While Roger Federer cruised into the last eight at SW19, Rafael Nadal was knocked out by 16th seed Gilles Muller, losing 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13
- Muguruza fights back to knock out No1 seed Kerber
- Muller beats Nadal in five-set thriller
- Murray hobbles to straight-sets win over Paire
- Konta first British woman in Wimbledon quarter-finals for 33 years
Video highlights from a thrilling at Wimbledon here:
Related: Rafael Nadal loses thrilling Wimbledon five set epic to Gilles Müller
Well, that’s all from me today. What a day of tennis. What a ending. Gilles Muller will sleep well tonight. Rafael Nadal probably won’t allow himself any sleep until the US Open. Thanks for reading, emailing and commenting. Tomorrow it’s the women’s quarter-finals and the last men’s last 16 match between Novak Djokovic and Adrian Mannarino. I’m off for some food and a sit in a darkened room. Bye!
Gilles Muller: 30 aces, 10 double-faults. The last time - the only time - he was in the last eight of a slam? The 2008 US Open.
By the way, no further play tonight. Novak Djokovic will be back for his match against Adrian Mannarino tomorrow.
Gilles Muller speaks. How does he feel? “Tired. It was a long match. Rafa stepped it up and it was a big battle. I had four match points. I was looking in the sky. I thought it was going to be over pretty soon. I didn’t think I was playing bad in the third and fourth sets. In the end it was just a matter of a few points here and there. I haven’t really realised what just happened. It’s a great feeling. I’m just glad it’s over and I’m in the quarter-finals.”
More pressure, Nadal netting a volley to make it 0-15. Muller proceeds to make it 0-30 again, slapping a forehand down the line. Now the big leftie has to go for the jugular. Instead he knocks a backhand long for 15-30. But then. But then! BUT THEN. But. Then. Nadal hoicks a forehand long and Muller has two more match points! They rally. They rally. This time Nadal’s tight. He’s the one who’s going to crack here. You can feel it. Muller’s finally hitting it hard and flat and it’s Nadal who hits his forehand long at long, long last
and finally I can go to the toilet
. It’s all over! The 34-year-old Gilles Muller has knocked the resurgent Rafael Nadal out of Wimbledon to reach the last eight!
This set is already longer than a lot of men’s matches. Muller holds to 15 to lead 14-13. By way of comparison, this match is longer than the 2009 Wimbledon (four hours and 17 minutes).
Bounce. Bounce. Bouncey bounce. Nadal holds to love. They’ve got around six and a half hours to go to match Isner and Mahut. It’s 13-all.
A Mexican Wave before the start of this game. “You can continue at the next changeover,” says the umpire, like a teacher dealing with an unruly class. Off we go; Muller makes it 30-0 with two pieces of serve-volleying. He holds to love with more expert net play and leads 13-12.
It’s 15-all after a peach of a forehand return from Muller, who makes it 15-30 when he swipes a forehand past Nadal. Nadal makes it 30-all with an ace, challenged without success by Muller. A second-serve ace makes it 40-30. Nadal holds for 12-all. And with that, both players have their challenges reset to three apiece.
The game goes to 15-all when Muller pummels a forehand down the line, then 15-30 when the 16th seed slashes a sliced drop shot wide. Nadal’s offered a slow second serve. He’s completely off balance when he nets a backhand return for 30-all and Muller makes it 40-30 with nifty serve-volleying. He holds when a Nadal forehand return clips the tape and he adjusts to push a slice past the wrongfooted Spaniard to lead 12-11!
The neverending match rolls on with Nadal serving. But not yet. Nadal’s struggling with the reflective glare coming off a balcony. “If we can have four or five people stand behind that balcony...” says the umpire. A scarf is found to cover it up. This is preposterous. We begin. Nadal nets a forehand. Again. 0-15. Again. He nets another forehand, Muller going for it, and it’s 0-30. Muller’s two points away. And tight again. He slices wide for 15-30. Nadal rams a serve down the middle, Muller blocks long and it’s 30-all. The opening fades away as Nadal overpowers him quickly for 40-30. Nadal holds. 11-all.
Serve-volley’s the way on the first point here and Muller does it effectively to lead 15-0. But then he doesn’t do enough with a couple of smashes at the net. Obviously it’s time for a drop shot. Needless to say it spins off horribly to the left for 15-all. Muller makes up for it with an ace for 30-15. Nadal misses a passing forehand return for 40-15. Another brilliant serve takes Muller to 11-10.
We’ve passed the four-hour mark and it’s still going. It’s Nadal to serve. He pulls a forehand wide to make it 0-15. That’s happened a lot in this final set. Muller goes for a sliced crosscourt drop shot. Nadal’s at the net. Muller tries a lob ... and Nadal plonks an overhead backhand wide to make it 0-30! Soon it’s a second serve. Nadal bodies him, allowing him to punch a backhand away for 15-30. Dearie me. The tennis on show here. Nadal somehow summons the inspiration to find the line with an inside-out forehand winner for 30-all; another inch and it was out. But now we do have a match point, Muller incredibly kissing the baseline with a forehand down the line! It’s his third match point. He’s never in control of the rally, though, and eventually Nadal charges forward to put a smash away for deuce! But Muller simply will not bugger off. He crashes a forehand from left to right. Nadal stumbles as he reaches it and Muller’s able to put a volley into the open court for his fourth match point, after four hours and 13 minutes. Nadal misses a first serve. The second goes to Muller’s forehand. He shanks it! What a let-off. That was the first time Muller had control on a match point. It’s a bad miss. Because Nadal might not let him forget it. He holds with an absurd half volley. It’s 10-all and this is never going to end.
