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
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Wimbledon 2024 – Heather Watson loses in first round
A valiant effort by British wildcard Heather Watson but she goes down 7-5, 6-4 to Greet Minnen of Belgium on Court 18. Watson battled hard, especially in that first set but Minnen ultimately had too much.
Elsewhere, Grigor Dimitrov is the first man through to the second round as he finishes off Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 in 1h 44m.
Luke Baker1 July 2024 12:59
BREAKING – Aryna Sabalenka pulls out of Wimbledon
More breaking news here at Wimbledon and women’s third seed Aryna Sabalenka, who is a two-time semi-finalist here as well as being a two-time Australian Open winner, has withdrawn from the tournament.
A shoulder injury has forced the Belarusian star to pull out. She was due to play second on Court No 1 this afternoon against Emina Bektas of the USA but will now be replaced by lucky loser Erika Andreeva. Huge news.
Luke Baker1 July 2024 12:55
Wimbledon planners happy for Andy Murray to leave decision late
Wimbledon organisers are happy for Andy Murray to leave it as late as he needs to before deciding whether to play singles one final time.
The 37-year-old is battling to recover from surgery last weekend to remove a spinal cyst that was pressing on nerves and causing a weakness in his right leg.
Murray was planning to give himself until Monday evening, potentially after the order of play is published, to decide if he is able to face Czech Tomas Machac.
Chief executive Sally Bolton said: “We’ve always got plenty of scheduling challenges to face. As he said himself, Andy has earned the right to make the decision and we will absolutely respect that.
“All of us have therefore got to be agile in the way that we deliver our plans, but we’re really happy to do that. It’s very much for Andy to make this decision and make it at the right time for him.”
Luke Baker1 July 2024 12:44
Wimbledon 2024 – latest scores
A quick fizz around the courts to check on some latest scores. Men’s 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov is a set away from victory as he wins the second 6-4 against Dusan Lajovic, although Lajovic has an early break in the third.
Eighth seed Casper Ruud has also gone two sets up against Australian qualifier Alex Bolt, leading 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, as has Denis Shapovalov, who is surprising 19th seed Nicolas Jarry 6-1, 7-5.
American star Frances Tiafoe is struggling badly as he trails Matteo Arnaldi 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, and Fabio Fognini is two sets up on lucky loser Luca Van Assche 6-1, 6-3.
A couple of early results to bring you as well – women’s ninth seed Maria Sakkari has breezed into round two by downing McCartney Kessler 6-3, 6-1 and will be joined by Lin Zhu, who beat Irina-Camelia Begu 6-0, 6-4, and Varvara Gracheva of France, who bested Lesia Tsurenko 6-3. 6-1.
Luke Baker1 July 2024 12:36
Andy Murray confirmed for Paris 2024 Olympic doubles
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.
Luke Baker1 July 2024 12:24
Andy Murray on the practice court
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
Luke Baker1 July 2024 12:17
Wimbledon 2024 – Heather Watson loses first set
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.
Luke Baker1 July 2024 12:13
Wimbledon 2024 – Andy Murray set to reveal injury decision today
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.
Luke Baker1 July 2024 12:01
Wimbledon 2024 – latest scores
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.
Luke Baker1 July 2024 11:51
Wimbledon 2024 – live
The sun is currently out at SW19 and fans are flocking to the All England Club for a great day out.
Luke Baker1 July 2024 11:42