. Swiatek and Djokovic unflappable
To any lord any credit, the world N.1 and the man with 23 Grand Slam titles are among the few players to have benefited from the comfort of the courts with roof in their first two matches and took advantage of it to reach the third round in the right tempo.
Because many of their opponents have been, or will be, forced to play two matches in two days because of rain.
Swiatek made only one bite of Spain's Sara Sorribes (84th) and inflicted one of her famous "bagels" in the second set of a match won 6-2, 6-0 in 1h10.
"I wanted to be patient," said the Pole surprisingly. I really used my power and I think I played a really good match."
"I'm happy that my two matches were scheduled under the roof, because I was sure to play (...) It's more comfortable, we are in the rhythm of a Grand Slam tournament with a day of competition and a day of rest," she said.
In the next round, Swiatek will face France's Diane Parry (96th) or Croatia's Petra Martic (29th), whose match could not be held on Wednesday.
Later, it was Novak Djokovic (2nd) who got his ticket to the third round by dismissing without trembling the Australian Jordan Thompson (70th) 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5.
Novak Djokovic waves to spectators after his victory over Australia's Jordan Thompson on July 5, 2023 in the second round of the Wimbledon © tournament SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP/Archives
"I wasn't sure I wanted to face him so early," said Djokovic, who usually grows stronger as the rounds go by.
Despite his words, he was not really in danger even if, after leaving only two points and having managed four shutouts on his serve in the first set, Djokovic got a little more hooked in the next two sets.
Nevertheless, there remains a victory in three sets, clean and without burrs, without a single break ball to defend.
He will face for a 31st victory in a row on the London grass and a place in the 8th finals the Swiss Stan Wawrinka (88th), quarter-finalist in 2014 and 2015, or the Argentine Tomas Etcheverry (32nd).
. Late first laps
Daniil Medvedev had more time than expected to gamble on the reception he would receive, he the Russian who was banned from tournament last year in response to the invasion of Ukraine by the troops of his country, since he played his first match on Wednesday instead of Tuesday.
But it was in a favorable atmosphere - which "surprised" him, he said - that the world N.3 won quietly against the British of French origin Arthur Féry (391st) 7-5, 6-4, 6-3.
Daniil Medvedev on July 5, 2023 during his first-round Wimbledon victory over Britain's Arthur Féry. The Russian never really shone at Wimbledon, where he never made it past the knockout © stages Adrian DENNIS / AFP/Archives
"For different reasons, the reception could have been much worse," he commented, explaining that he was slow to understand that part of the support was intended for the entry of players on the court.
Medvedev, winner of the 2021 US Open and finalist at the Australian Open in 2021 and 2022, has never made it past the 8th finals at Wimbledon.
He will face Frenchman Adrian Mannarino (35th) in the second round.
Several other matches from the first round that had been delayed were played: Holger Rune (6th) won her first match at Wimbledon, while on the women's side Maria Sakkari (8th) was eliminated from entry.
. Disruptive elements
Rain has disrupted the tournament since Monday. After a second day, Tuesday, totally drowned in waves, the third was jerky: having started an hour and a half late, it was interrupted twice.
As a result, 21 matches were postponed to Thursday: sixteen in the second round and five in the first (Zverev-Brouwer, Davidovich-Fils and Zhang-Van de Zandschulp in the men's category, Bondar-Andreescu and Bouzas-Kalinina in the women's category).
An activist from the environmental group Just Stop Oil throws confetti on Court No. 18 at Wimbledon on July 5, 2023 during the match between Britain's Katie Boudler and Australia's Daria Saville. Another match scheduled on the same court was also interrupted in the same circumstances © Glyn KIRK / AFP / Archives
In addition, three environmental activists from the group "Just Stop Oil" disrupted two matches on Court N.18, entering the field to throw confetti and puzzle pieces.
They were arrested, charged with "aggravated trespassing and criminal damage," police said.
© 2023 AFP