{"id":51966,"date":"2025-07-09T17:40:22","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T17:40:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/51966\/"},"modified":"2025-07-09T17:40:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T17:40:22","slug":"djokovic-vs-cobolli-scores-and-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/51966\/","title":{"rendered":"Djokovic vs Cobolli scores and results"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Djokovic shows some signs of frustration as he hurls his racket into the air after Cobolli holds for a 4-3 lead in the third set. There have been some sloppy errors from the seven-time champion and Cobolli \u2014 who appeared floored by his first-set efforts \u2014 has just about managed to wrestle some of the momentum back. A lazy backhand by the Italian goes wide and now it is his turn to let out some frustration as he groans after the unforced error. Djokovic double faults at 40-15, but follows that up with a service-winner to hold for 4-4. He isn\u2019t happy though, as he berates himself post-game.<\/p>\n<p>Game, set and nap \u2014 Hugh Grant<\/p>\n<p class=\"styles__Paragraph-sc-12n1gx9-4 cHqSOe\">Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using <a href=\"#\" class=\"styles__LinkPrivacyManager-sc-12n1gx9-7 gbNmVF\">privacy manager.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Enable cookiesAllow cookies onceAnother twist as Cobolli breaks back<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">This match twists again (James Gheerbrant writes)! Three brilliant points from Flavio Cobolli \u2014 the first of them an incredible rally, the last a clean winner on the return \u2014 bring the Centre Court crowd to their feet and see him break back for 2-2 in the third set.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">It feels like Novak Djokovic is now firmly in charge of this match (James Gheerbrant writes). Flavio Cobolli wins the first point of the third set, but Djokovic reels off the next eight in a row to move a break up early in the third. The Serbian leads 2-1 in the third set.<\/p>\n<p class=\"styles__Paragraph-sc-12n1gx9-4 cHqSOe\">Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using <a href=\"#\" class=\"styles__LinkPrivacyManager-sc-12n1gx9-7 gbNmVF\">privacy manager.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Enable cookiesAllow cookies onceMore reaction from Sinner: <\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">\u201cI\u2019m very very happy with my performance, playing against him [Ben Shelton] is so difficult.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">\u201cYou have chances and he serves very well as we saw in the last game but overall we play each other more and more we get to know each other a little bit better and I\u2019m looking forward to these kind of battles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">\u201cI remember the first time playing on Centre Court and the first time playing the semi-finals here and it\u2019s very very special.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">\u201cI\u2019m very much looking forward to it [his semi-final] but when you\u2019re young, one year it makes such a difference because you get more into the big stages and you get used to it and it feels so amazing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">\u201cWimbledon is the most special tournament throughout the calendar so being again here in the last four means a lot to me and hopefully it\u2019s going to be a good match the next one, let\u2019s see who I\u2019m going to play against but I\u2019m looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">The world No1 played down the impact of his elbow injury. <\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">\u201cWhen you\u2019re in a match with a lot of tension you try to not think about it, it has improved a lot from yesterday to today,\u201d he said. \u201cYesterday my day was very short on the practice court, 20 minutes with the coaches.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to it now, there\u2019s no excuse, there is no better stage to play tennis and I showed this today, the atmosphere helps me so much so thanks so much for the support.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"styles__Paragraph-sc-12n1gx9-4 cHqSOe\">Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using <a href=\"#\" class=\"styles__LinkPrivacyManager-sc-12n1gx9-7 gbNmVF\">privacy manager.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Enable cookiesAllow cookies onceDjokovic races through second set<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">The psychological ebb and flow of tennis matches is endlessly fascinating (James Gheerbrant writes). Flavio Cobolli threw the absolute kitchen sink at Novak Djokovic for 70 minutes, absorbed all manner of pressure and his reward was one of the most hard-fought sets you\u2019ll see. He drops his level slightly for 10 minutes and in the blink of an eye Djokovic has raced to the second. A second break, a hold to love and the sixth seed wraps it up 6-2 to square the match. By my reckoning, he won 16 of the last 18 points of that set.