Nadal finally gets a foothold in a Muller service game, a fine forehand return making it 15-all. Muller serves well to make it 40-15. Nadal returns well to make it 40-30, though, and it’s deuce when Muller nets a volley. Nadal’s got a taste for this now and a canny slice draws an error from Muller, who’s facing a break point after hoicking a forehand long. Nadal decides to come to the net, for he is Tim Henman on these lawns. And Muller passes him with a backhand down the line. Then Muller decides to leave a looping Nadal backhand. Er, Gilles, mate, it’s going in. Break point. Done? No. Muller volleys with enough belief to force Nadal to hit long on the run. Muller’s in danger of crumbling here, though, whacking a forehand into the net. Another break point. And amazingly Nadal sends a regulation forehand long. He challenges, but he knows it’s out, so he focuses, reaches a poor volley and whacks a forehand down the line for another opportunity. It feels like a matter of time now. Muller’s second serve is called out - the umpire corrects it, though! Nadal challenges - and it was in! Muller gets a first serve as well. Nadal is fuming. He has no challenges remaining. Muller, granted a reprieve, saves it with an ace. He holds to lead 10-9 with another ace. Sport, eh?
Rafa Nadal holds to 15. 9-9.
The sixth seed simply had too much in the tank for the young German, who ran out of steam in the end. In a repeat of last year’s semi-final, Raonic faces Roger Federer next.
Up 30-0, Gilles Muller double-faults. We’re at the point where you’re looking for little signs. Something to tell you which way this is going. Is that the one? Muller pulls a backhand wide to make it 30-all. A good serve is enough for Nadal to net a backhand for 40-30, but it’s deuce when Muller knocks a forehand wide. Is this the breakthrough? Nope. Muller holds with an ace out wide to lead 9-8. Isnet and Mahut, they’re coming for you.
Related: Konta fans fume as Wimbledon switches big screen match
Once again it’s a 0-15 lead for Gilles Muller, who strikes a forehand superbly before touching an overhead out of reach with Nadal stranded. He can’t capitalise, though, errors letting Nadal tiptoe nervously to 30-15. Nadal holds to 15. 8-8.
Rafa Nadal, wielding a new racket, makes for the baseline. Gilles Muller clips an ace out of reach for 15-0. Another one makes it 40-0. Game over? You don’t know Nadal. A 99mph forehand from left to right makes it 40-15 and a gorgeous backhand return makes it 40-30. What next? A booming Muller serve down the middle, that’s what. Nadal’s return flies long and Muller leads 8-7.
Rafa Nadal is serving to stay in the tournament for a third time and for a third time he’s down 0-15 after netting a forehand. It’s 15-all when Muller nets a slice. Nadal might have been in trouble if it had gone over. He’s still grimacing of course. He’s happier when he sends an ace down the middle for 30-15. It’s his 20th of the match. But Muller knows he can introduce doubt with precise tennis and he forcefully makes it 30-all with a pinpoint forehand down the line. Nadal knows he has to serve big. He does. Twice. He holds. It’s 7-7.
Gilles Muller moves into a 40-15 lead. But then he gets tight. He nets a backhand. He sneezes a drop shot into the net and it’s deuce. His first serve’s gone missing. He’s struggling to clamber clear. The nerves are taking hold and he blooters a forehand miles wide and long to gift Nadal his first break point for what must feel like a lifetime. It’s almost as though the pressure liberates him, though, and he whacks an ace down the middle to save it. Another huge serve down the middle is enough for him to hold for 7-6.
On Court 3, Milos Raonic has won the fourth set 7-5 against Alex Zverev. Yes, there is tennis elsewhere taking place. That one’s into a fifth.
Rafa Nadal finds himself down 0-15 again after netting a forehand. Time for a body serve. A drop shot. Muller leads it and lobs, but Nadal makes it 15-all with an athletic overhead for 15-all. The game goes to 30-all when Nadal nets another forehand. Is Muller to earn another match point here? Nadal looks anxious. He takes a deep breath. A huge forehand softens Muller up, though, and he plants a volley out of reach for 40-30. Muller nets a return and Nadal holds for 6-6.
Gilles Muller nervelessly skips into a 30-0 lead, chopping a slice down the line before serving accurately. Nadal, scampering on to a volley down to the left, sends a forehand long to make it 40-0. Then he holds for 6-5 with a superb touch at the net. Over to you Rafa.
Urgent applause greets Rafael Nadal as he steps up to serve. Some fans are shouting his name. Others whistle and whoop. This is a big moment. In fact it’s a Big Moment. Rafael Nadal serves to stay in the tournament and he begins the task by sending a forehand wide. All of a sudden, Muller’s three points from a famous win. Then Nadal nets a forehand. It’a 0-30. Muller is two points from victory. The excitement grows. Muller slices wide. 15-30. Nadal whacks a serve down the middle. A few fans think it’s an ace - it’s wide. Second serve ... into the net. Muller has two match points! He’s bouncing up and down on the spot. It’s not quite in his hands, after all. Nadal still has a semblance of control and he saves the first with a swinging ace down the middle for 30-40. Nadal serves wide - and Muller, going big, nets a forehand! It’s deuce. Nadal wins the next point, serving excellently, a 120mph missile doing the job, and an ace down the middle seals a huge hold! It’s 5-5. You fear for Muller now.
Serving powerfully, Gilles Muller holds to love to lead 5-4. Rafa Nadal will serve to stay in the tournament.
Gilles Muller had the slightest of looks at 0-15, but it was fleeting. Nadal holds to 15 for 4-4 in the fifth set. “Come on!” he barks, pumping himself up even more. They’re chanting his name now. Wimbledon, the home of the underdog.
After the briefest hint of insurrection, which was quelled with extreme haste, Federer earns three match points with some serve-volley. He can’t take the first. He takes the second when Dimitrov wafts a forehand long. That wasn’t much of a contest. No one’s going to remember that. So much for it being the match of the day.
That didn’t last long. Grigor Dimitrov spanks a forehand long and Roger Federer breaks to lead 5-4. He’ll serve for the match.
There’s still a bit of life left in Grigor Dimitrov. He’s broken back for 4-4 in the third set on Centre Court. Is an astonishing comeback in the offing?
