(Wimbledon) The title holder of Wimbledon, the Kazakh Elena Rybakina easily qualified for the third round on Thursday, beating the French Alizé Cornet 6-2, 7-6 (7/2), while in men , the 4th in the world, Casper Ruud fell against the Briton Liam Broady (142nd).
Surprising on paper, the result of the Norwegian is much less so when we know that the grass in general, and especially the Londoner, has never smiled on him.
With two first round eliminations in 2019 and 2021, and one in the second round last year, he arguably did not arrive with outsized ambitions.
Especially since he had in front of him a Central all committed to the cause of his opponent, who already had last year’s number 12 seed, the Argentinian Diego Schwartzman, on his list. at the same stage of the competition, also in five innings.
More than the result 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, it is the way that will undoubtedly question Ruud who has never really dominated his subject and has demonstrated, in both last sets, an inability to conclude the points, even when he had gained the upper hand in the exchange, prohibitive at this level.
The other headliners competing on this day for the moment have held their rank.
In a game that still counts for the first round, 2021 finalist Mateo Berrettini of Italy proved his ability on the grass as good as ever by beating tough compatriot Lorenzo Sonego in four sets spread over three days, because of rain, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 7-6 (9/7), 6-3.
In the next round, he will face Australian Alexis de Minaur, seeded number 15 and recent runner-up at Queen’s, who also needed four sets to out Belgium qualifier Kimmer Coppejans (188th), 6-7 (5/7) ), 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2).
For his part, the German Alexander Zverev, seeded number 19, joined the second round by defeating the Dutch qualifier Gijs Brouwer (153rd), 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7 /5), while 38-year-old Swiss Stan Wawrinka will challenge seven-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic in the third round after beating N.29 seed Tomas Etcheverry of Argentina 6-3. 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Other big names still have to play at the end of the day, such as the number 3 seed, Daniil Medvedev, opposed to the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino or Andy Murray, in a shock against the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (5th), on the Central.
On the women’s side, Elena Rybakina affirmed her ambition to keep her trophy by dominating the Frenchwoman Alizé Cornet 6-2, 7-6 (7/2).
Although hanging on in the second set, she was able to repel six break points to conclude the tiebreaker with authority.
The only real half-surprise of the day, on the women’s side, was the elimination of the Czech Karolina Muchova, recent finalist at Roland-Garros, but hardly comfortable on grass and who gave in to the German Jule Niemeier, quarter-finalist last year, 6-4, 5-7, 6-1.
The French Caroline Garcia, seeded number 5, hardly enforced logic against Quebecer Leylah Fernandez (95th) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10/6), while the semi-finalist of 2019, Ukrainian Elina Svitolina defeated Belgian Elise Mertens 6-1, 1-6, 6-1.
Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, 19th in the world and who had joined the last four in 2011 and 2012, qualified brilliantly for the third round against Argentina Nadia Podoroska (80th), 6-3, 6-0.