<\/p>\n<p>Sinner not dwelling on elbow injury<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Shelton saved the first match point on his serve with a defiant forehand and the second with an even more defiant ace (Alyson Rudd writes). Then came a double fault and a third match point and by now Shelton had run out of retorts leaving Sinner to almost stroll into the semi-final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">The Italian\u2019s on court interview was much more joyful than the one conducted after he progressed at the expense of the injured Gregor Dimitrov.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">\u201cIt\u2019s an honour,\u201d he said, to play in front of the No1 Court crowd. They liked hearing that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">He said his elbow had improved a lot but clearly did not want to dwell on the matter. If he is in any pain, he hides it well.<\/p>\n<p>Sinner untroubled and into semi-finals<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Sinner puts immense pressure on the Shelton serve at 5-4. Serving to stay in the match the American saves two break points, but double-faults to give Sinner a third bite at the cherry. The world No1 makes no mistake this time. He superbly returns the Shelton first serve and the American miscues and Sinner completes a straight-sets victory 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, 6-4. <\/p>\n<p class=\"styles__Paragraph-sc-12n1gx9-4 cHqSOe\">Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using <a href=\"#\" class=\"styles__LinkPrivacyManager-sc-12n1gx9-7 gbNmVF\">privacy manager.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Enable cookiesAllow cookies onceEarly second-set break for Djokovic<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Is that where this match turns (James Gheerbrant writes)? Flavio Cobolli had started the second set very well but, serving at 2-2, he pulls a forehand into the tramlines, then stands there as Djokovic whistles a forehand winner into the corner. That brings up two break points, and Djokovic takes the first when Cobolli nets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Serving at 2-3 down in the third, Shelton slipped over in response to a Sinner smash and while he was unhurt it underlined that for all his athleticism there was nothing much he could do to counter the Italian\u2019s supremacy even if he did manage to hold (Alyson Rudd writes). Every time the American, urged on by his father, conjures something to win a point on the Sinner serve, the No1 seed breathes in and dismantles Shelton\u2019s next efforts. This is quite beautiful tennis from Sinner.<\/p>\n<p>Sinner a game away from semi-finals<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Both players are dominating on serve in the third set on No1 Court. Shelton is showing real guts to keep coming back at Sinner, and the crowd are rallying behind the American. Two loose points from the world No1 invites pressure and Shelton leads 0-30 on the Sinner serve, but just like that two service-winners level things back up. Sinner holds with a superb backhand pass to take a 5-4 lead, and we remain on serve in the third set. Sinner is a game away now.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Have we got an upset on our hands on Centre Court (James Gheerbrant writes)? That was the tightest, tensest first set but a brilliant forehand pass by Flavio Cobolli gives him a set point at 7-6 in the tie-break and he takes it with a big first serve. That\u2019s an incredible set to win for the Italian, because he was under so much pressure in it: he was taken to deuce in each of his last five service games, but only broken once. He\u2019s hitting the ball with power and conviction and that weight of shot is causing real problems for Djokovic. Can Djokovic turn the tables as he did against Alex de Minaur in the previous round? The first break in this second set feels huge.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Wimbledon Championships 2025 Day 10, 09\/07\/25\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/\/5ec78c58-fb8f-4f24-840c-67ecec6349d5.jpg\" class=\"responsive-sc-1nnon4d-0 bAbKns\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Cobolli sealed the first set 7-6 (8-6) with an ace<\/p>\n<p>TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER MARC ASPLAND<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Sinner broke serve to seal the second set and it is hard to see how Shelton can make this last longer than three sets (Alyson Rudd writes).