July 2 (Reuters) – Wimbledon kicks off its third round on Friday, with world number one Jannik Sinner facing a tricky test in Jenson Brooksby and an emboldened Coco Gauff hoping to further capitalise on her improved, confident serve.
TOP MEN’S MATCH: JANNIK SINNER V JENSON BROOKSBY
After a five-set battle with Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round, Sinner’s straight-sets win over Nuno Borges was a relief to the defending champion, but the world number one admitted he was still far from his best after being dragged into two challenging tiebreaks.
“Trying to go a little bit more to the net. Trying to be a bit more aggressive. Also the movement itself I can improve,” said Sinner, who also appeared to have recovered from a ripped toenail that bled through his shoe during the first round.
“The first couple of matches … they’re always tough. Now I’m past them. Let’s see what’s coming on the next round.”
Sinner faces a tricky test against Brooksby, who is known for trapping his opponents in long rallies and outwitting them with unorthodox shots, including an unusual two-handed backhand slice.
The two last met in 2021, when Sinner won in straight sets. But the Italian four-time Grand Slam winner said Brooksby, ranked 81 in the world, had improved a lot since their last clash.
“It’s going to be a very different match … a very tough match. I’m looking forward to it,” Sinner said.
TOP WOMEN’S MATCH: CLAIRE LIU V COCO GAUFF
Gauff was put through a battle by Solana Sierra in the second round, and the American two-time Grand Slam winner came out of the test feeling emboldened about her prospects of finally making a deep run at Wimbledon, having never gone beyond the fourth round.
“I think that was my first time doing a 10-pointer (tiebreak) in the third … I’m happy with just how I fought and competed,” Gauff said.
Adding to Gauff’s confidence was the way she served, making only five double faults in the match and landing 10 aces, a sign that her effort to improve her serve is having some success.
“I was just trying to be aggressive when I could. But really happy with how I served,” the 22-year-old said.
Gauff, who has beaten compatriot Claire Liu in straight sets in both their previous meetings, will be hoping for a dominant third-round win that will add to her Wimbledon momentum.
AUGER-ALIASSIME INTRIGUED BY QUALIFIER ZHENG
Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime is having his best Wimbledon campaign in the last five years, having faced three first-round exits and a second-round loss in the previous four editions.
But despite playing Grand Slam tennis for nearly a decade himself, the 25-year-old could not help but marvel at the sudden rise of his next opponent, qualifier Michael Zheng, who established himself as a regular at the majors while studying at Columbia University.
American Zheng graduated in May, and has reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time.
“Very interesting path. We’ve got a lot more of these players that are simultaneously playing college and pro or just get out of college and playing great tennis right away,” Auger-Aliassime said about 22-year-old Zheng.
“I like how he plays. He’s very tricky, he’s got a great tennis IQ, got great ball control. It’s going to be a tough one. It’s not a surprise he’s in the third round.”
WIMBLEDON ORDER OF PLAY ON FRIDAY (prefix number denotes seeding)
CENTRE COURT (Play begins at 1230 GMT)
25-Arthur Rinderknech (France) v 7-Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
1-Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) v Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia)
3-Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada) v Michael Zheng (U.S.)
COURT NUMBER ONE (Play begins at 1200 GMT)
Daria Kasatkina (Russia) v 14-Naomi Osaka (Japan)
1-Jannik Sinner (Italy) v Jenson Brooksby (U.S.)
Claire Liu (U.S.) v 7-Coco Gauff (U.S.)
COURT NUMBER TWO (Play begins at 1000 GMT)
Roman Safiullin (Russia) v 24-Joao Fonseca (Brazil)
4-Jessica Pegula (U.S.) v Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (Spain)
Hubert Hurkacz (Poland) v 21-Tommy Paul (U.S.)
(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Alison Williams)
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