Yahoo Sports Wimbledon 2024 LIVE: Tennis scores and updates as Raducanu gets opponent boost before Murray decision
Wimbledon is back as Emma Raducanu and defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz highlight the opening day at the All England Club before Andy Murray reveals if he will play singles on his final appearance at the Championships.
Raducanu was due to meet Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round. However, Alexandrova has pulled out injured at the last minute and Raducanu will now face lucky loser, world No 98 Renata Zarazua from Mexico instead.
Murray will make a decision on whether to play singles this evening after undergoing an operation to remove a spinal cyst before the tournament. The two-time champion is scheduled to face Tomas Machac tomorrow Tuesday and confirmed he will make a decision after his final practice session.
The 37-year-old said he wants to “feel the buzz” on Centre Court for one last time and have some “closure” before ending his career. Follow all the latest updates and live scores from Wimbledon in today’s live blog
Wimbledon day 1 - live updates
Wimbledon 2024 is here as the action begins on day 1 in SW19
Play underway on the outside courts, including Heather Watson
Emma Raducanu leads the British charge, playing second on Centre Court
Raducanu’s opponent, 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, has withdrawn injured so she’ll face Renata Zarazua instead
Andy Murray expected to make participation decision this evening as he battles injury
Defending men’s singles champion Carlos Alcaraz first up on Centre at 1.30pm
Andy Murray confirmed for Paris 2024 Olympic doubles
12:24 , Luke Baker
Some promising news out of the Andy Murray camp today - he’s been confirmed as playing in the men’s doubles alongside Dan Evans at the Olympic Games later this month.
Murray’s singles spot for what is set to be the final tournament of his career was announced a couple of weeks ago, as he secured entry as a two-time former gold medallist and three-time grand slam champion.
But he and Evans were left waiting to see whether they would get into the doubles, which represents Murray’s best chance of a medal. It will be a fifth Games for the 37-year-old, who picked up gold medals in singles in 2012 and 2016 as well as a silver medal in mixed doubles with Laura Robson in London.
Andy Murray and Dan Evans confirmed for Paris 2024 doubles
Andy Murray on the practice court
12:17 , Luke Baker
Andy Murray has just begun a 90-minute practice session here at the All England Club, which could offer some clues as to whether he’ll be able to participate in the singles tomorrow.
We’ve sent our man Kieran Jackson down there to see how the Scot is looking and report back
Wimbledon 2024 - Heather Watson loses first set
12:13 , Luke Baker
Bad news for the only Brit out on court currently. Heather Watson fought her way back to 4-4 having been a break down and then broke to move within a game of victory at 5-4. But she lost her serve, then was broken again and Greet Minnen nicked a 55-minute opener 7-5.
A blow for Guernsey’s finest.
Wimbledon 2024 - Andy Murray set to reveal injury decision today
12:01 , Luke Baker
Away from the on-court action, today is a big day as we’ll likely learn whether Andy Murray is fit to play singles tomorrow. He revealed yesterday that he still does not have “100 per cent feeling” in his right leg after undergoing an operation to remove a spinal cyst last weekend.
The two-time Wimbledon champion is scheduled to face Tomas Machac in the first round on Tuesday and although the 37-year-old says his condition is “getting better every day”, Murray confirmed there is a risk the wound in his back reopens by returning to competitive action so soon after surgery.
Andy Murray reveals Wimbledon decision deadline ahead of final Championships
Wimbledon 2024 - latest scores
11:51 , Luke Baker
A few more notable first-set results to bring you as 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov dispatched Dusan Lajovic 6-3 in the opener and is already a break up in the second over on Court 2.
Women’s 28th seed Dayana Yastremska is similarly a set (6-1) and a break to the good on Court 4 against Nadia Podoroska, while women’s ninth seed Maria Sakkari (a potential third-round opponent of Emma Raducanu) won the first 6-3 against McCartney Kessler.
On Court 18, in front of a partisan British crowd, home favourite Heather Watson has twice fought back from a break down and is level at 4-4 with Greet Minnen.
Wimbledon 2024 - live
11:42 , Luke Baker
The sun is currently out at SW19 and fans are flocking to the All England Club for a great day out.
Wimbledon 2024 - latest scores
11:34 , Luke Baker
Canada’s Denis Shapovalov off to a flyer out on Court 14. He’s facing 19th seed Nicolas Jarry but has obliterated the Chilean 6-1 in the first set in double-quick time.
In the women’s draw, China’s Zhu Lin is the other player with a set on the board already as she bagelled Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu 6-0 in their opening set on Court 9.