Gilles Muller is serving with more poise and oomph and unpredictability again and he looks in control at 40-0. But Rafa Nadal is Rafa Nadal and he fights back to 40-30. Muller has to play a very good backhand indeed to hold for 3-2.
Honestly, there's nothing more lovely on a sunny day than taking your child to the park to hit a few tennis balls ️
Gilles Muller’s reaction is more understated than Nadal’s when he holds to 15 for a 2-1 lead in the fifth set on Court 1. No more than a quiet clenched fist from the 16th seed. Does he believe he can win this?
Roger Federer breaks to lead 6-4, 6-2, 3-2 on Centre Court. “Baby Fed, my hole,” he says during the changeover.
Rafa Nadal’s doing double fist pumps and he’s vamosing and he’s running around like he’s won the tournament. All he’s done is hold to 30 at the start of the fifth set. I’m not sure anyone likes anything as much as Rafael Nadal likes winning isolated tennis points.
Dominic Thiem’s on the brink here. The young Austrian, who was heavily fancied before the match, finds himself facing two match points after pinging a forehand long. Tomas Berdych, still so powerful, only needs one. He slams down an ace and laps up the acclaim of the crowd on Court 3. He’s through to the last eight and a possible quarter-final against Novak Djokovic. A slight problem is that Djokovic leads 25-2 in that head-to-head.
Alex Zverev’s pumping his fist after outlasting Milos Raonic in a tense rally. The Canadian sends a forehand long to give the young German a set point. Zverev swings an ace down the middle to lead 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 and move a set away from his first grand slam quarter-final.
Serving at 5-4, Rafael Nadal clubs a forehand away for 15-0. A massive backhand down the line brings up three set points - and Muller lifts a backhand long. They’re going into a fifth set. Nadal’s Uhh’d his way back from two sets down and there’s surely no way he’s losing this now.
Gilles Mullers holds to 30. Rafa Nadal will serve for the fourth set at 5-4.
Cool volleying from Roger Federer brings up three set points. He can’t take the first, netting a backhand, and Dimitrov saves the second with a glorious forehand return. But a good serve down the middle from Federer forces Dimitrov to net a forehand and he leads 6-4, 6-2. That one’s over.
Roger Federer’s toying with Grigor Dimitrov now, as though he’s determined to end this Baby Fed nonsense once and for all. He breaks for a 6-4, 5-2 lead in the Centre Court damp squib.
An absolutely stonking backhand pass from the very special Alex Zverev on his third break point is enough for him to forge ahead against Milos Raonic! The 10th seed breaks to lead 6-4, 5-7, 4-3.
Two holds after the changeover on Court 1. But Rafael Nadal is the one with the advantage. Gilles Muller trails 3-4 in the fourth set and this one looks like it’s going the distance. Novak Djokovic must be delighted at having to wait so long to get on court.
Tomas Berdych is a few holds away from another Wimbledon quarter-final. The 11th seed has broken against Dominic Thiem and leads 2-0 in the fifth set. Alex Zverev’s creating chances, too, but he hasn’t been able to take two break points against Milos Raonic in the seventh game of the third set on Court 2. On they go.
Grigor Dimitrov’s fading away now, pulling a forehand wide to drop his serve. Federer breaks for a 6-4, 3-2 lead.
Gilles Muller is beginning to feel the strain. The relentless of Rafa Nadal is taking its toll. A double-fault makes it 0-30 and Nadal earns three break points when a smash forces Muller to net a backhand. Nadal nets a forehand on the first and Muller saves the second, smartly serve-volleying. Can he save the third? You betcha! Stunning, precise hitting finds its way through the Nadal wall, a final forehand forcing deuce, but the Spaniard has a fourth break point after double-faulting. Nadal gets this serve back - and Muller nets a high backhand. Nadal leads 3-2 and this may well be heading into a fifth set.
Roger Federer would just love to glance at the Centre Court scoreboard during a changeover and see that Nadal’s a break down in the fourth set. But the Spaniard holds to love on Court 1 to make it 2-2 in the fourth set.
Dominic Thiem might not be totally sure of himself on grass yet, but he’s showing impressive fight against the experienced Tomas Berdych. The Austrian has won the fourth set 6-3 to force a fifth set on Court 3.
As for Rafael Nadal, he is subjecting Gilles Muller to intense pressure. But he can’t take two break points, sending a backhand pass long on the second. Eventually Muller holds to lead 2-1, volleying superbly.
Roger Federer skips into a 40-0 lead, Dimitrov netting a forehand. Then he skelps an ace down the middle to take the first set 6-4.
On Centre Court, Grigor Dimitrov continues to impress in a highly competitive first set against Roger Federer. Hitting his forehand sweetly, the Bulgarian is giving Federer a few problems. But Federer is, well, Federer. Some big hitting draws errors from Dimitrov, who’s suddenly down 30-40. Dimitrov saves it with a huge ace out wide, before shooting a look at his team, but he’s facing another after a double-fault. He clings on. But he can’t convert a game point and a wayward forehand gives Federer a third chance. Dimitrov blunders this time. A wild forehand and Federer breaks to lead 5-4 in the first set!
Milos Raonic took that second set without having to do any peak Raonicing. No need for a tie-break - he took it 7-5 off Alex Zverev, so there’s at least two more sets left in the battle on Court 2.
Rafael Nadal appears to have sorted this out now. His deeper serving position is doing the trick. And here he is serving for the third set. An ace makes it 30-0 and Muller misses a forehand down the line by an inch to hand Nadal three set points. He can’t take the first, though, double-faulting. Then he nets a forehand to make it 40-30. The crowd stirs. But Muller soon nets a forehand. Vamos! Nadal roars. He’s back in it, but Muller still leads 6-3, 6-4, 3-6 and might only need to keep serving venomously to snatch one more set - and victory.
Milos Raonic is Raonicing at the moment, holding for 6-5 in the second set against Alex Zverev. The youngster will serve for a tie-break.
