Wimbledon Day 4 saw a mix of dominant performances from the top seeds and a significant upset that dashed British hopes, adding another layer of drama to the tournament.
Men’s Singles: Djokovic and Sinner Untroubled, Draper Stunned
On Centre Court, seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic (6th seed) delivered a masterful performance, dispatching British wild card Dan Evans in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, 6-0. Djokovic, looking in vintage form, served and returned with precision, showing his intent to chase an eighth Wimbledon title.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner also continued his strong campaign, comfortably defeating Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic 6-1, 6-1, 6-3. Sinner’s clinical display, marked by high first-serve percentage and few unforced errors, demonstrated why he’s considered a strong contender.
However, the biggest storyline for the home crowd was the upset of British No. 1 and 4th seed Jack Draper. Despite a valiant effort, Draper succumbed to veteran Croatian Marin Cilic in four sets, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 4-6. Cilic, a former Wimbledon finalist, turned back the clock with a powerful display, particularly in the first two sets, to silence the No. 1 Court crowd and advance. This loss is a tough blow for Draper and the British contingent.
Other notable men’s matches saw Alex de Minaur (11th seed) overcome Arthur Cazaux in four sets, and Tommy Paul (13th seed) suffer an upset loss to Sebastian Ofner in a four-set battle that saw Paul hampered by a suspected ankle injury. The match between Ben Shelton and Rinky Hijikata was suspended due to darkness.
Women’s Singles: Swiatek Fights Back, Rybakina Dominates, and More Upsets
In the women’s draw, top seeds had a more mixed day. Iga Swiatek (8th seed) faced a stern test against American Caty McNally. Swiatek dropped the first set 5-7, but rallied impressively to win the next two sets 6-2, 6-1 and secure her spot in the third round.
On No. 1 Court, 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina (11th seed) delivered a dominant performance against Greece’s Maria Sakkari, winning comfortably 6-3, 6-1. Rybakina’s powerful serve and groundstrokes proved too much for Sakkari.
Young sensation Mirra Andreeva (7th seed) continued her impressive run, defeating Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 7-6(4) to advance. Defending women’s champion Barbora Krejcikova (17th seed) also found her way into the third round, overcoming Caroline Dolehide in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
However, the upsets in the women’s draw continued. Sofia Kenin (28th seed), a former Grand Slam champion, was defeated by qualifier Jaume Bouzas Maneiro 6-1, 7-6(4). Emma Navarro (10th seed) picked up a strong win over Veronika Kudermetova 6-1, 6-2.
British Fortunes and What’s Next
While Dan Evans and Jack Draper’s exits were disappointing for the home crowd, the performances of Emma Raducanu on Day 3 and other British players in the doubles draws keep some local interest alive.
Day 4 wrapped up with a clear message: the path to the Wimbledon title is fraught with challenges, and no win is guaranteed. The stage is now set for thrilling third-round encounters, with the surviving top seeds looking to solidify their championship aspirations and the dark horses aiming to continue their surprising runs.
EasySportz has all of your Wimbledon coverage. Here’s the Day 5 schedule.
