Wimbledon briefing: Day four recap, Friday's order of play and Raducanu preview
Here, the PA news agency looks back at Thursday's action and previews day five of the Championships.
Draper's disappointment
Jack Draper knows he needs to improve on grass (Benjamin Gilbert/PA)
Jack Draper admitted he has a lot of work to do if he is to challenge at Wimbledon in the future after a crushing loss to Marin Cilic in the second round.
The British number one is still yet to make it beyond the last 64 at his home grand slam and, having come into the tournament as the fourth seed after a brilliant season so far, the 6-4 6-3 1-6 6-4 defeat was his most painful yet.
'Even though I've had such an amazing progression the last 12 months, I've still got a lot of areas that I need to improve in my game,' the 23-year-old said.
'In some ways that's exciting, and in some ways that's hard to deal with because I thought I was ahead of where I was.'
Djokovic 99 not out
Novak Djokovic is one victory away from a century of SW19 match wins (John Walton/PA)
Novak Djokovic racked up his 99th match win at Wimbledon and sent a message to title favourites Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
The 38-year-old proved he is a major contender at this year's Wimbledon with a near-flawless performance in 6-3 6-2 6-0 victory over Britain's Dan Evans.
And the seven-time champion has his eyes firmly on another title in SW19, with no time for thoughts of retirement.
He said: 'I don't pause to reflect, to be honest. I don't have time. I would like to. But I think that's going to come probably when I set the racket aside and then sip margaritas on the beach with Federer and Nadal and just reflect on our rivalry and everything.'
Brit watch
Sonay Kartal is back into the third round (Mike Egerton/PA)
British number one Emma Raducanu takes on top seed Aryna Sabalenka for a place in the fourth round of a women's draw that has only five top-10 seeds remaining.
Sonay Kartal is back in the third round for the second successive year and starts as favourite against French qualifier Diane Parry, who stunned 12th seed Diana Shnaider to reach this stage.
And Cameron Norrie, the 2022 semi-finalist, will also fancy his chances against world number 73 Mattia Bellucci after the British number three knocked out 12th seed Frances Tiafoe in the second round.
Match of the day
Emma Raducanu is ready to take on the world number one (Mike Egerton/PA)
Emma Raducanu's reward for knocking out 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova was an early meeting with world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
They have played once before, in Indian Wells last spring, when Sabalenka won in straight sets but in a close enough contest to give the British number one encouragement.
Raducanu said: 'She's number one in the world for a reason. I'm going to have to be aggressive but pick my moments and not kind of be overly (aggressive).
'I don't think I'm going to go out there and out-power her. I think I'm going to have to try and be creative, as well.'
Order of play
Centre Court (from 1.30pm)
Taylor Fritz (5) v Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Carlos Alcaraz (2) v Jan-Lennard Struff
Emma Raducanu v Aryna Sabalenka (1)
Court One (from 1pm)
Sonay Kartal v Diane Parry
Cameron Norrie v Mattia Bellucci
Elina Svitolina (14) v Elise Mertens (24)
Weather
Sunny changing to partly cloudy by nighttime, with a maximum temperature of 27C, according to the Met Office.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
14 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Rangers medical booked, Hearts star on move, Celtic icon's hell to end
All the latest transfer news involving Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Hibs and more Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Your best bits of transfer stories and gossip from the world of Scottish football this Friday morning: Penrice set for Greek move Hearts defender James Penrice is closing in on move to Greek Super League side AEK Athens after the two clubs agreed on a fee, according to multiple reports. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Left-back Penrice was Hearts' player of the year last season following a switch from Livingston 12 months ago. The 26-year-old is set to land the Jambos a sizeable profit, with a fee in the region of £2 million being mooted. Hearts have been very active during this transfer window and have been linked with two more wingers in the shape of Sabah Kerjota from US Sambenedettese and JK Trans Narva's Pierre Landry Kabore. James Penrice is set to leave Hearts for AEK Athens. | SNS Group Rangers poised to land Aasgaard Norwegian midfielder Thelo Aasgaard is set to become Rangers' fifth summer signing under new head coach Russell Martin, with a medical reportedly booked for the Luton Town player. Aasgaard, 23, is an attacking midfielder and could cost the Ibrox side in the region of £3m. He would join defenders Max Aarons and Emmanuel Fernandez plus midfielders Joe Rothwell and Lyall Cameron through the entrance door in Govan. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rangers have also announced that Max Williamson and Sal Bibbo have joined Martin's coaching set-up. Thelo Aasgaard is a transfer target for Rangers. | Getty Images Furuhashi's Rennes hell almost over Former Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi is on the verge of ending his nightmare spell at Rennes by securing a move to English Championship new boys Birmingham City. Furuhashi, 30, left Celtic for the French Ligue 1 side in January, but has failed to become a starter in Brittany and wants a move away. The ambitious Midlands side are in the market for a new striker and are closing in on Furuhashi, according to L'Equipe in France. A fee of £10m has been mooted for the Japanese internationalist. