Defending champion Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz found their footing to reach the next round of Wimbledon while two-time winner Andy Murray crashed out of the tournament as upsets started to pile on.
The top-seeded Djokovic had looked rusty in his first match but the Serb looked like his old self against Thanasi Kokkinakis, battering the Australian 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the third round of Wimbledon.
The six-time Wimbledon champion has won the last three men’s singles titles at the All England Club and is looking like a favorite to repeat again.
Meanwhile, the Fifth-seeded Carlos Alcaraz also showed an improved game on grass courts with a 6-4, 7-6 (0), 6-3 victory over Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands.
The win keeps the 19-year-old Spaniard on course for a potential quarterfinal match against Novak Djokovic but he will have to go through the 32nd-seeded Oscar Otte of Germany next.
In another match, Andy Murray’s journey at this year’s tournament came to end at the hands of American John Isner.
His 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 6-4 second-round loss was the earliest he has exited Wimbledon in his career but the Brit had no answer to Isner’s serve as he smashed 36 aces and 82 winners against Murray.
Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Murray were not the only highlights on day 3 of Wimbledon with Casper Ruud, the runner-up to Nadal at this year’s French Open, becoming the latest high-profile name to exit the tournament.
Ruud went down to Ugo Humbert of France 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 in the second round.
His ouster leaves the third-ranked Djokovic, No. 4 Nadal, No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas, and No. 7 Carlos Alcaraz are the only players in the top 11 remaining in the draw.
