Wimbledon is finally dry as organizers try to catch up following three days of rain

umarkamran June 24, 2024

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WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — The courts are lastly dry at Wimbledon and the solar is even shining by the clouds at occasions, giving organizers hope of becoming in a full day of tennis on Thursday for the primary time at this yr’s event.

The primary three days of motion on the All England Membership have been affected by rain. Solely eight matches have been accomplished on Tuesday. These matches have been performed on both Centre Court docket or No. 1 Court docket, the one stadiums on the grounds with roofs.

Due to all of the disruption, there have been a handful of first-round matches being performed on Day 4. Usually, the primary Thursday of the event would wrap up the second spherical.

Among the many winners was Stan Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion from Switzerland. Wawrinka beat No. 29-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the third spherical.

The 38-year-old Wawrinka, who gained his main titles on the different three Grand Slam tournaments, will subsequent face Novak Djokovic _ the 23-time Grand Slam champion who’s going for his record-tying eighth title at Wimbledon. That match is scheduled to be performed Friday on Centre Court docket.

“There’s zero alternative to win Wimbledon for me, I feel,” stated Wawrinka, who reached the quarterfinals on the All England Membership in 2014 and 2015. “I’m enjoying higher every match, and as I say, I feel it’s an honor to play Novak right here. I used to be lacking that in my profession to play him within the Grand Slam in Wimbledon. That’s the final I ever performed him, and it’s going to be a tough problem.

“Hopefully I could make a aggressive match, but when you’ll take a look at latest outcomes, I don’t actually stand an opportunity.”

Later Thursday, two-time champion Andy Murray was to play fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas on Centre Court docket within the second spherical, whereas fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula was scheduled to satisfy Cristina Bucsa on No. 1 Court docket.

Alexander Zverev, who reached the 2020 U.S. Open last however missed most of final season after injuring his ankle within the French Open semifinals, lastly acquired on court docket and beat Dutch qualifier Gijs Brouwer 6-4, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) within the first spherical.

The Nineteenth-seeded German has twice reached the fourth spherical at Wimbledon, together with in 2021. He once more reached the French Open semifinals this yr.

Within the ladies’s draw, Sofia Kenin and Elina Svitolina each superior to the third spherical. Kenin eradicated seventh-seeded Coco Gauff within the first spherical, whereas Svitolina beat five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams.

Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, will subsequent face Svitolina, who’s again on tour after the start of her first youngster in October with husband Gael Monfils.

“I’ve acquired to determine a great technique towards her,” stated Kenin, a 24-year-old American. “She will get a variety of balls again, from what I bear in mind. I imply, she’s acquired an enormous serve, massive backhand. There may be nothing off about her recreation.”

Mirra Andreeva, a 16-year-old qualifier from Russia who’s ranked 102nd, reached the third spherical in her Wimbledon debut. She superior when No. 10-seeded Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic retired from the match with a decrease leg harm with Andreeva main 6-3, 4-0.

“For positive it’s not the way in which I wished to win the match. However nonetheless I advance to the following spherical, so I’m proud of that,” Andreeva stated.

Krejcikova gained the French Open in 2021. Her greatest exhibiting on the All England Membership was reaching the fourth spherical the identical yr.