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kyogo Furuhashi has struggled in Ligue 1 after departing Celtic in January. | AFP via Getty Images Como close in on Kuhn Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn is expected to complete his medical in the next 24 hours with Como before sealing a £16.5m move to the Italian side. Kuhn joined Celtic 18 months ago from Austria Vienna and his form last season caught the eye of numerous suitors, including the Serie A side, who are managed by Cesc Fabregas. It is understood the ex-Spain midfielder is one of the key reasons for Kuhn choosing Como and the deal could be finalised before the end of the week. Celtic's Nicolas Kuhn has been linked with RB Leipzig, Newcastle United and Como in this transfer window (Pic: Getty) | Getty Images Hibs won't wait forever for Triantis Hibs head coach David Gray says the club will not wait forever for midfielder Nectar Triantis as last season's loanee weighs up his long-term future at parent club Sunderland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I think it's like anything,' said Gray. 'You don't want to just be waiting around. We've got a clear plan of what we need to do. 'We're not just going to sit here and pin our hopes on a player deciding what he wants to do. We've made our interests very clear. Everybody's aware of that. But we're also working extremely hard to make sure we bring in quality in that position and the right type of people.' Hibs want to bring back Nectarios Triantis to the club for next season. | SNS Group Livi may sign one more Livingston manager David Martindale has hinted that he will bring in one more signing ahead of the new season starting. The Lions boss said: 'The three boys late on in the window there have really added strength to the group. Wee Macaulay Tait, Danny Wilson and Mo Sylla, I think the three of them have been really top signings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I feel as if we're in a good place. There are probably two or three boys moving on, which might open the door for another one coming in but if the window was to shut tomorrow, I'd say we're in a fairly good place. 'We're not a million miles away, but there's always going to be one or two who are looking for game-time that might, so you're always open to bringing another one in, if that situation arises.' Livingston manager David Martindale pictured during Wednesday night's 1-0 league defeat at Dunfermline Athletic (Pic by Mark Scates/SNS Group) Aberdeen land Icelandic starlet Aberdeen have completed the signing of Icelandic teenager Kjartan Mar Kjartansson on a four-year contract from Stjarnan in his homeland for an undisclosed fee. 'Kjartan is a player who our scouting department have been aware of and tracking for some time. We are pleased to have signed him given the significant interest from some big clubs,' Dons boss Jimmy Thelin said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'For a player still so young, he has played an impressive volume of minutes for the first team and the Icelandic youth international squads.
The Herald Scotland
20 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Mourners to gather at Diogo Jota wake in Portugal today
Jota and his younger brother, Andre Silva, died in a car accident in Zamora, Spain, in the early hours of Thursday morning. Mourners are set to gather to honour Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, a local parish priest has said. Less than two weeks ago Jota, who was 28, married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso. The couple have three children together. Jose Manuel Macedo, parish priest at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme, told the PA news agency in a translated message that a wake for the brothers will take place at 8am at the nearby Capela da Ressurreicao before their funeral at the Igreja Matriz on Saturday at 10am. According to BBC Sport, Jota was returning for pre-season training next week via ferry after being advised not to fly following minor surgery. Liverpool's 'heartbroken' players have spoken of their pain in paying tribute to their team-mate. Reds captain Virgil van Dijk said on Instagram he was 'absolutely devastated and in total disbelief.' The Dutch defender wrote in a post alongside a picture of Jota with the Premier League trophy: 'What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man. 'You meant so much to all of us and you always will! For your family to lose two sons, a husband and a father is just unimaginable. So cruel and unfair. 'My heart is breaking for all of your beautiful family, for Rute and for your kids. I promise you that in these difficult times and beyond we will always be there for your family. 'A champion forever, number 20 forever. It's been a privilege to have stood by your side on the pitch, and to have been your friend off it. 'We will miss you beyond words and never forget you. Your legacy will live on, we will make sure of it! Rest in perfect peace Diogo & Andre.' Andy Robertson, one of the players with the longest association with Jota, also paid an emotional tribute. 'The ones I'm thinking about most right now are the family. Their loss is too much to bear. I'm so sorry that they have lost two such precious souls – Diogo and Andre,' he posted on Instagram. 'For the team and the club, we'll try to cope with this together… however long that takes. Read more: 'For me, I want to talk about my mate. My buddy. The bloke I loved and will miss like crazy. I could talk about him as a player for hours, but none of that feels like it matters right now. 'It's the man. The person. He was such a good guy. The best. So genuine. Just normal and real. 'Full of love for the people he cared about. Full of fun. He was the most British foreign player I've ever met. 