Hello again. I’ve just had an apple. Tomas Berdych has just won a set. He leads 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 against Dominic Thiem.
And now, Jacob Steinberg is back. He’ll take you through the remainder of play. Email him on Jacob.Steinberg@theGuardian.com
Muller holds, but Nadal still looks good. It’s 4-2 in the third set after Muller took the first two. New balls and...well, in the time it took to write that entry out, Nadal rattled through a service game. Impressive. Now 5-2 in the third.
Nadal holds to go 4-1 up in the third. Two sets down, but there’s a glint in his eye and a purpose to the way he retrieves his underpants from betwixt his buttocks.
Meanwhile, Federer v Dimitrov is underway on Centre Court, and Dimitrov has held the first game.
In other serve-breaking news, Raonic is heaving his way back into his game against Zverev, breaking back in the second to level that set at 3-3. In the game out on Court Three, Berdych is up 4-2 in the third set over Thiem, having won one set apiece earlier.
Nadal breaks! Despite being two sets down, you’d be fairly brave to really back against Nadal. And he starts a potential recovery by breaking Muller in the fourth game of the third set!
Want some details on how Andy Murray made it through to the quarters? Kevin Mitchell was there, and he’s very much looking forward to telling you about it.
Related: Andy Murray hobbles to 10th straight Wimbledon quarter-final with Paire win
“The upset of the tournament” if Nadal goes out?!” exclaims Stuart MacKenzie. “Since Nadal has gone out to players below 100 in the World the last 4 times he played Wimbledon (having won the French Open in 3 of those years), surely the upset of the tournament would be for him to beat the world no 26!”
Another break for Zverev! Already a set up, the lanky German has broken Raonic’s serve and, with a belting couple of backhands, serves out to take a 3-1 win in the second. He won the first 6-4. Last year’s defeated finalist is in some bother.
In the end the final set was fairly straightforward for the American, who dances all over Court 18 after serving that one out to defeat his giant South African opponent in five. Querrey will now face Murray in the quarter-finals.
Next up on Centre Court will be Roger Federer vs Grigor Dimitrov. We’ll keep our eye on that one as and when.
Meanwhile Anderson did serve that game out, but now Querrey is serving for the match. And Berdych seems to be taking his anger at losing that second set out on some forehands: he’s already broken Thiem and is 2-0 up in the third.
Muller serves for the set: and he takes it! Wonderful stuff from the big southpaw Luxembourger, who sticks a brilliant forehand down the line and right onto the baseline, Nadal can only net and Muller now leads 6-3, 6-4! Remarkable scenes. The upset of the tournament on our hands here?
Now then: a mild surprise on the cards as Zverev takes the first set against Raonic, 6-4. Meanwhile Thiem blasted through a tie-breaker against Berdych, winning that 7-1 to level the match at 3-6, 7-6. And to complete this mini round-up, Kevin Anderson is serving to stay in the match against Sam Querrey in the fifth...
Andy Murray v Benoit Paire is over: see how it went with Jacob Steinberg here.
Trouble now for Nadal - another break point down at 4-4...and he inexplicably puts a straightforward backhand into the net! Muller will now serve for the second set!
...but Muller saves two of those break points, Nadal sticks a forehand carelessly into the net, and a big serve digs Muller out of a hole once more. It’s 4-4 in the second, Muller won the first 6-3.
It’s one of those rallies where the crowd starts laughing at how absurd some of the shots were. Muller plays a drop-shot that should have ended it, Nadal somehow scrambles to get it over the net, Muller then lobs one up that might have been going out but Nadal goes for the smash anyway...that Muller somehow gets on his tippy-toes and puts back in play...and eventually Nadal wins the points with a backhand that clips the very outside millimetre of the sideline. And now it’s break point to Nadal...
Bit of an epic game happening on three. The tenth game of the second set seems to have been going on for about a year, and Berdych isn’t happy. After giving the umpire a proper earful following a disputed line call, he initially channels his irritation into some absolute woofs of serves, pinging aces past Thiem’s nose, then eventually holds after a forehand goes long. If he’d lost that game, Berdych might have just burst. It’s 5-5 in the second, Berdych having won the first 6-3.
We’re into a fifth on Court 18. The tie-breaker gets to double figures, Querrey tries a rather ill-advised drop-shot which gives Anderson the set point, and he converts, winning the tie-breaker 13-11.
Ding-dong affair in the Querrey-Anderson tie-breaker: it’s 9-9, the latest set point saved by a booming Querrey ace.
Another slight surprise brewing? Zverev has broken Raonic on Court Two, and leads 3-1 in the first set.
That was the first Grand Slam set that Nadal has dropped since the Australian Open final this year. He of course blew through the French Open and hasn’t been troubled so far in this tournament either. Crumbs.
Well then. Some brutal serves that Nadal doesn’t even sniff holds for Muller, the one that closed out the set in particular absolutely un-returnable, booming in from left to right and completely cramping him on the backhand. Nadal jogs off court for a toilet break/to splash some water on his face. A task on his hands here.
We’ve got a fourth set tie-breaker over in Querrey v Anderson. Remember the former leads the latter 5-7, 7-6. 6-3...
Perhaps it’s no wonder Nadal is struggling a little...
Ouch!
That's not the warm-up #Nadal had in mind.
At least he saw the funny side of it!#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/g27qZb7VI7
Muller holds with no little gusto, and he’s up 5-2 in the third. Here’s Nadal, serving to stay in the first set after 22 minutes...
A break! After some smart play by Muller, he has a break-point against Nadal, but isn’t helped by the net cord as one flops over from the Spaniard but his own shot straight after that stays his own side. Muller then sets up a second break-point with a lovely drop-shot...and he takes it as Nadal rather limply puts a forehand into the net. Muller up 4-2 in the first.
Over on Court Two, a lumbering robot slowly comes into view, as Milos Raonic starts his match against 10th seed Alexander Zverev.
