Wimbledon 2025: Djokovic races to victory; Sinner and Swiatek sail through – as it happened
Let’s leave you with a roundup of today’s coverage: no major upsets to add to the list but some sumptuous tennis from the big names on court, as expertly outlined below.Plus Tumaini Carayol reflects on Emma Raducanu’s gusty effort last night.Please join us again tomorrow.Bye!Some sizzling matches to look forward to tomorrow.Britain’s Sonny Kartal looks to keep her dream run going against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, No 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka faces Elise Mertens, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz plays Andrey Rublev, Cameron Norrie – the other Brit still standing in the singles – takes on Nicolas Jarry.
And more!Will I win the Stating the Obvious Award for pointing out that Djokovic was not moving like a 38-year-old out on Centre Court? He produced a dazzling display, returning as only he can and producing some exhibition tennis at times.De Minaur is next – a tricky last-16 draw, but plenty of people will be eyeing a potential Djokovic v Jannik Sinner semi-final.Big-serving Ben Shelton is into the fourth round! He needed 70 seconds to wrap up that second-round curiosity yesterday and, while today clearly took a good while longer, he was still pretty dominant.The No 10 seed raises his play for the grand slams.“I enjoyed myself very much, except the last couple of games.
..It’s never easy playing a friend and compatriot,” says Novak Djokovic.“More than rivals and competitors, we’re friends and teammates.I wish him all the very best.
”He’s congratulated for making history: his 100th Wimbledon match win, joining only Martina Navratilova and Roger Federer.A fairly exclusive club.Novak Djokovic wins it with his first match point! He lost focus a bit at the there against his fellow Serb, but a lot of that match was simply vintage Djokovic.He’ll face Alex de Minaur in the next round.Two double faults from Djokovic as he serves to win this match.
Several shakes of the head, he looks grumpy, but he’s just earned a first match point at 40-30 …Lorenzo Sonego has won his epic against Brandon Nakashima: the fifth set went to a tie-break – incredibly the fourth tie-break of the match.The Italian won it 10-3 and will get a deserved lie down and a place in the fourth round after that.Kecmanovic holds to love! The, ahem, Kecomback starts here? He’s taken this set to a 5-4 deficit from 5-1 down.So salvaging some pride here and he gets a warm ovation from the crowd who’d love to see him break and level the set.Kecmanovic raises a fist to the crowd – he’s broken Djokovic! No quit in this chap, and Novak slightly took his eye off the ball there with some sloppy shots.
The No 6 seed is, of course, still two sets up and 5-3 ahead.But Kecmanovic is serving to stay in the contest.Miomir Kecmanovic holds.It’s likely too little, too late but Kecmanovic takes it to 5-2 in the fifth – at the very least, he’ll make Djokovic serve to win the match.Djokovic channelling his inner Stefan Edberg to play some lovely serve and volley tennis on Centre Court.
Hardly what Novak is renowned for, of course, but he can do no wrong as he takes a 5-1 lead with an elegant lob.He’s one game from victory!Djokovic breaks Kecmanovic to go 4-1 up in the third set.Wow, there were two astonishing first-serve return winners in that game, where the younger Serb put up plenty of fight to no avail.Nothing he’s doing can make a dent right now.Ben Shelton wins his tie-break against Marton Fucsovics, so he’s two sets to the good.
On Centre Court, Djokovic is taken to deuce on his serve by Kecmanovic who’s hanging in there for now … but of course Djokovic sees it out to go 3-1 ahead in the third,Marin Cilic’s revival continues! The 2017 Wimbledon runner-up is into the fourth round as he seals an impressive victory to back up his upset triumph over Jack Draper,Ouch,A double fault from Kecmanovic hands Djokovic a break,He’s 2-1 up in this third set, serving to go 3-1 ahead and can smell victory.
Kecmanovic, having not enjoyed eating his second-set bagel, goes 40-love up on his serve (with it level at 1-1 in a must-win third set).But then Djokovic takes it to deuce! Of course he does.A forlorn look to the coaching box from Kecmanovic.Novak will show no mercy and grabs the advantage …Where are we on the other courts? Cilic is 5-3 up in the fourth set with a 2-1 set lead against Munar.In a bit of a thriller, Nakashima and Sonego are going back and forth in the fifth set.
Shelton is serving to take Fucsovics to a tie-break in the second set, the American having won the first.Novak Djokovic breezes to a 6-0 second set, holding his serve without dropping a point.That set lasted 29 minutes, Kecmanovic barely had a sniff and he’s two sets down and, barring a miracle, heading out.Sir Ian Botham, perhaps preferring tennis to cricket today, is at SW19 watching a Djokovic masterclass.Kecmanovic goes 0-40 down, shows guts to save two break points, but Djokovic plays a lovely drop shot to go 5-0 up.
He’s serving for a bagel.Djokovic: ace; wins a long rally; expert net play; volley winner.He’s won seven games in a row, that one without losing a point.Kecmanovic is 4-0 down in this set and his bright start seems a while ago.A vintage Djokovic winner! Kecmanovic is in trouble: double break down, 3-0 in the second set.
He simply cannot live with his compatriot in the rallies, the decisive passing shot is sublime.On court 18, Marin Cilic is two sets to one up on Jaume Munar; 2-2 in the fourth.Djokovic takes a 2-0 lead in the second set.Kecmanovic showed fight from 40-love down, winning two points … but of course Novak won the vital point he needed to when Kecmanovic went too long in a rally.Thanks Will, but Kecmanovic’s hands are not quite capable enough right now.
