Sabalenka sees off Bouzkova to reach Wimbledon third round
As the sun played hide-and-seek with the grey clouds that hovered over Centre Court, Sabalenka kept knocking on the door in the opening set, but was shut out by Bouzkova each time and dropped serve with a double fault in the 11th game.
A frustrated Sabalenka let out a scream when she failed to convert a breakpoint in the next game, but the 27-year-old quickly composed herself to force a tiebreak with a backhand winner on her next opportunity.
"That was a tough moment in the match," Sabalenka said.
"I was just trying to put the ball back on that side and then hope that I'd be able to break her back, because until that point, my returns weren't great enough to break her serve and I'm really glad everything clicked.
"I felt a bit better in that moment and I think that's why I was able to win the tiebreak and get the win in straight sets."
The three-times Grand Slam champion from Belarus, who has a golden opportunity to win her first Wimbledon title with several seeds losing early, led the tiebreak after a couple of errors from Bouzkova and wrapped up the set with a forehand winner.
An untimely error at the net by Bouzkova gifted Sabalenka the break in the fifth game of the second set and there was no looking back from there with the twice semi-finalist holding firm to close out the win.
Sabalenka said she was focused on avoiding the trapdoor after second seed Coco Gauff, number three Jessica Pegula, fifth seed Zheng Qinwen and number nine Paula Badosa were all sent packing in the first round.
"Honestly, it's very sad to see so many top players losing in the first round, but you're better off focusing on yourself and staying away from the results," Sabalenka added.
"Of course, you're going to know the overall picture, but it's better just to take it one step at a time and do your best every time you're out here competing.
"I hope there are no more upsets in this tournament."
Up next for Sabalenka is either local favourite Emma Raducanu or 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
27 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Oliver Tarvet toasts the ‘most special day' after impressing Carlos Alcaraz
Tarvet, ranked 733 in the world, completed a remarkable journey from total unknown to taking on the defending champion on Centre Court. It might have seemed like some kind of fever dream to most of us, but the 21-year-old mixed it with the five-time grand slam winner before succumbing to a 6-1 6-4 6-4 defeat. 'It's not every day that you get to play against maybe the best player in the world,' said the right-hander from St Albans. 'So yeah, it was really important for me going into the match to enjoy it, enjoy the opportunity. 'I think I did a pretty good job of kind of enjoying the moment and trying to also play some good tennis at the same time. 'I kind of knew that the first set might be difficult because it's not a stage that I'm used to. 'Even though the first set scoreline was 6-1, I still had break points in three games. I definitely had chances. I think that should give me confidence that I was competing. 👏🏻💥🌱🤝🏻😀❤️ — Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) July 2, 2025 'Credit to him, he plays the big points just incredibly well. That's the difference. You kind of feel like you're in the set, you lose it 6-1, it's tough. 'But yeah, even though it was not the result that I wanted today, it was definitely the most special day of my life.' Tarvet will not see much of the £99,000 he has earned for coming through qualifying and reaching the second round as he is still a US college student playing under national association rules. But he certainly gave Alcaraz a run for his money, breaking the two-time Wimbledon champion's serve twice. Alcaraz, now on a 20-match winning streak after his title successes in Rome, at the French Open and at Queen's Club, was full of praise for his opponent. 'I told him just congratulations for the run, keep it going, keep working hard,' he said. 'It seems like he's a really nice guy and a really nice, hard worker. It seems like he loves tennis. He played with such a good passion out there, that is really important. 'How far he can go, I don't know. If he chooses to stay in college, the level that we can see in college is pretty high. 'Let's see, if he keeps working hard, if he keeps practising hard and playing in a professional level, I think he can go far.' Elsewhere in SW19, fifth seed Taylor Fritz came through his second five-setter – this time just beating the 11pm curfew having fallen foul of it on Monday – to beat Canadian Gabriel Diallo 3-6 6-3 7-6 (0) 4-6 6-3. Teenage sensation Joao Fonseca brought hundreds of rowdy Brazilian fans to Court 12 and delighted them all by beating American Jenson Brooksby 6-4 5-7 6-2 6-4 to set up an all-South American clash with Chile's Nicolas Jarry. Russian 14th seed Andrey Rublev dropped the opening set against South African Lloyd Harris, but hit back to win in four and will face Adrian Mannarino of France in round three.
South Wales Guardian
27 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Emma Raducanu full of confidence after stylishly setting up Aryna Sabalenka test
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. That was something special from @EmmaRaducanu 😍 Through to the third round at @Wimbledon! — LTA (@the_LTA) July 2, 2025 '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.'
South Wales Guardian
27 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Nick Kyrgios still a regular at pub where he drank the night before Nadal clash
The Australian made headlines six years ago after being seen at the Dog & Fox in Wimbledon Village on the eve of his second-round showdown, which he lost in four volatile sets. Despite the controversy at the time, staff say the 30-year-old keeps returning to the pub – most recently on Friday – and has never caused trouble. Pub manager Alfie Stockwell, 28, said: 'He comes here quite often, especially during Wimbledon. 'He really likes it here. He's been nothing but nice. We let them do their own thing. 'He's friendly enough: I suppose it depends what mood he's in, which is fair enough.' Kyrgios, unseeded at the time, had beaten fellow Australian Jordan Thompson in five sets to set up the blockbuster match with Nadal, which became laced with tension after a war of words between the pair.