Nadal and Muller is currently at 2-3 in the first, going with serve. Meanwhile, Tomas Berdych has firmly rejected the idea of mucking around by winning the first set against Thiem 6-3, inside half-an-hour.
A break for Berdych against the upsettingly youthful Thiem, he leads 4-2 in the first set.
After a brief wobble and some slight problems actually closing the game out, Halep eventually does take the match after some murderous groundstrokes and an Azarenka backhand into the tramlines seals things. Halep makes it into the quarter-finals where she will face Johanna Konta.
Nadal v Muller is underway on One, and the first two games have gone with serve.
Way over out on Court 18, Querrey has taken the third set to lead 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 against Kevin Anderson, but it’s going with serve in the fourth set.
Oh! What’s this! Not only does Azarenka save that match point, but she fights back to break and takes the game with a smashing drop-shot. It’s still 5-2 to Halep, but Azarenka isn’t letting her comeback go without a scrap.
Azarenka produces a couple of fine moments to take a game in the second, but Halep has just been too strong for her. Match point now...
A pleasingly consistent 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 victory for the big man, who will now face the winner of Nadal v Muller in the quarters.
Report: here’s how Johanna Konta sashayed into the quarter-finals by beating Carolina Garcia in three sets.
Related: Johanna Konta first British woman in Wimbledon quarter finals for 33 years
Halep is running away with this one now. She breaks Azarenka again, then holds to 30, meaning she’s 5-0 up in the second set having won the first on a tie-breaker. Azarenka will now serve to stay in the match.
Another match we’ve neglected a tad: Sam Querrey lost the first set of his game against South African beanpole Kevin Anderson, but took the second on a tie-break and is about to serve for the third. Sorry Sam, sorry Kevin.
Next up on Court One will be Rafa Nadal vs Gilles Muller. Should be coming up shortly.
Over on Court Three, Tomas Berdych is just starting his match against Dominic Thiem. That’s seed 11 vs 8.
Over on Centre Court, the first set in owner of Scotland’s longest neck Andy Murray’s match against Benoit Paire has finished - BUT WHO WON IT? Jacob Steinberg will tell you here.
Exceptional performance in the end for Konta, who at various points looked like the match was getting away from her. In the final set she looked like she was just hanging in there on the Garcia serve, but timed her surge in the final game perfectly, and closed it out efficiently. She’ll now face either Azarenka or Halep in the quarters - and it’s looking like the latter, as she has broken to go 3-0 up in the second set, after taking the first on a tie-break.
Garcia nets after seemingly putting Konta in trouble, and Britain has its first woman in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 33 years!
Garcia pulls ahead in the game with a couple of perfectly constructed points, but then Konta puts a brilliant backhand winner down the line, then Garcia nets....match point!
Garcia winds up to serve to remain in the match....but she nets a forehand. The cheers go up on No.1 court...
Pretty efficient stuff in the end from the No.2 seed, who by that measure alone is ostensibly the favourite for the tournament, after Kerber’s exit earlier.
But Konta’s isn’t bad at the moment either. She holds to love, a game that included a fizzer of a double-fisted backhand, and Garcia must now serve to stay in the match. No break points in the set so far - will that now change...?
That Garcia serve is currently as reliable as it is powerful. From the start of each point it puts her in control, in that game at least, and Konta does well to get anything at all on some of them. It’s back to 4-4 in the decider.
Tie-break over on Two. Halep currently leads Azarenka 3-1 in that...
Now then. It’s perhaps not the most crushing shock in the world, given Wozniacki’s iffy Grand Slam record and it’s still a seed beating a seed, but Vandeweghe produces a fine cross-court backhand to force the Dane into netting her own backhand, and seed 24 defeats seed five!
Garcia’s serve is quite the thing. She’s got a slightly unusual technique, raising the racket high before the ball toss, as if she’s warding off a rogue pigeon, but it works, holding despite a couple of fine returns from Konta. 3-3 in the final set.
The pattern is broken! Both players manage to hold consecutive games, so it’s 5-5 between Azarenka and Halep in the first. Bit disappointing really: was looking forward to them winning two games each for the rest of time.
A couple of straightforward holds: one from Garcia, then from Konta, moves the set along. 3-2 to Konta in the third.
Konta holds onto another, erm, hold, and she leads 2-1 on serve in the third and deciding set. Garcia’s old man/coach is still pretty signal-happy, mind. Wonder if anyone is keeping an eye on that...
Apologies for neglecting this match at little, but it seems to be going to form quite straightforwardly: Marin Cilic has just taken the second set against Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, mirroring the score in the first. Which means, as the sharp among you will have worked out, the Croatian leads 2-0.
True to form, Halep has broken then held against Azarenka, the games going two-by-two as the first set is squared at 4-4.
Woof! A brace of brilliant shots from Konta - one a backhand down the line, another a sizzling service return - sets up a chance for a break. But Garcia’s serve is big and digs her out of trouble once, twice, thrice and it’s 1-1 in games, 1-1 in sets.
A nerve-settler from Konta, who clinically takes the first game in the deciding set to love.
A ding to the dong! No, hang on, wait. Need to rephrase that. Anyway, holding serve doesn’t seem to be the done thing on Court Two, because after Azarenka won the first two games, only for Halep to take the second two, the former has broken again to win the following two, meaning it’s 4-2 to her in the first set. Crumbs.
That’s the resistance knocked back a touch, as Garcia holds to love to take the second set 6-4. Konta won the first 7-6, stick around for the decider.
“Really not sure where all the criticism of the women’s game comes from,” amens Amelia Clark. “It can’t be from anyone watching them play. From what I have seen this Wimbledon it’s the women’s draw where the real quality matches have been. Kerber v Muguruza this morning was incredible! Much more enjoyable than watching one of the Big Four men steamroller an opponent (or worse watching a retirement). They need to start giving these ladies the exposure they deserve by scheduling them on the main courts.”