Wimbledon 2024 - latest scores
11:27 , Luke Baker
Some seeds off to flying starts in SW19. Men’s 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov is already a break up against Dusan Lajovic of Serbia at 3-0, while Ukrainian 28th seed in the women’s draw, Dayana Yastremska (below) is also a break to the good at 4-1 against Nadia Podoroska.
Women’s 25th seed Anastasia Pavluychenkova is 3-2 ahead of Taylor Townsend with a break, while Great Britain’s Heather Watson was broken in her first service game by Greet Minnen although has since broken back and it’s 2-1 to the Belgian.
Wimbledon 2024 underway!
11:16 , Luke Baker
And we’re underway at Wimbledon 2024 with play up and running on the outside courts. We’ll keep you abreast of all the action before No 1 Court gets underway at 1pm (with Aleksandar Koacevic vs Daniil Medvedev) and Centre Court starts play at 1.30pm (with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz vs Mark Lajal).
Here’s some matches first up to keep an eye on, with our maiden Brit – veteran Heather Watson – taking on some-time doubles partner Greet Minnen on Court 18.
No 2 Court - Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) [10] vs Dusan Lajovic (SRB)
No 3 Court - Alex Bolt (AUS) vs Casper Ruud (NOR) [8]
Court 12 - McCartney Kessler (USA) vs Maria Sakkari (GRE) [9]
Court 18 - Greet Minnen (BEL) vs Heather Watson (GBR)
Court 14 - Nicolas Jarry (CHI) [19] vs Denis Shapovalov (CAN)
Court 15 - Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) vs Frances Tiafoe (USA) [29]
Emma Raducanu gets new opponent
11:00 , Luke Baker
Some big news early on this opening day of Wimbledon. Emma Raducanu will face a different opponent than scheduled as she returns to SW19 for the first time in two years.
The former US Open champion has taken a wildcard ahead of her first Wimbledon match in two years and was due to meet Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round.
However, Alexandrova has pulled out injured at the last minute and Raducanu will now face lucky loser, world No 98 Renata Zarazua (pic below) from Mexico instead.
Surely an opportunity for the Brit to advance? She plays second on Centre Court this afternoon, likely around 3.30pm.
Monday’s order of play
10:52 , Luke Baker
Emma Raducanu returns to Wimbledon as defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz opens play on the first day of the Championships on Monday.
Raducanu missed last year’s Wimbledon after undergoing surgery on both wrists and an ankle but has showed glimpses of form this grass-court season, including the first top-10 win of her career against Jessica Pegula at Eastbourne.
The former US Open champion has taken a wildcard ahead of her first Wimbledon match in two years and was due to meet Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round. However, Alexandrova has pulled out injured at the last minute and Raducanu will now face lucky loser, world No 98 Renata Zarazua from Mexico instead.
Elsewhere, Alcaraz will open play on Centre Court against qualifier Mark Lajal, the World 262. Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon title last year and has since added a third grand slam of his career at the French Open last month.
Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka are among the other stars involved on the first Monday of the tournament, while British wildcard Charles Broom has landed a big-name opponent against three-time grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka.
Here’s a reminder of the full order of play with the outside courts due to get underway shortly
Wimbledon order of play and Monday’s schedule
Wimbledon 2024 commentators and presenters: BBC line-up including Nick Kyrgios, Clare Balding and John McEnroe
10:40 , Luke Baker
Wimbledon returns to our screens over the next fortnight after a thrilling tournament last year that culminated in Carlos Alcaraz defeating Novak Djokovic in an epic men’s final watched by an audience of over 15 million.
Alcaraz will be defending his title this year, while much of the focus has been on the fitness of two-time champion Andy Murray ahead of what is expected to be the former World No 1’s final tournament in SW19.
There was a significant change in the BBC’s coverage last year, as Clare Balding succeeded Sue Barker as the face of Wimbledon. Barker had been the BBC’s lead Wimbledon presenter for 30 years.
And there is a controversial addition to the coverage this year, with Nick Kyrgios, the Australian star and Wimbledon runner-up two years ago, joining the BBC to offer commentary while he remains sidelined by injury.
Wimbledon 2024 commentators and BBC presenters including Nick Kyrgios
Novak Djokovic issues fitness update ahead of Wimbledon
10:30 , Luke Baker
Novak Djokovic on his fitness ahead of Wimbledon after undergoing knee surgery: “The knee has responded very well to all of that so far, which of course then is a great sign for my participation in Wimbledon. That’s why I decided to be in the draw.
“I still have couple days’ time. I play on Tuesday. I’m confident about the health of my knee and just general physical state is really good. Obviously once the tournament starts, I’ll have more I guess sensations and more feedback from how knee reacts to a best-of-five Grand Slam match.
