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☆ Tsitsipas needs two days to beat Thiem in five sets
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The 24-year-old Greek, chasing a maiden Grand Slam title, will next play two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray on Centre Court on Thursday. They both refused to buckle in the fourth, taking it into a tiebreak where Thiem prevailed to force a decider. Thiem had one chance to break at 3-3 but then handed a match point to Tsitsipas a little later with a double fault at 6-5. He saved another at 9-7 in the tiebreak before the Greek sealed it on the third attempt. Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Additional reporting by Martyn Herman Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tsitsipas, Austria's Dominic Thiem, Andrew Couldridge, Dominic Thiem of, Andy Murray, Dominic, I'm, I've, Thiem, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Rain, Karolos Grohmann, Martyn Herman, Toby Davis Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Austria's Dominic Thiem REUTERS, Wimbledon, Centre, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Dominic Thiem of Austria, Murray, Madrid

☆ UK government meets with police, sports event organisers over protest disruption
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The meeting came as Just Stop Oil activists twice interrupted play at Wimbledon. The environmental group have also disrupted the second Ashes cricket test at Lord's as well as the Premiership Rugby final and the World Snooker Championship. This year's Grand National horse race was also disrupted after animal rights activists attached themselves to fences. The Lawn Tennis Association, the soccer Premier League, British Horseracing Authority and Silverstone Circuits were among the 15 national sports bodies and event organisers who attended, the government said. The British Grand Prix is due to take place at Silverstone on Sunday.

Persons: Katie Boulter, Daria Saville, Hannah Mckay LONDON, Lucy Frazer, Suella Braverman, Kylie MacLellan, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Oil, Wimbledon, Premiership Rugby, Lawn Tennis Association, soccer Premier League, British Horseracing Authority, Silverstone Circuits, Silverstone, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Lord's, British

☆ Russian Medvedev happy with win and warm welcome
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Medvedev, 27, has only once reached the fourth round, though he missed last year's tournament due to the ban on Russian players. But a rain break at 5-5 in the first set changed the dynamic and Medvedev was generally in control from then on. "I was pretty nervous, I didn't get to play yesterday so really happy to be back," Medvedev said in a courtside interview. When they returned 20 minutes later Fery struggled to rediscover his intensity as Medvedev immediately broke and served out the set. Fery stuck to his guns, charging the net at every opportunity, and though he got a foothold in most Medvedev service games, the Russian was too often able to serve his way out of trouble.

Persons: Russia's Daniil Medvedev, Britain's Arthur Fery, Toby Melville LONDON, Russian Daniil Medvedev, Arthur Fery, Medvedev, Arthur, I'm, Fery, Roland Garros, ludicrously, Mitch Phillips, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, American, Roland, Medvedev, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Russian, British, U.S

☆ Experienced Kvitova beats Paolini in three sets
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The duo also met at the last year's championships when the Czech ninth seed came on top in another three-setter. Paolini found some momentum and made Kvitova work in the second set but the experienced Czech comfortably took the third, firing eight aces and 36 winners throughout the match. "I was trying hard in the second set to break her but this didn't happen. In the third I got an opportunity and I made it, and I think that since then I just kept going," Kvitova said. The 33-year-old will face the winner of unseeded pair Aliaksandra Sasnovich v Nuria Parrizas Diaz in the second round.

Persons: Petra Kvitova, Italy's Jasmine Paolini REUTERS, Dylan Martinez, Italy's Jasmine Paolini, Kvitova, I've, it's, Paolini, Nuria Parrizas Diaz, Anita Kobylinska, Toby Davis Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Dylan Martinez LONDON, Wimbledon, Centre Court, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Czech, Gdansk

