Wimbledon 2024: Djokovic wins, Swiatek, Jabeur, Dart and Norrie out – as it happened

Rain is again interfering with play on the outside courts. Taylor Fritz had just got going against Alejandro Tabilo of Chile when they were taken off at 2-1 to Tabilo, on serve, in the opening set – while another American, Danielle Collins, was leading Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-4, 3-3. The Queen’s runner-up Lorenzo Musetti was two sets to one up, 6-2, 6-7, 7-6, 1-1, against Argentina’s Francisco Comesana, while the Danish 15th seed Holger Rune was two sets to one down, 1-6, 6-7, 6-4, 2-3, to the French qualifier Quentin Halys.

The roof is now on and the second set under way. Meanwhile on No 1 Court Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion and the best grass-court player in the women’s game when fit, is showing no mercy to Caroline Wozniacki. Rybakina has raced through the first set 6-0 against the former world No 1 who was given a wildcard to play here. Wozniacki saved two match points to win in the previous round, and she’s going to have to produce another escape act here.

Roy Hodgson is sticking with the action on Centre Court, by the way, rather than sneaking out to watch the football. I’m not sure whether having the architect of England’s Euro 2016 downfall in the Royal Box this evening is a good omen as England v Switzerland stretches into extra time. You can follow that action here – but you’re probably there already, aren’t you.

View image in fullscreen

It looks as if the Centre Court roof may be being closed. Which could mean a delay before the second set gets under way.

Popyrin has set point at 40-30. He serves deep into the corner; it’s called out. Popyrin challenges – but is proved wrong. Second serve … and it’s an ace! Popyrin took a set off Djokovic at the Australian Open this year, and Djokovic is going to have to go to at least four sets if he’s to win again here. Could another big shock be brewing, after Iga Swiatek’s exit?

But back to the business of on-court matters. Daniil Medvedev is the latest name into round four, defeating Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6, in a match interrupted by many rain delays. And Novak Djokovic, after his unconvincing victory over the British No 13 Jacob Fearnley in round two, is a bit rattled on Centre Court. Djokovic is a break down, 5-4, against the big-serving, lanky Australian Alexei Popyrin. Djokovic hasn’t done too much wrong in this opening set, apart from one sloppy service game. But he can’t afford to do that against a server as strong as Popyrin.

I was wondering the other night why Wimbledon went ahead with that farewell ceremony given he was due to play mixed doubles. Now it’s been shown to be an inspired move by the organisers.

Andrew Benton also offers his thoughts via email. “Am I the only one who feels that Raducanu should have gone on to play at least a few games with Andy, or at least gone out to knock up and then decide? She’s depriving him and all of us a chance to say goodbye.”

Meanwhile Rick Harris emails: “Very bad judgement call IMO to pull out of what would have been a very winnable mixed doubles title and being part of a fabulous send off to Murray.”

Yes it’s hugely disappointing, and I’m sure Murray is wishing right now that he’d chosen to play with someone else, but if Raducanu does go deep in the singles draw – and there’s every chance she could given how open her quarter of the draw is – we probably won’t be complaining so much in a few days’ time. And as fun as Muracanu would have been, there is – now the news has settled – a tiny sense of relief on my part. Could you really have handled another goodbye ceremony? I’m not sure I could have. Everyone was in bits the other night.

Interesting thoughts from Navratilova on Raducanu’s withdrawal from the mixed doubles. She says that often when players make the decision to pull out of the doubles, they go on to lose their next singles match. “I feel sorry for Andy,” she says. “I just hope it was the right decision for Emma. But most of the time it doesn’t work out. At least he had a good send-off the other night.”

Putintseva will face Jelena Ostapenko next. They’re both such fiery characters; it should be fun. And they’ve got a bit of history:

Putintseva’s thoughts:

It feels great. The tactic was to play my game and stay intense every point. I was thinking during the play that I beat the world No 1 on grass before [Naomi Osaka]. I was really fired up. I have no words, I’m just so happy. You guys brought me back to life after the first set. It was a great energy from all of you today, I was feeling it and trying to entertain you with my shots. Thank you.

