Wimbledon 2024 LIVE: Tennis scores as Jannik Sinner battles past Matteo Berrettini after Emma Raducanu win
Raducanu eased past Elise Mertens on No.1 Court with Carlos Alcaraz also victorious on a rain-hit day at Wimbledon
Emma Raducanu produced a stunning victory at Wimbledon, sweeping past Elise Mertens hours after confirming she will play alongside Andy Murray in the mixed doubles. Raducanu dominated the world No 33 and claimed a 6-1 6-2 victory in just 75 minutes to return to the third round of a grand slam for the first time since winning the US Open in 2021.
Murray was forced to pull out of his final singles match at the Championships after ruling that he had not recovered from a back operation in time. The two-time champion will play in the men’s doubles alongside brother Jamie on Thursday but his on-court swansong will continue in the mixed doubles alongside Raducanu, the former US Open champion.
Carlos Alcaraz continued his impressive start to his title defence with a dominant win after an early scare against Australian Aleksandar Vukic. In the final match of the day, world No 1 Jannik Sinner battled past compatriot and former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in an epic four-set win, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 7-6 (7-4), on Centre Court.
Follow all the latest updates and live scores from Wimbledon below:
Emma Raducanu reacts to statement win and teaming up with Andy Murray
“Everyone else said yes. I played really good tennis and I knew all the hard yards would lead to something and I am just happy I can reap some of the rewards here in Wimbledon,” Raducanu said after victory before discussing her potential in doubles with Andy Murray.
“My doubles record is not the longest but I couldn’t say no. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s a dream of mine since I was a young girl watching the Olympics.
“Andy’s a hero to us all, so for me it’s a real gift and a real honour that he asked me. I’m just super excited and hopefully I can learn a thing or to about coming to the net or something.”
Dan Evans exits Wimbledon with frustration at ‘powers that be in fancy jackets’
As Dan Evans’s first-round match with Alejandro Tabilo resumed on Wednesday, it looked at times as though the Briton was reaching into a bag of tricks, rummaging around desperately for something of use – eyes strained at the sky, tongue lolloped across his face – and pulling out a tool, only to find that his opponent was already holding the same one. Except each time, Tabilo’s was sharper, shinier, more effective.
When their Wimbledon tie resumed on Court 12, the score was 3-3 in the second set, with the Chilean having taken the first on Tuesday. Their match had been suspended due to dimming light and dampening grass, with Evans unwilling to risk injury, having already hurt himself with a fall at Queens.
That fall had left his right knee bandaged here, and perhaps the one upside from this defeat is that – barring a deep doubles run at the All England Club – the 34-year-old will now have more time to recover before the Olympics. Because, ultimately, the end of Evans’s Wimbledon campaign came three weeks before the start of his endeavours in Paris, as Tabilo completed a straight-sets victory under grey skies in SW19.
Dan Evans exits Wimbledon with dig at ‘powers that be in fancy jackets’
The Briton was beaten in straight sets by Alejandro Tabilo, as their first-round match concluded after bad light and weather on Tuesday
Wimbledon 2024: Emma Raducanu defeats Elise Mertens
There’s bonus tennis on No.1 Court due to the rain, so seventh seed Jasmine Paolini follows Emma Raducanu's match.
The Italian, who reached the French Open final last month, takes on Greet Minnen of Belgium, looking to build on her first-ever main draw win over Sara Sorribes Tormo in the first round.
Wimbledon 2024: *Emma Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 Elise Mertens
A good hold from Mertens, over to Raducanu to serve this one out.
A wicked backhand across court levels the game up at 15-15, with Raducanu skipping across the surface with confidence evidently oozing out of her.
Two match points coming up... First serve is out wide but too heavy, second serve down the middle but with some venom.
The return is long, that’s it, game, set, match, Raducanu!
Wimbledon 2024: Emma Raducanu 6-1, 5-1 Elise Mertens*
Serving for a 5-1 lead, Raducanu takes the second serve at 15-0 down the middle.
But then balloons a forehand long, 15-15.
That’s majestic from Raducanu, great defence and she stays in the point. Then moves over to the backhand side and buries a backhand down the line. Mertens was not even close.
A big hold and now one game away from victory.
Wimbledon 2024: *Emma Raducanu 6-1, 4-1 Elise Mertens
Gutsy from Mertens to save break point there, a race to the net and a forehand smash to put it away.
Raducanu on the brink of surely ending this match with a double break here.
Mertens then sprays a forehand into the double tramlines, another break point coming up. Raducanu just doing enough to force her opponent into unforced errors.
Magic! The backhand sliced drop shot does the damage and that’s 4-1!
Wimbledon 2024: *Emma Raducanu 6-1, 2-1 Elise Mertens
And there’s the break!
Raducanu has the advantage in the second and just needs to hold serve from here for a much-needed routine victory.
She’s moving superbly on serve, too, a fine forehand on the move, whipped back across court, 15-0.
Wimbledon 2024: *Emma Raducanu 6-1, 1-1 Elise Mertens
That’s a routine hold from Raducanu and she stays on serve in the second set.
This match is just 50 minutes long so far...
Wimbledon 2024: Emma Raducanu 6-1 Elise Mertens*
Raducanu building on this fine start on No.1 Court.
Serving for the set, she sprays a forehand long and allows Mertens back into the game at 30-30.
And now a break point after doing all the hard work in this opening set, the Briton is struggling to get over the line.
That’s a brilliant backhand winner to save a break point though! Deuce...
And that’s ruthless, two quick-fire points, SET! Fabulous from Raducanu.
Wimbledon 2024: Emma Raducanu 5-0 Elise Mertens*
Five games in a row for Raducanu as Mertens nets on the return. Mertens flashed a forehand winner up the line but these are really favourable conditions for Raducanu to play in and she’s enjoying this.
A game away from the opening set now.
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