☆ Djokovic, Swiatek advance as climate protesters disrupt rain-hit Wimbledon
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Earlier, Kostyuk battled from a set down and overcame three rain interruptions to beat eighth seed Sakkari 0-6 7-5 6-2. She became only the third women's player to beat a top-10 seed at Wimbledon in the Open Era after losing the first set 6-0. American world number 10 Frances Tiafoe saw off China's Wimbledon debutant Wu Yibing 7-6(4) 6-3 6-4 before compatriot Taylor Fritz completed a 6-4 2-6 4-6 7-5 6-3 victory over Yannick Hanfmann. Sixth seed Holger Rune sailed through to the second round for the first time with a 7-6(4) 6-3 6-2 victory over British wildcard George Loffhagen. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond and Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Serbia's Novak, Australia's Jordan Thompson, Dylan Martinez, Medvedev, Fritz, Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo, Daria Kasatkina, Jodie Burrage, Daniil Medvedev, Arthur Fery, Marta Kostyuk, Maria Sakkari, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Dominic Thiem, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, Japan's Sho Shimabukuro, Katie Boulter, Australian Daria Saville, Dimitrov, Briton Fery, Arthur, Kostyuk, Frances Tiafoe, Wu Yibing, Taylor Fritz, Yannick Hanfmann, Holger Rune, George Loffhagen, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Ed Osmond, Toby Davis Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, All England Club, Stop Oil, Bulgarian, Security, Briton, British, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Australian, Belarusian, British, Bengaluru

☆ Kasatkina speeds through to Wimbledon's third round
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 5, 2023 Russia's Daria Kasatkina celebrates winning her second round match against Britain's Jodie Burrage REUTERS/Dylan MartinezJuly 5 (Reuters) - Daria Kasatkina made swift and short work of her second round match at Wimbledon thumping British wildcard Jodie Burrage 6-0 6-2 in an hour on Wednesday. Burrage, who accumulated only eight points in the first set, dropped her first service game with a double fault and served another to hand Kasatkina the first set. But her brief flurry was curbed when Kasatkina broke back immediately before the players were ushered off court because of a shower. Kasatkina won the match with another break of serve when Burrage heaved a forehand long. Kasatkina reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in 2018 and plans to do better this year.

Persons: Daria Kasatkina, Britain's Jodie Burrage, Dylan Martinez, Jodie Burrage, Kasatkina, Caroline Dolehide, Burrage, Clare Lovell, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, Court, Briton, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Russian

☆ Superb Swiatek surges into Wimbledon third round
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 5, 2023 Poland's Iga Swiatek reacts during her second round match against Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo REUTERS/Dylan MartinezLONDON, July 5 (Reuters) - Women's top seed Iga Swiatek outclassed Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2 6-0 on Wednesday to sweep into the third round of Wimbledon with a dazzling display. She has started her fourth appearance in ominous fashion, however, dropping only six games in her opening two matches. "I'm happy that I can play such a solid game and kind of do what I was practising," Swiatek said on court. Swiatek broke the Sorribes Tormo serve for a 2-0 lead but was broken back in the following game before really stamping her authority on the contest as the sun made an appearance. Her Spanish opponent played her part in entertaining rallies in the opening set but Swiatek always had an extra weapon in her armoury.

Persons: Iga Swiatek, Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo, Dylan Martinez, Swiatek, Martyn Herman, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo REUTERS, Dylan Martinez LONDON, Wimbledon, Court, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Spanish

☆ Kostyuk makes light of rain breaks to stun eighth seed Sakkari
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Every time I was going into a rain break I was going into different emotions," said Kostyuk, who was also emotional several times during the match. Sakkari initially looked undisturbed by the rain suspension, taking the first set soon after the restart. Her new training partnership with former Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis looked to be paying off with Sakkari in complete control. Kostyuk, however, turned the tables in the second set with aggressive play that forced Sakkari into more unforced errors. Sakkari was wilting by then and Kostyuk took nine consecutive games en route to a 5-1 lead before sealing victory on her first match point.

Persons: Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, Greece's Maria Sakkari, Andrew Couldridge, Marta Kostyuk, Maria Sakkari, Kostyuk, Sakkari, Mark Philippoussis, Karolos Grohmann, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Greece's Maria Sakkari REUTERS, Wimbledon, Ukrainian, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Ukrainian

☆ Mighty Murray lifts Wimbledon gloom
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Ossian Shine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Obviously it is amazing to be back here on centre court," said former world number one and twice Wimbledon champion Murray after his first-round victory. I wanted to play well ... and once I got the break in that first set, I played some great tennis." "It's been a long time since I've felt physically this good coming into Wimbledon," Murray said. "So I am hoping I am fit and ready for a good run," he added, as the Centre Court whooped and cheered. "I think the main thing that Andy did really well today was he was just relentless on every point.

