Into the third round and Wimbledon 2021 just keeps on giving! Loving this tournament so far. There was a rush of women’s matches in the middle of the day (whyyyy 😂) which was spearheaded by a Centre Court classic between Ons Jabeur and Garbiñe Muguruza. Saturday’s schedule has so many more clashes. I’m guessing this is because of the iffy looking forecast and the need to get all the singles matches done on Saturday. Read on for Friday’s diary from Wimbledon…
Day 5️⃣ Highlights
(21) Ons Jabeur d. Garbiñe Muguruza, 5-7 6-3 6-2
The match of the entire round delivered yet another captivating Wimbledon contest. An appreciation for the women’s matches over the past few days 🙌.
Starting from the beginning, the first set had a bit of everything. Tension, hot shots, drop shots, slips, missed opportunities and some fantastic rallies. Muguruza held her nerve and played the big points superbly, serving out the first set at the second time of asking. Missed opportunities (or clutch saves depending on how you look at it!) were a running theme of this match. An increasingly aggressive, Jabeur began to take control of the match and FINALLY converted a break point in the second set at 4-3. Jabeur then served out the set from *0-40 to level up at one set all.
Jabeur was absolutely peaking at the start of the third set and went on a streak of 16 straight points! Muguruza battled tremendously. Her grit and competitive instincts are next level. Muguruza saved 10 break points in the third set and a total of 24 in the entire match. That’s an entire set of saved break points!!!
Jabeur did well not to completely lose her head with all the missed break point opportunities. Jabeur ran Muguruza ragged, drawing her into the net with devilish drop shots and exerting so much pressure on the Spaniard’s serve. The pressure eventually paid off and Jabeur sealed the match on a stunning match point. I think there was another vomiting sesh from Jabeur pre-match point?! Third time it has happened after Miami and Charleston and she won all those matches!
Another great match. What a moment for Ons 🥰.
(7) Iga Swiatek d. Irina-Camelia Begu, 6-1 6-0
Swiatek is yet to drop a set at Wimbledon and needed just 55 minutes to beat Begu as she cruised into the second week. Something up with Begu? I thought she looked uncomfortable and might be nursing a back injury. Begu had an absolute shocker and could barely find the court with seven double faults and a total of 25 unforced errors. Swiatek was brilliant but never tested. Swiatek has now reached the second week at five of her last six Slam showings 👏.
(2) Aryna Sabalenka d. Maria Camila Osorio Serrano, 6-0 6-3
This was a fun match and the scoreline was incredibly misleading. Osorio Serrano had game points in FIVE of the games in the first set! Osorio Serrano deservedly got on the scoreboard in the second set and kept on fighting despite getting her thigh taping topped up between the first and second sets. I’m not sure I have ever seen MCOS play without the taping!
I really, really like Osorio Serrano! She’s got an amazing attitude and plays with so much heart and spirit. In the end, Sabalenka was too strong and was unsurprisingly lethal on return. Sabalenka advances to a first ever second week showing at Wimbledon. A tough path awaits if Sabalenka is going to finally break through to that first Slam quarter-final. Personally, i’d love to see Aryna do it.
(23) Madison Keys d. (13) Elise Mertens, 7-5 6-3
This was the best match i’ve seen Keys play all year. Keys improved her head-to-head record against Mertens to 3-0 to advance to the second week of Wimby for the first time since 2016.
I thought this was a very balanced match from Keys who kept her unforced errors in check, hitting 29 winners to 19 unforced errors. As always, Mertens was tracking many balls down. Keys did a good job at finishing the points and putting Mertens away. Mertens certainly didn’t help herself with six double faults, including two in a shaky service game at *5-6 in the first set.
Please don’t look at the draw, Madison! Definitely chances in this third quarter…
Best of the rest 🎾
Liudmila Samsonova extended her winning streak to TEN matches, beating Sloane Stephens, 6-2 2-6 6-4, in another thrilling contest. Samsonova showcased nerves of steel and bold ballstriking as she rode home her early break in the third set.
