LONDON. — Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and the end of London’s tropical heatwave ensured that a sense of normality returned to the lawns of Wimbledon on Wednesday after two sweat-soaked days of shocks, although Jasmine Paolini’s exit meant the surprises did not end.
A stream of big names including Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev crashed and burned in the oven-like temperatures of the first round.
So when Alcaraz walked on Centre Court to continue his bid for a third successive Wimbledon title against British qualifier Oliver Tarvet, the thought surely lurked somewhere in his mind that he could be the fall-guy in the event’s greatest upset.
The 22-year-old second seed was not at his best but after saving three break points in a nervy first service game against a college student ranked 733rd in the world, he asserted his authority to win 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
Earlier on Centre Court, women’s top seed Sabalenka battled to a 7-6(4), 6-4 win against Czech Marie Bouzkova.
“Honestly, it is sad to see so many upsets in the tournament, in both draws, women’s and men’s,” said Sabalenka, who is bidding for her first Wimbledon title.
“I’m just trying to focus on myself. . . I hope there are no more upsets in this tournament.”
That was not to be, as last year’s runner-up Paolini joined the exodus of fancied players when she crashed out 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 against Russian KamillaRakhimova.
However, Australian Open champion Madison Keys, the sixth seed, made it safely into round three by beating Olga Danilovic 6-4, 6-2 while unseeded four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka eased past Czech doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 6-2.
Lower temperatures did not necessarily mean more comfortable outings as world No. 12 Frances Tiafoe became the 14th of the 32 men’s seeds to fall, losing 4-6, 6-4 6-3, 7-5 against Cameron Norrie, one of seven Britons in singles action on day three.
The American was joined later on by Czech 23rd seed Jiri Lehecka, last month’s Queen’s Club Championships runner-up, who fell 7-6(4), 6-1, 7-5 to Italian MattiaBellucci.
Ashlyn Krueger, the American 31st seed, was then beaten 7-6(4), 6-4 by Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, ensuring 15 of the 32 women’s seeds also went out of the tournament.
SonayKartal led the home charge by defeating Bulgaria’s ViktoriyaTomova 6-2, 6-2 to book her place in the last 32 for the second year in succession while the nation’s big hope Emma Raducanu got past 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 6-3.
There was disappointment for Britain’s Katie Boulter, who served 14 double faults as she crashed 6-7(9), 6-2, 6-1 to 101st-ranked Solana Sierra, the Argentine who lost in qualifying but has seized her lucky loser spot with both hands.
Alcaraz, bidding to do the French Open-Wimbledon double for the second successive year, needed five sets to get past Italian veteran Fabio Fognini in the opening round and set up an intriguing clash with 21-year-old Tarvet.
