Rain Delays Day 3
On July 2, 2025, rain delayed the start of play on Wimbledon’s outside courts until at least 11:45 BST, with only Centre Court and Court 1, both with roofs, commencing on time, per posts on X. A packed schedule features seven British players, including Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter, and qualifier Oliver Tarvet, alongside stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Naomi Osaka. Day 2 saw upsets, with Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Alexander Zverev exiting, while Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner advanced. The $72.6m prize pool, with £3m for singles champions, adds stakes to today’s matches.
British Players in Action
- Emma Raducanu vs. Marketa Vondrousova (Centre Court, ~18:00 BST): British No. 1 Raducanu (world No. 40) faces a tough test against 2023 champion Vondrousova. Raducanu, fresh off a 6-3, 6-3 win over Mimi Xu, showed flair but faces a Vondrousova (2.8 winners per set) who beat her in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. Raducanu’s 68% first-serve points won and emotional resilience post-Eastbourne (6-7, 6-3, 6-1 vs. Ann Li) give her a chance, but Vondrousova’s grass-court pedigree (2023 title) is daunting.
- Katie Boulter vs. Solana Sierra (Court 1, ~15:30 BST): British No. 2 Boulter, ranked 43rd, takes on Argentina’s lucky loser Sierra after a stunning 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 upset over No. 9 seed Paula Badosa. Boulter’s fourth top-10 win, driven by aggressive forehand returns (3.1 winners per set), sets up a winnable match against Sierra (world No. 158, 1.9 shots per game). Her Centre Court performance earned “Boulter Bank” chants on Henman Hill.
- Oliver Tarvet vs. Carlos Alcaraz (Centre Court, ~15:30 BST): British qualifier Tarvet, world No. 719, faces defending champion Alcaraz in a dream second-round match. Tarvet, who beat Alexander Blockx 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 in qualifying, dropped just one of 20 first-serve points. Alcaraz, aiming for a third straight title, survived a five-set scare against Fabio Fognini (6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4). Tarvet called facing Alcaraz “what you dream of as a kid.”
- Other Brits: Sonay Kartal (world No. 98) opens Court 3 against Viktoriya Tomova (11:00 BST), fresh off upsetting No. 20 Jelena Ostapenko (7-5, 2-6, 6-2). Cameron Norrie faces No. 12 Frances Tiafoe (Court 1, 13:00 BST), while Billy Harris plays Nuno Borges and Arthur Fery meets Luciano Darderi on Court 2.
Naomi Osaka’s Return
Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, faces Katerina Siniakova on Court 2 (~16:00 BST) after defeating Talia Gibson 6-4, 7-6(4). Osaka, rebuilding after a shaky season (12-8 record, 1.6 aces per set), showed composure on grass, leveraging her 78% first-serve points won. Siniakova, a doubles specialist with 1.8 winners per set, poses a challenge, but Osaka’s Centre Court experience gives her an edge.
Day 2 Recap
Jack Draper cruised past Sebastian Baez 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, joining Dan Evans and Jack Pinnington Jones in round two, but Heather Watson and Jodie Burrage fell to Clara Tauson and Dalma Galfi, respectively. Top seeds Gauff (lost to Dayana Yastremska), Pegula, and Zheng Qinwen exited, while Zverev fell to Arthur Rinderknech. Djokovic credited “miracle pills” for his 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 win over Alexandre Muller, and Sinner dispatched Luca Nardi 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. The hottest Day 1 ever (32.3°C) saw medical emergencies, including a spectator’s heat stroke during Alcaraz’s match.
Looking Ahead
Rain may disrupt outside courts, but Centre Court and Court 1 ensure Raducanu, Boulter, and Alcaraz play on schedule. Raducanu’s match against Vondrousova is a marquee clash, with her 2021 US Open title meeting Vondrousova’s 2023 Wimbledon crown. Boulter’s momentum could carry her past Sierra, while Tarvet’s fearless qualifying run (6.2 points per service game) tests Alcaraz’s 18-match grass streak. Osaka aims for a deep run, with fans on X calling her “quietly confident.” Coverage is live on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, and TNT Sports (highlights, 22:00–23:30). Wimbledon’s third day, with a £53.5m prize pot, promises drama as Brits chase history.