Persons: Andy Murray, Britain’s Ryan Peniston, Toby Melville LONDON, Sir Andy Murray, Ryan Peniston, Murray, Peniston, It's, I've, Court whooped, Brit, Andy, Ossian Shine, Ken Ferris, Toby Davis Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, Scot, Court, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ Alcaraz blasts past Chardy into second round
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Under the roof, the 20-year-old Alcaraz subjected the unfortunate Chardy to a high-profile pummelling, firing down ferocious serves and rasping forehands with frightening power. Chardy, the former world number 25 who reached the fourth round here in 2014 and boasts a win over Federer, finally got on the scoreboard with a service hold greeted by warm applause. Tougher tests will come for Alcaraz with the likes of Germany's Alexander Zverev and Alex de Minaur lurking in his section of the draw. He has that game style and consistency and then he's also the showman," the Australian told the BBC. "He's got a bit of Novak, he's got a bit of me and a bit of Rafa.

Persons: Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, France’s Jeremy Chardy, Andrew Couldridge, Carlos Alcaraz, Jeremy Chardy, Roger Federer, Alcaraz, Chardy, Germany's Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur, Nick Kyrgios, He's, he's, Novak, Rafa, It's, Martyn Herman, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Spaniard, Federer, BBC, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ Without racket, Federer wows Centre Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 4, 2023 Eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer stands alongside Catherine, Princess of Wales during a presentation on centre court to honour his achievements REUTERS/Toby MelvilleLONDON, July 4 (Reuters) - Retired Swiss great Roger Federer made a surprise appearance on his favourite stage to the delight of Centre Court ticket holders at Wimbledon on Tuesday. Federer, whose 20 Grand Slam singles titles include a record eight at Wimbledon and who many regard as the greatest player of all time, retired last year at the age of 41. With his long-time rival Rafa Nadal also absent this year as he tries to regain his fitness and Serena Williams also retired, Wimbledon is missing some of its favourite players. But even without his racket, Federer had the Centre Court crowd drooling during a short video presentation played on the scoreboards before defending women's favourite Elena Rybakina took to the court for her opening match. The film captured Federer's glittering Wimbledon career, from his first title in 2003 to his last in 2017.

Persons: Roger Federer, Catherine , Princess of, Toby Melville LONDON, Federer, Rafa Nadal, Serena Williams, Elena Rybakina, Mirka, Wales, Martyn Herman, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, Court, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Swiss

☆ Sabalenka races through against Udvardy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 4, 2023 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her first round match against Hungary's Panna Udvardy REUTERS/Toby MelvilleLONDON, July 4 (Reuters) - Second seed Aryna Sabalenka made short work of Hungary's Panna Udvardy with a powerful 6-3 6-1 victory to reach the second round at a rainy Wimbledon on Tuesday. "I didn't realise how much I missed this place until today," Sabalenka, who reached the semi-finals in 2021, said on court. She lost only five points behind her heavy first serve and crunched 20 baseline winners against her 82nd-ranked opponent. The Minsk-born player showed some deft touches too, including a 'tweener' as she raced back to retrieve a lob. Sabalenka will face either Italian Camila Giorgi or Varvara Gracheva of France in round two.

Persons: Hungary's Panna Udvardy, Toby Melville LONDON, Aryna Sabalenka, Panna, Sabalenka, It's, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, Camila Giorgi, Varvara Gracheva, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Hungary's, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Belarus, Belarusian, Ukraine, tennis, revelled, Minsk, France

☆ King Federer back in town as Alcaraz and Rybakina shine at Wimbledon
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Retired Swiss great Federer ditched his racket for a classy cream blazer and a comfy seat as the eight-time Wimbledon champion graced the Royal Box and received possibly the longest ovation of his illustrious career. But Federer missed Spanish phenomenon Alcaraz, the 20-year-old who has taken the tennis world by storm. "I'm really happy with the level that I played, with the performance today," Alcaraz told reporters, although he was not so happy that Federer missed his match. RYBAKINA RECOVERSKazakhstan's Rybakina, the third seed, looked in danger of becoming the first Wimbledon women's defending champion to suffer a first-round exit since Steffi Graf in 1994 when American Rogers took the opening set. Admitting the watching Federer had made her nervous, she shrugged off that poor start to win in style.

