Wimbledon 2024: Djokovic and Zverev in action, Rybakina through on day eight – live

Yup, Fils just can’t play well enough for long enough. He snatches back a break but then overhits when down break point next game; De Minaur now leads 5-2 in the fourth and will shortly serve for the match, while Zverev rushes through a love hold to secure a 6-4 set. Fritz has only made three unforced errors and is playing well; that miss at 4-3 deuce will be haunting him.

Oh yes! Lots of forehand to forehand with Fritz down 30-40 on serve, then a fine shot down the line from Zverev changes pace and angle, setting up the backhand winner cross-court … and he doesn’t miss out. Fritz has played pretty well so far, but one loose game is all it takes and the German will now serve for set one at 5-4.

Up 4-3, Fritz sends us to deuce on the Zverev serve then, after hitting a decent return swats a backhand wide when nicely placed at half-court. A service-winner follows and that’s how quickly chances are extinguished; it’s 4-4 in the first.

De Minaur is back in charge, forcing a point for the double-break and playing it superbly, Fils doing well to get back a forehand down the line, but in no position to retrieve the drop which follows. Demon leads 4-1 in the fourth and is almost into the last eight.

A gorgeous drop-shot from Zverev – words no one supposed to type a coupe of years ago – clinches a hold for 3-3 in the first, while De Minaur plays two terrific points to make deuce from 15-40 and two big first serves do most of the rest of the work. D-Min leads 6-2 6-4 4-6 3-1, and Fils is running out of road.

Good news: regular – and irregular – readers of this blog will be familiar with Coach Calvin Betton, whose insights have, over the last few years, made me look like I know what’s up. Well Henry Patten, the lad he looks after – and along with his partner Harri Heliovaara – made the quarters of the doubles this morning. And from there, who knows?

We’re on serve on Centre, Fritz leading Zverev 2-1. He’ll have to target the Gewrman’s forehand to win here – his backhand is one of the finest shots in the game – but it’s improved a lot over the last 18 months and it took Carlos Alcaraz the best part of five sets to break it down when they met in the final at Roland Garros.

But Fils gets himself break point, and though De Minaur saves it, he soon faces another on advantage; this time he’s saved by a big first serve down the T. And from there, he closes out, though Fils was in both rallies; he just doesn’t quite have the consistency to sustain pressure so trails 1-2 0-2.

Yeah, I can’t say I’m surprised to see this: De Minaur nips off for a slash then breaks Fils immediately in set four. Michael Johnson has a phrase he uses a lot, “speed endurance”, but in tennis it’s not so much for how long can you play your best, rather how well do you play when not playing your best. And, though I reckon Fils’ top level is higher than Demon’s, Demon’s modal level is higher than Fils’, and that’s why he’s winning so far.

On Centre, Fritz and Zverev are almost ready to start, and I wonder if this might be a closer match than many are expecting. The number four seed is playing beautifully at the moment, but anyone who serves as well as Fritz does has a chance. I doubt he can come from behind to win, but if he gets in front, we shall see.

On No 1, Fils has somehow taken the fourth set against De Minaur to trail 2-6 4-6 6-4. Even when the Demon looked certain to win, up two sets and a break, it was the young Frenchman with the bigger game. The question is whether he can sustain his level, because if he can, he can win this.

The other bottom-half quarter is Sun v Vekic, while the top has Putintseva v Ostapenko (13) and Collins (11) v Krejcikova (31).

Of all the players left in the draw, Rybakina is probably the one Svitolina least wants to face and not just because she’s the best of them left – which she is. The problem is also that Rybakina has proper weapons – her serve, but also nails groundstrokes off both sides – that might be too much for a canny but underpowered operator.

Elina Svitolina (21) beats Wang Xinyu 6-2 6-1

Elina Svitolina is primed for another quarter-final – she’s just broken Wang Xinyu to lead 6-2 5-1, and with the top three players all gone, will fancy herself to make it rain.

Thanks John and hi everyone. No more Manic Monday, it’s true, but there’s still a bit going on today – the two men’s matches on Centre, Taylor Fritz (13) v Alexander Zverev (4) and Holger Rune (15) v Novak Djokovic (2) could be a lot of fun, and any chance to watch Jelena Ostapenko on a show court – never mind against Yulia Putintseva, conqueror of Iga Swiatek – is to be relished.

And that concludes my shift on the goings-on at SW19, which leaves you with Daniel Harris.

Svitolina and Wang has a fierce battle being fought over the fourth game in the second set, and the Ukrainian eventually takes a commanding 3-1 lead. De Minaur and Fils meanwhile has taken a turn, with Fils’ blasted forehand, a beauty, levelling the third set at 4-4.

De Minaur remains on course, 4-3 up on Fils, and for all the young Frenchman’s talent, he has no answer to an opponent working harder and picking his shots better. Still, De Minaur will have to serve this one out.

De Minaur has broken Fils in the third, and that seems crucial. There’s another singles match in session, on Court No 2, and the winner of Elina Svitolina v Wang Xinyu will play Rybakina. The Ukrainian has taken the first set 6-2.

“I wish her a speedy recovery,” says Rybakina of Kalinskaya, acknowledging that a wrist injury is always a serious one for a tennis player. “I’m really enjoying my time here,” she continues. “I don’t feel pressure, I know I need to bring my best. I am enjoying every time I step on the court.”

Kalinskaya retires hurt, sending Rybakina down

De Minaur goes 30-up, sending Fils to remonstrate with his coaches. It’s probably not his fault. De Minaur has three set points, the first is netted. Fils challenges a call down the line after a long rally but he’s out of luck. That’s 6-4, and two sets up for the Australian. Fils’ improvement didn’t last long enough.

