The Australian women lead the way into round three. Ash Barty and Daria Gavrilova were the first Australians to move into round three after they both won in straight sets. Barty despatched another former Wimbledon junior champion, Eugenie Bouchard 6-4, 7-5 while Gavrilova got the better of fellow Australian Sam Stosur 6-4, 6-1.
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Photo: Australia’s Ashleigh Barty wins a point against Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard in their women’s singles second round match on the fourth day of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 5, 2018. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
Barty was on top in the first set, but Bouchard hit back in the second set to break in the fourth game thanks to several double-faults from Barty. The Australian fought off break points in the eighth game, before getting the critical break back as Bouchard stepped up to serve for the second set at 5-3. From that moment Barty won the next three games to claim a spot in the third round for the first time.
“This is a happy hunting ground. I love playing here. I play well here. Even if I’m not necessarily playing my best leading up you know you feel comfortable on the courts, you know you can play well,” said Ash Barty.
Gavrilova grew in confidence as her match wore on against Stosur cruising to a straight sets win.
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Photo: LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 05: Daria Gavrilova of Australia shakes hands with Samantha Stosur of Australia after their Ladies’ Singles second round match on day four of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 5, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Nick Kyrgios was looking to set up an all-Australian third round, he did his part before Tomic failed against Nishikori. Kyrgios was too good for Robin Haase winning in straight sets and without needing a tie-break to win the match. The ace count in this match was only 19 to seven in favour of Kyrgios. The biggest problem for Kyrgios in this match was again with his entourage who were berated for not standing and cheering. This is a common scene in a match involving the Australian.
Kyrgios said “I came out really good. The first two sets, I was pretty impressed with my performance. Obviously third set got a bit rocky. I lost my serve, lost focus.”
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Photo: Australia’s Nick Kyrgios returns to Netherland’s Robin Haase in their men’s singles second round match on the fourth day of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 5, 2018. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
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Photo: LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 05: Alex De Minaur of Australia returns a shot against Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France during their Men’s Singles second round match on day four of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 5, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
de Minaur took on the French Open doubles champion and was able to fight past the Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert. With Lleyton Hewitt watching on the Australian was too energetic for his opponent and held his nerve at crucial times to advance to a third round match against Rafael Nadal.
Matt Ebden continued on from his impressive win over David Goffin to defeat French veteran Stephane Robert. Ebden looked comfortable on the grass at Wimbledon and booked a third round berth after a four-set win.
Tomic had three set points in the third set, however, it was Nishikori that went for the shots that mattered to claim the set and take the crucial third set.
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Photo: LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 05: Bernard Tomic of Australia returns a shot against Kei Nishikori of Japan during their Men’s Singles second round match on day four of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 5, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
The Australian started the match well, looking in complete control as he moved his Japanese opponent around the court and hit winners. In the second set it was Nishikori that was getting on top as he lifted the tempo and hit with more authority.
At the start of the fourth set Tomic was barely moving his feet and looked to be ready to accept defeat. Perhaps he was just saving some energy for the fight ahead. Serving at 1-2, 0-40, Bernard Tomic fought back to hold and level the set at 2-2. If he lost that game you could sense a quick ending to the match. In Tomic’s next service game he suddenly was hitting shots with power and precision as he won another game despite a carelessly missed volley on the first point.
At 3-3 Tomic jumped out to a 0-30 lead before an energy-sapping point saw Tomic with the chance to hit a down the line winner as Nishikori approached the net, that would have set three break points. Instead, Nishikori closed out the game to move ahead 4-3.
Tomic served a double-fault to present Nishikori with a match point before a great return saw Tomic hit his shot well wide to lose the match.
15-Nick Kyrgios defeated Robin Haase 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.
Matt Ebden defeated Stephane Robert 6-3, 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-1.
Alex de Minaur defeated Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-2, 6-7(8), 7-5, 6-3.
Bernard Tomic (LL) d Hubert Hurkacz (LL) (POL) 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(2)
Ladies’/Women’s singles
17-Ashleigh Barty defeated Eugenie Bourchard 6-4, 7-5.
26-Daria Gavrilova defeated Sam Stosur 6-4, 6-1.
Samantha Stosur lost to Gavrilova 6-4, 6-1.
