Wimbledon: Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka overcome tough tests as Novak Djokovic cruises through | Tennis News

The big names at Wimbledon all tasted victory on Wednesday, with Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka each booking third round places.

Rusty Sinner squeezes past unheralded Borges

World No 1 and defending Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner, who battled back from a set down twice in a five-set thriller in the opening round, was tested again on Wednesday.

Sinner battled past unheralded 29-year-old Nuno Borges through two tie-breaks 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 in the first match on Centre Court.

It was far from straightforward for the Italian, who failed to earn a single break point in the opening set before fighting back from the brink in the second, breaking Borges at 5-5 after he served for the set and held set point, before sealing victory in just over two-and-a-half hours.

“Second set was very, very tough,” Sinner said.

“Second match on grass, I was not looking for perfection. I tried to improve, felt like at times I did. Now we’ll see how it goes.

“I feel like the grass here, it is a little bit different than anywhere else you play. Very similar to Queen’s though.

“Yeah, [playing at Queen’s] something we will take in consideration maybe for the next year, but this is a conversation we’re going to have after the tournament.

“Again, the first couple of matches, I know that they are always tough. Now I’m past them. Let’s see what’s coming on the next round.”

Next up for Sinner is Jenson Brooksby, who snapped a nine-match losing streak at Queen’s last month and swatted aside Ignacio Buse.

Djokovic dismantles Tsitsipas to reach third round

On a day when other big names were hard-pressed, Novak Djokovic processed imperiously to the third round as the 39-year-old seeks a record-breaking 25th grand slam title.

At times he was almost flawless as he dismantled Stefanos Tsitsipas, 12 years his junior but who was overwhelmed in straight sets, 6-3 6-4 6-2.

Tsitsipas’ first serves were strong but Djokovic pounced on his second serves and in each of the sets when the chance came to break he seized it ruthlessly.

A bright moment for the 27-year-old Greek came when he powered a forehand round the net to beat Djokovic. But he needed to sustain that level of excellence to challenge the Serb, given the kind of form Djokovic found on Wednesday.

He was simply too good, landing outstanding returns to confound Tsitsipas’ best efforts.

“I like the terminology ‘vintage’. It’s nice. It brings back the best days,” Djokovic said after his victory.

“That game when I went 5-2 up [in the third set] was one of the best returning games I’ve played in a while.

“I feel great. I’ve said this so many times before, I try not to take these moments for granted playing at the Centre Court of the childhood dream tournament.

“I feel very privileged to be walking out on the court at the age, 30+.

“Age is just a number…”

Gauff survives tense tiebreak to keep Wimbledon hopes alive

Two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff survived another Wimbledon scare, battling past Argentina’s Solana Sierra 6-3 3-6 7-6 (10-7) after a dramatic tie-break turnaround to reach the third round on Wednesday.

Wimbledon remains the only Grand Slam where the American has never gone beyond the fourth round, and the seventh seed was staring at an early exit against an opponent who last year became the first lucky loser in the Open era to reach the women’s last 16.

Gauff rattled through the first set on Court No 1 but lost ​her way in the second, possibly unsettled by a bizarre serve that went sideways into the umpire’s chair.

Sierra, now ranked world No 56 and a direct entrant at Wimbledon, broke the American to love to race into a 2-0 lead and extended her advantage to 4-1 before forcing a deciding set.

The 22-year-old Argentine then had a ‌break point on 1-1 but Gauff saved it and dished up a mighty 124mph serve to regain the advantage and go 2-1 up.

Sierra saved a ‌break point for 2-2, and two more to hold at 3-3, before turning things around and breaking Gauff to go 4-3 up.

Serving to stay in the match at 5-3, Gauff held on and then broke her opponent to regain ⁠the momentum and leave Sierra on the back foot and ​fighting for survival.

The Argentine took a 7-4 lead in ​the tie-break but Gauff then won six points in a row, ​capping her performance with a 117mph ace on the first ⁠of two match points.

Sabalenka fends off Kessler challenge

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka also progressed to the third round, but only after a massive second set test vs unseeded American McCartney Kessler on Court No 1, winning 6-1 7-6 (11-9).

Sabalenka converted her third match point in the tie-breaker after saving two set points.

By the time Kessler had surged into a 5-2 lead in the second set, Sabalenka’s frustration was boiling over, with the world No 1 repeatedly slapping her thigh in anger after missed opportunities.

Kessler appeared to be on the cusp ​of dragging the four-time Grand Slam champion into a third ⁠set as she had two set points ⁠at 5-3 and another two in the tie-break.

But Sabalenka’s superior power and experience ultimately saw her through, keeping her bid for a first major title away from hard courts alive as she finally converted her third match point.

“Was truly great fight and level in that second set from her and she really tested me today. I’m super happy to pass ⁠the test,” the relieved top seed said after flooring her ​57th-ranked opponent.

“She played incredible and played super aggressive and it ​was really tough to handle the second set and I am ​glad to have powered through.”

Osaka shows off another fashion creation

Naomi Osaka had a new look to show off before winning her second round match at Wimbledon.

Osaka, whose fashion reveals have become an event of their own at Grand Slam tournaments, wore a less elaborate outfit for her walk-on than the “Kill Bill” inspired kimono for her opening-round match on Monday.

This all-white outfit featured a wide belt and a long train behind her. It drew plenty of attention as she made the walk from the locker room to No 2 Court, trailed by photographers and fans wanting to take their own photos.

The four-time major winner took off the latest ensemble as she began warming up for her match against qualifier Anastasia Gasanova on Wednesday.

She went on to quickly dispatch Gasanova 6-3 6-2.

“I’m just trying to mix it up a little bit,” Osaka said about her outfit, adding she had been worried that a loss might have ruined her daughter Shai’s third birthday on Thursday.

“I just wanted to be here for longer, I didn’t want to make her get on a plane on her birthday,” Osaka said.

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