<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">There were a few moments in the second set when it appeared that the Italian might be experiencing some discomfort from his strapped elbow but then as the set progressed he shifted gear to become utterly clinical. The American is offering plenty of energy and power but the No1 seed is spotting all the winning angles and attacking as if he knows no other way to be.<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic wastes set point<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Novak Djokovic gets himself a set point on the Cobolli serve at 30-40 after taking charge of a couple of long rallies, but he can\u2019t take it, pulling a forehand into the tramlines (James Gheerbrant writes). Cobolli holds for 5-5. But Djokovic follows up with a clinical service game \u2014 a rarity so far in this match \u2014 and the No22 seed will have to serve to stay in the first set again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Huge break for Sinner, and it comes at exactly the right time. After two lengthy rallies, the Italian\u2019s ground strokes prove too much for Shelton who goes long and Sinner takes the second set 6-4.<\/p>\n<p class=\"styles__Paragraph-sc-12n1gx9-4 cHqSOe\">Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using <a href=\"#\" class=\"styles__LinkPrivacyManager-sc-12n1gx9-7 gbNmVF\">privacy manager.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Enable cookiesAllow cookies onceDjokovic breaks, but Cobolli breaks straight back<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">This first set between Novak Djokovic and Flavio Cobolli is an intriguing tussle (James Gheerbrant writes). Djokovic broke for 5-3 on a brilliant rally, which ended with Cobolli putting a forehand wide, but he then played a very loose game to be broken back to love. Neither man is motoring through their service games so far \u2014 can Cobolli put the pressure on Djokovic with a quick hold here?<\/p>\n<p>Shelton showing confidence<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Ben Shelton saves a break point and holds to make things 4-4 in the second set. He does it in style too, bringing up deuce with a 93mph forehand and wins the game with a service-winner that Sinner can\u2019t return. Sinner holds again for 5-4, and this set looks like it could be heading for a tie-break. <\/p>\n<p>Cobolli not overawed on Centre<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Flavio Cobolli has made a pretty good start against Novak Djokovic on Centre (James Gheerbrant writes). He\u2019s just done very well to dig himself out of a service game in which she saved two break points and there were the first signs of tightness on his forehand, with three into the net in quick succession. But he certainly doesn\u2019t look overawed by the occasion, in what is his first grand-slam quarter-final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">An important hold for Cobolli on Centre Court as the Italian saves two break points against Djokovic. He is matching the level of the Serbian so far, with the score 3-3 on serve in the first set. <\/p>\n<p>His Italian compatriot is still ticking along nicely on No1 Court. Sinner continues to serve well, but there appear to be some signs of that elbow issue worrying him. He clutches it after a miscued backhand floats into the net. We are also 3-3 in this game and on serve in the second set. <\/p>\n<p>Hammer time on Court No14 as Soucek supports superfan Lapthorne<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">While the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Katherine Grainger and both of rugby\u2019s Jonathan Davieses watched Mirra Andreeva and Belinda Bencic from the glamorous ensconcement of the Royal Box, unbeknownst to many, another sports star was taking in the action on one of Wimbledon\u2019s humbler courts (James Gheerbrant writes).<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">The West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek slipped into one of the courtside seats on Court No14 to support Andy Lapthorne in his quad singles quarter-final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Lapthorne, who has cerebral palsy, is such a big West Ham fan that he even travels to watch them in away matches in Europe (he recently told The Times\u2019s Alyson Rudd that if he encounters stairs, \u201cI\u2019ve got a great group of mates and I\u2019ll literally jump up, they\u2019ll grab the [wheel]chair, and I\u2019ll walk\u201d), and Soucek returned the favour here.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Wimbledon Championships 2025 Day 10, 09\/07\/25\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/\/acf96400-5a71-4be0-bc0e-7ec96fa90584.jpg\" class=\"responsive-sc-1nnon4d-0 bAbKns\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Lapthorne plays in his quad singles quarter-final with Soucek, blue shirt, watching on Court No14<\/p>\n<p>TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER MARC ASPLAND<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">The two met in 2023 when Soucek, along with his team-mate Vladimir Coufal, tried wheelchair tennis for International Day of People with Disabilities, with Lapthorne acting as their instructor. When The Times caught up with him for a brief chat, Soucek said he remembered it being really hard.