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Oh dear. Another Vallejo double and Norrie again has a point for the set … only to direct a backhand into the tape. So the younger man thrashes away on backhand, forcing a set point of his own, on serve, then directs Norrie to either corner, forcing the error, and he takes the tiebreak to seven! The grand slam debutant leads by one set to love!
A Vallejo double hands Norrie three sets points, but he saves the two on return, then plays a fine rally to level us up at 6-6. Just when it seems like quality and experience are taking over, it turns out that actually, they aren’t.
Osaka survives break points to lead 2-1 but Siegemund, whose name you might remember from last year’s Wimbledon quarters, is really canny, her slow game of spins and angles not one that can really be prepare for. And back with Norrie, he holds then takes a mini-break, before a missed volley donates him a second at 4-1.
Vallejo holds against Norrie to leads 6-5 in the first, and this match might well mature into an epic. The two look really well-matched.
Osaka holds for 1-0 but, more generally, where is she going? When she lost a close one she should’ve won, against Swiatek in 2024, I thought she was fully back, but it’s not quite worked out that way. She does still have time, though, and if she finds her best form she can beat anyone. She leads Siegemund 1-0.
Incredible scenes.
Moise Kouame, though. At 17, I was still being a moron in school – yes, and everywhere else I went. It’s probably for the best I didn’t have the talent of a top tenniser, but he very much does and I’d not be at all surprised if he goes a bit further – it’s Norrie or Vallejo next, then Tabilo, Vaucherot or Faurel after that.
On Lenglen, meantime, Osaka comes out in a black evening dress, long skirt and all, under which is a gold singlet. I know, though, that what you really wantis to hear about her trainers – news coming as soon as I get it.
And next on Chatrier: Coco Gauff (4) v Taylor Townsend.
On Chatrier, Muller has retired when trailing Tsitsipas 6-3 3-0; next for him, Griekspoor or Arnaldi.
Maria Sakkari beats Linda Noskova (12) 7-5 7-6(3)
A brilliant win for Sakkari, who meets Liu or Uchijima next.
Back on 6, Sakkari and Noskova are playing a second-set breaker, Sakkari up a set and a mini-break…
Norrie trails Vallejo 2-3 on serve and, though he’d expect to beat an opponent playing a major for the first time, he’s struggled a bit with injury this season, so you never know. He was, I thought, interesting on Jack Draper recruiting Andy Murray as coach:
“I was not surprised. I knew they had a great relationship, and Andy rates him and thinks he’s so good, so I’m happy for them, and I’m excited to see Andy on the tour.
“I really like to see him back, and I know how much he loves tennis. It will be probably tough for his handicap in golf to be back on the tour.
“He’s not going to be able to play as much! But I think he’s got so much experience, so many big matches he played, and he was world No.1. Amazing for Jack, amazing for Andy, and I’m not surprised, and good pick I will say.
“I would love to have him, but I’m really set with my two coaches, but I just love to spend time with Andy in general.
“I’m always asking him questions, he’s so funny, so I’ve got a lot of time for Andy. I’m happy to be spending time around him and talking to him so of course I would like that.”
Next on Lenglen: Laura Siegemund v Naomi Osaka (16).
It’s so odd to see player of such calibre collapse as Medvedev did, and also not that odd at all – we know he’s got it in his locker, and at 30-years-old, he’s got some decisions to make. Does he indulge his least helpful characteristics and accept his career has peaked, or does he work on himself to try and wring every last drop of use out of his considerable talents? It’s up to him.
Walton is pretty tired after a match with big ebbs and flows, saying this is huge for him. After beating Medvedev in Cincinnati, he knew he could do it and knew when his opponent was liking his ball, he still had a chance. He grew up in the heat, thinks the speed through the air helps him, and that’s our lot.
Adam Walton beats Daniil Medvedev (6) 6-2 1-6 6-1 1-6 6-4
Out of nowhere and from a break up in the fifth, Medvedev collapses into defeat – he has a lot of thinking to do. Next for wildcard Walton: Svajda.
Norrie and Vallejo are under way, level at 1-1 in the first, but what’s this? Medvedev slices into the net, slaps a volley into the tape, and doubles! Walton has three points for the biggest win of his career!
Goodness me, Walton hits the outside of the line with a forehand, then again with an overhead winner – that was so close to costing him a game. But he then nets … only for Mevedev to go long, burning a third break point, and from there, Walton secures his hold for 5-4 in the fifth.
