Wimbledon 2024: Alcaraz, Sinner, Radacanu and Gauff in action on day seven – live | Wimbledon 2024

On Centre, Alcaraz now leads 6-3 4-3, Humbert impressive in staying with him. If he can hold for a breaker, his lefty serve might just do enough, but the way the champ is playing it’s hard to see – we know he’s several more gears should he need them.

Excellent work from Keys, who’s forced through deuce to hold but uncorks forehands to secure 1-1 in the decider. Though hers is a fragile brilliance, she’s a very serious competitor and quickly makes 0-30, then crashes a forehand at the body as Paolini comes in, and the volley flies wide. And have a look! She comes in well, a booming forehand clearing the path, plays a decent volley … only to be improbably – and probably – past cross-court. Paolini, though, can do nothing with another heavy return, punished forehand on to the baseline, and Keys breaks to lead 2-1 in the third!

Back on Centre, Alcaraz has saved a few break points in holding for 6-3 3-2 – I’ve not watched loads of it because Paolini v Keys is just unmissable – and you get the sense that he’ll do the necessary at some point.

Fantastic play from Keys! She raises another set point then another ludicrous rally ensues – her forehand takes charge – but then Paolini reverses momentum via forehand … only for keys to seize is back with her backhand, opening shoulders to up power before a gorgeous drop is too good! We’ve got ourselves a decider and does’t Keys love it, roaring at her box. she hits 18 v 11 winners that set, and that, I think, was the difference. Paolini 6-3 (6)6-7 Keys

Brilliant from Keys, a forehand on to the line followed by a wrong-footing brute that establishes a mini-break at 4-3; Johanna Konta, who’s absolutely loving the match, advises she’s hitting the fastest forehands of the tournament, men and women, which is incredible. Anyroad, we wind up at 5-5 but then Paolini overhits and Keys has a chance, on serve, to win a set she ought to have sorted 20 minutes ago; she cannot, swishing a line forehand just wide. So, 6-6 it is.

Up 2-1, Keys bags a forehand wide and looks disappointed – well she might. A fine point follows, though, two huge forehands settling it … but then Paolini does likewise, leaping into the air as she unleashes each one until her opponent can’t take any more; 3-3.

Down 15-30, Paolini finds a service-winner, then Keys nets a backhand … only to smite a fantastic backhand cross-court for deuce. From there, though, the Italian closes out, meaning we’ve got ourselves a breaker. She leads 6-3 6-6 and I’ve not a clue what’s going to happen next. On Centre, Alcaraz leads Humbert 6-3 2-1 on serve.

An ace follows, then a fine wrong-footing forehand winner into the corner, inside-out – both players are really attacking it here and it’s great to see – so Paolini must now serve to stay in the second set up 6-3 5-6. Keys did really well there to find something definitive when asked some pretty searching questions under pressure.

Fantastic net-play from Keys at 30-all – she’s under big pressure and hasn’t generally been winning such points, but two fine volleys end the rally … then Paolini wallops a second-serve return down the line to make deuce. Her joyful abandon on big points is absolutely joyous, and again she restores parity with a winner, this time a forehand ushered inside-out into the corner. This is such a fun match, and much as I enjoy Paolini, it – and we – deserve a decider. Oh, and as I type, Keys burns another game-point then nets; the Italian takes it to lead 6-3 6-5, the end will feel imminent … but a colossal serve and we’re back at deuce.

Humbert saves set point with a big serve but eventually Alcaraz breaks again for a 6-3 set – he’s playing superbly – while Paolini, whose coach has a smart hoody, slams forehands to hold and make 5-5 from 1-5. Lot to think about – or not think about – for Keys now.

Alcaraz is hitting is so hard I’m surprised he’s not been arrested. The roof closed means he knows exactly where the ball will be and Umbert can’t cope, serving at 3-5 in the first.