Djokovic breaks in the first game of the second set.Kecmanovic looked a bit frustrated there, which is understandable.He served well enough but, of course, he’s up against one of the greatest returners the sport has ever seen.Right, the inimitable Alex Reid is back to helm the blog.It’s been fun, but I’m leaving you in capable hands.
Enjoy!Djokovic wins the first set, sealing another straightforward hold with a chunky ace.Kecmanovic has his work cut out for him but, then, that’s no surprise, is it?Djokovic gets that look in his eye, battling to deuce with steely determination.Three times Kecmanovic has advantage, and three times he cannot find a way past.Djokovic earns a break point after winning a ludicrous rally, including a series of outlandish drop shots, lobs and slices at the net.He loses the ensuing slugfest, but Kecmanovic sends a shot long to hand him another chance to break and, this time, he takes it.
Djokovic leads 5-3.Nakashima has won the fourth set against Sonego, so that match is going the distance.Shelton has wrapped up the first set against Fucsovics likewise.Djokovic seems to be finding his rhythm now, dominating rallies, closing ruthlessly at the net, tempting his opponent into mistakes and pulling out a big ace for good measure.He holds to love and now leads the first set 4-3.
Djokovic and Kecmanovic get straight back to it, the younger man rattling off two quick points before his opponent drags it back to 30-30.Despite the slight wobble, Kecmanovic holds firm.It’s time for a drinks break.In the other matches, Nakashima is 5-3 up and about to serve in the fourth set against Sonego, Shelton leads 5-2 in the first set against Fucsovics, and Cilic is 4-2 to the good in the third set against Munar.Djokovic holds with ease again, blasting one forehand winner down the line which draws more gasps and satisfied murmurs from the stands.
Kecmanovic races to 40-15, but Djokovic responds with a drop shot so naughty it leaves the crowd gasping.His opponent sees out the game, however, with Djokovic sending one long.Again, it’s a fairly easy hold for Djokovic.He defends a drop shot from his opponent brilliantly, sprinting to the net and producing a beautiful slice which leaves Kecmanovic stranded.Djokovic breezes through his first service game and immediately tries to ramp up the pressure.
He and Kecmanovic trade blows, Djokovic producing one enormous forehand winner along the way.Kecmanovic hangs in there at deuce, Djokovic’s accuracy going a little haywire.Still, a purposeful start from the 38-year-old.It’s all over on No 2 Court, De Minaur powering through to the fourth round with a relatively straightforward win.Now, back to Djokovic.
Elsewhere in the men’s singles, here’s how things stand: Marin Cilic and Jaume Munar have won a set apiece, Alex de Minaur is on the verge of beating August Holmgren in three sets, Lorenzo Sonego leads Brandon Nakashima two sets to one, and Ben Shelton and Marton Fucsovics have just got started,But let’s keep our focus on Djokovic for the moment,Hello! Great timing, Alex, as Novak Djokovic has just emerged on to Centre Court and is ready to take on Miomir Kecmanovic,Let’s get into it,Munar takes that second set 6-3 to level the match against Cilic.
Is the 36-year-old tiring slightly after that epic effort in the second round? We shall see, a long way to go.I’m going to pass you over to an individual who simply does not tire: Will Magee, who’ll guide you through the next hour!Jaume Munar is a break up against Marin Cilic, 5-3 in the second after Cilic took the first set.Novak Djokovic is getting the montage treatment on the BBC, from his youth career, early struggles to total domination.All with exactly the same haircut.Hey, why change a winning formula? Novak will be in action very soon.
Apparently pasta with strawberries is a Polish delicacy, so Iga Swiatek was not pulling anyone’s leg on Centre Court.Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!“I’m moving better this year on grass,” says a smiling Iga Swiatek, but – more intriguingly – she claims her favourite cheat meal is pasta with strawberries.I kid you not.You can get a strawberries and cream sandwich these days, but that really is an odd combination.Any takers?Alex de Minaur goes two sets up against August Holmgren, he wins a tight tie-break 7-5.
So no upsets on the cards – yet – at SW19 today.But we will get a new champion in the women’s singles.Emma Navarro’s “reward” for knocking out Krejcikova is a match against teenage ace Mirra Andreeva.The women’s defending champion is out! Emma Navarro keeps her composure, takes her second match point on serve and ends a contest which swung this way and that.Barbora Krejcikova was a set and a break up but her lack of play this year – only six matches – began to tell and the No 10 seed capitalised.
A brave effort from Krejcikova, impressive cool from Navarro.Absolutely clinical from the former world No 1.Iga Swiatek took control at the start against Danielle Collins and simply never let her grip loosen.Is she a genuine title contender or did her rival just not quite show up today? We shall see!Swiatek is 5-3 ahead of Collins and the latter is serving to stay in the match.This highly anticipated contest has been pretty one-way traffic thus far.
Krejcikova with one of the gutsiest holds you will see at Wimbledon this year.She is going to force Navarro to serve to win the match.On the BBC, Martina Navratilova praises her for holding her composure under some physical and emotional turmoilBarbora Krejcikova is in tears on No 1 Court.Ah, that’s so difficult to watch.She’s one game from losing this third set, is clearly struggling physically but – as you would expect – she gets a rousing reception from the crowd as she gathers herself and starts her service game