Sakkari is making Noskova work hard to stay a break in front but, at 5-7 5-2 she’s a game away from forcing a decider. And back on Lenglen, Medvedev makes advantage on the Walton serve … only to go long with a forehand. The Aussie, though, can’t close from there, so round we go, Medvedev winning a net exchange to raise a second break point…
Walton isn’t going away, breaking Medvedev back for 4-4 in the fifth, and what a peculiar match this is. My sense is that the no 6 seed will do whatever it takes to get through, but he’s leaving himself little margin for error.
On Chatrier, Tsitsipas has started quickly, up 4-2 on Muller; Griekspoor and Arnaldi are level at 1-1 4-5, on serve; and Svajda has beaten Popyrin 3-6 6-3 7-6 7-5. Next on Court 13 is Norrie v Vallejo, so I’m going to stick that on and bin Tistsipas v Muller.
Back with Medvedev, he leads Walton 3-2 in the fifth, with a break, while Noskova has woken up, down 5-7 to Sakkari but up 4-1 in set two.
And don’t we need it. Much as the Sincaraz axis is pushing the game on, we can’t have them in every single final; we’re relyiing on the likes of Fonseca – and Kouame – to challenge them as soon as possible.
Of course, Cilic is past his best and maybe Kouame just happened to produce his best tennis against a fading force. But the match did not look like that, at all – the impression was of a brilliant talent seizing the opportunity offered because it could do no other.
Oh man, what a match and moment that was. We lost Monfils last evening, but what a way to replace him – we’ll see how it goes, of course, but I like absolutely everything I’ve seen of him. His game is terrific, full of touch and power; physically, he moves well and hits hard; mentally, he understands how to stay calm while maintaining an edge. I cannot wait to see where he goes from here.
Kouame takes the applause of the crowd and actually looks pretty calm, taking a moment when asked how he’s feeling. Lots of emotions, he says, it’s fantastic coming here to play. He didn’t know what to expect, but his team worked hard to be ready, and thanks to the fans who helped him with every single point.
It wasn’t easy to stay calm, he says, but he always wanted to stay focused and concentrate in the big moments; the crowd helped him. The drop shots worked pretty well today, he trained hard, and is looking forward to the second round – where he’ll meet Norrie or Vallejo – but the main thing is to enjoy life. Ain’t that the truth, young boss.
Moise Kouame beats Marin Cilic 7-6(4) 6-2 6-2
A forehand clobbered inside-out to the corner, and Kouame is the youngest man to win a match at this tournament since 1991! He strikes a pose and holds it, taking in a moment he’s worked for all his life, and we’ve seen a superstar this morning, the bouncing joy of youthfulness and talent affirming the existence of us all.
A double hands Cilic 15-all, but a backhand into the net takes Kouame two points away, then a netted return and he’s on the brink! What a performance this has been, a statement to the world: I am here. Know me.
Sakkari breaks Noskova at the first time of asking in set two, and I’ve no idea why this match wasn’t deemed worthy of commentary. But back with Kouame, he has a point for a double break, a Cilic serve looks wide, the umpire checks … and it was! The 17-year-old will now serve for the match at 7-2 6-2 5-1, his dominance increasing set by set, and i’ve seen nothing to make me think he won’t see this out.
I nip to the conveniences and return to see that Medvedev has taken set four against Walton, the match not at all close – sets of 2-6 6-1 1-6 6-1 – but also, extremely close, hence we’ll soon enjoy a decider. And on Mathieu, Kouame has broken and consolidated against Cilic; he leads 2-0 4-1, and is two games away from introducing himself to the world by way of ludicrous victory.
Excellent from Sakkari, a love hold sealed with an ace giving her a 7-5 lead against the in-form no 12 seed. She’s an absolutely brutal first-round draw.
Medvedev now leads Watton 4-0 in the fourth – a decider looks inevitable – while Cilic, down 6-7 2-6 1-2 to Kouame, has the trainer out for a medical timeout and back rub. And, now Sabalenla is safely through, on my third screen I’m watching Sakkari serving for the first at at 6-5 against Noskova.
Sabalenka tells Mats that she’s enjoying coming to the net more than anything, proud she’s improved her game enough in that aspect. She then thanks the crowd, reminding them to stay hydrated, before explaining that pressure is part of her life and, prompted, that she’s delighted to have been named sportswoman of the year at some recent awards. She hopes she’s a good example and the next generation take the best out of her.
Other than that, asked if the hot weather and fast courts are good for her, she says she’s still learning what suits her, enjoying it if it’s hot and fast but also cold and slow.