“So far everything that was done was very positive.”
Jack Draper admits he has been ‘motivated’ by Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon triumph
10:17 , Luke Baker
A year ago Jack Draper sat on his sofa watching near contemporary Carlos Alcaraz lift the Wimbledon title and plotting his way to the top, writes Eleanor Crooks.
A shoulder injury was the latest and most painful physical problem for Draper, forcing him to miss the whole grass-court season and dropping his ranking back outside the top 100.
“It was really difficult,” he said. “I obviously didn’t just miss this one. I missed Queen’s, the whole grass. I think I sat on my couch for most of it, just kind of really frustrated, watching all the matches.
“I watched the (Liam) Broady-(Casper) Ruud match, which was amazing to see Broads doing well. I watched the full final, which was hard to watch obviously someone so young winning the title, showing what he’s capable of.
“It really, really motivated me and was actually I think a blessing in disguise because my body wasn’t ready. I don’t think mentally I was ready either to be a top player. It was a good break that I needed to rediscover the fire I needed. From there, I’ve been great.”
Dan Evans grateful for another chance at Wimbledon as he considers his future
10:05 , Luke Baker
Dan Evans admits he has been thinking about a future after tennis but is grateful to have another shot at Wimbledon.
The 34-year-old feared the worst when he injured his knee in a fall at Queen’s Club last week, but tests showed only a strain and he is confident of taking to the court for a first-round clash against 24th seed Alejandro Tabilo on Tuesday.
Dan Evans grateful for another chance at Wimbledon as he considers his future
The seven-year streak that could point to this year’s Wimbledon champion
09:50 , Luke Baker
Coco Gauff couldn’t help noticing it as she arrived at Wimbledon and walked past the champions’ wall. On the grass-courts of SW19, the past seven tournaments have produced seven different winners of the women’s title, and not all of them have been the usual names, either. “Sometimes this tournament looks a little bit different,” said the world No 1 Iga Swiatek. “Players that are also sometimes underdogs can win it, I feel. The chance is bigger.”
If last year brought history as Marketa Vondrousova became the first unseeded player to win the Championships in the Open era, there is a sense that Wimbledon could produce another unlikely champion this year.
Certainly, there isn’t a player in the draw who carries the weight of Swiatek at the French Open, where the Pole last month won a third title in a row, looking unbeatable on her favourite surface. But the transition from clay to grass has proved challenging. Swiatek’s preparations weren’t helped by having to withdraw from her only warm-up tournament on grass in Berlin, as she cited “overall physical and mental fatigue” following her dominant clay-court stretch.
Read our full preview of the women’s draw:
The seven-year streak that could point to this year’s Wimbledon champion
Thank you Andy Murray, for what you have done for Dunblane
09:35 , Luke Baker
Andy Murray didn’t put Dunblane on the map. It was already there, sitting quietly between Stirling and Perthshire in central Scotland, when a sleepy town home to a few thousand people became the scene of Britain’s deadliest mass shooting. Murray was eight, his older brother Jamie 10, when on 13 March 1996 a gunman broke into the gym hall at Dunblane Primary School and killed 16 children aged between five and six and their teacher.
It remains remarkable that the career of Britain’s greatest ever sportsperson and one of the darkest days in the country’s modern history are linked in this way, and yet, it is only part of the story. At 37, next week’s Wimbledon is expected to be Murray’s last. It will bring an era to an end, as well as a time to reflect on his historic achievements and the legacy he leaves behind, all of which are tributes Murray would, of course, thoroughly disapprove of. Above all of this, though, is the impact Murray made on Dunblane, allowing a town scarred by tragedy to embrace the chance to be defined by something else.
Read the full, emotional piece from our tennis correspondent Jamie Braidwood, who is also from Dunblane himself:
Thank you Andy Murray, for what you have done for Dunblane
Which Brits are in action today?
09:20 , Luke Baker
Emma Raducanu is back at Wimbledon after her injury-enforced absence 12 months ago and will grace Centre Court for the third time in her career. But she admits she is the underdog in her meeting with Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
“If I get through my first round, I’d be over the moon,” said Raducanu. “I’m expecting a really difficult match. I think it’s a match where I’m actually the complete underdog because she’s a lot older, a lot more experienced, ranked a lot higher.”
Raducanu is one of seven Britons in action on the opening day. Heather Watson will be the first on court, taking on Greet Minnen at 11am, while Liam Broady, who reached the third round 12 months ago, takes on Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.
Charles Broom’s Wimbledon debut comes against three-time grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka on Court Two. Yuriko Miyazaki plays Tamara Korpatsch, Arthur Fery also has German opposition in Daniel Altmaier and Sonay Kartal, who was the only Brit to come through qualifying, will look for her first Wimbledon singles win at the third attempt against 29th seed Sorana Cirstea.
