clean backhand winner.
Čilić is ranked down at No. 83 following a lengthy absence last year after knee surgery but he's a former U.S. Open champion and a finalist here, and this is a proper contest.
Paul 6-1, 5-6* Ofner
Tommy Paul looked like he was moving fine after the return from injury, but Sebastian Ofner has won the past two games and has a chance to serve for the second set.
Draper 4-6, 0-0* Čilić
Big-time shot from Čilić, lacing a backhand down the line to win the game and the set.
How will the No. 4 seeded Draper respond in the second set?
Paul 6-1, *4-4 Ofner
Tommy Paul had his left foot retaped, and he's back out on the court after a nine-minute break. His movement is such a big part of his game, so we'll see how hampered he is.
Draper 4-4* Čilić
Draper was in danger of being broken, which would've drastically shifted the momentum of the first set.
Instead, he rallies from triple game point to even the set at four games apiece. Getty Images
Świątek 5-7, 6-2, *0-0 McNally
And there it is. Iga Świątek breaks Caty McNally again, and that not only wins the second set but also gives her the opening service game of the decider.
McNally takes a toilet break after losing her lead on Centre Court.
Paul 6-1, *4-4 Ofner
Tommy Paul is injured and getting medical treatment after suffering a foot injury on an overhead. Looks like a tough break for the American who had just broken back to get even in the second set. Getty Images
Świątek 5-7, 5-2* McNally
It's been a much better set from Iga Świątek, who has ironed out the errors and taken charge of Caty McNally.
Still up a solitary break, but now Świątek is just a game away from leveling the match.
McNally now serving to stay in the second set.
FINAL: Starodubtseva 2-6, 1-6 Samsonova
Strong showing by Liudmila Samsonova, dispatching of Yuliia Starodubtseva in straight sets to advance to the third round.
FINAL: Krejčíková 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 Dolehide
Impressive shot by Krejčíková to seal the set and the match. She paints a firm backhand just inside the backline and all Dolehide could do is watch.
While the final set score appears lopsided, this was a highly competitive match with Krejčíková's break a few games back serving as the difference. Getty Images
Krejčíková 6-2, 3-6, *4-2 Dolehide
If there was ever a time to break serve, that was it. A few unforced errors by Dolehide just swung this match in the latter stages.
Can Krejčíková see this one out?
Paul 6-1, *0-2 Ofner
Sebastian Ofner turned the tables on Tommy Paul a bit to start the second set. Ofner broke Paul to start the set and held his first service game. He already has won more games in this second set than the first set after getting some medical treatment on his wrist between sets.
Świątek 5-7, *2-0 McNally
SIX break points for Iga Świątek. That is what it takes to finally break Caty McNally at the start of this second set.
Now then. Can she take this across the entirety of this set? And is she playing well enough to do that?
Maybe…
Paul 6-1, *0-0 Ofner
Tommy Paul made it look easy in his first set with Sebastian Ofner in just 23 minutes. Paul won the final four games of the set and converted three of the six break point chances he had. Ofner didn't help himself with 13 unforced errors. Getty Images
Świątek 5-7, *0-0 McNally
Wow. Iga Świątek isn't half making this look hard. The eighth seed is undone on her own serve for the second time in three service matches — and at the worst possible time.
It leaves Caty McNally to serve for the first serve, and she does it to love. Her first-serve percentage is sitting at 82 percent right now, and Świątek seems a bit flummoxed about it all.
We have lost 16 of the 31 women's seeds so far. Could we be losing the 17th here? Getty Images
Paul 3-1* Ofner
American Tommy Paul, the No. 13 seed, got the break to open his match with Sebastian Ofner and has backed that up by winning his first two service games.
Paul, whose best finish at Wimbledon was the quarterfinals last year, is off to a solid start on Court 3.
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