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Unfortunately, Lapthorne couldn\u2019t put the hammer down in his match against Ahmet Kaplan of Turkey, losing in three topsy-turvy sets 6-2, 1-6, 6-2.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">The 34-year-old, bidding to reach the Wimbledon final for a second time after losing to Dylan Alcott in 2019, was facing the player whom he beat in the recent Eastbourne final, but he couldn\u2019t repeat that result.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">However, there will be one British semi-finalist after Gregory Slade, who won a silver medal with Lapthorne in the doubles at the Paralympics last summer, beat Chile\u2019s Francisco Cayulef in three sets. He will take on the Dutch No2 seed Sam Schr\u00f6der.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Lapthorne will have another chance at Wimbledon success when he plays in the quad doubles, partnering Cayulef.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Soucek is a keen tennis fan who told the West Ham website recently that he tries to play as often as he can, though it\u2019s hard to find time during the season, adding: \u201cI think it\u2019s a good sport because you can stay on the move. I\u2019m not, for example, a keen golf player because I want to move a little bit more.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">The midfielder, who has been capped 81 times for the Czech Republic, was also at Wimbledon to support his compatriot Katerina Siniakova, who along with the American Taylor Townsend is the top seed in the women\u2019s doubles.<\/p>\n<p>No sign of injury for Sinner<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">The first set went to a tie-break in which Shelton suddenly came even more animated (Alyson Rudd writes). But after the American forced a mini break, it was the ice cool approach of Sinner which won out. If the No1 seed\u2019s elbow is giving him discomfort then he is hiding very well indeed. <\/p>\n<p>Djokovic and Cobolli getting underway<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Novak Djokovic and Flavio Cobolli are out on Centre and warming up for their quarter-final (James Gheerbrant writes). Djokovic, who is bidding to reach his 14th Wimbledon semi-final, is a heavy favourite for this one, against the Italian 22nd seed, who lost in the first round of qualifying in 2022 and 2023, and is playing only the 18th grass-court match of his career. Can Cobolli bridge that enormous gulf in experience to cause an almighty upset?<\/p>\n<p>Sinner looking clinical as ever<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">It would not be fanciful to state that Sinner is playing like someone keen to wrap it all up very quickly just to be sure he can give his right arm some more TLC (Alyson Rudd writes). In the seventh game there were acrobatics from both players with Sinner winning the point against serve with impressive agility at the net. It was a game packed with sublime tennis and enough athleticism from Shelton to prevent a break. Sinner\u2019s service games were far less dramatic by virtue of him being more assured and clinical.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Sinner is 23, Shelton is 22 and yet it feels like an uncle is facing his nephew and giving him a masterclass when he might have preferred something more obviously avuncular.<\/p>\n<p>Wait goes on for Lapthorne<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Disappointment for Andy Lapthorne in the quad singles (James Gheerbrant writes). He seemed to have wrested the momentum when he took the second set against Ahmet Kaplan 6-1 but the Turkish player hit back to win the decider 6-2. Lapthorne\u2019s wait for a first Wimbledon final since the inaugural quad singles event in 2019 goes on.<\/p>\n<p>Bencic holds nerve to reach last four<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"TENNIS-GBR-WIMBLEDON\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/\/f3ed250e-8357-473e-a337-dbcdce3226d2.jpg\" class=\"responsive-sc-1nnon4d-0 bAbKns\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Belinda Bencic has made it through to the Wimbledon semi-final just 15 months after becoming a mother (Rick Broadbent writes). She edged a nervy match 7-6, 7-6 against Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva. The errors in the second-set tie-break were symptomatic of the match, and a double fault gave the Swiss woman four match points. She only needed one. She was the more consistent player throughout. Andreeva, the 18-year-old seventh seed, will be back, for a decade or so, but the world No35 makes it to the last four for the first time.