Wimbledon 2024 live updates: Day five reaction as Coco Gauff, Sinner and Raducanu win, Frances Tiafoe out

Follow live reaction from day five of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, as the men and women’s singles third round got under way amid rain delays
Max Mathews
Wimbledon 2024 live updates: Day five reaction as Coco Gauff, Sinner and Raducanu win, Frances Tiafoe out
Getty Images

39 New Updates

Wimbledon 2024 — Day five live reaction

Subscribe to The Athletic using our latest discount offer here.

Arise, King Carlos

Arise, King Carlos

Getty Images

Cross-court forehands traded, before a stunner of a forehand from Alcaraz paints the line with Tiafoe unable to change direction.

Then a casual drop shot, so calm and cool, that Tiafoe does so well to get to, but Alcaraz is in the right position to angle away a drop volley into open court.

40-0 and three match points...

And he finishes with a wonderful, wonderful, drop shot. Tiafoe doesn't even move. He's just rooted to the spot.

Tiafoe has fought so hard but, possibly hindered by injury, has been unable to live with Alcaraz's extra gear in that final set. To be fair, I don't think anyone in the world or the next could have matched the 21-year-old's level.

Game, set, and match to Carlos.

Advertisement

Coco Gauff facing Sonay Kartal

And we have a second match on court!

Coco Gauff, the American and second seed, is facing British qualifier Sonay Kartal on Court 1.

And she's already broken Kartal in the very first game of the match.

Serving to make it 2-0.

Alcaraz holds!

Tiafoe won the first point of Alcaraz's service game but couldn't win a point thereafter. Alcaraz holds, and the man from Murcia pumps his fist in celebration.

Tiafoe needs something here. A spark, anything. He looks drained. He didn't bend down to pick up a ball on the floor moments ago, maybe not wanting to hurt his knee after he jarred it at the end of the fourth set.

An incredible shot from Alcaraz, another, and Tiafoe can only grin wryly. He's up against a juggernaut. 30-15 Tiafoe.

Oh, no. Alcaraz is on the back foot, well behind the baseline, at the mercy of Tiafoe, who comes to the net... but with the whole court to aim at, nets. Disappointing. He hangs his head in frustration.

But he holds! He at least makes Alcaraz serve it out.

Tiafoe two break points down... Alcaraz takes the second!

Tiafoe two break points down... Alcaraz takes the second!

Getty Images

Oh no, Frances!

15-30 down, a tiring Tiafoe pushes a weary forehand into the net.

15-40, two break points to Alcaraz. A forehand long from Alcaraz, one saved...

But Alcaraz attacks a sliced second serve, and levers an - absolutely gorgeous - acutely angled stylish sliced drop shot that Tiafoe can't get near.

Incredible court craft. And he leads 4-1, serving to make it 5-1. This is it for Tiafoe, I fear, personally.

Crucial break for Alcaraz!

Wow.

Carlos Alcaraz looks like a man on a mission and has broken Frances Tiafoe here.

He had two break points at 15-40, Tiafoe came to the net, Alcaraz smashed an 89miles-per-hour backhand cross-court, Tiafoe had a play on the backhand volley but left it to watch it go out... except it landed in.

Kissing the line, it sealed the game and maybe the beginning of the end of the match, and Tiafoe's tournament.

Checking in outside Centre Court

We don't want you missing out on all the other action too! So, without further ado...

In the men's singles:

  • Grigor Dimitrov (10) has beaten Gael Monfils, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
  • Jan-Lennard Struff took the third set against Daniil Medvedev (5), 6-4 and trails two sets to one, 1-1 in the fourth
  • American Brandon Nakashima won the third set 7-6(5) against Ugo Humbert (16) and has the chance to make it two sets all in the fourth-set tiebreak when things resume
  • At 5-4 up in the fourth set, Roberto Bautista Agut was a game away from making it two sets each against Fabio Fognini
  • And USA's Ben Shelton (14) led Denis Shapovalov 3-2 on serve before the rain

In the women's singles:

  • Donna Vekic took the first set 7-6(4) against Dayana Yastremska, 0-0 in the second

In the men's doubles:

  • Brit Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara beat Martinez/Munar 7-6(5), 6-3
  • Krawietz/Putz (8) defeated Olivetti/Bhambri 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
  • Austrians Ofner/Weissborn got past Hidalgo/Tabilo 7-5, 6-4

In the women's doubles:

  • Krejcikova/Siegemund (8) are a game away from victory as they lead Brits Silva/Murray 7-6(1), 5-4

None of the mixed doubles matches started before the rain started falling.

