First match for me is with Lucy and Sue in the new radar seats on Court 12. Bright, sunny and mild weather as we see Strycova vs Mertens. Mertens takes the first 6-4 and they trade breaks to start the second. Mertens continues playing well and Strycova is down 2-5. Meanwhile, on Court 2, Riske has Barty on serve, 1-2 in the third. Strycova recovers to 5-6 and I leave for Nadal vs Sousa. Strycova later wins in three. Meanwhile, Barty has lost to Riske on 2. Wow. Rafa crushes Sousa in taking the first four games, holds twice for 6-2 and puts Sousa down a break in the second. The second goes 6-2 and Rafa has two sets in 1:06. The way he’s playing it won’t be long. A great rally at 1-1, 30-30 in the third sets up break point for Rafa and he takes it for 2-1. He gets another break later to get the third 6-2. What a beat down. Rafa was fantastic and from row A it was amazing. I swap tickets with Sue so she can watch Konta and I watch Coco Gauff on Court 1 against Halep. I join as Halep is up a break and holds for 6-3. Coco plays many good shots but is not ready yet to dismiss a top player. Halep gets a break for 2-0 but Coco corrects for 1-2, then loses her serve the next game. Coco reaches 2-5, 15-40 but holds. Halep holds for 6-3 and the match; the crowd gives enthusiastic support to both players. Coco will be a future force. Next up on Court 1 is Humbert vs Djokovic. They hold serve until Novak breaks for 3-1 with the help of a 20-stroke rally at 1-2, 30-30. Good play from both but Djokovic is sharper on his shots and prevails 6-3 in the first. Konta and Kvitova split on Centre so I get another set of Djokovic before going over for Roger. I note the Bryans are in trouble 6-7, 2-6 against Mahut/Roger-Vasselin. They later lose in the fourth. Novak breaks for 2-1 in the second and Humbert is clearly coming up short in power, placement and consistency. I leave to reclaim my seat on Centre. I learn later that Novak wins in three having never been behind in the match.
Next up on Court 1 is Humbert vs Djokovic. They hold serve until Novak breaks for 3-1 with the help of a 20-stroke rally at 1-2, 30-30. Good play from both but Djokovic is sharper on his shots and prevails 6-3 in the first. Konta and Kvitova split on Centre so I get another set of Djokovic before going over for Roger. I note the Bryans are in trouble 6-7, 2-6 against Mahut/Roger-Vasselin. They later lose in the fourth. Novak breaks for 2-1 in the second and Humbert is clearly coming up short in power, placement and consistency. I leave to reclaim my seat on Centre. I learn later that Novak wins in three having never been behind in the match. I arrive outside Centre with Konta serving 5-2, 15-30 and watch the score as the game goes through six deuces and two match points before Kvitova breaks and holds. I get in my seat to see Jo take the match. The British love it. Next up is Roger vs Berrettini and I worry Roger may have his hands full. He goes up 5-1 with ease and holds for 6-1. Meanwhile, the Bryans lose in a fourth set tiebreaker. Too bad. Berrettini begins the second with a 137 mph ace and holds. He’s broken next serve and Roger’s up 2-1. He gets a second break and takes the second 6-2. Just too commanding. Berrettini fluffs a touch shot at the net and is broken the first game of the third. At 0-2 Roger gets a break point on an amazing leaping backhand volley. Two points later he converts for 3-0. Berrettini finds himself serving 1-5 at only 1:09 in the match. Roger
