Wimbledon, Day 7 - As it happened: Gauff, Kvitova, Pliskova out; Nadal, Federer, Djokovic through

Follow live updates from Wimbledon 2019 as Ashleigh Barty, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Cori Gauff and more play their round of 16 matches.

Updated : Jul 09, 2019 00:55 IST

Cori Gauff takes on Simona Halep in a round of 16 match of Wimbledon 2019.
Cori Gauff takes on Simona Halep in a round of 16 match of Wimbledon 2019.
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Cori Gauff takes on Simona Halep in a round of 16 match of Wimbledon 2019.

Day 7, Manic Monday:

Most of the top seeds have cruised via straight-set victories -- Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Simona Halep bringing an end to 15-year old Cori Gauff's dream run in the round of 16. World No 1 Ashleigh Barty, Karolina Pliskova and Milos Raonic suffered shock eliminations. Tune in for Tuesday's matches where Simona Halep, Serena Williams and Elina Svitolina will all be in action in the women's singles quarterfinals. That's all from our side today.

12:42pm: Guido Pella scripts an incredible comeback beating fifteenth seed Milos Raonic 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(7-3), 8-6. He will face Roberto Bautista Agut in the quarterfinals.

11:56pm: Kei Nishikori beats Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The eighth seed Japanese will face Roger Federer in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

11.45pm: The top seeds have enjoyed a chill Monday, but Guido Pella has not let Milos Raonic breathe easy. The Argentinian takes the fourth set 7-6(7-3) to force the match into the final set.

11:39pm: Roger Federer through to the quarterfinal for the sixth straight year. The Swiss master did not have much to do as Berrettini committed multiple unforced errors to gift away points. The match takes 1 hr 14 mins to end with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory for Federer. Matteo Berrettini looks relieved to have been put out of his misery.

11:33pm: Berrettini spurs on the crowd in the Centre Court which does some good. The Italian wins his first game of the third set which involves an ace. However, Federer powers through in the next game to make it 5-1.

11:09pm: Federer basically waltzes through the second set too with some help from Berrettini, who has been let down by too many unforced errors. Imagine coming to work and being told you don't have to do the Wimbledon blog today. Just watch and chill. Federer is in a similar situation. 6-1, 6-2.

10:54pm: Nerves or inexperience, Berrettini is making harder work of this than it could be. He smashes an easy overhead volley wide (he sees the funny side to it) and then hits a passing shot wide. Federer breaks to lead 2-1 in the second set.

10:46pm: Guido Pella has opened up a comeback route in his match against Milos Raonic. After losing the first two sets, the Argentinian got the early break in the third and he wins it 6-3.

10:44pm: Ruthless from Federer! He races through the first set in 17 minutes. My plan was to give game-by-game updates but if he keeps doing this, then I'd rather just wait for the end of the set. He breaks Berrettini twice and wins the first set 6-1.

10:28pm: Roger Federer is on centre court!  Matteo Berrettini has had a good run so far. He's coming off a stellar grass season (just one loss from 12 matches) and was recently marked out for success by none other than Federer himself.

10:21pm: Novak Djokovic is through to the quarterfinals for the 11th time, beating Ugo Humbert 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.

10:09pm: Match-point and she does it! Another seed gone as Johanna Konta beats Petra Kvitova 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to reach the quarters. So you can scroll down to that list of contenders and mentally scratch out the sixth seed's name too.

 

10:05pm: Kvitova holds and it's 5-4 in the final set. Konta serves for the match, again. Is she back in it?

10:01pm: Kvitova breaks after a long game of back and forths.

After she held serve to seemingly delay the inevitable, Konta starts serving for the match but Kvitova gets to break point on 30-40 but misses that chance. Another chance to break and another one gone. A third one also comes and this time, it's no different; a backhand slice goes long.

Konta gets to match point but wastes that with a wide forehand. But a glorious drop gets her back on match point. That, too, is saved as Kvitova's lob kisses the line. And she gets it this time as Konta sends a backhand long. 5-3 in the final set.

9:48pm: Djokovic has no major problems in the second set either, cruising to 6-2.

9:45pm: Petra Kvitova misses the chance to break. Two chances, in fact. Johanna Konta looks unstoppable as she goes on to hold to go 5-1 up in the final set. One foot in the quarterfinal.

9:36pm: Kvitova gets to break point after a long time but she makes a mess of Konta's second serve. Konta goes on to hold and leads 3-1.