Up 0-15, Paolini looks good to hit a pass when Keys balloons a putaway, but she nets and realises the significance of an error which invites her opponent into the game. Keys, though, then nets a slice, meaning this is again a tricky hold, and as I type, two quick points mean Paolini has retrieved both breaks and she races to her seat fist-pumping away. Keys has now served for the set twice and failed to pull it off twice; I fear for her.

Paolini holds, ratcheting up the pressure on Keys who must now serve for the second set a second time at 3-6 5-3. If she can hit freely, she should be fine but if she gets tight she’s in all sorts.

Keys , having bussed two set points, can’t find a way past Paolini at the net; the Italian pogoes to pat back an overhead, then blocks two more balls into court and makes deuce … before snaffling back a break in short order. Or, in other words, nothing with Maddy is simple and Paolini is nails; she leads 6-3 2-5.

Humbert glides a lovely forehand winner down the line for 0-30, but from there Alcaraz makes advantage … the Frenchman advancing to punish a fine backhand winner down the line to restore deuce. Back on No 1, Keys breaks again, so is now serving for the second set at 5-1, playing much better while Paolini has dropped.

Yes Maddy! A booming forehand cross gives her a break, and she trails 6-3 3-1. Has momentum switched? Is there any way both these highly likeable characters can both win? And now Alcaraz has break points, Humbert hooking a forehand long to hand over the game without really making it difficult. The champ leads 3-2.

Email! “I’m on the Tube at Wimbledon Station about to go past the AELTC,” writes Gary Naylor. “By the looks of that sky, if it does rain, it’ll rain very hard.

Innit. It’s wild out there, I’m afraid.

It’s absolutely tipping down in SW19, goodness me. You can hear the rain attacking the roof of No 1, where Keys now leads 2-1 in the second set – I think she might be trying to chip returns now – while Alcaraz has just held against Humbert for 2-2 in the first.

On Centre, Alcaraz and Humbert are feeling each other out, 1-1 in the first; Keys breaks back immediately to trail 3-6 1-1, but must now try and assert herself.

Goodness me, Paolini scurries about like Speedy Gonzalez, chasing to the net to win a great point and she’s delighted because it raises break point but also because that’s her general demeanour. Keys then swipes a backhand into the net, and the Italian now leads 6-3 1-0 with a break.

Keys makes 0-30 but is soon at 30-all, a return swatted long prompting a cry of anguish. And from there, Paolini serves out a 6-3 set which went as well as she could possibly have hoped. She’s chasing it and whacking it like it cussed down her mum and as well as doing what she does best, she’s taking away what Keys does best: plant her feet and dictate.

Er yeah, looks alright … looked alright. It’s raining so they’re going off on two, Vekic up 5-2 and 4-0. Meantime, Paolini is serving for the first set against Keys and 5-3, while Humbert has opened up against Alcaraz.

There’s absolutely maniacal rain in north London at the moment, but hopefully it won’t make its way to Wimbledon. The weather looks alright on No 2 at the moment, Vekic up 4-2 on Badosa and holding three points for a second break … and she only needs one.

Alacaraz and Humbert arrive on Centre, and this should be a fun match. Humbert has had a decent year and his five-set in against fellow lefty, Denis Shapovalov, will have worked very well for him because Shapovalov was in decent form.

Of course, we’ve also seen Keys come back in matches, and she raises 15-40; Paolini saves the first break point with a service winner, but a booming return on to the line means the American is on the board. She hollers her pleasure and though she’s down 1-4, she’ll be feeling much better now.

I can’t say this is the first time I’ve seen Keys collapse – the 2017 US Open final is the worst of the genre – but I’m not loving this, much as I am loving Paolini’s energy. The Italian breaks again for 4-0 and this first set is disappearing.

Paolini consolidates for 3-0, outhitting Keys from the back and racing along the line like a dervish. She’s totally at one with herself, and it’s moving to behold. On No 2, meanwhile, Vekic breaks Badosa for 2-1 in the first.