'I can't believe we're saying goodbye. It's too soon, and it hurts so much. But thank you for being in my life, mate – and for making it better.' 'Heartbroken' former manager Jurgen Klopp, for whom his Christian faith has played a big part in his life, wrote on Instagram: 'This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can't see it!' Liverpool, who are supporting Jota's family, have opened a book of condolence, both physical in the Anfield Road Stand and online, lowered flags to half-mast and closed all stores and the museum and suspended all tours until Monday. UEFA announced a moment of silence would be observed at Women's Euro 2025 matches on Thursday and Friday, while the 'devastated' Portuguese Football Federation said: 'Diogo Jota was not only a fantastic player…but also an extraordinary person who was respected by all his team-mates and opponents. 'We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day.' Fans left wreaths, scarves and shirts at a makeshift shrine outside Anfield, with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, attending a conference in Liverpool, among those to lay flowers in person. There were similar scenes outside Molineux. Local police, investigating the accident at 1230am on Thursday in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora, said: 'In the absence of a conclusion of the experts' evidence, everything points that a car left the road, due to a tyre blowout while overtaking.' Jota won 49 caps and scored 14 goals for Portugal, last month winning the Nations League for a second time. International team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo wrote on X: 'It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married. 'To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.' Jota scored 65 goals in 182 Liverpool appearances, nine coming last season as Arne Slot's side won the Premier League title, having previously lifted the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. He signed for Wolves, initially on loan, from Atletico Madrid in 2017 and helped win the Championship in his first season, ultimately scoring 44 goals in 131 appearances. Jota's career began at Portuguese side Pacos de Ferreira before moving to Atletico, where he did not play a game but was loaned out to Porto.
Daily Mirror
21 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Jack Draper shows true colours as he speaks out about Emma Raducanu at Wimbledon
Jack Draper saw his Wimbledon dream come to an end at the hands of Marin Cilic in the second round on Thursday, but he is hopeful that Emma Raducanu can keep British hopes alive Jack Draper has backed Emma Raducanu to carry the British torch at Wimbledon following his own second-round exit. While he was initially tipped as Britain's best shot for a significant run, Draper faced defeat yet again in an early round. World No. 83 Marin Cilic proved too strong for the fourth seed on Centre Court with a mighty display. Now attention turns to Raducanu, Cameron Norrie and Sonay Kartal, who remain in contention among the 23 Brits who began in the main draw. Speaking of British chances, Draper declared in his post-match presser following his defeat to the former US Open champion: "Of course [we] still have British hope. Emma is playing great. I watched her play yesterday. That was amazing." Raducanu has dazzled crowds at the prestigious club with solid victories over Mimi Xu and former champ Marketa Vondrousova, but now faces a formidable challenge, with world number one Aryna Sabalenka lying in wait, reports the Express. Nevertheless, Draper remains optimistic about Raducanu's prospects against the Belarusian powerhouse, saying: "She has a real opportunity. I hope she goes on and does us all proud. She's definitely got the capability to do that." The men's UK No. 1 also voiced his support for fellow Brits at Wimbledon, saying: "Cam, Sonay, these guys are going to be flying the flag now. I think they're incredible players, they all want it so badly. "I know them all personally. They're all great people, great players. They deserve everything they're going to get. I'm looking forward to watching them play." The 22-year-old acknowledged the sting of his own recent loss might keep him from watching the matches up close. "Maybe I'll try to stay away from it, in all honesty, because it hurts badly," Draper shared, expressing both his emotional struggle and hearty good wishes for his peers: "I want them to have amazing success. They deserve that for sure." Buzz around Draper surged when he trounced Sebastian Baez early on, only to see the Argentine bow out in the third set with an injury. Still, experienced star Cilic, 36, rolled back the years and pulled off a stunner against the British hopeful at Wimbledon on Thursday. The Croatian legend delivered a volley of 16 aces among other formidable shots across the net, setting the stage for a third-round face-off with Jaume Munar at the iconic All England Club. Following his defeat, Draper admitted his frustration in how he's performed on grass this year as he sounded off: "I've been really disappointed with the way my game's been on the grass this year, in all honesty. "I wasn't feeling too great at Queen's. I don't know how I made the semis there. This year I really struggled on the grass. I felt great on the hard, felt great on the clay, I felt like there weren't many holes in my game, whereas as soon as I came on to the grass, I felt a big difference. "It highlighted a lot of weaknesses in my game, especially against a player the way he was playing today, someone as good as him on the grass. I think the hole in my forehand showed up, for sure. "I wasn't able to deal with his pace of ball into my forehand. I was over-spinning a lot. I think a lot of my success this year with my forehand was when I have more time and I can create the speed and the spin that I want."
