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The Independent
24 minutes ago
- The Independent
Aryna Sabalenka the last top-five seed standing after shock Jasmine Paolini exit
World number one Aryna Sabalenka became the only top-five seed still standing after last year's runner-up Jasmine Paolini joined the growing list of high-profile Wimbledon casualties. The women's draw was blown wide open on Tuesday when three leading players – French Open champion Coco Gauff, world number three Jessica Pegula and Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen – crashed out in a series of first-round shocks. Sabalenka avoided a similar fate in Wednesday's round-two matches thanks to a close-fought 7-6 (4) 6-4 victory over Czech world number 48 Bouzkova in a big-hitting battle on Centre Court. But fourth-seeded Italian Paolini, who was defeated by Barbora Krejcikova in the 2024 final, lost 4-6 6-4 6-4 to Russian world number 80 Kamilla Rakhimova. Unseeded 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova was also eliminated. She was defeated 6-3 6-3 by British number one Emma Raducanu, who will face top seed Sabalenka in a mouthwatering third-round encounter. Three-time major winner Sabalenka is chasing a maiden SW19 title, having missed last year's Championships because of a shoulder injury after being absent in 2022 due to the ban on Russian and Belarusian players. 'Honestly, it is sad to see so many upsets in the tournament,' said the 27-year-old. 'But you better focus on yourself and stay away from the results. 'Of course, you're going to know the overall picture but it's better just to take it one step at a time. 'I hope it is no upsets anymore in this tournament – if you know what I mean! I'm really happy to be through this difficult round.' Sixth seed Madison Keys avoided joining fellow Americans Gauff and Pegula in booking an early flight home by overcoming Serbian world number 37 Olga Danilovic 6-4 6-2. But world number nine Diana Shnaider was knocked out, in addition to fellow seeds Beatriz Haddad Maia, Donna Vekic, Leylah Fernandez and Ashlyn Krueger. Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka eased through, defeating Zheng's first-round conqueror Katerina Siniakova 6-3 6-2.
BBC News
24 minutes ago
- BBC News
The most secure ton on record - breaking down Gill's masterclass
It was, statistically at least, the most secure Test century on record in India captain Shubman Gill, with all of the noise in the background and on the back of a punch-to-the-stomach defeat last week in Leeds, defied England on day one of the second Test at hosts will have sensed their moment to push further into the ascendency in this series when winning the toss and choosing to 'have a chase'.But Gill responded with a controlled 114 not out to better some modern-day greats and help his side close on a respectable 310-5 in Birmingham."The way he is batting has been incredible to see," said team-mate Yashasvi Jaiswal, who shared a stand of 80 with his captain."He is very clear in his head what he needs to do." So, what exactly did Gill do? Gill would have been forgiven for leaving Edgbaston on Tuesday with his head in a spin. In his pre-match news conference he fended question after question about his team selection this week - mostly about whether his star bowler Jasprit Bumrah would travelling India press pack is large and unrelenting. Gill struggled to sate them. The message was muddled. His batting in Birmingham 24 hours later was spoken about wanting to compartmentalise batting and captaincy before the series, Gill strolled to the middle and played an innings with a false shot percentage of just 3.5%. The average in England is 12%.It makes it the most controlled ton on these shores since analysts CricViz began recording such statistics in run-getting legends like Sir Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Kevin Pietersen were never this controlled using the same metric. Nor were modern-day greats Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara, who have all peeled off glorious hundreds on these shores in the last 20 innings contained just two outside edges off Chris Woakes - both before he had reached 20 - and an inside edge to Brydon Carse that thwarted an England lbw were three more false shots - any edge, play and miss or stroke mishit - to Woakes and two to Ben Stokes. Otherwise that was it. As close to perfection as anyone has been in recent years in pitch was the second easiest on record on a first day at Edgbaston - number one was in 2017 against West Indies, in case you wondered - but Gill responded with the most controlled of were not going to stop India's leader from raising his bat and celebrating with that now-familiar bow. How Gill has conquered English conditions Gill was named Test captain in May despite doubts around his record overseas. In six innings in England he averaged 14.66 but, batting at number four further from the new-ball movement, he made 147 in his first innings as skipper in Leeds."He has worked on his defence," Ravi Shastri, India's coach when Gill made his Test debut, told Sky Sports."When he last came to England he played with hard hands and pushed at the ball. Now he allows the ball to come and hit the bat. He is trusting his defence."That trust was shown in the middle. He took 125 balls to reach fifty and 199 to reach 100 - both his slowest plan to Gill was clear after his success at Headingley: their lines were the straightest they have bowled at a batter in 16 years as the pace bowlers targeted the pads."It felt like we were close to getting him lbw where he got a little inside edge," said Woakes."Other than those it felt like he was in control of pretty much everything. Credit to him."He played very well. It is a very good hundred and a big one for his team." Whose record did Gill beat? England's greatest tormentor in the CricViz era has been Steve Smith but even the great Australia does not come close to a century as controlled as Gill's lowest false shot percentage in any of his eight Test centuries in England was 9% - a difference of far more than a strip of sandpaper or previous best came from an unlikely name - former England opener Sam Robson in his 127 in his second Test against Sri Lanka at Headingley in best by an overseas player was the great South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis, whose figure was just 4.4% in his epic 182 not out at the Oval in 2012.
