Quatre Bleues in the 3rd round, Nadal, Kyrgios: what to remember from the fourth day of Wimbledon

At Wimbledon,

To discover

• Wimbledon: men's schedule and results

• Wimbledon: ladies schedule and results

Fright

Manhandled Thursday in the second round of Wimbledon by the Dutch Lesley Pattinama, 138th and drafted from the qualifications, the world number one Iga Swiatek conceded a set, but regained her senses in the final round to win 6-4, 4- 6, 6-3 and sign a 37th consecutive victory on the circuit.

His next opponent, Alizé Cornet, dreams of putting an end to this crazy and incredible series...

The (little) scare

After giving up a set in the first round, Rafael Nadal was still used on Thursday.

It took him just over three hours to get rid of the modest Ricardas Berankis, 106th in the world.

In the next round, he could have an even better test with Lorenzo Sonego, seeded 27. Failing to play his best tennis, the double winner (2008 and 2010) did not seem bothered by his left foot affected by a degenerative and incurable disease (Müller-Weiss syndrome) which threatens the rest of his career...

Read alsoWimbledon: Nadal leaves a set on the way, but nothing more

Sensation

Outgoing finalist and 7th in the world, Karolina Pliskova was beaten Thursday in the second round by Briton Katie Boulter (118th and guest) 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

Much to the delight of the Center Court, frustrated on Wednesday after the eliminations of Raducanu and Murray.

Pliskova had already been beaten by Boulter last week in Eastbourne… The 25-year-old Briton will face Frenchwoman Harmony Tan (115th) in the third round.

A good opportunity for the French to return to the center a few days after her feat against Serena Williams.

Gasquet OK, Gaston, Grenier and Bonzi KO

There will finally be two French in the 3rd round.

Even though it took 4 sets, Richard Gasquet (69th in the world) dominated his second round match at Wimbledon, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 against American Mackenzie McDonald to reach his first round of 16 in a Grand Slam since the US Open 2018. Less success for Hugo Grenier, swept away by the Chilean Cristian Garin 6-3, 6-1, 6-1.

It also ended in three straight sets for Hugo Gaston, dominated by Lorenzo Sonego (7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 6-4).

It's also over for Benjamin Bonzi beaten by the young American Jenson Brooksby, in three sets, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, 6-3.

Read alsoWimbledon: "It's nice", Gasquet turns green by finding the 3rd round

The blue stat 4

They will be four French women in the third round.

Harmony Tan joined Alizé Cornet, Caroline Garcia and Diane Parry.

This is the first time since 2004 at Wimbledon that French women's tennis has four representatives at this stage of the competition.

They were even five, sixteen years ago (Amelie Mauresmo, Virginie Razzano, Marion Bartoli, Tatiana Golovin and Nathalie Dechy).

After Caroline Garcia and Diane Parry, Alizé Cornet and Harmony Tan obtained their ticket for the 3rd round on Thursday.

The first dominated the American Claire Liu, 75th player in the world, in two sets (6-3, 6-3), while the second triumphed over Sorribes Tormo (6-3, 6-4).

Read alsoCornet, about Swiatek, his future opponent: "My 15 years of experience on grass can help me"

The coming clash of the 3rd round

Quiet winner of the Australian Jordan Thompson 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in 2h04, Stefanos Tsitsipas, 5th in the world, gave himself the right to find the boiling Nick Kyrgios in the 3rd round.

The 40th in the world swept the Serbian Filip Krajinovic (31st) on Thursday 6-2, 6-3, 6-1.

A duel that promises to be electric with a place in the knockout stages of Wimbledon at stake, which has not happened to the Greek in London since 2018 and to the Australian since 2016. The Aussie has an advantage over Tsitsipas since he leads 3-1 in their duels and has just won on grass in Halle.

Masi the Greek is progressing on grass: “

”, he underlined with pleasure.

The London public is already salivating.

The other shock to come

Double winner at Church Road, the Czech Petra Kvitova dominated the Romanian Ana Bogdan (6-1, 7-6) to afford a nice shock against the Spaniard Paula Badosa.

The seeded 4 walked against another Romanian, Irina Bara (6-3, 6-2).

The phrase

Author of a spat towards the public during his first round, Nick Kyrgios had been faithful to his reputation as a brat.

And when a journalist told him that an investigation could take place against him, the Australian got angry: “

 »

Read alsoWimbledon: Kyrgios confirms having spat on a spectator

Point

Seeded 11, the American Taylor Fritz was able to respect his rank against the Briton Alastair Gray by winning 6-3 7-6(3) 6-3 in the second round.

Above all, he succeeded in the fortnight.

In the second set tie-break, Gray appeared to have saved a set point with a nice cross volley.

Convinced he had won the point, he clenched his fist, but Fritz dove to the turf to land an incredible forehand volley winner.

"

," Fritz savored.

The flop

Semi-finalist last season Denis Shapovalov is going through a very complicated period.

While he remained on six consecutive defeats before returning to Wimbledon, the Canadian had reassured himself a little by dominating the Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.

But he fell back into his ways this Thursday and the solid American Brandon Nakashima, 56th in the world, took advantage of it (6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6).

The farewell

The Belgian Kirsten Flipkens, semi-finalist of the 2013 edition, played this Thursday at the age of 36, the last match of her singles career.

Facing Simona Halep, 18th in the world and winner of the 2019 edition, the Belgian surrendered (7-5, 6-4).

She kissed the lawn of the All England Lawn club one last time.

And tears flowed at the time of his farewell speech.

The covid victim

After Matteo Berrettini and Marin Cilic, it is the turn of Roberto Bautista Agut, 19th in the world and recent finalist in Mallorca, to retire after a positive test.

The Spaniard, semi-finalist of the 2018 edition, is the third player to throw in the towel due to Covid-19.