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Wimbledon live
Aljaz Bedene is first on Court Two with an 11.30am start when he faces big-serving left-hander Gilles Muller.
The pair met two weeks ago with Muller, who is bidding to reach the last-16 for the first time, coming out on top in straight sets.
Then, in the women’s draw, Heather Watson faces Victoria Azarenka for a spot in the fourth round. The pair have met four times and Watson has never won a set. They are first on Centre Court.
Johanna Konta takes on Maria Sakkari after that one then it’s Andy Murray v Fabio Fognini to round off the day.
- Aljaz Bedene falls to straight-sets defeat to Gilles Muller
2.30pm: We’re into a Centre Court decider – and Watson is 0-30 down in the opening game.
But she roars back with almighty hold to get herself on the board. Her forehand went to put in that second set and she’ll need to refind her form if she is to come out on top here.
Azarenka, the former world No.1 no less, hits back and holds to 15 so we’re level at 1-1.
2.19pm: Bad news for Britain’s SW19 charge. Aljaz Bedene is now OUT. He loses 7-6 7-5 6-4 to Gilles Muller.
Over on Centre Court, Heather Watson is about to fall level at 1-1 with Victoria Azarenka. Aza is serving for the set at 5-1.
1.53pm: Bedene is never going to blow opponents away but he is a real agitator on court. He doesn’t easily go away.
However, he is going to have to show all his resilience if he is to beat Muller now, having lost the second set.
Unforced errors are the problem, really. Muller made 16 of them to Bedene’s 8 in the first set but the Brit is into double figures in the second (11) while his opponent has halved his own count.
The home favourite trails 6-7, 5-7. Needs something to change.
1.44pm: Watson breaks back! And she’s now serving for the set at 5-3.
What character she’s shown there – now can she hold her nerve?
Speaking of nerves, Azarenka’s are getting frayed. She’s just bashed her racquet on the turf after an unforced error makes it 30-15.
Watson then takes the set and Centre Court ERUPTS. What a start. Watson leads 6-3.
1.35pm: Until now. A double fault and Azarenka breaks to love.
I spoke to soon… Back on serve at 4-3.
1.31pm: “Come on Hev,” is the cry from Centre Court. The crowd are getting early senses that an upset could be on the cards here.
Watson is more than a match for Azarenka from the back of the court and she leads 4-2.
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Heather Watson took the first set against Victoria Azarenka
1.22pm: Well, well, well. Watson has just broken serve and now leads 2-0. The fans – the people, that is, not the makeshift paper being flustered in front of their faces for cooling – respond with a huge cheer.
Watson then holds serve when Azarenka sends a backhand wide and she now leads 3-0.
1.15pm: A reminder – and an ominous one of that. Watson has never, ever won a set against Azarenka. They’ve met four times.
Watson goes 15-40 down – cue sighing from Centre Court – before she wins the next four points in a row to hold for a 1-0 lead. Wonderful stuff.
Bedene, a set down to Gilles Muller, broke early in the second set but that one’s back on serve at 3-2.
1.11pm: Huge roar greets Heather Watson as she jogs to the back of the court.
Funnily enough, Watson and Azarenka meet each other again in the doubles later.
The Brit will serve first here.
12.54pm: You always felt Bedene was clinging on here and finally he breaks. Muller takes the tie-break 7-4 to secure the first set.
Centre Court action, where Heather Watson takes on Victoria Azarenka, gets underway in 10 or so minutes time.
12.35pm: Bedene is set point down here – but he saves it. Two more points and he takes the game.
First pump from Aljaz and why not? Wonderful character to hold there.
Muller responds with a few more big serves and he goes 6-5 up. Bedene srving to take it into a breaker.
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Heather Watson took the first set against Victoria Azarenka
12.23pm: It’s not all about the Brits today, or this morning. Amid a wealth of doubles action, Kei Nishikori is in action against Roberto Bautista Agut. It’s not going to plan, though. He gets broken in the 10th game of the set and goes 6-4 down.
Over on Court Two, meanwhile, James Gray says…
“Untidy of Bedene to allow Muller the chance to break not once, not twice but three times in game six of the first set.
“The Luxembourger takes the opportunity at the third call but immediately offers the same chances to Bedene.
“The first two are saved by big serves but at deuce, Bedene finds a terrific forehand pass and Muller double-faults to bring it back on serve.
“Bedene serving with new balls at 3-4 – and he holds – so we’re back level at 4-4.”
12.12pm: Solid start from Aljaz Bedene here, who has just saved a break point. Our man James Gray is there…
“Only John Isner (70) served more aces in first two rounds of Wimbledon than Gilles Muller (53).
“Aljaz Bedene looks up to it so far and is getting points off the Luxembourger, twice pushing him to deuce so far.
“Still on serve though, 3-2 in the first.”
11.57am: An update on Bethanie Mattek-Sands’ condition…
She will today undergo more scans on her horror Wimbledon knee injury.
Mattek-Sands, 30, was treated by medics on court before being carried off on a stretcher and taken straight to hospital yesterday.
Doctors closely monitored her condition overnight and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) say more will be known following today tests.
“Bethanie of course thanks everyone for their kind wishes and messages of support,” a WTA statement added.
11.48am: Our man James Gray is out on Court Two for Aljaz Bedene…
“No2 Court is slowly filling up ahead of the arrival of Aljaz Bedene to take on Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller.
“One of those in attendance is Great Britain Davis Cup captain Leon Smith – who of course cannot select Bedene due to a rule barring players from representing two countries. Bedene has been frustrated by repeated rejected legal appeals having previously played dead rubbers for is native Slovenia.
“Muller meanwhile is an intriguing character. At 34, he started the year without ever having won an ATP Tour title but having popped his cherry in a final against Dan Evans in January, he promptly won a second – this time on grass – last month. A tough opponent for Bedene, who is now out to knock up.”
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Bethanie Mattek-Sands will today undergo more scans on her horror knee injury
11.20am: Rafael Nadal is second on Court Two today against Karen Khachanov and he’s warming up now on Court 15.
He looks in ominous form and there’s hundreds crowding round to get a sneak peak of him in action.
On this form, Karen (yes, it’s a men’s draw match) should be a little scared.
11am: Four Brits into round four. Could it possibly happen?
Bookmaker Paddy Power are offering odds of 12/1 that they all progress.
British number ones Andy Murray (1/20) and Johanna Konta (1/6) are each heavy favourites to win their ties, while Heather Watson and Aljaz Bedene (both 15/8) face tougher tasks.
In the outright market, Konta (13/2) is now second favourite to claim the women’s crown – while Murray (4/1) has leap-frogged Novak Djokovic into fourth favourite for the men’s.
It’s 33/1 that both the men’s and women’s Wimbledon singles titles are claimed by a Brit.