Konta holds with a little resistance, but from 5-1 down and staring down the barrel of a third set, she’s brought it back to 5-4. Garcia is now serving for the set, though...
A nascent ding-dong over yonder: having been broken in the first game of the match, Halep has now whizzed through a couple of games against Azarenka to make it 2-2 in the first.
Now then. Signs of life from Konta, going 40-0 up as Garcia serves for the set. But her first break-point disappears just beyond the baseline, the second into the net...but she converts the third with a brilliantly manoeuvred point, nailing a backhand down the line. 5-3 to Garcia in the second set, Konta leads 1-0.
Azarenka isn’t wasting much time. In her first game against a top ten player in her first grand slam since returning to tennis following the birth of her child, she’s already a break up over Halep. 2-0 in the first to the Belorussian.
Want to hear how Garbine Muguruza knocked out No.1 seed Angelique Kerber in a belting match earlier? Here you go.
Over we nip to Court Three, where Agatha Christie character/24th seed Coco Vandeweghe has won the tie-break in the first 7-4 against Caroline Wozniaki.
Incidentally, any thoughts you might want to share, email them to Nick.Miller@theGuardian.com. Perhaps you have an opinion on the not especially subtle hand signals that Garcia’s father/coach is offering. Still, all good fun.
The first break point is saved with a backhand winner down the line, the second when a Garcia backhand goes a little long, but after a review downgrades a Konta ace to a fault, the British No.1 puts a backhand into the tramlines and Garcia goes a double break up in the second. 4-1 to her.
Might be a little strong to say the Konta wheels are coming off, but they’re a little loose: Garcia holds relatively easily and a couple of unforced errors gives her three points for a double break...
Over on Court Two, former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka (unseeded this year) is just starting her match against Simona Halep.
Konta is broken! After starting the match like a train, Konta was pegged back at the back end of the first set, and now Garcia has broken in the third game of the second. “Allez!” bellows the Frenchwoman as she goes 2-1 up.
Afternoon world, Nick Miller here to take you through the afternoon while Jacob concentrates on Andy Murray v Benoit Paire. If you fancy following that one, here’s the place.
Related: Andy Murray v Benoît Paire: Wimbledon 2017, fourth round – live!
A stroll in the park, the five-time champion wraps up things in just over an hour. She’s into the quarter-finals where she’ll play French Open champ Jelena Ostapenko.
Garbine Muguruza earns another match point and the world No1 nets a backhand this time! That’s it! Muguruza, the 2015 finalist, has completed a rousing comeback against the German, who will definitely lose her No1 spot at the end of this tournament. The appreciative applause at the conclusion of an epic match on Court 2 is loud and sustained.
On Court 2, meanwhile, Angelique Kerber has just saved two match points against Garbine Muguruza. She’s serving at 4-5 in the third.
First set tie-break: Konta* 7-3 Garcia (*denotes server): Konta takes the first with an ace! “Come on!” she roars at her box! She’s a set away from the last eight.
First set tie-break: Konta 6-3 Garcia* (*denotes server): Garcia kneels and nets a forehand. Konta has three set points.
First set tie-break: Konta 5-3 Garcia* (*denotes server): Konta balloons a forehand return.
First set tie-break: Konta* 5-2 Garcia (*denotes server): Garcia desperately sends a backhand pass long.
First set tie-break: Konta* 4-2 Garcia (*denotes server): Konta overcooks a forehand. She challenges to no avail.
First set tie-break: Konta 4-1 Garcia* (*denotes server): Garcia foolishly slams a forehand volley straight at Konta, who’s in the perfect place to wallop a forehand away!
First set tie-break: Konta 3-1 Garcia* (*denotes server): Konta nets a forehand return.
First set tie-break: Konta* 3-0 Garcia (*denotes server): Garcia pulls another forehand return wide.
First set tie-break: Konta* 2-0 Garcia (*denotes server): Garcia stretches and sends a forehand long.
First set tie-break: Konta 1-0 Garcia* (*denotes server): A double-fault from Garcia.
Caroline Garcia butchers a smash and Konta holds to force a tie-break. I’ll point by point it.
Garbine Muguruza is feeling very pleased with herself after coming through an intense deuce struggle to lead 4-3 in the third set on Court 2. And what a match it is! What tennis they’re being treated to there! Angelique Kerber must have thought she was going to break again, but Muguruza showed champion spirit to hold. As for events on Court 1, Caroline Garcia holds to 15 to lead 6-5. Looking at replays of that break point in the previous game, it seems Konta made the first challenge after playing the ball, a second after it was called out.
On Centre Court, Venus Williams is performing with regal intent. The 10th seed leads by a set and a break.
Serving for the set, Johanna Konta is under pressure after a miss that makes it 0-15. She settles any nerves with a lovely backhand pass, only to make it 15-30 with a poor backhand and Garcia earns two break points with a peach of a forehand. Konta’s feeling it here. But she steps in to save the first break point with a forehand winner, then the second with a 111mph wide serve that draws a long backhand return from Garcia. Soon she has a set point, Garcia netting a forehand. But no. She knocks a forehand long and Garcia earns another break point with a piercing return. They trade heavy blows. Garcia hits a huge backhand from left to right. The call of OUT is late. Garcia challenges. It was in by 0.000000000000001 inches and the game goes to Garcia! Konta’s furious. She thinks the point should be replayed. But the umpire isn’t having it. Garcia will serve at 5-5.
On Court 2, it’s swinging this way and that and it’s not clear at all who’s going to win it. There have been four breaks already in the final set. Garbine Muguruza claims the fourth with a clobbered forehand. It’s 3-3. Kerber can’t shake her off.
Venus Williams, 37 years old, is taking on a player 18 years her junior today. No problem. She’s won the first set 6-3 against Ana Konjuh, the 27th seed, on Centre Court.
So, Ostapenko has just won her 11th consecutive Grand Slam match. She awaits either Konjuh and Venus Williams in the quarter-finals. The Latvian is quite the force on court at the moment. And with that, and Konta 5-3 up, Jacob is back with you.