Paolini is hitting it hard – something to say given who she’s playing – and records an immediate break to lead 2-0. She’s keeping Keys on the move and looks the more confident player.

And we really do have loads else too – Emma Raducanu v Lulu Sun snd Emma Navarro (19) v Coco Gauff (2) round out our day on Centre, while on No 1 we’ve got Jannik Sinner (1) v Ben Shelton and Griggzy Dimitrov (10) v Daniil Medvedev (5) – that last match, in particular, should be a jazzer.

On No 2 Court, Paula Badosa and Donna Vekic are just starting; to come on Centre at half-past the hour, it’s Carlos Alcaraz (3) v Ugo Humbert (16).

Righto, off we go – Paolini to serve.

Thanks John and hi everyone. Jasmine Paolini and Madison Keys are knocking up before what should be a terrific match.

Paolini has found herself this season, a bouncing bundle of joy with skill and will a plenty. Keys, though, is one of the best players not to win a Slam this last decade or so – many less good than her have managed – and when she’s on, her power-game is almost irresistible. I can’t lie, she’s a long-time favourite of this blog, so I’m duty-bound to say, once again, maybe this is her time.

With actual tennis to play, I shall hand over to Daniel to hold court.

The word from Wimbledon is that the sun’s out, and blues skies overhead. There will surely be play soon.

Ok, here he is, in that mid-late 70s sweet spot of his career.

No action until 1pm UK time, regrettably. Where’s Cliff Richard when you need him?

The covers are off and action is imminent, we are told…

An email: “Hello John, Is it just me or is it irritating that the Wimbledon website, app and Twitter stream does not seem to say when play might to start on the outer courts. No play before etc. I’ll be following Guardian updates today. Best wishes, Mike in Winchester.”

No play before midday is the word.

A major shock? Or the realisation that Iga Swiatek just can’t do grasscourt tennis – like an Ivan Lendl of her day?

Saturday was not a good day for plucky Brits, sadly.

Saturday was all about Andy Murray, Britain’s greatest ever, unless you can remember Fred Perry.

It’s only just stopped raining in Wimbledon but there is the hope that the outside courts will see some action quite soon.

Further info to complete that order of play.

Court two

• Paul Badosa (Esp) v Donna Vekic (Cro)

• Tommy Paul (USA, 12) v Roberto Bautista Agut (Esp)

• Lloyd Glasspool/ Harriet Dart (GB) v Fabrice Martin (Fra)/ Cristina Busca (Esp)

Court three

• Rinky Hijikata/ John Peers (Aus) v Neal Skupski (GB)/ Michael Venus (Aus, 9)

• Marcus Willis/ Alicia Barnett (GB) v Ivan Dodig (Cro)/ Hao-Ching Chan (Twn, 8)

• Maximo Gonzalez (Arg)/ Ulrikke Eikeri (Nor) v Jean-Julien Rojer (Ned)/ Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)

• Robert Galloway (USA)/ Ingrid Neel (Est) v Jamie Murray (GB)/ Taylor Townsend (USA)

Court 18

• Irina Khromacheva/ Kamilla Rakhimova (Wrl) 1-1 Gabriela Dabrowski (Can)/ Erin Routliffe (NZ, 2) – continued from Saturday

• Katerina Siniakova (Cze)/ Taylor Townsend (USA, 4) v Leylah Fernandez (Can)/ Ena Shibahara (Jap)

• Harri Heliovaara (Fin)/ Gabriela Dabrowski (Can) v Michael Venus/ Erin Routliffe (Aus, 2)

• Nathaniel Lammons (USA)/ Ena Shibahara (Jap) v Max Purcell (USA)/ Dayana Yastremska (Ukr)

Good to have Kevin Mitchell back out at SW19.

Keep reading these excellent diary pieces from our writers.

Here comes the summer…

In London, it’s cloudy and windy but with the sun daring to peek out.

Order of play

Preamble