<\/p>\n<p>Underway in Sinner v Shelton<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">We are off and running in the first men\u2019s quarter-final of the day on No1 Court \u2014 once again Alyson Rudd is in position for us. <\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">She writes: \u201cHe trained for 70 minutes prior to the quarter-final with elbow protection and kept us all in limbo. Would we see Jannik Sinner walk out for his match against Ben Shelton or not? In the previous round he had needed treatment but a sudden pectoral injury to Gregor Dimitrov meant we briefly forgot that the Italian was struggling and had lost the first two sets before the Bulgarian was forced to retire. He had struggled to serve, to hit forehands while Dimitrov was inspired. Sinner looked almost more bereft than his friend that the No19 seed was forced to shuffle off court having been in such scintillating form. Sinner chose to plough on and face the young American who he beat in last year\u2019s fourth round. And so far so good. Sinner has held serve. Baby steps at this stage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">If she has shown a lot of flaws Andreeva has shown some good old guts (Rick Broadbent writes). She drags Bencic to deuce but then makes a hash of an attempted winner off a second serve. Another error follows and it\u2019s a tie-break No 2.<\/p>\n<p>Nerves biting as Andreeva responds <\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">What a nervy game from both players (Rick Broadbent writes). At 30-30, Andreeva decides to slice everything. It pays off and she gets a break point. Then Bencic gets a time warning and Andreeva flashes a deep backhand to the corner to break back. It\u2019s 5-5.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">The crunch. Andreeva holds her position \u2013 and nerve \u2013 at the net and drags herself back to 30-30 on her serve, but it does not last (Rick Broadbent writes). She can\u2019t find a first serve when she really needs one and goes long with her groundstroke. So we have the break. Bencic, who has never been past the fourth round, will serve for the match. <\/p>\n<p>Mirra miscue gets Bencic off hook<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">This has been absorbing rather than a bona fide thriller, but Bencic throws in a double fault at the wrong time to give Andreeva break point (Rick Broadbent writes). A good serve saves it. There have been a fair few miscues from Andreeva and another helps Bencic home. It\u2019s 4-4. <\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Andreeva escapes. At deuce, 3-3, Bencic was licking her lips, but the seventh seed shows resilience to get through and we are still on serve (Rick Broadbent writes). The Russian leads 4-3 after losing the first set. <\/p>\n<p>No all-British semi-final<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">The dream of an all-British men\u2019s doubles semi-final is over (James Gheerbrant writes). Today\u2019s quarter-finals have been so, so tight, but Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, the sixth seeds, have been edged out in two tie-break sets by the Spanish-Argentine pairing of Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, seeded fourth. So it will be Granollers and Zeballos, the French Open champs, versus Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool in the semi-final.<\/p>\n<p>Swiatek through in straight sets<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Iga Swiatek beat Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 7-5<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Wimbledon\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/\/fddae237-36d1-452a-875b-ced17ac38f96.jpg\" class=\"responsive-sc-1nnon4d-0 bAbKns\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Swiatek said she had goosebumps after beating her Russian opponent<\/p>\n<p>ANDREW COULDRIDGE\/REUTERS<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">This ebbed and flowed and while there was underlying feeling Iga Swiatek would prevail, there was tension galore (Alyson Rudd writes). \u201cIt feels great, I\u2019ve got goosebumps after this win,\u201d she said of reaching her first Wimbledon semi-final. <\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">After a dreadful start to the second set, Samsonova held, albeit nervily, for 3-1. And then, somewhat surprisingly, broke the Swiatek serve and you had to give her credit for sticking at it when the match seemed to be drifting away from her. On serve, Samsonova produced a deadly drop shot, not the sign of a player under pressure but she served a double fault to give the Pole a 4-2 lead. But then it was 4-3 as she was broken by the sort of tennis only played by someone with nothing left to lose. And so the Russian began the next game as she started the match, full of brio which