Normality returns to Wimbledon as Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka ease through

Straits Times

16 hours ago

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Carlos Alcaraz in action during his second round match against Oliver Tarvet on July 2.
LONDON - Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and the end of London's tropical heatwave ensured that a sense of normality returned to the lawns of Wimbledon on July 2 after two sweat-soaked days of shocks, although Jasmine Paolini's exit meant the surprises did not end.
A stream of big names including Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev crashed and burned in the oven-like temperatures of the first round.
So when Alcaraz walked on Centre Court to continue his bid for a third successive Wimbledon title against British qualifier Oliver Tarvet, the thought surely lurked somewhere in his mind that he could be the fall guy in the event's greatest upset.
The 22-year-old second seed was not at his best but after saving three break points in a nervy first service game against a college student ranked 733rd in the world, he asserted his authority to win 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
Earlier on Centre Court, women's top seed Sabalenka battled to a 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 win against Czech Marie Bouzkova.
"Honestly, it is sad to see so many upsets in the tournament, in both draws, women's and men's," said Sabalenka, who is bidding for her first Wimbledon title.
"I'm just trying to focus on myself... I hope there are no more upsets in this tournament."
That was not to be, as 2024 runner-up Paolini joined the mass exodus of fancied players when she crashed out 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 against Russian Kamilla Rakhimova.
However, Australian Open champion Madison Keys, the sixth seed, made it safely into round three by beating Olga Danilovic 6-4, 6-2 while unseeded four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka eased past Czech doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 6-2.
Lower temperatures did not necessarily mean more comfortable outings as world No. 12 Frances Tiafoe became the 14th of the 32 men's seeds to fall, losing 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 against Cameron Norrie, one of seven Britons in singles action on day three.
The American was joined later on by Czech 23rd seed Jiri Lehecka, last month's Queen's Club Championships runner-up, who fell 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, 7-5 to Italian Mattia Bellucci.
Home charge
Ashlyn Krueger, the American 31st seed, was then beaten 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 by Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, ensuring 15 of the 32 women's seeds also went out of the tournament.
Sonay Kartal led the home charge by defeating Bulgaria's Viktoriya Tomova 6-2, 6-2 to book her place in the last 32 for the second year in succession while the nation's big hope Emma Raducanu got past 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 6-3.
There was disappointment for Britain's Katie Boulter, who served 14 double faults as she crashed 6-7 (7-9), 6-2, 6-1 to 101st-ranked Solana Sierra, the Argentine who lost in qualifying but has seized her lucky loser spot with both hands.
Alcaraz, bidding to do the French Open-Wimbledon double for the second successive year, needed five sets to get past Italian veteran Fabio Fognini in the opening round and set up an intriguing clash with 21-year-old Tarvet.
Tarvet, who plays on the United States collegiate circuit for the University of San Diego, said he believed he could beat anyone, even Alcaraz, after winning his Grand Slam debut match against fellow qualifier Leandro Riedi of Switzerland on Monday.
He was clearly not overawed at sharing a court with a five-time major champion and had he taken any of the eight break points he earned in the first set it could have been closer.
Alcaraz proved a step too far though as he moved through the gears when required to keep an eager Tarvet under control.
Just as the Spaniard did in his first round when going to the aid of a female spectator suffering in the heat, Alcaraz again endeared himself to the Centre Court crowd.
"First of all I have to give a big congratulations to Oliver, it's his second match on the tour. I just loved his game to be honest, the level he played," Alcaraz said.
Play on courts without roofs was delayed for two hours by light morning rain but once the clouds rolled away the place to be for fans without showcourt tickets was Court 12 for Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca's match against American Jenson Brooksby.
The 18-year-old is widely tipped as a future challenger to the domination of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner and he showed why during a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 win that was celebrated by a large contingent of exuberant Brazilians.
Andrey Rublev, who suffered a bruising loss to Fonseca in the Australian Open first round earlier this year, battled past Lloyd Harris 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-3 before Taylor Fritz closed out the day with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-0), 4-6, 6-3 win over Gabriel Diallo. REUTERS