Persons: Cameron Norrie, Czech Republic Tomas Machac, Dylan Martinez, Federer, Frenchman Chardy Jabeur, Sabalenka, Roger Federer, Alcaraz, Elena Rybakina, Shelby Rogers, Andy Murray, Ryan Peniston, Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, I'm, RYBAKINA, Kazakhstan's Rybakina, Wimbledon women's, Steffi Graf, Rogers, I've, Rybakina, Poland's Magdalena Frech, Novak Djokovic's, Panna Udvardy, Tomas Machac, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Ed Osmond, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Czech Republic, Czech Republic Tomas Machac REUTERS, Court, Swiss, Wimbledon, Poland's, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Swiss, British, Moscow, Bengaluru

☆ Leaf-blowers to the rescue at slippery Wimbledon
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 3, 2023 Groundstaff use leaf blowers to dry the court as the first round match between Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Argentina’s Pedro Cachin is suspended due to rain REUTERS/Andrew CouldridgeLONDON, July 3 (Reuters) - Frustrated fans were left wondering quite what was the point of Wimbledon's 80 million-pound ($101 million) Centre Court roof on Monday when Novak Djokovic's match was delayed for over an hour as ball boys took to using leaf-blowers to dry the grass. Defending champion Djokovic had just taken the first set 6-3 against Argentina's Pedro Cachin when light rain took the players off and led to the roof being slid into place - a process that takes 10 minutes. Fans and TV viewers expecting a quick resumption, however, were to be disappointed as, accompanied by tournament referee Gerry Armstrong, Djokovic patrolled the famous square of grass he has ruled for five years, dabbing a toe and a towel at areas he considered dangerously slippery. While play resumed on Court One, it remained suspended on Centre, until, somewhat bizarrely, the roof, completed in a blaze of publicity in 2009, was re-opened and the match resumed after a 70-minute hiatus. ($1 = 0.7883 pounds)Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, Argentina’s Pedro Cachin, Andrew Couldridge, Novak Djokovic's, Djokovic, Argentina's Pedro Cachin, Gerry Armstrong, Mitch Phillips, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ Venus's record 24th Wimbledon ends at first hurdle
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The 43-year-old American, contesting the Wimbledon singles for a record 24th time, still retains the easy power that once made her the queen of Centre Court but succumbed 6-4 6-3 after a nasty early fall hindered her movement. It was just bad luck for me," former world number one Williams told reporters later. Williams had more treatment before the start of set two but dropped serve immediately with a forehand into the net. Asked if she had considered pulling out after her slip, Williams said her only thought had been trying to figure out a way to win. Reporting by Martyn Herman Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Venus Williams, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina REUTERS, Andrew Couldridge, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Williams, Serena, I'm, Venus, You've, Svitolina, Martyn Herman, Toby Davis Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, All, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, All England

☆ Djokovic centre stage again as Wimbledon gets under way
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The 36-year-old Djokovic, who has only lost twice at Wimbledon in a decade, tops the bill on Monday when he begins the Centre Court programme against Argentina's Pedro Cachin. Following Djokovic on to the hallowed turf, five-times women's champion Venus Williams, aged 43, will try and roll back the years as her 24th Wimbledon appearance begins against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina. Rain showers are expected throughout the opening days although that will not impact those with tickets for Centre Court and Court One, both of which boast retractable roofs. Political slogans of any sort are banned around the grounds with Wimbledon organisers determined the focus should remain firmly on the tennis. All 17 players from those two countries, including men's third seed Daniil Medvedev, are competing as neutrals.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Hannah Mckay LONDON, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Serena Williams, Nick Kyrgios, Djokovic, Federer, Bjorn Borg's, Argentina's Pedro Cachin, Venus Williams, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Williams, Iga, Swiatek, China's Zhu Lin, Suncream, Putin's, Daniil Medvedev, Martyn Herman, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon REUTERS, Wimbledon, Court, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, England, Serbian, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Russian