brought it to 4-4 and the outcome less clear cut. Serving to stay in the match, Samsonova was confident enough to go for a mid- air volley and win the opening point and she held for 5-5 with both women summoning new levels of aggression. Swiatek was issued with a time violation warning ahead of her serve at 5-5 but she held to lead 6-5. With a blistering return Swiatek won and skipped a little in delight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">On Court 14, Andy Lapthorne is storming back in his wheelchair singles quarter-final against Turkey\u2019s Ahmet Kaplan (James Gheerbrant writes). Lapthorne, an avid West Ham United fan, is being watched by their midfielder Tomas Soucek today, and having lost the first set 6-2, the Briton is 4-0 up in the second.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">According to the computer gurus, Andreeva is still the marginal favourite to win with a 52 per cent chance (Rick Broadbent writes). Mind you, they gave Bencic only a 25 per cent chance before the start. Anyway it\u2019s 1-1 with no early breaks in the second set. <\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">The first set goes to Bencic and, on the balance of play, that\u2019s the right result (Rick Broadbent writes). She takes the tiebreak 7-3 despite a double fault, but she is moving Andreeva around the court and the Russian is struggling to deal with her opponent\u2019s low, hard backhands. It\u2019s the first set she has dropped this Wimbledon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Andreeva serves an ace to give her game point and then wins an exchange at the net (Rick Broadbent writes). And so we go to the tie-break. This one is beginning to boil.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Two people who know a thing or two about talented teens are in the Royal Box watching Andreeva. Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows are the coaches of Keely Hodgkinson who was only 19 when she won an Olympic 800m silver medal in 2021. Down on the court Andreeva came through her first big test with comfort to make it 5-5. She is unhappy with the AI calls though, and to the naked eye she has a point. She shows good composure not to let that bother her and then stays patient to win a long rally to get to 15-30 on the Bencic serve. Bencic then saves two break points and now leads 6-5 (Rick Broadbent writes).<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">The landscape of a match can change quite radically. What began as an even contest, brimming with excellence, has become a nervy affair with the crowd shuffling and murmuring as they watch the No 19 seed wilt in front of their eyes. Samsonova had four break points in the third game of the second set but never really looked like converting any of them and instead her Polish opponent races into a 3-0 lead (Alyson Rudd writes).<\/p>\n<p>British pair lose first set<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">On Court Three, in the men\u2019s doubles quarter-final involving the British pairing of Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, a tight first set has gone the way of the fourth seeds, Spain\u2019s Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina. They take it 8-6 in the tie-break. Granollers and Zeballos are trying to become the first men\u2019s pairing to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year since the Bryan brothers in 2013 (James Gheerbrant writes).<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Always staggering, and annoying given the demand, when you look around Centre Court and see pockets of empty seats. It\u2019s the quarter-finals, for heaven\u2019s sake. Meanwhile, Belinda Bencic was under pressure on her serve there after a comfortable opening game but came through to lead 2-1. Mirra Andreeva has not found her range yet after a double fault in her opening service game, although she recovered to hold (Rick Broadbent writes).<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Iga Swiatek has taken the first set 6-2 and she looks ominously comfortable. She is seeded No8 here which is one of the more counter-intuitive seedings given her rapid rise. But she is still only 24, remember. And this too is counter-intuitive. The Pole has the aura of someone approaching her 30s who has seen and done it all. Which she almost has. Her opponent has gone for a comfort break leaving Swiatek to practise her serve (Alyson Rudd writes).<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">In her previous match Mirra Andreeva did not realise she had won as she made her way across court to receive another serve. Kids eh? We have not had a teenage champion for some time. Or a mum. Andreeva is 18, worldly wise in some ways and a giggling tyro in others. Bencic is playing just 15 months after giving birth to her daughter. Mere sporting pain barriers. Pah. No mum has won Wimbledon since Evonne Goolagong some 45 years ago. Andreeva is the youngest quarter-finalist since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007. The youngest winner since Victorian times remains Martina Hingis who was a mere 16 in 1997. As it happens Bencic used to be coached by Hingis\u2019s mum. Funny old, and young, game (Rick Broadbent writes).