It has taken a while but the Latvian has – finally – navigated a way past No4 seed Svitolina and her first Wimbledon quarter-final. The 20-year-old Roland Garros champion eventually prospered on her eighth match point to win 6-3, 7-6. Back on Court 1, Konta continues to swing with confidence, but has been made to dig in a little. She leads 4-2 in the first set.
Garcia may well be on the board here but Konta seems to have brought her A-game, with the Briton leading 3-1. Elsewhere, on Centre Court, Venus Williams has established an early lead against Konjuh, with the American 2-1 up there. The No1 seed, Kerber, meanwhile is level pegging with Muguruza, after the Spaniard took the second set 6-4. And Svetlana Kuznetsova is into the quarter-finals at Wimbledon for the first time in 10 years after beating Agnieska Radwanska in straight sets.
Konta’s come flying out of the blocks here, and breezes into a 2-0 lead inside seven minutes, with a low, powerful forehand wrapping up the latest game.
Jacob has just ran off for a bite to eat, so you have me, Ben Fisher, for a bit. So, Caroline Garcia gets things underway against Jo Konta on Court 1, who after winning the toss elected the French player to serve. But it’s a fine start to the week for Konta, who races into a 1-0 lead.
I’m going to grab a sandwich - Ben Fisher will be your guide for the next 15 minutes or so. Konta and Garcia are about to start.
Jelena Ostapenko saw a match point come and go when Svitolina was serving. She carves out two match points on her serve, but can’t take either, her aim a little wonky. She earns a fourth and hits a backhand long. Svitolina sends a forehand wide. Ostapenko hits a backhand wide. Soon she’s facing a break point. Then Ostapenko double-faults. Five match points frittered away, then she does that. Oh dear. Svitolina will fancy this now, although she has to hold at 6-3, 4-5 to stay in the match.
On Court 1, Johanna Konta and Caroline Garcia are getting ready for their tussle. It should be good. Garcia won their last meeting, in Indian Wells earlier this year, and reached the quarter-finals of the French Open last month. Venus Williams and Ana Konjuh are also out on Centre Court.
They’re going the distance on Court 18. Petra Martic has held her never this time to win the second set 6-2 against Magdalena Rybarikova.
Jelena Ostapenko is inching closer to her first Wimbledon quarter-final. She finds the line with a baseline down the line and breaks Elina Svitolina to lead 6-3, 4-2. To think that she was effectively a nobody no barely a month ago!
A wonderful chance for Angelique Kerber to break goes begging. She can’t quite find the target with a forehand pass. This is an outstanding match. Garbine Muguruza could win it yet.
Second Monday 2012, 4 x champ Serena was put on Court 2.
“I agree that women’s tennis is not intrinsically more or less boring than men’s, but you’re far more likely to see a great match from the men, because the great matches are the epic five-setters,” says Thomas Baldwin. “Solution: the women should play five sets too. Surely no-one these days believes that women aren’t physically capable of five sets, but restricting them to three is sending a message that this is an inferior product to the men. And it would have the added benefit of killing the pay debate.”
But it comes to the stage where women can’t win. They basically can’t win this argument. We run the risk of creating the impression tennis is all about the Big Four - and though they are a phenomenon that extends beyond tennis (it’s arguable the standard of any sport has never been higher than in their era), what will be left when they retire?
The New York Times’s tennis correspondent is with your live blogger today.
Really no good reason Kerber & Muguruza are on No. 2 Court. They should be on Centre Court or No. 1. One of Big 4 men should have been moved
Petra Martic was a break up in the first set, but lost it. She’s a break up in the second set now.
“From what Kerber is showing, she deserves being on the show court, and that match today should have been on one of the main courts,” says Marcus Schuh. “Why is it that Kerber is not getting the credit she deserves by the organizers?”
Angelique Kerber is on one today! A huge wallop of her racket sends the ball flying past Garbine Muguruza, who hangs on for dear life until there’s nothing left to hang on to, and the first goes to the world No1, 6-4. She’s not in crisis any more, it seems.
Too many errors are flying off Garbine Muguruza’s racket. A messy game hands the first break to Angelique Kerber, who will serve for the first set at 5-4. Did something click for Kerber on Saturday? She looks transformed today.
Petra Martic was bossing things initially on Court 18, but not any more. Magdalena Rybarikova has fought back emphatically to take the first set 6-4. The unseeded Slovakian’s causing a bit of a stir here.
Jelena Ostapenko has tamed that fightback from Elina Svitolina. She holds for 5-3, then quickly earns three set points. Svitolina saves the first, but not the second, knocking a forehand long. Ostapenko takes it 6-3.
A very clever chopped backhand slice from Svetlana Kuznetsova is enough for the Russian to grab the first set 6-2. She’s thoroughly outplaying Agnieszka Radwanska.
There’s an excellent match over on Court 2, where Garbine Muguruza has stayed solid to brilliantly save a break point before holding with a big backhand for 4-3. It’s very even. Angelique Kerber’s been on her game too. “I completely agree regarding the scheduling but had a couple of thoughts about it,” says James Taylor. “Firstly, on Centre Court could the unspoken reason be that because of the roof, they can safely schedule two men’s matches in the knowledge that both will be completed on that day if they’re lengthy affairs? Secondly, and this has always been a niggle of mine, why don’t they play on the middle Sunday? You could play all the women’s fourth round matches on that day and then follow the usual format for the quarters/ semis, there’s extra income for the tournament and it eliminates the need for hasty rescheduling if inclement weather arrives during the second week. Seems a no brainer to me. Anyway, keep up the good work.”
The roof argument makes sense, though they didn’t have a roof from 2000-2008, so there was no protection for the rain back then.
Elina Svitolina has one of those breaks back to trail 3-4. Jelena Ostapenko just hit a forehand almost off the court. All or nothing with her.