Rybakina took that first set 6-3, recovering well from that opening break. She breaks Kalinskaya in the next game, too.

Fils is fighting hard to save himself, and a huge roar as he holds serve. De Minaur must serve to go two sets up.

That’s 14 consecutive points from Rybakina, with Kalinskaya looking shaken and shaky. De Minaur is now back in the swing, He’s 5-3 up.

Kalinskaya looks in trouble, and the treatment is taking time. Will she be able to continue? She resumes, still 4-3 down.

Rybakina is back in business and the flow of the match is in her direction, and she goes 4-3 up. The trainer is on, too, for Kalinskaya, who seems to be having problems with her wrists. So is De Minaur, with a break, and the chance to equalise at 3-3.

Fils in full command of that second set, 3-0 up, while Kalinskay and Rybakina have both struggled for fluency, even if the Rybakina serve is beginning to return to its usual output. It’s 2-3, and Kalinskaya is serving.

Kalinskaya sees out her service game and leads 2-0 in the first. De Minaur, for the first time, is struggling with Fils, and is broken, his first serve letting him down. It’s 2-0 in the second set on Court No 1.

De Minaur takes that first set, 6-2, as Kalinskaya starts with an opening break of the Rybakina serve.

De Minaur goes to 5-1 up in that first set. The Centre Court now open for business, and Elena Rybakina against Anna Kalinskaya, Kazakh v Russian takes the eye.

A Fils thunderbolt prevents him being bageled – or is it beigel-ed – and it’s 1-4 in a very chatty No 1 court, under the roof. Fils is a big fan of London, perhaps he can head to Brick Lane – both beigel shops back open, I am happy to report.

In 11 minutes, De Minaur is 3-0 up on Fils, who also happens to be big mates with the very recently vanquished Mpetshi Perricard.

Court No 1 is open for business, and Arthur Fils, a fan of Top Boy and Leo Di Caprio, according to the interview that preceded this match, will take on Australian hope Alex de Minaur, looking to go past the fourth round for the first time at Wimbledon. ADM surges into a 2-0 lead.

Musetti beats Mpetshi Perricard 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-2

Musettl races into a 4-1 lead with a neat hold of serve, the Frenchman’s serve something of a bust at this stage with another break against him. It will be a long way back for Mpetshi Perricard.

The weather seems to have been seen off for now, and Musetti is trying to knock this one on the head. Though maybe we spoke too soon as the darkest of clouds looms over the Southfields sky. Musetti takes the first game 1-0, by virtue of some unforced errors. Three more of those force three break points after a long rally. The youngster looks tired. Musetti gets the job done, and is 2-0 up in the fourth via his fine, intelligent defensive game.

Musetti takes the third set 6-3, leads 2-1 on sets, and does so by continuing to read Mpetshi Perricard’s serve, to the Frenchman’s frustrations. He’s winning on 56% of his first serves.

Perricard’s serves are being read by Musetti in this slight rain, and at deuce he has another break point, the first saved, the second saved by a fine backhand overhead requiring all his height. The third by an almighty smash. Six deuces in this game, the final one seeing a big hold completed by a clubbing winner. Five break points saved. It’s 4-3 in the third.

Dark, grey skies now. Musetti keeps the pressure on Mpetshi Perricard with some well-negotiated point-making. He’s a clever player, the Italian and is 4-2 up.

Mpetshi Perricard seems to recover some of his serving mojo to go 40-0 up, and so it’s 3-1 in the third set, 1-1

Musetti now dominant on his own serve, and he holds for 1-1 in the third. Then comes a further break, and an impressive shot to hold for 3-1 in the second set. But…there’s rain coming down. The hoods and brollies are going up.

Musetti lets out a roar as he serves out to level 1-1 in sets, having twice broken the Frenchman’s huge serve.

Mpetshi Perricard wobbling now as Musetti goes up a break, and can now serve for the second set. 5-3, 1-0 down.

Musetti hits back – it’s 2-2 now, and with the sun shining, his greater experience is being brought to bear. Perhaps this contest will last longer than thought; they’ve met before, in Frankfurt, the Italian winning 7-6 7-6 against Mpetshi Perricard. Musetti holds his next service game, too.

Hugely impressive from Perricard in breaking Musetti then smashing through his own service game to lead 2-0 in the second set. He’s on his way.

Perricard takes the first set 6-4 from Musetti. Perricard reads a line call well – the ump had called it out – to set up two set points. The first is miscued, but no doubt about the second, a huge serve gets the job done.

Perricard’s serve is brutal and he blows Musetti away to lead 5-3. He’s quite the prospect, the 20-year-old. Musetti holds the next but he must face that serve to stay in the set.

They go to 3-3, and then 4-3 after a deuce on the Musetti serve. These are both powerful men, and Perricard’s return is powerful, blasted down the baseline, lands a break of serve.

So, Court 2, and Musetti v Perricard, currently going with serve at 2-2. Both have long-haired bearded coaches.

The weather, as it stands, is OK to begin play. It’s grey and cloudy, with rain expected, just like the rest of the summer.

And the Murray fallout continues.

Read Emma John’s diary for your vintage car needs and nicknames.

Padel and pickleball are endangering tennis, apparently. Does racquetball still exist? Elvis Presley loved a game of it.

Two big hitters made it through the men’s singles.

Sunday’s news centred on the departure of Emma Radacanu.

Further singles action on Court 2 will kick us off at 11am:

• (25) Lorenzo Musetti (Ita) v Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (Fra),

• (21) Elina Svitolina (Ukr) v Xin Yu Wang (Chn)

Preamble