Key events
Swiatek *1-1 Bencic (*denotes next server)
Swiatek goes 15-0 up and then Bencic pops the ball out to gift another point to her opponent. A double fault gives Swiatek break point but Bencic follow it up with a great forehand. Swiatek can’t convert on the first break point with an error, she has another. But again she pushes it out, deuce we go. Swiatek can’t return serve to give Bencic the advantage and she holds! Bencic does have her arm wrapped up, she could be suffering with injury here.
On centre court now and Swiatek held the first game of the match, Bencic now on serve.
Sinner beats Galan 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-3
He has done it! He has become the first Italian man to reach two quarter-finals at Wimbledon! Here’s how it shook out: Sinner needs four points to win but it is Galan who draws blood first – a beautiful drop shot putting him 15-0 up. A forehand winner from Sinner (poet and I do know it) levels the game. And another great forehand, two points for Sinner to win this. An unforced error from Galan gives Sinner match point and he seals it with another error.
Sinner *7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 5-3 Galan (*denotes next server)
So can Sinner break Galan to go through? We’re about to find out. A double fault from Galan to start but then Sinner can’t return the serve – 15-15. A Sinner error puts Galan on a holding path but after a great forehand from Sinner, Galan smacks the net and we are level once more. Sinner does really well to come forward to return a drop shot and beats Galan – break and match point! However, we go to deuce with Sinner forcing the ball out. A delightful slice gives Sinner advantage – his second match point but again he can’t convert and we are back to deuce. Galan manages to hold!
Swiatek and Bencic are in action, we will stay with Sinner to wrap up the match and then focus on the centre court.
Sinner 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 5-2* Galan (*denotes next server)
Galan has an error to start this game and a Sinner ace puts him 30-0 up. He is not messing around, he wants to wrap this game up. Galan smacks the net and an ace puts Sinner 5-2 up!
Sinner *7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 4-2 Galan (*denotes next server)
Sinner thought he had a forehand winner but it is out but he follows it up with a lovely drop shot, 15-15. Galan challenges a call which was called out, it looks marginal and it is in! A few millimetres in but a great challenge there. Sinner makes an error to put Galan one point away from holding but he stays in it with another class drop shot. Galan then sews up the match.
Sinner sums up his next match quickly to lead the third 4-1, Galan has a mountain to climb if he wants to stay in the match. Let’s have a little game-by-game action so you can have more detail on this.
We’ll spend some time focusing on this match before Swiatek v Bencic gets underway – the centre court match should start soon.
Sinner is leading Galan 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 3-0 – he is completely dominating the third set so far. But Galan looks as though he is about to hold his serve for the first time in the third set, he is 40-0 up and he seals it through a Sinner error. 3-1 now in the third.
Next up on centre court it is Iga Swiatek, who won the last grand slam in the calendar – the French Open – and is world number one. She is up against Belinda Bencic who has a big challenge to upset Swiatek. Right shall we have a look at what is happening on court 1 …
Thank you Daniel! Well what a match that was and an incredible point won by Rublev in that last game. He spoke about it in his post-match interview where he said: “Probably was the most unlikely shot ever, it was luck! I don’t think I can do it again. I was thinking each set I had break points, he played good. I said if I keep playing I knew I would have a chance. Keep playing but he somehow served full power 135mph. [I said to myself] Don’t start to explode before the match is over, you will have the chance and in the end I was able to make it. [On his hand] If I win the match and I am in the quarter-finals it was worth it.”
Righto, I’m off for a break. Here’s Sarah Rendell to chill with you for next hour.
Andrey Rublev [7] beats Alexander Bublik [23] 7-5 6-3 (6)6-7 (5)6-7 6-4!
Rublev finishes with an ace and meets Djokovic or Hurkacz next. That was a brilliant match.
Bublik gets 0-15, but then running into the net he sends a top-spin forehand long with half the court at which to aim! “He has to make that!” says Mac, but he can’t and might that be his final opportunity? But, well, OH MY COMPLETE AND UTTER DAYS! At 30-15, monstrous forehands from Rublev look to have won the point then, out of nowhere, Bublik’s stunning backhand down the line looks definitive … only for Rublev to play, on the dive, a squash-shot winner of his own. In the four decades I’ve been watching this thing of ours, that is one of the most ridiculous winners I’ve ever seen and raises two match points!
Galan gets to 40-30 but we reach deuce, then Sinner clobbers a backhand cross-court followed by a forehand down the line to raise set point … and when a backhand goes into the net, there it is! Sinner’s been made to work brutally hard for his lead, but he’s stayed pretty calm and is finding what he needs when he needs it. Meantime, a hold apiece means Rublev leads Bublik 5-4 in the fifth, and will shortly serve for the match!
Rublev and Bublik are again powering through their set, the speed of the serving quite something – they’re at 3-3 in the fifth – while, on No1, Galan is serving to stay in the second set trailing sinner 6-7 4-5. And Sinner quickly makes 0-30 then, at 3o-40, Buboik nets a backhand and doesn’t Rublev love it! He shouts, screams, leaps, and leads 4-3 in the decider. He’s two holds away from the last eight, having not been broken in the three hours 10 minutes this match has lasted so far.
