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The Irish Sun
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Jack Draper storms into Wimbledon second round as opponent Sebastian Baez retires in TEARS after slipping on grass
JACK DRAPER, this is not what Wimbledon expects from its British No1s. As Union Jack became the home nation's standard-bearer at the All England Club for the first time, it was all too easy. Advertisement 3 Jack Draper cruised into round two at Wimbledon Credit: PA 3 Sebastian Baez applauds the No1 Court crowd after being forced to retire Credit: AP Britain has become used to Andy Murray and Tim Henman putting them through the mincer in tense late-night epics - and maybe there will be some of that to come during this fortnight. But fourth-seed Draper cruised to victory over Argentina's Sebastian Baez - who retired hurt, two sets and a break down - as he booked a second-round date with former U.S. Open champion Draper has all many of the attributes which will make him a darling of the middle-England housewives who dominate the crowd here. He is a tall, chiselled Burberry model with a walloping forehand, a booming serve and impressive athleticism. Advertisement READ MORE WIMBLEDON Murray is to have a statue here, but Draper is statuesque. Perhaps the 23-year-old southpaw needs one of those seesawing five-set marathons to truly get the British public enraptured by him. We need to experience the agonies together before we can truly appreciate the good times. But on a blazing-hot 30-degree day at Wimbledon , this match was the sort of breeze we all needed - Draper leading 6-2 6-2 2-1 before it was called off. Baez, a clay-court specialist, was blown away in just 74 minutes before he surrendered. Advertisement Most read in Tennis Live Blog BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Draper had reached the second week at every other Grand Slam but has never made it past the second round here on home turf. His ranking has soared over the past year - via a U.S Open semi-final - and so this was the first time he had truly carried the nation's hopes at the All England Club like Sir Andy and Tiger Tim before him. Brit Wimbledon stars caught in furious dispute on live TV over dark arts Fittingly, Draper was handed the prime-time late slot - striding on to Court One to muted cheers. Outside of the lawn-tennis hardcore, the public haven't quite got to know him yet. Advertisement The Brit had already beaten Baez in their two previous meetings and at 6ft 4in, he was almost a foot taller than the Argentinian titch. The first set took just 26 minutes. He broke the Baez serve in a lengthy, scrappy opening game and again in the fifth. In between he was thudding down four aces. 3 Advertisement Wimbledon 2025 LIVE - One booming cross-court service-return winner, as Baez served to stay in the set, brought a huge roar from the Pimmsed-up faithful. Draper broke again in the opening game of the second set, Baez slipping near the baseline - and soon needing lengthy treatment. The Brit's serve was firing, his velocity and variety overpowering Baez. It was more like a bloke playing fetch with a puppy. Advertisement Draper broke again with a whipped forehand winner and, just after the hour mark, he was two sets to the good, having dropped only four points on his own serve. In the third, Draper had to wait until the third game to break Baez, who then hoisted up the white flag and retired with a bruised ego. There had been good news for Draper before he went on court when his tricky potential third-round opponent, Alexander Bublik - who had defeated the Brit in the French Open , suffered a shock defeat to Spain's Jaume Munar. Still, he is slated to face 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals and Jannik Sinner in the semis before the possibility of reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz in the final. Advertisement Should Draper advance into that sort of company, then we can really get to know him.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Emma Raducanu too strong for teenager Mimi Xu in British battle
'Come on Britain!' echoed through the sweltering 31C heat on No 1 Court as Emma Raducanu defeated Mimi Xu in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. The all-British clash featured two players, similarly attired in matching outfits and golf visors, who uniquely captivated the home crowd. Raducanu has been a fan favourite since her fairytale 2021 US Open triumph, while the grand slam debutant Xu, ranked world No 300, has impressed in junior circuits and shown significant promise on the senior tour. However, in their inaugural tour meeting, the gulf in class was evident from the outset. Raducanu's powerful forehands down the line, blistering serves, and astute court craft allowed her to seize control immediately. Xu's opening service game began with a double fault, foreshadowing a series of errors that led to Raducanu breaking in the very first game. A stunning ace from the more experienced player left Xu rooted to the spot, followed by a backhand winner that secured the British No 1's first service game to love, winning eight of the first nine points of the match. For the 17-year-old Xu, this match was a cascade of firsts. The Welsh player, who