<\/p>\n<p>Who is in the Royal Box today?<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"TENNIS-GBR-WIMBLEDON\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/\/9ffa77b5-cac2-40b3-a008-f3e24d60ace5.jpg\" class=\"responsive-sc-1nnon4d-0 bAbKns\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">The Times can not-exclusively reveal that the Royal Box today is being graced by the Queen \u2014 who also found time to shake Novak Djokovic\u2019s hand on the way in to the All England Club \u2014 and Hugh Grant, sporting a stylish pair of shades. At least, I think they are stylish. More as we get it. <\/p>\n<p>Klugman through in girls\u2019 singles<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">In the girls\u2019 singles, the second seed Hannah Klugman of Great Britain is safely through: she has beaten the 13th seed Charo Esquiva Ba\u00f1uls 6-4, 6-3. Next up for her in the quarter-finals, the sixth seed Julieta Pareja of the USA. Also in that half of the draw is Mimi Xu, so there is a possibility of an all-British semi-final \u2014 but let\u2019s not get ahead of ourselves just yet (James Gheerbrant writes).<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">This is high-quality fare. This is Samsonova\u2019s first grand-slam quarter-final compared to Swiatek\u2019s 12th but you would never have guessed the fact. The Russian is supremely elegant and confident but annoyingly for her you can almost see how the Pole is learning to love the grass with each passing rally (Alyson Rudd writes).<\/p>\n<p>Doubles champions dethroned<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool\u2019s hopes of being the first all-British pairing to win the men\u2019s doubles since 1960 are still alive. They were the in-form pairing coming into this tournament and they\u2019ve just put out the defending champions, Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara, by the barest of margins: 10-8 in the third-set champions\u2019 tie-break. That was an outstanding, absorbing, high-quality doubles match, but it\u2019s the fifth seeds who go through to the semi-finals, where they will play either another all-British pairing, Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, or Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos. It completes a Wimbledon to forget for Patten, who is also appealing a \u00a39,200 fine for alleged verbal abuse, which he contests (writes James Gheerbrant).<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Alyson Rudd is watching today\u2019s first singles quarter-final: \u201cOn No 1 Court Liudmila Samsonova is taking on\u2026 Iga Swiatek. There is an implied drum roll there because the Russian does like to know who she is facing from round to round. Which is decidedly quirky. On the other hand, if it helps to keep her mind clear and free of fear then maybe it is a reasonable tactic and she has joked that she can avoid any leaks because she flies below the social media radar.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Huge, huge hold of serve from Julian Cash who was 0-40 down on his serve there but he and Lloyd Glasspool saved three match points and won the game, so we\u2019re into the tie-break. Minerals, ladies and gents. <\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Cash and Glasspool serving to stay in the tournament with this third set on serve at 6-5 to Heliovaara and Patten\u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">While we are waiting for the action to start on No 1 Court today, make sure you use your lunchbreak to have a read of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetimes.com\/sport\/tennis\/article\/wimbledon-legends-martina-hingis-bob-bryan-37lqhl3z9\" class=\"link__RespLink-sc-1ocvixa-0 csWvlP\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Owen Slot\u2019s feature<\/a> on the \u201cinvitational\u201d tennis event as he rubbed shoulders with the retired legends of tennis, including Martina Hingis, the Bryan brothers and yes, Greg Rusedski, who says he can still hit a 120mph serve\u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">The action on No 2 Court just keeps on coming. Times reporter Lara Wildenberg has noticed some early frivolity as the first champagne bottles of the day are brought to courtside. <\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">\u201cA spectator near the front row opened a bottle of champagne sending the cork over the sidelines, prompting it to retrieved and binned by a ball girl,\u201d she writes. \u201cThe chair umpire said to laughter from the crowd, \u201cLadies and gentlemen, please do not pop your bottles of champagne onto the court.