The number eight seed, Karolina Pliskova reached the second week of a Major for the first time since the 2019 US Open, beating Tereza Martincova, 6-3 6-3.
Two weeks ago, Viktorija Golubic came from a set down to beat Madison Brengle in Eastbourne qualifying. Today, Golubic dropped just three games as she advanced to the second week of a Slam for the first time in her career.
The number 18 seed, Elena Rybakina has quietly made it back-to-back fourth round appearances at the Slams. Rybakina held all nine service games in a 6-1 6-4 victory over Shelby Rogers.
Hot shot 🔥
ONS GOES AROUND THE NET POST!!!
Funny moment 🤣
When Muguruza served for the first set 😂😂😂.
Snap of the day 📸
Ons!
Press highlights 📰
Jabeur’s press conference from the Wimbledon YouTube page. The first question is about the vomiting which she says is linked to an issue she has with inflammation of the stomach.
Day 6 watchlist 📺
Thoughts about day 6 matches can be found on the separate page here.
(16) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs. (19) Karolina Muchova
(14) Barbora Krejcikova vs. Anastasija Sevastova
(1) Ash Barty vs. Katerina Siniakova
Moo's Tennis Blog 
The Jabeur match was another great one. I am hopeful that her next match against Iga Swiatek will be just as excellent. Forecast for Monday is not good though and I do very much hope that if the roofs are needed then the Wimbledon Officials will only allow play if both the roofed courts are safe to play on. The safety of the players is paramount and there were some nasty falls on these courts earlier this week.
I still do not have a clue who is going to win Wimbledon this year but have enjoyed it a lot so far 😁
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I still don’t have a clue who is winning either! It’s been a fun tournament so far 🙂
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I agree James. I like tournaments when they’re open like this one and it looks like several of the players who are left in all have a good chance to win it.
Some amazing rallies in that Jabeur – Muguruza match. I enjoyed what I saw of the Ash Barty – Carla Suarez Navarro match too and wish there were more matches with that sort of non-power based tennis (but with plenty of slices and dropshots etc.)
Onto the Brits – Emma Raducanu is in with a good chance of beating Sorana Cirstea today; although I was glad to see Sorana come back from injury and get back into the top 100, I hope she does it.
Katie Boulter played some good tennis against Aryna Sabalenka too (including a winner at full stretch that went the full diagonal length of the court) even though she lost. It sounds like she’s still carrying an injury though, and one she didn’t want to talk about at the post-match press conference.
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Really excited by the last 16 slate of matches and a nice mix of power and as you say, non-power match-ups, Graham! Good call on Raducanu! Sabalenka-Boulter was one of the best matches of the first week. That was some pretty heavy strapping she had on the arm so I hope she can recover and get healthy again.
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It’s great this way… it makes the matches more competitive and interesting. Ons Jabeur is finally stringing her performances together. It’s good to see!
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YES to Rybakina v Sabalenka! I can’t wait.
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Yesss looking forward to it! Swiatek-Jabeur too.
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I think it will be telling, whichever player comes through. Easily see all 3 individually in the semis but for Rybakina. Yet, she has the game to get there too.
What is even happening here….Venus Williams and Nick Kyrgios in mixed doubles!
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I’ve had my doubts about Rybakina this year. But I could honestly see her going on to win this. She has the game, particularly on grass, and the mental strength is really getting there. She won’t be easy for anybody playing like she has these past couple of rounds – even with a first serve of just over 50%, she’s only been broken once so far.
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Agreed, I fancy Rybakina to beat Sabalenka.
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Venus and Nick was great! Looking forward to their next match. Nick’s press conference after was good too.
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If I was to make a pick, it would be Rybakina and Swiatek. Ons has me conflicted, I really want her to do well, but I think Swiatek has a mental edge in this scenario. Sabalenka needs to make it past this match-up to break her grand slam streak. That extra pressure at the back of her mind, who knows. Anyway, glad we’ll get another one in the form of Coco vs Angelique.
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I still can’t call this tournament. So many 50-50, close match-ups for Monday. Things might like look clearer after tomorrow!
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