Fans face nervy wait over call on Serena and Venus Williams’ doubles partnership
Serena Williams’ doubles comeback at Wimbledon is in doubt after she sustained a knee injury during her first competitive singles match in four years.
She did not take part in the obligatory post-match press conference and it later emerged that this was due to her picking up a knee issue during the match, which required lengthy treatment from the physio.
The Williams sisters, won 14 grand slam doubles titles including six at Wimbledon, are yet to officially withdraw from the tournament, but are not scheduled to play their first-round doubles match on Friday 3 July.
Flo Clifford3 July 2026 10:25
Novak Djokovic gets his wish
Novak Djokovic said after his win over Stefanos Tsitsipas: “I’d love to play an outdoor Wimbledon grass-court match. Haven’t had a chance so far.”
The 24-time major winner has played both of his matches so far last up in the order of play on Centre Court, making them night sessions in all but name.
But he’s got his wish: today the seventh seed has been put first up on Centre Court, where he plays 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech, with play beginning at 1.30pm.
Flo Clifford3 July 2026 10:11
Day four recap
Elsewhere on day four, Amanda Anisimova survived an almighty scare against fellow American and former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin, needing a match tie-break to see off her compatriot and make the third round – where she’ll face Madison Keys in a huge clash.
And 29th seed Alexandra Eala reached the third round of a grand slam for the first time as she beat Maya Joint, conqueror of Serena Williams, in an entertaining three-set tussle. She’ll face defending champion Iga Swiatek next.
Flo Clifford3 July 2026 10:02
Wimbledon order of play
- Corentin Moutet (FRA) / Arthur Reymond (FRA) vs Julian Cash (GBR) / Lloyd Glasspool (GBR) [3]
- Ekaterina Alexandrova [18] 41 vs Iva Jovic (USA) [16]
- Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) [22] vs Marton Fucsovics (HUN)
- Harri Heliovaara (FIN) / Henry Patten (GBR) [1] vs Mac Kiger (USA) / Patrik Trhac (USA)
- Rafael Jodar (ESP) [23] vs Shintaro Mochizuki (JPN)
- Nikola Bartunkova (CZE) vs Barbora Krejcikova (CZE)
Flo Clifford3 July 2026 09:54
Wimbledon order of play
- Roman Safiullin vs Joao Fonseca (BRA) [24]
- Jessica Pegula (USA) [4] vs Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (ESP)
- Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs Tommy Paul (USA) [21]
- Belinda Bencic (SUI) [11] vs Anna Kalinskaya [19]
- Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) vs Daniil Medvedev [8]
- Karolina Muchova (CZE) [10] vs Mananchaya Sawangkaew (THA)
Flo Clifford3 July 2026 09:46
Wimbledon order of play
- Daria Kasatkina (AUS) vs Naomi Osaka (JPN) [14]
- Jannik Sinner (ITA) [1] vs Jenson Brooksby (USA)
- Claire Liu (USA) vs Coco Gauff (USA) [7]
Flo Clifford3 July 2026 09:38
Wimbledon order of play
- Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) [25] vs Novak Djokovic (SRB) [7]
- Aryna Sabalenka [1] vs Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)
- Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) [3] vs Michael Zheng (USA)
Flo Clifford3 July 2026 09:30
Day four recap
On the British front, Arthur Fery is the last player standing after he beat qualifier Otto Virtanen – conqueror of fourth seed Ben Shelton – in their second-round tie.
French-born Fery, who grew up in Wimbledon, was the only Brit to make it to the middle weekend after there were defeats for Katie Swan, Jacob Fearnley and Jan Choinski.
Swan lost 6-1 6-4 to former Australian Open champion Madison Keys, while Fearnley fell in straight sets to Spaniard Jaume Munar, 6-4 7-6 6-4, and Choinski battled hard against 17th seed Frances Tiafoe but ultimately lost in four, 4-6 6-2 7-5 6-2.
Flo Clifford3 July 2026 09:21
Day four recap
Reigning champion Iga Swiatek suffered a scare as she needed three sets to see off Taylor Townsend in round 1, but was in cruise control against 2021 runner-up Karolina Pliskova, who is making a gradual return from a long injury lay-off, in yesterday’s second-round encounter. The Pole won 6-1 6-3 in the first match on Centre Court.
Later on Matteo Berrettini won an entertaining four-set tussle with 20th seed Arthur Fils, with the Italian overjoyed to be playing at the top level again after recurring injury crises.
And there was joy too for Grigor Dimitrov, who was forced out of Wimbledon last year with a torn pec muscle when leading Jannik Sinner in their fourth-round match. The Bulgarian, who was granted a wildcard for this tournament, saw off 15th seed Jakub Mensik in four sets and will now face Berrettini in the third round.
Flo Clifford3 July 2026 09:12
Welcome
Hello and welcome to day five of Wimbledon!
Novak Djokovic headlines Centre Court today as he faces 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech in his bid to win a record 25th major, while defending champion Jannik Sinner takes to No 1 Court hoping to build momentum after a tricky couple of matches.
Naomi Osaka plays former world No 8 Daria Kasatkina first up on that court, while Aryna Sabalenka, Jelena Ostapenko, and Coco Gauff are all in action later today.
Flo Clifford3 July 2026 09:04