It’s very good stuff on Court 2 at the moment. Garbine Muguruza and Angelique Kerber are both giving it everything early on. The Spaniard reaches a drop shot and rams a backhand down the line to hold for 3-2 in the first set. “I wonder if the preference for men’s games on the show courts is down to advertising revenue for the telly networks,” says Andrew Benton. “The games go on longer, and once someone has started watching, they tend to stay until the end if possible = a more stable and influence-able audience for the advertisers. I saw Ostapenko in Beijing last October, playing doubles with Backinsky - amazed at what she has achieved. Hope she doubles her grand slam title haul this weekend.”
Jelena Ostapenko is having all sorts of fun with Elina Svitolina. At times her rawness can conspire against her, as when she wallops a simple forehand wide, but it can be devastating. She shakes off the first miss by making up for it with a crushing shot down the line, earning her a double break and a 4-1 lead over Svitolina.
“As an example of the impacts that TV coverage can have, I was recently watching the IPL, and my 5 year old daughter was stood a little behind me playing,” says Joe Hough. “As I am sure you are aware, the cheerleaders seem to come on every 30 seconds. Whilst I don’t think that they are necessary, especially in IPL, I do appreciate that some cheerleaders are immensely talented and have done a lot of training to get where they are (especially in theUSA). Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted my daughter mimicking one of the cheerleaders who was blowing a kiss to the camera. I have never avoided women’s sport (however most of what I have watched would be related to major events - Olympics etc), but I would say that I have not ever been as engaged with it as I have been with men’s. However, since then I have tried to get more female sport on the TV, as I want my daughter to believe that she can be the sportsperson and not the entourage, and to me that’s why it is important to balance the coverage more.”
Agnieszka Radwanska, whose place in the fourth round arguably has much to do with Timea Bacsinszky’s fitness problems on Saturday, is in a spot of bother on Court 3. The ninth seed is down two breaks already to Svetlana Kuznetsova. Many people thought Kuznetsova, seeded seventh, would be too strong for Radwanska today and so it’s proving at the moment.
@JacobSteinberg Spot on re scheduling. Ostapenko treatment all week disgraceful. If exciting new name won mens RG bet he would be on Centre
Angelique Kerber and Garbine Muguruza have met seven times. The Spaniard leads 4-3 in their head-to-head and beat Kerber in three sets here two years ago. Muguruza is the 14th seed this year, but you wouldn’t put it past her to win this match or the title. Both women are hitting the ball ferociously early on.
Jelena Ostapenko means business. The fearless Latvian unleashes a vicious forehand to break Elena Svitolina in the first game on Court 12. However, women’s tennis is boring.
And ... play! Petra Martic certainly intends to do just that. The Croatian has broken Magdalena Rybarikova in the first game on Court 18.
Tok! Tok! Tokity tok! The cast and crew are out and they’re knocking up now. Manic Monday begins soon.
“I have a lot of sympathy with the argument that the best way to challenge any sense that women’s tennis is boring is to put more matches on Centre, so more people can see them to enjoy them,” says Stewart Todd. “In one respect the Big 4 have locked down those showcase spots due to their collective consistency and brilliance - fair enough. But Wimbledon are doing a disservice to the broader tournament with this scheduling. Overall I feel they do need change their view and start play at 12:00, or alternatively close the roof as standard at 8:00pm and guarantee four matches on the show court - 2 from each?”
I seem to recall that they can’t play past 11pm, so you’re potentially risking it with the type of guaranteed late session they have at Flushing Meadows. But yes, this idea that women’s tennis is boring seems to have taken over and gripped the public consciousness. Look closer. This is high quality sport, even without Serena around this year!
It’s 11.30am and the ball kids are dutifully standing to attention on Courts 2, 3, 12 and 18, where the first singles matches will be underway soon. The players and officials aren’t put yet, though. There’s no timing like tennis timing.
You would have been very excited about your Centre Court tickets - before Klizan retired against Djokovic and Dolgopolov trudged off against Federer, that is. Will the denizens of Court 1 be gripped if Djokovic is two sets up against Mannarino? Remember that he beat Mannarino in straight sets here last year. By the way, Murray played on Court 1 against Marin in the fourth round in 2012.
What matters more, equality or giving fans what they want? Imagine paying £110 for a CC ticket and Murray/Fed are playing elsewhere...
“Do a us quicky update of the various doubles competitions for us, would you?” Andrew Benton pleads.
You can’t go wrong with Court 14 this morning, Andrew. That’s where you’ll find Jay Clarke and Marcus Willis, who continue their adventure in the men’s doubles against Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic.
There was a huge crowd out on Court 14 earlier. That’s because Rafa Nadal was having a hitting session before taking on Gilles Muller later. He was absolutely GBHing the ball. You do wonder if the deteriorating court surfaces are going to play into his hands this week. No man was better in week one.
There are some men’s matches I haven’t mentioned already. That’s Dominic Thiem versus Tomas Berdych, Sam Querrey versus Kevin Anderson, Milos Raonic versus Alex Zverev and Marin Cilic versus Roberto Bautista Agut. Not the easiest to call, especially big-serving Raonic against leading Next Gen star Zverev. The winner of that one could play Federer.
Hello and welcome to Manic Monday. And, getting straight to it, can there be more resounding evidence of mania than the world No1 being put on Court 2 for the second match running? Especially when this world No1 takes on the 2016 French Open champion? No, I’m not talking about Andy Murray. Instead it’s Angelique Kerber, the women’s No1, who discovers that being a member of the more boring sex means she must make do with being less interesting than male athletes. Women’s No1, know your place. It’s over there on Court 2.
Today’s order of play has been up for discussion since it came out on Saturday night. Of course the Big Four have BigFoured their way on to Centre Court and Court 1. There would have been Pimm’s-fuelled riots otherwise. It wouldn’t be Centre Court without the crowd doffing their Panama hats to Roger Federer.
Related: Johanna Konta must produce her best to beat Caroline Garcia at Wimbledon
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