☆ Rublev leads Russian Wimbledon return with easy win
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Rublev is one of 17 Russian and Belarusian players in the men's and women's singles draws after they were banned in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Wimbledon was the only one of the four Grand Slam tournaments to ban Russian and Belarusian players last year -- a decision that resulted in ranking points being taken away from the event by both the ATP and WTA Tours. As part of their return, players from two nations are playing as neutrals and must sign a "waiver" pledging not to support Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime. Players are not allowed to receive state funding or have sponsorship from Russian or Belarusian companies. He looked comfortable on the grass as he proved a class above 64th-ranked Purcell to reach the second round.

Persons: Andrey Rublev, Australia's Max Purcell, Toby Melville LONDON, Max Purcell, Rublev, Vladimir Putin's, Purcell, Martyn Herman, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, ATP, WTA, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Belarusian, Ukraine, Russia

☆ Kenin too canny for Coco, sinks seventh seed
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Ossian Shine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Forget that Kenin had been forced to qualify for the main draw here. "I am super happy," Kenin told the Court One crowd as dusk descended and after Gauff had left the arena. "Coco played a tough match, and I knew I had to play my best match to win." "(Just told myself) don't get over anxious or super excited... I am just happy to finish before it got dark... Coco has had a great season and I am super proud of myself."

Persons: Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Hannah Mckay LONDON, Kenin, Gauff, Coco, steadied, Toby Davis Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, U.S, Moscow

☆ Wimbledon on red alert for orange protest
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Every year we work with the Metropolitan Police and other agencies to review our security arrangements in line with relevant threat picture and of course. Bolton said it was not all about the numbers of people involved. "Some of it is about the type of intelligence that we're using and the tactics that we're using," she said. Last week's England v Australia cricket test at Lord's was briefly held up by powder-spreading protesters, following similar incidents at the World Snooker Championship and English Premiership rugby final. Reporting Mitch Phillips, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Italy's Lorenzo Musetti, Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas, Andrew Couldridge, we've, Sally Bolton, Bolton, enjoyably, Mitch Phillips, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas REUTERS, Wimbledon, All England Club, Metropolitan Police, Australia, English Premiership rugby, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, England, Lord's

☆ Azarenka feeling the love on Wimbledon return
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Christian Radnedge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

As part of their return, players from the two nations are playing as neutrals and are not allowed to receive state funding or have sponsorship from Russian or Belarusian companies. Britain is a major ally of Ukraine and continues to provide military support but there was no animosity from the crowd towards former world number one Azarenka as she edged past China's Yuan Yue 6-4 5-7 6-4 in the first round. "There are of course some incidents sometimes happens (at other events), but I felt like I was very welcomed everywhere. The world number two begins her Wimbledon campaign against Hungary's Panna Udvardy on Tuesday. Reporting by Christian Radnedge, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Victoria Azarenka, China’s Yue Yuan, Andrew Couldridge, Azarenka, Yuan Yue, Vika, Aryna Sabalenka, Hungary's Panna Udvardy, Christian Radnedge, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Victoria, Wimbledon, ATP, WTA, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Belarus, China’s Yue Yuan REUTERS, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Belarusian

☆ Garcia takes French hopes into Wimbledon second round
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Clare Lovell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Garcia, seeded five, has a game suited to grass and used her speed and agility at the net as well as powerful returns to grind down her 21-year-old opponent. Garcia, 29, who has twice reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, suffered a brief wobble at the start of the second set, spraying unforced errors around the court and Volynets took advantage, breaking serve twice for a 3-0 lead. The Californian, whose only previous Wimbledon main draw appearance in 2021 ended in first-round defeat, could not cope when Garcia put her game back together. "I had to have a reaction and I was able to come back quickly," Garcia said in an on-court interview. When play resumed Garcia did not hang about, winning the fifth game in a row when Volynets served a double fault then serving for the match.

