Thursday saw the completion of the delayed round 2 of the lower half of the draw, with Spain’s Paula Badosa and Caroline Wozniacki advancing as Caroline Garcia bowed out of contention.
I think definitely my experience has helped me on days like today. I’ve been out here for a few years now,” Wozniacki laughed. “It’s just, I think, also [that] I feel less pressure. You know, I’m just really enjoying myself enjoying the moment I get to play out here on these big courts in front of an amazing crowd. I mean, I just love it, you know, so I really don’t take anything for granted. Caroline Wozniacki
Badosa defeated the young Czech Brenda Fruhvirtova, 6-4 6-2, making the 3rd round of a Grand Slam for the 3rd time in 2024.
“Winning matches, getting myself into these rounds and feeling my body okay, of course it gives me faith of continuing,” said Badosa after the match. “Of course, I’m very motivated. The last tournaments I think I’ve been feeling myself pretty good, so I think the level is raising slowly, so I’m happy with that.”
Badosa, ranked No 93, will face Russian Daria Kasatkina, the No 14 seed, next, who went through 6-0 6-0 in 50 minutes against Britain’s Yuriko Lily Miyazaki, in what was the first whitewash, or ‘double bagel’, in the ladies’ singles since 2015, when Venus Williams thrashed fellow American Madison Brengle by the same scoreline.
Caroline upset Leylah Fernandez, the No 30 seed, in 3 sets at Wimbledon on Thursday evening
© Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Former World No 1 Caroline Wozniacki pulled off an incredible sundown escape in the 2nd-round, saving 2 match points on her way to a 6-3 2-6 7-5 upset win over No 30 seed Leylah Fernandez from Canada.
“This is obviously a great win for me, and a very hard-fought win,” Wozniacki told the media. “I’m just thrilled to be out there, and competing against the best players in the world.”
Contesting her first Wimbledon main draw since 2019, the Dane dealt with a late court change, from Court 12 to No 1 Court, as well as the pair of match points, prevailing over the Canadian after 10.00 pm local time.
The match was suspended at 3-3 in the third set due to darkness out on Court No 12, and restarted an hour later under the roof and lights of No 1 Court to complete the day’s play.
It took Wozniacki 2 hours and 19 minutes of on-court action to reach the Wimbledon 3rd round for the 9th time, where she will next face 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, in their first meeting.
The No 4 seed also had to battle to a 2nd-round win, eventually beating German veteran Laura Siegemund 6-3 3-6 6-3 in their 2nd-round showdown on No 2 Court.
Wozniacki, the 2018 Australian Open champion, is making her Wimbledon return after missing the last 3 editions, having retired to start a family.
A two-time Eastbourne champion on grass, she is yet to make a Wimbledon quarter-final despite reaching the second week on 6 separate occasions.
On Thursday evening, Wozniacki moved a step closer when she took the first set from Fernandez, who brought her own strong grass-court form into the match, coming off a run to last week’s Eastbourne final.
The Canadian broke Wozniacki’s serve 3 times in the second set as she levelled proceedings.
While Fernandez was competing with customary fearlessness, Wozniacki’s renowned defence kicked in, and, forced into error as she served at 4-5 in the third, she saved 2 break points that were also match points.
Now ranked 91, Wozniacki showcased the persistence that saw her claim 30 singles victories, including the 2018 Australian Open, before her 3-year hiatus.
A tense 11th game extended more than 10 minutes, with Wozniacki securing the pivotal break of serve on her sixth opportunity, and from there it was a straightforward win as the Dane dropped only one more point as she served out the match.
“I think definitely my experience has helped me on days like today. I’ve been out here for a few years now,” Wozniacki laughed. “It’s just, I think, also [that] I feel less pressure.
“You know, I’m just really enjoying myself enjoying the moment I get to play out here on these big courts in front of an amazing crowd. I mean, I just love it, you know, so I really don’t take anything for granted.”
Wozniacki will need all that spirit in her next match against No.4 seed Elena Rybakina.
“That’s going to be a tough one,” she agreed with a smile. “But, you know, I got to serve well, I got to return well, l move well and do everything well.”
Elina Svitolina defeated Jule Niemeier in straight sets to set up a Last 32 meeting with Ons Jabeur
© Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Elina Svitolina, the No 21 seed from Ukraine, is another returning mother to the tour, and she won against German Jule Niemeier, 6-3 6-4, to also move into the 3rd-round on Thursday evening, where she will face Tunisian Ons Jabeur, the No 10 seed, next.
Another Ukrainian, Marta Kostyuk, fought back from a set and 2-5 down and saved a match point along the way to beat Daria Saville on Court 14, 4-6 7-6(2) 6-4 to reach the 3rd-round, and will meet Madison Keys, after the American 12th seed had a relatively easy win over China’s Wang Yafan, 6-2 6-2.
Kostyuk, the No 18 seed, needed all of her grit to advance to the Last 32 for the second straight year.
Caroline Garcia, the No 23 seed from France, was upset by American Bernarda Pera, 3-6 6-3 6-4, who moves on the 11th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko from Latvia.
Barbora Krejcikova, the 30th seed from Czech Republic, survived two very tight sets against American qualifierKatie Volynets, 7-6(6) 7-6(5), and she will now meet Spain’s Jessica Bouxas Maneiro, who followed up her upset of 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the 1st-round with a 7-6(1) 6-3 over her compatriot Cristina Bucsa.
15th seed Liudmila Samsonova saw off fellow Russian Elina Avanesyan, 6-3 6-3, and will meet another in Anna Kalinskaya, the 17th seed, who defeated Czech Marie Bouzkoba, 6-4 6-1.
