Wimbledon 2023: Keys v Andreeva; Djokovic, Alcaraz and Jabeur to come – live | Wimbledon 2023

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“The late starts on the show courts are absolutely bonkers,” reckons Darragh Morrissey. “I can only assume they start late so their esteemed guests in the corporate seats can stuff their bellies full of delicious lunch and then they saunter out to the court for a 1:40 start. It’s an acknowledgment that the special guests watching are more important than the stars they are there to see. It has to be pushed forward to noon for next year.”

Yes, my guess is also there’s a corporate trough angle, not because people are more important than tennis but because money is.

A lovely deft drop earns Keys a break-back point, but she goes at a serve that’s not there to be whumped sending the ball long and plenty, then Andreeva nails a backhand winner down the line and closes out from there. She leads 5-3 having won five of the last six games, and this is just incredible behavior.

Andreeva is into this now, raising two break points. But she stands up a drop that Keys really should put away … except instead, the ball is directed at her, leaving almost the whole court open, and a winner into the space gives her 4-3. She’s 16!

Leading 3-2, Keys arranges another break point, saved by Andreeva putting her on her bike and cleaning up when she tries a moon ball. She closes out for 3-3 and looks like she was born to be in this moment.

Looking at today’s schedule, it looks extremely possible that we end up with another unfinished contest overnight, which again raises the question as to why we don’t start earlier. Just an hour extra on the show courts would make a difference, and just as the All England Club go to lengths to preserve the integrity of the tournament by keeping the roofs open if they possibly can, so they should be trying to ensure matches are done in an oner.

A love hold from Andreeva makes it 2-2 and already the pattern of the match is set. If Keys can impose her power game and control the rallies, she wins, but if Andreeva gets her moving so she can’t plant her feet and bang, it’s up for grabs. a hold to love gives Keys 3-2.

Excellent from Andreeva, who misses two break-back points but nabs another through deuce and at 1-2, is on the board.

Keys has started well and a double gives her 15-40; Andreeva saves one break point with a well-directed serve, but is then drawn to the net with a drop and, when she gets the ball back, passed. Keys leads 2-0 and I’d love for this to be her moment. She’s made one Grand Slam final, at Flushing Meadow in 2017, but overwhelmed by the occasion and her close mate, Sloane Stephens, standing on the other side of the net, she shrank.

Shonuff, here’s Calv Betton, our resident coach, with his thoughts on this one: Match will hinge on whether Keys can overpower her. Andreeva is good but still a bit lightweight. If Keys lands her shots then she’ll win, Andreeva is gonna be a star though.”

He’ll be delighted to know I agree. If Keys plays well – and her win over Kostyuk in the last round was very impressive – I don’t think that’ll be that close. And she starts well, holding to love and securing the game with an ace.

This time last year, Andreeva was ranked 834 in the world; she’s now at 102. That is ridiculous, and I’m not sure she’ll ever have to qualify for a major again.

Righto, our players are with us and knocking us up. Keys had yesterday off while Andreeva had to fight hard for her passage against Potapova.

Hi everyone and welcome to Wimbledon 2023 – day eight!

It’s not Manic Monday, no, but it remains an extremely manic Monday that has absolutely no one wishing it was Sunday – great though that was.

We begin on Court 2, which will host a classic battle of power against consistency – with a twist. Madison Keys remains a terrific talent, but at 28 she’s running out of time to realize her potential while, over the other side of the net, Mirra Andreeva is everything she is not – steady, focused, fearless … and 16 years old! 16! Why, it’s almost as though it’s inessential to spend one’s teenage years feasting on one’s 90 Minutes, Wham Bars, Irn Bru bars, Astrobelts, Space Raiders, Chilli McCoys, Hooch, Scotch Bitter, and Dunhill International.

After that, the surging Christopher Eubanks faces Stefanos Tsitsipas, by which time we should be ready for action on Court 1, where Daniil Medvedev takes on Jiri Lehecka, who’s bidding for a second straight major quarter-final. Opening proceedings on Centre, meanwhile, is an absolute weapons-grade match between Beatriz Haddad Maia and the defending champ Elena Rybakina, after which Novak Djokovic and Hubert Hurkacz play to a finish – Djokovic leads overnight by two sets to love.

And goodness us, that’s not even close to it. We’ve also got Ekaterina Alexandrova v Aryna Sabalenka and what looks like a proper belter as Ons Jabeur ruckuses Petra Kvitova before, rounding out the day, the in-form Griggzy Dimitrov meets Holger Rune and the returning Mario Berrettini, beaten finalist in 2021, takes a shy at Carlos Alcaraz. It’s our fun day!