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Amanda Barlow

Moore & Evans bow out as Middle Sunday re-appears

Britwatch Team
Tennis

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By Amanda Barlow

  • Svetlana Kuznetsova [13] def. Tara Moore 6-1 2-6 6-3
  • Roger Federer [3] def. Dan Evans 6-4 6-2 6-2
  • Middle Sunday to clear backlog for the first time since 2004

WIMBLEDON, UK – Tara Moore and Dan Evans bowed out of Wimbledon leaving Andy Murray the last Brit standing, as plans for play on Middle Sunday were announced.

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Svetlana Kuznetsova [13] def. Tara Moore 6-1 2-6 6-3

With the exit of British No. 1 Johanna Konta on Thursday, British women’s hopes now rested with a feisty wildcard.

Kuznetsova, a two-time Grand Slam champion started predictably fast, jumping out to a 3-0 lead, before delivering a final blow at the end of the set to take a one set lead.

But by now a similar chorus to the ‘Willbomb Barmy Army’ that accompanied Marcus Willis to his second round, at this year’s tournament seemed to have installed themselves in Moore’s vicinity.

She greeted their chants after having ripped through the second set to level the match by clapping along, with a huge grin on her face.

Talking to reporters after her match, she said: “I can’t describe that feeling when someone is screaming your name. They’re great. I just adore them so much. They’re lovely.”

Yet the long wait for the Russian to return from a toilet break seemed to favour the 13th seed as she mirrored the first set by jumping out to a 3-0 lead.

This time though, a fight-back was on the cards as Moore got the break back, but the Russian picked off one last break to serve for the match.

She continued: “I’ve given my all. Maybe I didn’t play the greatest of tennis, but she definitely played some very good tennis, and she showed everyone why she is where she is.”

 

Roger Federer [3] def. Dan Evans 6-4 6-2 6-2

One Brit was not enough for the 17-time Grand Slam champion, he followed up his win over qualifier Willis with another straight sets win over Evans.

Unlike his mate Willis, Evans has started to knuckle under and make a move towards working harder and after overtaking a slumping James Ward to move into the Top 100, gained his main draw entry as of right this year.

He steamed past the 30th seed Alexandr Dolgopolov in his second round match, earning his match up with Federer, but had to admit that he was pretty taken aback by the atmosphere and the conditions that a covered Centre Court provided.

However, his serving seemed to desert him today, and it looked all too easy for Federer. From the start he put the Brit under pressure, breaking him on his fourth break point opportunity, and once more afterwards.

Evans had the audacity to break him back and that was about as competitive as the sets got.

The second set, Evans needed to have a good start but lost his first two service games before making more of a battle of it.

The third set started more promisingly for the Brit, but pretty soon another two breaks were banked for Federer, leaving Murray as the last man standing.

 

Middle Sunday for the first time since 2004

Late on Friday it was announced that it would be necessary for a Middle Sunday for the first time since 2004. By the end of Friday they were still several second round matches adrift.

In a statement by the All England Club – full details of the ticket sales will be announced at 1pm on Saturday and will only be available online. They will be sold on a first come- first served basis, with a limit of two per household, and none will be available to purchase on the day.

Although it is easy to concentrate on the disruption that ricked play on Tuesday and Wednesday, there was a full day’s play on Thursday before the rain returned to ruin plans for Friday to catch up – hardly any play could take place on the outer courts before 3pm.

Of the second rounds pending , the following matches are incomplete:

  • Sloane Stephens v Mandy Minella
  • Timea Bacsinszky v Monica Niculescu
  • Petra Kvitova v Ekaterina Makarova
  • Alexander Zverev v Mikhail Youzhny

The decision had been taken earlier to add the second round of three sets and not five for the men’s doubles competition.

In a frustrating day for fans, players and staff alike, at least Australian Open men’s doubles champion Bruno Soares (who partners Jamie Murray) saw a semi-funny side to it as the schedule for Saturday was delayed in its release.

Play is scheduled for 11am on the outer courts, 12pm on Court One, and 1pm on Centre Court (BST).

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