Updates from Wednesday’s action in SW19
Order of play | Joint ends Williams comeback | Mail Katy
But Ostapenko – who took out Britain’s Harriet Dart in a tight three-setter in the first round – pulls away from Osaka at the finish line, completing a 6-2, 6-0 destruction of Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic just before Osaka brings up her first match point at 40-30. Gasanova’s return goes well long and Osaka is into the third round of Wimbledon for a fourth time – but she’s never been any further. Could this be the year? She’s certainly looking sharp and confident, despite that injury, and she’ll have a winnable match against Daria Kasatkina or Janice Tjen next. Tjen is currently 7-6 ahead. A certain Aryna Sabalenka could await in round four, however.
Osaka retired with a right foot injury during the Bad Homburg final last weekend, her first career final on grass, but she’s got it firmly pressed on the gas here as she breaks for 4-2 courtesy of an overhead smash. Gasanova, the 27-year-old qualifier who’s ranked down at 225 in world, has played four matches just to get this far, and it looks to be catching up with her as Osaka consolidates the break … before breaking again Gasanova lobs long! At 6-3, 5-2, Osaka is a game from away from becoming the first player into round three.