Iga Swiatek on her way to a straight-sets victory over Sara Sorribes Torm in the second round of Wimbledon on July 5, 2023. PA
Iga Swiatek on her way to a straight-sets victory over Sara Sorribes Torm in the second round of Wimbledon on July 5, 2023. PA
Iga Swiatek on her way to a straight-sets victory over Sara Sorribes Torm in the second round of Wimbledon on July 5, 2023. PA
Iga Swiatek on her way to a straight-sets victory over Sara Sorribes Torm in the second round of Wimbledon on July 5, 2023. PA

Iga Swiatek dazzles on way to dominant victory at Wimbledon


  • English
  • Arabic

Top seed Iga Swiatek produced a dazzling display to thrash Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2, 6-0 on Wednesday and seal her place in round three of Wimbledon.

The Pole started a little slowly and dropped serve early having broken her opponent, but then moved through the gears.

Once Swiatek found her range with her lethal forehand, the four-time Grand Slam champion was unstoppable as she cruised into the next round in one hour and nine minutes.

“It's my first match on Centre Court I really wanted to keep my focus,” said the 22-year-old. “I'm happy I could play such a solid game and convert what I was practicing.

“I feel confident and happy which doesn't happen often at Wimbledon. I learnt a lot and I can adjust my game now to grass courts. I'm getting there for sure.

“I always feel like every year will give me more experience. I have played well here in juniors. In the future it could be my tournament.

“Every year it will be easier to play here. I feel really confident which is great.”

Due to the bad weather, the first game of day three at the All England Club did not finish until just after 3pm (UK time) when 11th seed Daria Kasatkina swept past home hope Jodie Burrage.

The 24-year-old Briton, making her Centre Court debut, looked nervous and lost the first set in 19 minutes, before she finally got herself on the scoreboard with some attacking net play in the second set.

The players were then ushered off court due to rain but that was only delaying the inevitable and Kastikina completed a 6-0, 6-2 rout in exactly one hour.

The Russian found herself in the third round before many first-round matches had been completed because of heavy rain that washed out nearly 70 games on Tuesday.

“To be honest it was much more difficult because I am playing a girl from here, everyone is supporting her and I'm nervous as well playing in the best court in the world, said Kasatkina.

“It's a special moment. I felt the electricity inside. It was difficult to handle it but I am happy how I was able to do it.

“The atmosphere on this court is something else. The grass is different on Centre Court than the other courts and I didn't hit on the stadium so it was a little bit tricky at the beginning.”

Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk fought back after being handed a bagel in the opening set to beat Greek eighth seed Maria Sakkari 0-6, 7-5 6-2, and reach the second round.

In the men's draw, third seed Daniil Medvedev came through his first-round match thanks to a 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 victory of British wild card Arthur Fery on Court One.

The Russian, who missed last year's event after tournament organisers banned all players from his country – and Belarus – over the invasion of Ukraine, did not have it all his own way against a player ranked 391st in the world.

Fery took 12 games off the former world No 1 one, breaking Medvedev's serve on a couple of occasions with the 20-year-old showing plenty of promise in what was only his fourth match against a top 100 opponent.

“I was pretty nervous, I didn't get to play yesterday so really happy to be back,” Medvedev said in a courtside interview.

“Thank you for the nice welcome, especially against Arthur. It was amazing as I didn't know what reception I would get and it was unbelievable.

“I'm not loved everywhere for who I am, sometimes I get crazy on the court, but I am going to be loving my time here and I hope I prolong it.”

On Court Three, American 10th seed Frances Tiafoe wrapped up a straight-sets victory over China's Wu Yibing, winning 7-6, 6-3, 6-4, to move into Round 2.

Grigor Dimitrov strolled into the second round thanks to a straight-sets victory over Japan's Sho Shimabukuro that saw the 21st seed drop only four games.

The Bulgarian won 6-1, 6-2 6-1 in a match that was interrupted by two Just Stop Oil protesters who threw orange-coloured confetti and jigsaw pieces on to Court 18.

The environmental protest group has targeted various sporting events including the recent second Ashes cricket Test at Lord's, which saw England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow carry one of the protesters off the pitch.

UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE fixtures:
Men

Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final

Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital

VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Updated: July 05, 2023, 5:05 PM`