Persons: Caroline Garcia, Katie Volynets, Toby Melville LONDON, drizzle, Garcia, Volynets, volleying, Clare Lovell, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, U.S, REUTERS, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ Top seed Swiatek powers past Zhu to launch Wimbledon title quest
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The 22-year-old Pole, who won the French Open title for the third time last month to make it four Grand Slam crowns, has yet to get past the fourth round of the London major. I felt like I did a very good job," said Swiatek, a former junior champion at Wimbledon. "I feel really good after Roland Garros (French Open). "Last year it was my second Grand Slam (at the French Open) and it felt overwhelming. Zhu saved two set points at 5-0 but Swiatek sealed the first set a game later with a powerful crosscourt forehand winner.

Persons: Iga Swiatek, China's Zhu Lin REUTERS, Hannah Mckay LONDON, Zhu Lin, Swiatek, Roland Garros, Zhu, Karolos Grohmann, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, London, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Homburg

☆ Players face 'mental torture' at Wimbledon, says sports psychologist
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The All England Club's lawns will be the focus of the tennis world over the next fortnight as the world's leading players battle opponents and often their own psychological demons. UNIQUE CHALLENGES"There are a number of unique challenges elite tennis players have to face. Tennis players probably are only playing tennis for about 10 minutes of every hour they're on court," she said. Considering how much expectation he has shouldered at Wimbledon down the years, the 36-year-old has coped admirably, according to Mobed. "He is a fantastic example of someone that has worked so hard to uncover his mental strength," she said.

Persons: Toby Melville LONDON, Jana Novotna, Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Czech Karolina Pliskova, Gaston Gaudio, Guillermo Coria, Gaudio, Katie Mobed, Novak Djokovic, Elena Rybakina, Andy Murray, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon REUTERS, Tennis, Wimbledon, Czech, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, England, British

☆ Champion Rybakina under the radar ahead of Wimbledon
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Rybakina prefers to let her potent strokes do the talking, just as she did last year when marching to a surprise title after a sensational fortnight in London. Yet despite being the third-ranked player in the world, and having reached the Australian Open final this year as well as title runs at Indian Wells and Rome, Rybakina will saunter into Wimbledon with little fanfare. While much of the focus is understandably on top seed Iga Swiatek and number two Aryna Sabalenka, as well as the likes of Coco Gauff and Jabeur, Rybakina will quietly go about her business when she opens play on Centre Court on Tuesday. "She's got the perfect game for grass when everything is working, but everything has to be working," three-time Wimbledon champion Chris Evert said when previewing the tournament for broadcaster ESPN this week. As Evert rightly points out, successfully defending a Wimbledon women's title is no easy task.

Persons: Elena Rybakina, Hannah Mckay, Rybakina, Iga, Coco Gauff, She's, Chris Evert, Evert, Serena, Venus Williams, Steffi Graf, Rybakina's, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, Indian, Court, Eastbourne, ESPN, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Moscow, Kazakhstan, Indian Wells, Rome, Wimbledon

☆ Princess of Wales wins point against Roger Federer while playing tennis at Wimbledon
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Tennis royalty met British royalty at Wimbledon this month as Roger Federer and Catherine, Princess of Wales, met the tournament’s ball boys and girls, took part in their training, and played a game of doubles. Kate even managed to win a point against the eight-time Wimbledon champion, hitting a passing shot while he was standing at the net. As a royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Kate is often seen watching the tennis from the Royal Box at Wimbledon, which this year begins on July 3. At one point, however, Kate took an impressive one-handed catch, only to be told by Federer that ball girls and boys weren’t allowed to catch the ball at Wimbledon. “You’re meant to let it bounce and then get it,” a ball girl standing next to her added.

Persons: Roger Federer, Catherine , Princess of Wales, Kate, ” Federer, Federer, “, ” Kate, Thomas Lovelock, I’m, ”, weren’t Organizations: CNN — Tennis, Wimbledon, Lawn Tennis Club Locations: Basel, Switzerland

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