A ‘different’ Wimbledon now rests on this Novak Djokovic question
09:08 , Luke Baker
Alexander Zverev may have been missing something when he declared Wimbledon as the “most open Championship that we’ve had in 20 years”. Last year, Carlos Alcaraz became the first man other than Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray to win the Wimbledon title since 2004, a victory that signalled the start of a new era. But Djokovic, the man Alcaraz described as “superhuman” after returning from knee surgery in just three weeks, is still here. From looking out of Wimbledon, his recovery from a torn meniscus defies belief.
A shot at a record eighth title remains alive thanks to a surgeon hailed by Djokovic as his “MVP”. When the 37-year-old withdrew from his French Open quarter-final after slipping on the Paris clay, his chances of being fit for Wimbledon appeared slim. He was given a timescale of three to six weeks after undergoing surgery. Wimbledon just made the cut.
Read Jamie Braidwood’s full preview of the men’s singles
A ‘different’ Wimbledon now rests on this Novak Djokovic question
Emma Raducanu says she would be ‘over the moon’ to reach Wimbledon second round
08:55 , Luke Baker
Emma Raducanu heads into Wimbledon full of confidence but played down expectations for her first match on Monday.
The former US Open champion has been in fine form on the British grass, reaching the semi-finals in Nottingham before losing to Katie Boulter in a very tight contest and then claiming her first win over a top-10 opponent against Jessica Pegula on her way to the Eastbourne quarter-finals.
She is one of the more dangerous unseeded players, but the draw was not kind, with Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, who has decent grass-court pedigree, her opening opponent.
Emma Raducanu says she would be ‘over the moon’ to reach Wimbledon second round
What is today’s TV schedule?
08:45 , Luke Baker
What is Monday’s TV schedule?
10:30-12:15 - Live coverage - BBC Two
11:00-21:00 - Live coverage of outside courts - BBC Red Button
12:15-13:00 - Live coverage - BBC One
13:00-21:00 - Live coverage - BBC Two
14:00-18:00 - Live coverage - BBC One
21:00-22:00 - Today at Wimbledon - BBC Two
Andy Murray reveals Wimbledon decision deadline ahead of final tournament
08:35 , Luke Baker
Andy Murray will make a decision on whether to play singles at Wimbledon on Monday evening ahead of what are expected to be his final Championships, but revealed he still does not have “100 per cent feeling” in his right leg after undergoing an operation to remove a spinal cyst last weekend.
The two-time Wimbledon champion is scheduled to face Tomas Machac in the first round on Tuesday and although the 37-year-old says his condition is “getting better every day”, Murray confirmed there is a risk the wound in his back reopens by returning to competitive action so soon after surgery.
Murray is determined to appear at Wimbledon one more time before retiring and has received a wildcard to play doubles with his brother Jamie, which is less demanding physically. The doubles competition starts later in the week and would allow Murray to bid farewell to Wimbledon if he is not fit enough for singles.
But the former world No 1 is not ruling out playing on Centre Court on Tuesday and says he will make a decision after his final practice session. Murray wants to “feel the buzz” on Centre Court for one last time and have some “closure” before ending his career.
Andy Murray reveals Wimbledon decision deadline ahead of final Championships
Wimbledon order of play and Monday’s schedule
08:33 , Luke Baker
Emma Raducanu returns to Wimbledon as defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz opens play on the first day of the Championships on Monday.
CENTRE COURT - SHOW COURT - 13:30 START
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) [3] vs Mark Lajal (EST)
Ekaterina Alexandrova [22] vs Emma Raducanu (GBR)
Caroline Dolehide (USA) vs Coco Gauff (USA) [2]
No.1 COURT - SHOW COURT - 13:00 START
Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA) vs Daniil Medvedev [5]
Emina Bektas (USA) vs Aryna Sabalenka [3]
Jannik Sinner (ITA) [1] vs Yannick Hanfmann (GER)
No.2 COURT - SHOW COURT - 11:00 START
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) [10] vs Dusan Lajovic (SRB)
Stan Wawrinka (SUI) vs Charles Broom (GBR)
Naomi Osaka (JPN) vs Diane Parry (FRA)
Victoria Azarenka [16] vs Sloane Stephens (USA)
Click here for the full order of play
Wimbledon order of play and Monday’s schedule
Wimbledon day 1
08:17 , Luke Baker
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of Wimbledon 2024. The best tennis tournament in the world is finally here, getting underway with day 1 in SW19 and we’ll be with you every step of the way
