After an easy win over Kozlova, Radwanska seemed to be on the same path when she won the first set over Konjuh 6-2. Despite the fact that she is outside the Top 100, Konjuh is still a very dangerous grass court player, as she took the Nottingham title in 2015. Radwanska had a chance to take an early lead in the second set. She had a 40-0 lead at 2-1 on Konjuh’s serve. The young Croat saved 5 break points, and got a break right the next game. Konjuh kept the break and took the second set 6-4. She also got an early break in the final set at 1-1. Konjuh was serving for that match at 5-4, and even got to a match point! Radwanska then got a match point at 7-6 on Konjuh’s serve, but the Croat held her serve. The World No. 3 got to end the match on Konjuh’s serve just 2 games later, 9-7. After 2 hours and 39 minutes, Agnieszka Radwanska won 6-2 4-6 9-7. Radwanska’s third round opponent will surprisingly be the World No. 114, Katerina Siniakova. This means that in Radwanska’s first 3 rounds, the highest ranked player she had faced is No. 97 Kozlova. The 20 year-old Czech upset 30th seed Caroline Garcia, winning 6-1 in the final set.
The veteran American Venus Williams took court against Greek qualifier Maria Sakkari, expecting a straight set win, but it ended up an epic battle lasting over 2 hours. All seemed well as Venus took a 4-1 lead in the first set, but Sakkari brought it back to 4-4. However Williams proved her mental toughness and won the first set 7-5. Second set was Sakkari’s as she also took a 4-1 lead, but by two breaks. The American took one of the breaks back, but the Greek still won the second set 6-4. Both players were holding their serves, something they didn’t do much before, until 3-2 when Venus broke. She kept the break, and after 2 hours and 26 minutes out on Court 18, won 7-5 4-6 6-3. The veteran will be facing a 17 years younger Daria Kasatkina. The 19 year-old is seeded 29th and defeated Lara Arruabarrena in the second round.
Following Venus Williams on Court 18, was an all-lefties match between Angelique Kerber and Varvara Lepchenko. The German was absolutely dominating in the first set, dropping only one game. She also dropped only 5 points on her serve, and for someone who doesn’t have a big serve it is most impressive. In the second set, Kerber took her level down a notch, which was still enough to bring her the 6-1 6-4 comfortable victory in just 53 minutes. The 4th seed, who only lost 9 games in 2 matches so far will face another blonde German, Carina Witthoeft. Witthoeft, ranked 109 has defeated 25th seed Irina-Camelia Begu 6-1 6-4, and today beat Kurumi Nara 6-3 6-0, losing only 8 games.
5th seed Simona Halep is continuing her great run so far with a 6-1 6-1 win over Francesca Schiavone. Halep took time-off after her Achilles injury and didn’t play any lead-up tournaments, which caused some question marks over her. “If you don’t play matches before coming here, you are a bit stressed that you are not prepared like official for competition,” Halep admitted. “But I had many days practicing here, playing points. So I was ready to start the tournament.” The Romanian’s next opponent will be 26th seed Kiki Bertens. Bertens has yet to lose a set here, despite facing tricky opponents like Jelena Ostapenko and Mona Barthel. “It will be a tough one. I know her. She’s in good form now (but) it’s different here. It’s grass,” said Halep “I played against her many years ago, so I don’t know her very well. But it’s gonna be a tough one. It’s gonna be a good challenge for me. And why not? I have to believe that I can win it.
Some upsets ensued, overshadowed by Garbine Muguruza bowing out to Jana Cepelova. 2014 Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard upset 16th seed Johanna Konta 6-3 1-6 6-1. Belinda Bencic was forced to retire in the beginning of the second set to American qualifier Julia Boserup. 2013 Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki defeated 14th Samantha Stosur 6-4 6-2. Home star Heather Watson exited after a crazy marathon match with Annika Beck, losing 6-3 0-6 10-12 after 2 hours and 52 minutes.
Other seeds that lost on Day 4 were: No. 20 Sara Errani to Alize Cornet, No. 17 Elina Svitolina to Yaroslava Shvedova, No. 32 Andrea Petkovic to Elena Vesnina, No. 15 Karolina Pliskova to Misaki Doi, No. 22 Jelena Jankovic to Marina Erakovic, and No. 31 Kristina Mladenovic to Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
Some more players worth mention that will be in the 3rd round of Wimbledon are: Coco Vandeweghe, Timea Bacsinszky, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Carla Suarez Navarro, Lucie Safarova, Roberta Vinci, Barbora Strycova, Ekaterina Makarova, Monica Niculescu, and finally, Dominika Cibulkova.