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">It\u2019s all square in the British clash in the men\u2019s doubles on Court Two, where the defending champions Henry Patten and his Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara, have hit back, taking the second set 6-4. Serving at 4-5, 30-30, Julian Cash made a bad decision to leave a return which dropped onto the line. He and Lloyd Glasspool, the fifth seeds, managed to save the ensuing set point, and a second one, but on a third set point, Heliovaara, who used to play with Glasspool, nailed a return. Cash also seemed to twist his ankle awkwardly in a vain attempt to get to it, and is now taking a medical time out (James Gheerbrant writes).<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Ever the eagle-eyed journalist, Rick Broadbent is already ruffling feathers on his way in to watch Andreeva v Bencic today, with his latest dispatch:<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">\u201cOn the way in this morning I met Rufus the Hawk. You probably know that this majestic Harris\u2019s Hawk is employed to scare the pigeons away. What you may not know is that if you say \u2018Rufus, Rufus, open your wings\u2019, he does just that. Clever stuff. Should be on the wedding circuit really.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/\/f1972037-daa4-46f7-8e81-4da5318728c4.jpg\" class=\"responsive-sc-1nnon4d-0 bAbKns\"\/>Sinner quells fitness fears<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">News of Jannik Sinner: there has been some buzz about Sinner\u2019s troublesome elbow, which intensified when he cancelled a scheduled practice on the Aorangi courts yesterday. But he has been hitting there this morning, wearing a protective sleeve \u2014 17-year-old Jacopo Vasami, the second seed in the boys\u2019 singles, was selected as his hitting partner, partly because he is a left-hander like Ben Shelton, Sinner\u2019s opponent today. Speaking yesterday, Darren Cahill, Sinner\u2019s coach, said he had lost about 6mph on his forehand but was \u201cgoing to be OK\u201d (James Gheerbrant writes).<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Wimbledon 2025 - Day Ten - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/\/decb6776-2858-43fb-95aa-8ee1876ed427.jpg\" class=\"responsive-sc-1nnon4d-0 bAbKns\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten are taking on Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool in the doubles<\/p>\n<p>JOHN WALTON\/PA<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">There is drama ALREADY on Court Two in the men\u2019s doubles \u2014 <b>James Gheerbrant<\/b> is there taking it all in for The Times: \u201cIt\u2019s first blood to the fifth seeds on Court Two: Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash broke the serve of Henry Patten in the ninth game of the first set on a backhand return winner by Cash, and then Glasspool served out to take the first set, 6-4. The defending champions, Patten and Harri Heliovaara, are a set away from elimination.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Here are the selected highlights of today\u2019s action.<\/p>\n<p class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\"><b>Centre Court<\/b> (from 1.30pm)<br \/>Mirra Andreeva (7) v Belinda Bencic<br \/>Novak Djokovic (6) v Flavio Cobolli (22)<\/p>\n<p><b>No1 Court<\/b> (from 1pm)<br \/>Iga Swiatek (8) v Liudmila Samsonova (19)<br \/>Jannik Sinner (1) v Ben Shelton (10)<\/p>\n<p>Welcome to day ten of Wimbledon<\/p>\n<p id=\"last-paragraph\" class=\"responsive__Paragraph-sc-1pktst5-0 gaEeqC\">Champagne corks and strawberries at the ready \u2014 it\u2019s the second batch of quarter-final matches in the men\u2019s and women\u2019s singles draws today and you\u2019re all very welcome. Pull up a deckchair. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Djokovic shows some signs of frustration as he hurls his racket into the air after Cobolli holds for&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":51967,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[1444,931,38865,38709,4550,1683,15776,62,1464,67,132,68,1685,2071],"class_list":{"0":"post-51966","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tennis","8":"tag-1444","9":"tag-and","10":"tag-cobolli","11":"tag-djokovic","12":"tag-live","13":"tag-results","14":"tag-scores","15":"tag-sports","16":"tag-tennis","17":"tag-united-states","18":"tag-unitedstates","19":"tag-us","20":"tag-vs","21":"tag-wimbledon"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114824506876666128","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51966","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51966"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51966\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51966"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51966"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}