The third round of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships is officially in the books. Yikes what a day. Saturday had a fantastic order of play and it certainly didn’t disappoint. There was a stage during the afternoon where there were five women’s matches going at one point – status overwhelmed! Read on for highlights of the day. We move into uncharted territory on Middle Sunday with the start of the fourth round…

Story of the day 📚

It just had to be Alizé Cornet 😂😂😂. Iga Swiatek‘s winning streak was snapped at 37 matches as Cornet repeated her triumph over Serena Williams from 2014 on No.1 Court by beating the world number one, 6-4 6-2.

There were definitely signs that this was going to be an interesting match from Swiatek’s forehand struggles in the second round against Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove. At the start of this match, Swiatek could barely put a ball in court. Cornet won the last six games of the match as Swiatek completely folded at the end in a sea of errors. It felt like Swiatek had accepted this was the end of the streak.

Yes, Swiatek was never comfortable on the grass but omg how good was Cornet?! 16 winners to seven (!) unforced errors. Cornet didn’t allow Swiatek a chance to find any rhythm out there. This has been an incredible year for Cornet at the Slams. Alizé, I want another book! 😁

Best match 🎆

I just can’t get over that barely a week ago Paula Badosa lost 4-6 3-6 to Jodie Burrage in Eastbourne. Badosa is now into the second week of Wimbledon after beating Petra Kvitova, 7-5 7-6(4) in a cracking Centre Court encounter.

The last half an hour had match of the year sirens going off in my head. The standard of ballstriking was 🔥🔥🔥. I was getting Petra-Venus vibes from 2014. It had all started with a Peak Petra sighting in the first two games. Oh it feels so long ago now 😔. After dropping her opening service game of the match, Badosa was impeccable on serve for the rest of the match. The momentum completely turned when Kvitova failed to serve out the first set at *5-4. Badosa reeled off four games in a row from 3-5 to 7-5. Kvitova played much, much better in the second set but just couldn’t break the Badosa serve which was absolutely clutch. Badosa remained resolute in the second set tiebreak as Kvitova missed at least four returns into play.

I wrote on my previews page that I thought Petra would win comfortably in straights and i’ll probably end up with egg on my face. Yep, called it 🍳. I’m gutted for Petra. I was hopeful of another deep Wimby run. Kvitova played some great stuff in that second set. Badosa was absolutely FANTASTIC. I think it was her best match since the Sydney final? This came completely out of the blue after Eastbourne and took me by surprise. Good for you, Paula 👏.

Spotlight 💡

Fact. Amanda Anisimova is having a great year. Anisimova has now reached the second week of all three Slams and scored a hugeee win on Saturday, rallying from a set down to beat Coco Gauff, 6-7(4) 6-2 6-1. Despite losing the first set, Anisimova had began to take control of the match. Anisimova led 4-1 in the first set tiebreak before a Gauff miscue that miraculously landed in set off a streak of six straight points for Gauff.

Anisimova bounced back magnificently in the second set. Anisimova dictated proceedings and increasingly exposed the Gauff forehand. Gauff seemed passive and reactive in those final two sets as Anisimova took complete control of the baseline, and was even winning the longer rallies too. Anisimova just got better and better as the match wore on. A brilliant display.

Upsets 😮

Ajla Tomljanovic reached the second week of Wimbledon for the second consecutive year with a come-from-behind victory over Barbora Krejcikova, 2-6 6-4 6-3. Even with Krejcikova being undercooked from her recent spell on the sidelines, this was a terrific display from Tomljanovic who found the perfect balance in the third set between staying patient in the rallies and finding the right time to attack. Having looked pretty assured for a set and a half, Krejcikova’s game unravelled from *4-5 in the second set.

Petra Martic is back in the second week of a Slam for the first time since the 2020 US Open. Martic beat Jessica Pegula, 6-2 7-6(5). I hadn’t expected much of Pegula at Wimbledon but she had impressed through the first two rounds with two hard fought wins over Donna Vekic and Harriet Dart so I was surprised at this result.

Best of the rest 🎾

Harmony Tan reached the second week of a Slam for the first time in her career as she thrashed Katie Boulter, 6-1 6-1, in just 51 minutes. It was a perfect match from Tan with spins, slices and even two tweeners. Gutted for Boulter. The match went so fast and she never got close to working out Tan’s game.

Ten wins and counting. Simona Halep has avoided the upset train to reach the second week of Wimbledon. Halep beat Magdalena Frech, 6-4 6-1 out on No.2 Court. Simona might finally get her deserved place on Centre on Monday having been disrespected by the schedule up till now.

Elena Rybakina made it back-to-back 4th round appearances at Wimbledon with a 7-6(4) 7-5 victory over Zheng Qinwen. Sad that I didn’t see any of this match as it came during the overwhelming late afternoon surge of women’s matches!

DAY 6 MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS 

Hot shot 🔥

Tomljanovic’s return winner on set point in the second set 🎆.

Funny moment 🤣

Loved this response from Venus 😂😂😂.

Snap of the day 📸

Love all these shots from Anisimova’s Instagram.

Recommended media 📺

Aww this was lovely ❤. So pleased Centre Court got two super women’s matches today.

Final thoughts 🤔

Oof. What a day. Like yesterday with Kerber-Jabeur, gutted we won’t get Kvitova-Halep in the last 16. But that’s the excitement of women’s tennis and this draw has been blown wide open. Surely Ons is now the favourite… hope she can get her head down and stay focused! The new dream final is Halep/Anisimova vs. Jabeur!

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