Rublev will be feeling pretty peaky as he serves at 2-3 in the fifth. Not that long ago, he had match point, but two poor breakers mean he’s got a problem – though he’s not lost his serve in the match, so will fancy himself for a super breaker at least.
Sinner is now 0/14 on break points – that’s remarkable for a match still in its second set – most of them coming in that long, long game at the start of set two. But he earns another here, Galan tries a drop, and though Sinner slips, the ball hits the net and we’re back on serve in set two. Sinner 7-6(4) 5-4 Galan
Safiullin says that he’s been working hard, but also that once he got into the top 100 he felt more confident in his game, which has altered his mentality.
Roman Safiullin beats Denis Shapovalov [26] 3-6 6-3 6-1 6-3!
Making his Wimbledon debut at the age of 25, Safiullin – aided by Shapovalov’s careless play – fought back superbly after losing the first set, and he meets Sinner or Galan next.
Safiullin holds, and at 5-3 in the fourth is serving for the match…
Sinner is not a happy boy. In the first set, he challenged, was right, and the umpire made the players replaying the point; then, a few minutes ago, the same happened with Galan, and the umpire gave him the point. Shortly afterwards, Galan broke, and now leads 4-2 in the second.
“Classic Shapo this,” returns Calv Betton as Safiullin breaks him for 4-2 in the fourth. Two holds, and the Russian becomes the first man since Kyrgios to make the last eight on Wimbledon debut.
No way! At 6-5, Bublik thrashes a forehand cross-court onto the line and Rublev can’t respond! At the net in case of a putaway, Bublik leaps with joy, and he’s enjoying the arse out of this! Here comes a decider!
Bublik sends down a double, challenging the second fault forlornly; the ball is long by a bit, and might that be the crucial error? Rublev makes 5-3 when a serve is returned wide and looks good when he clumps down the T next point. But Bublik gets it back, a shanked forehand returns the mini-break, and we’re now at 5-5.
He’s a proper loose cannon, is Bublik, serving out for a breaker. If he wins it, we’ve got ourselves the unlikeliest of deciders.
Galan holds, eventually, for 2-0; Safiullin, on a buzz, makes a ludicrous lob to seal a hold for 2-1 in set three; and Bublik, facing two match-points, nails a second serve ace at 135mph then makes deuce. Two more quick points follow, the second an ace out wide, and “that is an amazing way to get yourself out of trouble”,” says Mac. “That may be the hardest second serve ever hit match point down.”
On Centre, we’ve rushed through set four, Rublev 5-4 up on serve leading 2-1, while Sinner and Galan are in the middle of a long, long game, the latter seeking to consolidate after breaking at the start of set three.
Trouble for Denis Shapovalov! Safiullin is by far the better player now, breaking for a 6- set – the final point was handed to hi with a double – and look at these stats. One player is playing well, the other not so much, and it might be that Shapovalov’s hand is fine but he’s feeling ill. Safiullin leads 3-6 6-3 6-1!
Is this Galan’s riposte? He breaks Simmer immediately in set two for 1-0 while, on Court 2, Shapovalov has the physio out looking at a blister on his hand – I think. Safiullin leads 4-1 in the third and we’re quickly back under way.
Sinner gets the first mini-break and at 6-4, Galan sends a backhand marginally long. He challenges but he knows, and the number eight seed forges in front. That was a really good set (of tennis) and if Galan can maintain his level this is a match; I get the impression, though, that he can’t play any better than that and if he could sustain that standard, he’d be higher than 85 in the world.
Safiullin is riding the wave, breaking Shapovalov then holding, and he leads 2-1 in the third while Sinner and Galan are now4-4 in their first-set breaker.
Brilliant from Bublik, an ace onto the outermost fibre of the chalk, then, on the run to the forehand corner, he curls a frankly obscene looping pass down the line for the set! Rublev now leads 7-5 6-3 (6)6-7!
At 3-6, Rublev saves two set points, Bublik sort of smirking following the second as he prepares to serve for the third. And what a return from the number 7 seed, the fastest serve of the match at 136mp guided down the line for glorious and crucial winner. Meantime, Sinner and Galan are 2-2 in their first-set breaker.
Hello! At 3-3, Rublev goes long with a forehand down the line, and Bublik has the mini-break! A big serve follows, and at 5-3 it looks like we’re’ getting ourselves a fourth set!
A gorgeous touch half-volley arranges a further set point and this time, a booming serve seals the deal. Safiullin levels against Shapovalov at one set-all while Sinner and Galan struggle about deuce with the score 5-5 in set one with Rublev and Bublik about to start a third-set breaker. Can Bublik force the match into a fourth?
Bublik serves a double, his 10th of the match, but saves the eventuating break point and makes advantage with an ace before serving out for 5-4 in the third; on Court 2, Safiullin is serving for 1-1 and 5-3 and Shapovalov makes 0-30, missing two break-back points at advantage as we go round and round at deuce. This is such a tough game.
Safiullin breaks Shapovalov for 3-6 4-2, consolidates for 5-2, and is a hold away from levelling the match. On No1, it’s still on serve, Galan up 4-3 on Sinner.