Russia’s Andrey Rublev returns against South Africa’s Lloyd Harris during their men’s singles second round match on the third day of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 30, 2021. – Rublev won the match. (Photo by AELTC/Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP)
Andrey Rublev of Russia and compatriot, Karen Khachanov advanced to the fourth round in early matches on Friday. Rublev defeated Italy’s Fabio Fognini, 6/3; 5/7; 6/4; 6/2 while Khachanov outlasted American Frances Tiafoe 6/3; 6/4; 6/4
Rublev won the 43-minute first set 6/3 with a single break of Fognini’s serve.
In the second set, the eighth game was crucial after Rublev broke Fognini to lead 4-3. Serving to extend the lead, the score was 30-30 when Fognini hit a drop shot which Rublev scrambled to lift and Fabio hit a lob volley for the break point.
After a long exchange, Rublev had a short ball that he hammered out for the break. Fognini took the ninth game and Rublev saved a set point in the tenth game. The Italian battled to hold the eleventh game. Serving to save the set, Rublev conceded the twelfth game for the set 7/5 in 57mins.
Rublev broke Fognini’s serve to lead 3-2 and held the sixth game. Fognini won the seventh game on the third opportunity while Rublev promptly won his serve for 5-3. After Fognini held serve for 5-4, the tenth game was long drawn out but Rublev prevailed for 6/4. The Russian sealed the victory with a quick 6/3 fourth set.
In third round matches of the Ladies event, Poland’s Iga Swiatek defeated Irena Camelia Begu of Romania, 6/1; 6/0. Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus defeated Colombia’s Maria Camilla Osorio Serrano, 6/0; 6/3 and Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic defeated her compatriot, Tereza Martincova, 6/3; 6/3.