Advertisement

Rain sees more play suspended

Rain sees more play suspended

Getty Images

Unfortunately, the rains have returned to south-west London.

That means every match apart from Tiafoe vs Alcaraz on Centre Court, which has the roof, is temporarily suspended.

Let's check in on where things stand elsewhere though.

Badosa loving life at SW19

She was in tears after her win against Daria Kasatkina today.

It means so much to the Spaniard.

Alcaraz takes the set!

Another massive serve, Tiafoe's return is well long, he jumps out of the way and lets it slide past him.

7-2 and what an incredible tiebreak from the Spaniard, the defending champion.

We are into a fifth set on Centre.

Tiafoe and Alcaraz's crucial tiebreak...

Tiafoe and Alcaraz's crucial tiebreak...

Getty Images

Here we go then. Incredible point from Alcaraz! Tiafoe has two chances to smash a volley away at the net but twice Alcaraz gets there and then puts a backhand away for 2-0. He pumps his fist repeatedly with delight.

Then he paints Tiafoe into both corners with increasing intensity, sending him the wrong way as he curves a winner past a helpless Tiafoe for 3-0. Then he comes to the net, some questionable shot selection from Tiafoe, a lob goes long, and Alcaraz is 4-0 up.

He looks a different beast at the moment, the Spaniard. Ace. 5-0. He is absolutely clutch. Then Alcaraz overcooks a forehand, 5-1, but in twisting in response to Alcaraz's inside-out shot, Tiafoe looked to jar his knee badly.

With a tight black brace on his right knee after hurting his knee ligaments at Queen's, Tiafoe let out a cry of pain before staying on the ground for 30 seconds or so. Eventually, he rose to his feet, drawing cheers from the crowd. Alcaraz sportingly checks he's OK.

But it doesn't seem to have affected him too badly there! Glorious drop shot, Alcaraz run ragged, Tiafoe bends a lob in an easy arc over the Spaniard and on the line. What a point. 5-2 Alcaraz, but Alcaraz has the serve.

Massive second serve, return wide, 6-2, four set points...

Alcaraz goes 6-5 up... can Tiafoe respond?

This is going to be a thrilling ending to the fourth set, whatever happens.

Alcaraz just served to go 6-5 up on Centre Court.

If Tiafoe holds, it's into a tiebreak with the American having the chance to win the match if he takes it. If Alcaraz breaks, he takes the fourth set and we're into a winner-takes-all decider.

Alcaraz goes narrowly wide with a passing forehand, but Tiafoe nets after a long sprint to the net, 15-all. Alcaraz's unsuccessful challenge on an out call, 30-15, before an incredible, brave drop volley from Tiafoe. Alcaraz does so well to get there, but Big Foe calmly pats it into open court.

Ace, and we have a tiebreaker!

Advertisement

Crucial game on Centre Court

Frances Tiafoe against Carlos Alcaraz, 4-4 in the fourth set, Tiafoe two games away from the match.

Alcaraz serving, 0-30 down. Tiafoe two points from that crucial break.

But Alcaraz fought his way back tooth and nail, then Tiafoe was perhaps a little over-ambitious with an attempted forehand winner down the line hitting the top of the net.

30-all and finally Alcaraz let his emotions out, roaring with delight.

Then a big serve, return into the net, ace, to take the game. 'VAMOS!' he yells towards his box. Now Tiafoe needs to hold to stay in the set.

How to smash a tennis racket: Rublev, Djokovic, Kyrgios, and more

How to smash a tennis racket: Rublev, Djokovic, Kyrgios, and more

Andrey Rublev’s second thought was to smash his tennis racket. His first thought? Protecting the Wimbledon grass.

The “it” he was referring to was smashing his tennis racket: not on the court, or a structure, or the fence, but his own leg. As racket smashes go, there isn’t much smashing of the racket here.