The Independent
24 minutes ago
- The Independent
Emma Raducanu full of confidence after stylishly setting up Aryna Sabalenka test
Emma Raducanu will head into a blockbuster clash against world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the third round of Wimbledon with her confidence soaring. The British number one produced one of her best performances at the All England Club to defeat former champion Marketa Vondrousova 6-3 6-3 on Centre Court. The Czech may be ranked down at 73 following shoulder problems but not only is she the 2023 title winner, she also defeated Sabalenka and Madison Keys on her way to winning the warm-up event in Berlin last month. 'I feel amazing,' said a beaming Raducanu. 'I think that was just a really great match. Playing Marketa, I knew it was going to be very challenging. 'She's won Wimbledon. She's in amazing form right now having won Berlin. I'm just very proud of how I went out there and competed and kept committing and came through that one. 'I think that was one of the best matches I've played in a long time. At the same time, I didn't feel like I was doing anything outrageous, which gives me a lot of confidence. 'I think I was just doing the basics very, very well. I think I executed really well today. I'm just so happy to have that level. 'I think there's no better feeling than winning here at Wimbledon, winning on Centre Court. It honestly makes everything worth it. You forget about everything, all the ups and downs, when you're out there and you win. It's so fleeting.' Raducanu's reward, if it can be deemed as such, is a first meeting at a grand slam with a world number one. Sabalenka is yet to really find her stride at the All England Club this year, though, and is likely to feel a great deal of pressure having seen many of her rivals fall already. 'I think having won today against Marketa, she's also a really top opponent, so that gives me confidence, too, for my level,' said Raducanu. 'Of course, Aryna is number one in the world, been so dominant in the women's game as of the last few years. 'I know it's going to be a massive challenge. I'm going to have to play some really good tennis. For the rest of the evening I just want to savour that one and enjoy it.' She could consider herself unfortunate to come up against the top seed at this stage, but Raducanu added: 'You want to play the best. You are going to have to play them at some point if you want to win one of these tournaments. 'Even though it's early in the tournament, I'm looking forward to the opportunity.' Raducanu had beaten Vondrousova at the same stage four years ago to announce herself to the tennis world, and from the start of this contest the Kent player was clear-minded in how she wanted to play. She has lavished praise on coach Mark Petchey and this was another demonstration that the partnership, while unconventional given Petchey's broadcasting commitments, is proving a very positive one. The former US Open champion mixed up her tactics and defended well, while also taking the opportunities she created to step into the court and take control. Vondrousova looked to her box in frustration at several moments as Raducanu found the answers to everything the crafty Czech could throw at her. One deep defensive lob followed by a cross-court winner in the second set drew a prolonged ovation from the crowd, and Raducanu said: 'I turned one point around that I think is probably the best point I've ever played, so that was pretty crazy. 'I'm just so grateful to be playing in Centre Court. There was one moment in the second set where I looked up, and I was like, 'Oh, my God, how am I meant to hit the ball right now? I'm on Centre Court playing.' 'I managed to stay focused and locked in. It's pretty special when you take a moment to soak it all up what you're actually doing out there.'