watched Raducanu clinch the US Open title as a 13-year-old, understandably struggled early on, exhibiting weak serves and even slipping on court twice in the fourth game. Despite an assured hold to get on the scoreboard, Xu's attempts at tricky drop shots often backfired, allowing her opponent to establish a 4-2 lead. Raducanu secured another break before a strong service game from Xu that included a scorching 116mph serve. None the less, she was consistently playing catch-up, battling hard to hold her own serve but ultimately failing to break Raducanu, and conceded the first set 6-3. The second set started as more of the same, with Raducanu asserting her authority. A backhand beyond Xu's reach and a double fault contributed to the younger Briton facing three break points. Xu saved two, including one with a service winner, and clawing her way to deuce. A well-executed smash at the net even prompted a rare moment of frustration from Raducanu. However, the fleeting momentum shifted back when Xu netted a drop shot, forced by an 80mph return from Raducanu. Back at deuce, Xu saved a fourth break point with an ace, but Raducanu responded with two formidable forehands – one down the line, one cross-court – both beyond Xu's reach, finally converting the break for a 2-0 lead. Raducanu then consolidated with three back-to-back aces in her subsequent service game with pinpoint accuracy. But against the run of play, and down 0-40, Xu remarkably broke back. She forced deuce with a forehand winner, then capitalised on a long lob from Raducanu to snatch the game. The turning point felt short-lived for a moment, with Raducanu breaking straight back before racing to a 30-0 lead on her serve again only for Xu to capitalise on a weak first serve. Xu's backhand winner claimed another break point before finishing the game on a high with a forehand high and hard across court, well out of her opponent's reach. Yet as much as Xu's confidence began to grow in the second set, Raducanu never wavered, breaking back once again with a forehand down the line to make it 4-2 and conclude five breaks of serve in a row between the two. Raducanu, seemingly wanting to wrap things up, holds with a lucky clip of the net but Xu, coming forward with confidence on new balls, managed to hold after a neat, serve-and-volley combination. The British No 1 ultimately managed to fend off the late threats and recovered from 30-0 down in the final game to serve out the match.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
Wimbledon fans told ‘DO NOT TRAVEL' with queue already full on 33C hottest opening day ever
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WIMBLEDON have told fans NOT to travel to the tennis today due to large numbers of people already waiting in the Queue. At 7.30am this morning – three-and-a-half hours before play starts on the outside courts – an update was issued on the official Wimbledon website. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Fans were told not to travel to Wimbledon as the Queue was at capacity Credit: Getty Thousands of people have been queuing for ground passes since the break of dawn – others even slept overnight in tents for the best possible spot – and by breakfast time, it had already reached capacity. And with the temperature set to reach 33C this afternoon – if that happens it would make it the hottest opening-day for the Championships in history – there are concerns about punters falling ill. A statement on the Wimbledon website said: 'Please be aware that the Queue for Day 1 – Monday 30th June – is very busy. 'And to avoid disappointment we strongly advise you not to travel to the Grounds today. READ MORE ON WIMBLEDON BEER WE GO Wimbledon price list revealed as cost of beer up & Pimm's more than £12 a GLASS 'Please note there is hot weather forecast for Monday and Tuesday. 'In both The Queue and the Grounds there may be periods where shade is not available. 'Please plan appropriately, including bringing water, suncream and a hat. "Water refill points are available in the Queue and around the Grounds.' CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS There were also reports of TFL staff telling fans at Earl's Court Station – which runs the District Line down to Southfields and Wimbledon stations – not to travel. Fans were given a shock when they were told to stay away from SW19 as it is already 'at capacity'. Emma Raducanu giggles as she addresses Carlos Alcaraz relationship ahead of Wimbledon 3 Wimbledon 2025 LIVE - follow all the latest scores and updates from a thrilling fortnight at SW19 An announcement over the PA system put a dampener on any excitement about watching tennis later today by telling travellers before 9am that the area was incredibly busy. The Queue offers fans the chance to buy limited Show Court tickets or a Grounds pass, which are sold on a best available, one per person queuing basis. A total of 500 tickets for Centre Court – excluding the last four days – No1 Court and No2 Court are available for the days that the courts are in play. More than 40,000 punters are expected to be passing through the gates with former US Open champion Emma Raducanu one of 14 Brits in action. The previous highest temperature for the first day was 29.3C, which was recorded in 2001.
Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Times
Mimi Xu has nothing to lose and a coach who knows Emma Raducanu's game
Monday's first-round match at Wimbledon between Emma Raducanu and Mimi Xu is absolutely fascinating. Four years after Raducanu emerged into the wider consciousness of the British public by reaching the fourth round at the age of 18, here is Xu's chance as a 17-year-old wild card to make her breakthrough by attempting to beat a compatriot she has long looked up to. Brimming under this is an interesting subplot that I feel has been understated in the build-up to this contest. Sitting in Xu's player box on No1 Court will be Nigel Sears, the knowledgeable and respected British coach who is now guiding Xu in her transition from the junior to the professional circuit alongside the LTA national coach Katie O'Brien. There may be some déjà vu for Sears as he was the coach working with Raducanu during that memorable run here in 2021. Despite splitting soon after, Sears will know the Raducanu game inside out by observing her journey ever since on the tour. It is far from the first time that a coach has come up against a former pupil, but I always believe that these reunions add an extra boost to the popcorn value of the match. As Sears did for Raducanu when she made her first appearance on a Wimbledon show court, he will look to ease Xu's nerves about the prospect of playing on No1 Court. It can be quite overwhelming for a younger player to suddenly step up into a big stadium like this, with a capacity of 12,000, after predominantly playing in front of a handful of spectators on small courts in the lower tiers. Unlike the other grand-slam tournaments, there is no possibility to practise on No1 Court beforehand because the grass has to be protected for matches. This is where it goes beyond being a tennis player who can hit a ball and follow tactics. It is about being able to perform as if you are on stage. This is why my coach, Owen Davidson, took me out on No1 Court before I played Chris Evert in the third round at the age of 17 in 1984. We walked to the side of the court and he made me stand there, look around and absorb the scale of the whole stadium. I took in the surroundings and the space of the court before the stands filled up for the match. Although I went on to lose 6-3, 6-4, it was important as I felt more settled out there as a result of my pre-match visit. Another interesting factor psychologically is the fact that Xu was 13 years old when she watched Raducanu win the US Open in 2021. In an interview over the weekend she came across as a really sweet girl, but also looked in awe of Raducanu as someone she has looked up to since a young age. She mentioned that when they practised together, Raducanu was so kind towards her. For someone so inexperienced like Xu, it can then be a challenge initially to put this aside in a first competitive match against someone who has inspired her so much. Ultimately, the more experienced Raducanu is the favourite to come through this all-British clash, but it will be interesting to see if Xu can step up to this level with her smart game and strong work ethic. She has tools that are well-suited to grass, including powerful groundstrokes and a decent slice backhand, and has claimed two wins against top-100 opposition, beating Alycia Parks in Birmingham and Katie Volynets in Nottingham. Even if Raducanu progresses, the path ahead has some high hurdles. Either the 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova or the reigning Nottingham Open champion McCartney Kessler awaits in the second round, with the world No1 Aryna Sabalenka a likely third-round opponent. A repeat of last year's run to the fourth round looks extremely challenging. The fact that Raducanu is a grand-slam champion and the British No1 means that there is also significant pressure to win Wimbledon regardless of her world ranking of No40. There is no question of her talent and athletic ability, but she has struggled to step up against top-ten opposition, with three wins in 15 matches. At least there is a small sign of encouragement here that two of those wins were on grass, against Maria Sakkari at Wimbledon and Jessica Pegula at Eastbourne last year. I love watching Raducanu play, particularly the way she hits the ball with that effortless rhythmical style. She also has a great backhand slice and possesses some of the best volleys in the women's game. But it remains the case that, almost four years after her breakthrough here, she is still finding her way on the tour, whether it be with her approach against the very best players or her coaching set-up. While it is a push to hope for a British Wimbledon winner in the women's singles this year, the overall state of the game in this country is in good shape. Raducanu, Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal were all ranked in the world's top 50 last week, making it the first time that three British females were ranked at this level since I was in a trio with Jo Durie and Anne Hobbs in 1986. Believe me, I know from experience that you all collectively improve by pushing each other on competitively as a group. You are all aware of each other's progress on the tour and a rivalry develops in which you are trying to outdo the others. We have seen this recently with Raducanu and Boulter vying for the status of British No1, with Kartal snapping at their heels. British tennis also has a trio of teenagers battling away at the same time. Xu, Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic — the latter two are both aged 16 — will all make their Wimbledon debuts this year through wild cards, which is an important step in their development. At this age it is particularly beneficial to be part of a group so the spotlight is not too intense on one player alone, and it will be interesting to see where their respective careers go from here. Looking at the wider draw, I would love to see a rematch in the final of the French Open final between the top seed Sabalenka and the No2 seed Coco Gauff. It reminds me of the days when we wished for a final showdown between Evert and Martina Navratilova, which came to fruition five times during the 1970s and 1980s. Sabalenka was understandably bitterly disappointed after losing from a set up against Gauff at Roland Garros, but she has looked in good spirits again during her practice week here. It helps that she is a very secure and supportive team around her, who are also very professional in the way they handle every area of her tennis. No stone is left unturned by team Sabalenka. Gauff, meanwhile, has come so far since her error-strewn defeat by her American compatriot Emma Navarro in the fourth round here last year. Her resilience and perseverance has shone through, culminating in that comeback win against Sabalenka when it initially looked as if she was being thoroughly overpowered. With a second grand-slam title now under her belt, the 21-year-old has what it takes to go all the way at Wimbledon.