9:32pm: Johanna Konta, spurred on by the local crowd at centre court, has broken Pliskova in the final set. She leads 2-1.

9:15pm: Sam Querrey defeats Tennys Sandgren to reach the quarterfinals of Wimbledon 2019. He beats his compatriot 6-4, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (7), 7-6 (7). He faces Rafael Nadal next .

9:11pm: Djokovic wins the first set 6-3.

Six of the top 10 seeds in men's singles have already crashed out. And seven in women's (including the top five) have also made ther exit. Each time one of them goes out, we look at our list of contenders and shake our heads, before striking that name off.

Scratch off Pliskova and Barty along with Bencic, Andreescu (don't know why she's still on it), Bertens and that's who we're left with. Announcement: From next year onwards we will only have the Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Serena on the contenders list.

predictions
 

9:05pm: World No.1 Novak Djokovic has started off on the right foot against Ugo Humbert. The French youngster who dumped teenage sensation Felix Auger Aliassime out in the previous round, isn't posing much of a threat to Nole.

8:51pm: MUCHOVA WINS and that's another seed gone! She breaks Pliskova to win 4-6, 7-5, 13-11 after a 3 hour 16 minute match. Third seed Pliskova, one of the favourites after her Eastbourne triumph, loses to a fellow Czech ranked 66th in the world. Muchova is into her first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

 

David Goffin also joined the list of first-time Wimbledon quarterfinalists as he beat Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (9), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

8:45pm: Muchova manages to fight off a mini comeback from Pliskova and holds serve to go 12-11 up. She has to break now or it's a tie-break.

8:40pm: No that's not how it's going to end as Muchova breaks back! It's 11-11 in the final set. Tense.

8:37pm: Pliskova breaks! 11-10 in the final set and she serves. The match has just crossed the three-hour mark.

8:30pm: Pliskova and Muchova have taken their match deep into the final. Very deep. It's 10-10 and if they keep it up we could see a tie-break at 12-12 for the first time at Wimbledon.

8:17pm: It's over. The dream run comes to an end for 15-year-old Cori Guaff, but not before gifting this tournament with a story to remember. Simona Halep is through to the quarters, winning 6-3, 6-3.

This won't be the last we see of Cori 'Coco' Guaff as she leaves the court to a standing ovation. She has thorougly entertained them and the world this past week and deserves it. A dream run ends, a promising career begins.

 

8:14pm: It's not all over yet. Cori Gauff saves two match points to hold serve. This girl has got some fight in her!

8:10pm: It's all falling through pretty quickly for the 15-year-old sensation. Cori Guaff sends a backhand wide to be broken and Halep holds serve in the next game to go 5-2 up in the third set. Coco will serve to stay in the match.

Maybe it's not all over yet. This is the same girl that came back from a similar position to defeat Polona Hercog in the third round.

8:06pm: Meanwhile, the match between Pliskova and Muchova is going right down to the wire. It's 7-7 in the final set. Muchova serves.

8:02pm: There should be a reminder that pops up on screen - "she's only 15" - after every game. It's easy to forget when she plays like this. Comes back from 0-30 to hold and it's 2-2 in the second set.

7:59pm: Gauff does extremely well to break back. She gets some medical attention after that; doesn't look well.

7:52pm: There's no doubt who has the backing of the crowd. Going 0-30 down, Coco Gauff gets an overwhelming pick-me-up from the crowd on court one. She gets up to deuce but is eventually broken and Halep takes a 2-0 lead in the second set. Coco doesn't look too well.

7:43pm: Halep is on set point and Coco Gauff hits a forehand long, or it seems. She challenges it and it's just in. Saves a break point but a forehand cross court winner, with Gauff caught at the net, wraps up the set for Halep, 6-3.

7:40pm: Roberto Bautista Agut is into the quarters! He beats Benoit Paire 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.

7:31pm: Shot of the day! Coco blasts a backhand down the line and Halep hunts it down, somehow, and wins the point with a forehand slice. She holds to go 4-2 up.

7:27pm: Coco is broken again and she is annoyed! Halep leads 3-2 in the first set.

7:24pm: With an ace, Rafael Nadal is into the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. No sweat as he eases past Joao Sousa 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. That's a 39th Grand Slam quarterfinal for the Spaniard.

 

7:17pm: Halep saves two break points and goes on to hold serve. 2-2 in the first set.

Let's take a look at the last 12 days of 15-year-old Gauff's life.