If developing a metric for smashing tennis rackets, it would score low on style, control, and damage, but high on aggression. Thank you to the British TV series Robot Wars for these categories.

This is the art and science of the racket smash, the tennis staple that brings code violations and fines as much as spectacles for fans and relief for players. Dive deeper below.

How to smash a tennis racket: Rublev, Djokovic, Kyrgios, and more

GO FURTHER

How to smash a tennis racket: Rublev, Djokovic, Kyrgios, and more

What's happening elsewhere?

A selection of scores on the doors and results for you.

  • Daniil Medvedev (5) is two sets up on Jan-Lennard Struff
  • Fabio Fognini leads Roberto Bautista Agut two sets to one after taking the third 7-5
  • Paula Badosa has beaten Daria Kasatkina (14) 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-4
  • American Madison Keys (12) beat Marta Kostyuk (18), 6-4, 6-3

...if you'll pardon the pun

Nice sunnies, though.

Tiafoe takes the third set!

Tiafoe takes the third set!

Getty Images

Here we go...

Popular American Frances Tiafoe, the 29th seed, has won the third set!

He broke Alcaraz to 15 and just served out to take the set 6-4. Alcaraz sits on his bench, a concerned look on his face, mirrored by those in his box.

Alcaraz didn't have a single break point in that third set, and Tiafoe won 84% of his first-serve points, compared to just 60% for Alcaraz.

Can Alcaraz take it to a fifth set?

Let's find out...

Advertisement

Around the courts: Doubles

What about the doubles? Well, in the women's:

  • Americans Ashlyn Krueger/Sloane Stephens were beaten by Kudermetova/Chan (12), 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
  • French duo Mladenovic/Garcia beat Bouzkova/Sorribes Tormo (10) 6-3, 6-4
  • Magda Linette and USA's Peyton Stearns have lost against Brit Olivia Nicholls and Mihalikova, 6-2, 6-0
  • All-British pair Silva/Murray have broken Siegemund/Krejcikova (8) and lead 4-2

In the men's:

  • Brit Lloyd Glasspool/Jean-Julien Rojer beat Reyes-Varela/Andreozzi 6-0, 6-3
  • US/UK pair Galloway/Cash beat Arribage/Daniell 7-6(6), 6-3
  • Belgians Gille/Vliegen (14) defeated Muller/Diaz Acosta 6-2, 6-3
  • And popular Jamaican Dustin Brown with partner Sebastian Baez beat Zielinski/Nys (13), 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(5)

The mixed doubles begin imminently.

Around the courts: Singles

Around the courts: Singles

Getty Images

In the women's singles, some updates:

  • Emma Navarro (19) has beaten Diana Shnaider 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
  • Lulu Sun defeated Zhu Lin 7-6(4), 7-6(6)
  • Madison Keys (12) has taken the first set 6-4 against 18th seed Marta Kostyuk
  • Paula Badosa and Daria Kasatkina are into a deciding set

In the men's singles:

  • It's 2-2 on serve in the third set between Carlos Alcaraz (3) and Frances Tiafoe
  • Fabio Fognini has taken the second set against Roberto Bautista Agut, 3-2 to the latter on serve in the third
  • Grigor Dimitrov (10) leads Gael Monfils 5-2 in the first set
  • And Daniil Medvedev (5) took the first set 6-1 against unseeded German Jan-Lennard Struff

Is Frances Tiafoe coming alive again?

Frances Tiafoe is coming for tennis once more.

The tongue-wagging and the fist-pumping and the glare; the toothiest you-know-what-eating grin in the game; the high-energy vibes that can bring any tennis crowd into his corner.

After months of existing on life support, it’s all back, here on the Wimbledon grass, along with the laser forehands down the line and the beguiling spins that twist balls across the court.

Tiafoe is here, really here. Here in a way that he hasn’t been since the summer of 2023: the last time he believed that tennis was there for him to take.

As he takes on Carlos Alcaraz on Centre Court, read The Athletic's piece on the American below.

Frances Tiafoe’s tennis has been in a slump. At Wimbledon, he is coming alive

GO FURTHER

Frances Tiafoe’s tennis has been in a slump. At Wimbledon, he is coming alive

Load more updates