I really thought that this might have been the year Swiatek cracked the code on grass, but the Pole is left to ponder another missed chance at Wimbledon. She’s never been beyond the quarter-finals here – despite winning the junior title in 2018. It’s a curious stat; she just doesn’t seem to trust her game on this surface, despite having the tools.

View image in fullscreen

Swiatek, usually so calm, is muttering to herself after netting the return on the first point. She strides forward with purpose to bury Putintseva’s drop shot on the second. So it’s 15-all, as you were, and Swiatek shanks a return into row Z! Then Putintseva sets up two match points with an unbelievable forehand winner, which just clips the sideline!

An aggressive return from Swiatek and she goes on to take the point. 40-30. Deuce, with more nerveless hitting from the top seed. She’s not going down quietly. Two match points saved – but Putintseva brings up a third with a drop shot, a tactic that has worked so well for her today. Swiatek snatches at her backhand return and nets! Her 21-match winning run is over; the world No 1, French Open champion and top seed is out!

View image in fullscreen

Ouch. Swiatek gets is all wrong on the opening point. 0-15. And then double faults on the second. The world No 1 had been absolutely dominant this year, and hasn’t lost a match since April, but is now two points from an early Wimbledon exit. Swiatek hits an aggressive backhand, follows it up with the drive volley, and it has too much on it for Putintseva to get it back. 15-30. 30-all. 40-30, when Putintseva nets. But Swiatek can’t string a run of points together. Deuce. A fifth ace takes it to advantage Swiatek. Deuce. Advantage Swiatek. Game Swiatek. So Putintseva must try to serve this out at 5-2.

There’s no more time to dwell on that win, though, because a stunned and subdued Swiatek is a double break down, 4-1, in the deciding set. So much credit to Putintseva, the world No 35 from Kazakhstan, for the tactical changes she’s made against the world No 1, who dumps into the net as Putintseva goes 15-0 up on serve. Putintseva, all attitude and energy, is hitting with purpose, as Swiatek wildly hits out for 30-0. A netted return and it’s 40-0. A rare blip from Putintseva as she double faults for 40-15. Swiatek crushes a forehand … but it’s called long! Swiatek doesn’t even challenge. She looks as if she’s already checked out. At 5-1 down, the French Open champion is a game away from a third-round defeat.

Thanks Will. Devastating for Jabeur, who was hoping that this would be her year after defeats in the past two Wimbledon finals. She even admitted that she would have taken time out from tennis to try to start a family if she’d won last year; that’s some pressure to be playing under. But it’s a wonderful win for Svitolina, who’s such a popular player too for all she’s done to support Ukraine during the war and all she’s done on the court since becoming a mother herself in 2022.

Katy Murrells is back with you.

Jabeur makes Svitolina work for her victory but it eventually comes when her opponent pings a forehand long.

View image in fullscreen

Svitolina takes a 4-1 lead in the tie-break and looks destined to win the second set and the match!

Putintseva holds her serve too, with Swiatek making a plethora of unforced errors. This is underwhelming from the Pole.

Putintseva breaks Swiatek in the first game of the decider, too. Is the world No 1 heading for a humbling?

Simon Cambers has been wandering around Wimbledon and brings his diary for your reading pleasure.

Jabeur is hitting her backhand well and sends a fearsome one down the line to make it 30:30 with Svitolina on serve. She gets her first break point of the match. Will this be significant? She pings a forehand to the right and it is just out. Deuce! After that brief moment of peril, Svitolina regains composure and takes the next two points to take us to a tie-break.

The crowd have begun a slow hand clap as they wait for Swiatek, who immediately returns.

Swiatek is not back on court yet and Putintseva is asking questions about where he opponent is while trying to keep warm.

Jabeur pushes Svitolina out wide with a serve and then pings the ball into open space to make it 30:15. She finishes the game off with an ace down the middle.

Svitolina pings a shot into the net from the baseline to make it 15:30 and give Jabeur a sniff of a break. Obviously, it does not come to pass and Svitolina wins the next points to make it 5-5.

Putintseva wins the second set 6-1. She has the momentum at the moment. Swiatek heads off court at the end. She needs to rebuild are a tough set.