June 27 - becomes the youngest ever Wimbledon qualifier

July 1 - beats Venus Williams , one of her idols growing up, in straight sets in the first round of Wimbledon

July 3 - cruises through to third round, beating Magdalena Rybarikova in straight sets

July 5 - Makes a thrilling comeback against Polona Hercog to book a spot in the last 16

And now she's playing Simona Halep in the Wimbledon round of 16. What were you doing at 15?

7:10pm: A quick click of the reset button and she has broken right back! Unshakable confidence from the 15-year-old.

7:06pm: It just stays in! Simona Halep breaks Coco Gauff in the very first game of the match. What an early advantage to have!

7:03pm: Karolina Muchova is putting up quite a fight against third seed Karolina Pliskova. She has won the second set 7-5 and taken the match into the final set. Can the world no. 68 pull off another upset today?

6:55pm: Walking on to court are participants of today's most-awaited match. At least, the one I'm waiting for. One is a former World No.1 and the other is the story of the tournament. It's Simona Halep vs Cori Gauff .

6:51pm: Nadal takes the second set as well, 6-2.

6:46pm: And she does it! The celebration after the win is much more reserved but Serena Williams has cruised through into the Wimbledon quarters for the 14th time with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Carla Suarez Navarro.

And she will face Alison Riske, who stunned Ashleigh Barty . "I'll be ready for it," she says. Riske could be a much bigger threat than Barty could have been, considering her form on grass. Watch out for this all-American clash.

 

6:42pm: Glorious! Serena Williams lifts her arms in the air in celebration as she pulls off a precise backhand cross-court winner. Just a game away from another quarterfinal here.

6:35pm: Navarro breaks and goes on to hold serve the next game to tighten things up in the second set against Serena. The American leads 3-2 in the second set.

Similar scoreline on Centre Court. Some brilliant tennis from Sousa to hold serve after seeing out two break points. Nadal leads 3-2 in the second.

Manic Monday, indeed. I'm trying to look at two screens at the same time, while keeping a tab on the other four matches going on. Help.

6:26pm: Suarez Navarro is able to save four break points before Serena breaks for the second time in the second set and goes up 3-0. Too easy for the 23-time Grand Slam champion?

6:21pm: Roberto Bautista Agut is in action against Benoit Paire on court 18 and the Spaniard has won the first set 6-3.

The all-American clash between Sam Querrey and Tennys Sandgren is also underway on Court 12. Tennys has lived up to his name which generates as much excitement among fans as it does confusion in bars and coffee shops. He's not the only one with interesting names this year.

READ | Tennys, Storm and Eden: The Wimbledon name game

6:13pm: Serena Williams is also through with her first set. She takes it 6-2, pretty easily.

Just found out! There could be more than one reason to cheer for Alison Riske, especially among Indians. She's engaged to Stephen Amritraj, son of former Davis Cupper Anand Amritraj, and the wedding is some time soon.

6:09pm: With a brilliant forehand pass, Rafael Nadal takes the first set 6-2.

Barbora Strycova marches on! She comes back from a set down to beat Elise Mertens 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 and a dream run moves into the last eight.

5:59pm: As you'd expect, it's been very one-sided at Centre Court. 21 minutes gone and Sousa is serving to stay in the set at 1-5.

5:50pm: Two GOATs, actually! Serena Williams is on Court one against Carla Suarez Navarro. She has broken early to lead 2-1.

5:45pm: GOAT alert! Rafael Nadal is on centre court against Joao Sousa. Wait, wasn't this supposed to be a nightmare draw for Rafa? Why does he look like he has been dreaming of chocolate cookies. Other than the entertaining win against Nick Kyrgios, nothing has scared him.

5:30pm: Zhang Shuai is through to the quarters for the first time! She beats Dayana Yastramenka 6-4, 1-6, 6-2.

 

Strycova and Mertens are into a final set after Strycova won the second 7-5.

5:19pm: ASH BARTY IS OUT! Alison Riske has broken Aussie hearts with probably the biggest win of her career. What a performance from the World no.55! She wins 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Final 8? "Bring it on," says Alison Riske.

 

Meanwhile, Elina Svitolina is also into the last eight with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Petra Kvitova . That second set was much shorter than the first. 

5:16pm: She's got it! RISKE BREAKS and she will serve for the match against the World No.1. It's all about nerves now. And not taking Risk(e)s. There, I said it. She leads 5-3 in the final set.

5:12pm: Riske holds again to go 4-3 up in the final set. She's not going to budge, it seems. World no.1 who? It's been an excellent display of aggression and concentration from Riske.

I hope the match doesn't get over before I can use the 'Riske' pun to good use.

5:05pm: Barty gets to break point but Riske saves it. The next point sees Barty play a forehand that she has no right to get to. She does and goes on to hold. 3-2 to Riske on serve. Has Barty met her match? On the court, I mean.

5:00pm: Barty holds, but she didn't look too convincing in that one. Her first serve percentage has taken a big dip since the first set. Time for a reset, Ash.

Ash Barty's record in Grand Slams when matches go to three sets - 7 wins. 4 losses.

4:49pm: Riske is on the front foot in the final set. And some powerful hitting from the American. too. She holds the first game to love.

This is finally Barty's first taste of the 'group of death' everyone's been talking about. The Garbine Muguruza challenge didn't come, but world no. 55 Alison Riske isn't proving so bad herself. Up next could be Serena Williams, depending on how her match against Carla Suarez Navarro goes.

4:45pm: Barty loses a set for the first time since the Roland Garros semifinals! The World No.1 is broken again and Alison Riske takes the second set 6-2. Into the decider we go.

4:40pm: After an hour, Elina Svitolina takes the first set 6-4 against Petra Martic. This one started before the others, but after Svitolina took a 3-1 lead, Martic came back to level the set. After some more gruelling points, Svitolina won the last two games to win the set.

4:36pm: Riske has taken a 4-1 lead in the second set with a strong hold. She's really taking the game to Barty, who hasn't lost a set since the French Open semifinals.

Mertens broke back against Strycova to bring things back level in the second set. 1-1

4:29pm: Ash Barty's broken, for the second time this match. Riske leads 3-1 in the second.

4:23pm: Elise Mertens wins the first set 6-4 against Barbora Strycova. But Strycova is off to a great start in the second, up a break and serving at 1-0.

4:19pm: Barty makes a mess of that overhead volley, the ball bouncing in her own court after her hitting it. Riske holds serve in the first game of second set.

Meanwhile, Zhang has taken the first set 6-4.

4:14pm: First set to Barty! She holds to love to win the first set 6-3. 93% first serve points won! Riske couldn't sustain that minor comeback she made.

Yastramenka, serving to stay in the set, holds after a long point. It's 5-4 to Zhang who's serving for the set.

4:12pm: With a backhand winner Barty takes back control and she's serving for the set. It's still longer than her opening rounds where she raced through.

4:08pm: Riske has broken back! Barty in her current form is unstoppable once into rhythm but the American keeps showing how you can't write her off, like her comeback win against Belinda Bencic in the third round. She serves at 3-4 in the first set. Quick fact: Alison Riske's father, Al Riske, was in the US Secret Service.

3:58pm: BARTY breaks! A sublime backhand slice passes Riske and just stays in as she gets to two break points. Riske saves one as next backhand slice from Barty hits the net but Riske plays the next point long. Barty holds the next game to love and leads 4-1.

3:50pm: Zhang has broken Yastramenka to take a 2-0 lead in the first set.

3:43pm: Ashleigh Barty is also underway. She serves FOUR ACES to get things up and running. What a year the Australian has had! From a top-600 a few years ago to World No.1 today, the 23-year-old, who took a break from tennis and played cricket , has (as the cliche goes) come a long long way. And look at how her earnings have gone up too. Barty has looked remarkable this year and I'll be miffed if she isn't in the final.

3:38pm: Svitolina and Martic have started proceedings on Court 3. Martic came to Wimbledon on the back of a brilliant clay season, where she picked up 15 wins and reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time at French Open. And now she's a step away from another Grand Slam quarters. She holds serve to begin.

3:34pm: Ladies first. Four women's singles matches - Ashleigh Barty vs Alison Riske, Elina Svitolina vs Petra Martic, Zhang Shuai vs Dayana Yastramenka, Barbora Strycova vs Elise Mertens - are scheduled to start now. Get your picks for winners ready and let's see how many you get right at the end of 'Manic Monday'.

Preview

What's Manic Monday? Have you ever described a Monday as manic? Maybe manic in the way that it's insane that such a (boring, unnecessary) day exists in a week, but approaching the day with such excitement? That's reserved to Wimbledon. What is so manic about today?

Read N. Sudarshan's preview : Mix of familiar and novel on 'Manic Monday'

#MondayMotivation redefined.

 

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