Alexei Popyrin, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Adam Walton are among 11 Australian players scheduled to compete on day four of Wimbledon 2024.
London, England, July 4, 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Alexei Popyrin, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Adam Walton are all aiming to extend their career bests on day four of Wimbledon 2024.
Popyrin has reached the second round of the All England Club for the second time in his career, equalling his performance on his debut in 2019.
World number 31 Thomas Martin Etcheberi has now become the 24-year-old’s only obstacle to reaching the third round of a prestigious grass-court Grand Slam.
“It won’t be an easy match,” said world No. 47 Popyrin of his match against the 24-year-old Argentine. “I’ve known him since I was 13 or 14. We played together in the juniors and he’s a really good player. I think he’s more of a clay-court player, but he’s had a pretty easy first round against a solid grass-court player.
“I think I’ll have to show a really good level to beat him.”
Although Puyue is currently ranked 212th in the world, he was once a top-10 player.
“I haven’t seen him play for a while, but I know he’s been finding his form again lately,” Kokkinakis said of the 2016 Wimbledon quarter-finalist. “We’re good friends off the court, so it’s good to see him back.
“I think it’s going to be tough. I expect a tough match and I hope he can show his best.”
Walton, 25, won his historic Grand Slam title earlier this week and will be looking to build on his breakthrough performance against another Argentine, Francisco Comesana.
The unknown Comesana caused a huge upset in the opening round, defeating world number six Andrey Rublev in four sets. It was the world number 122’s first tour-level win and only his second professional grass-court match.
“I don’t know much about him, but it’s definitely not Rublev,” said Walton, ranked 101st in the world. “I would definitely prefer that guy over Rublev.”
Ninth seed Alex de Minaur is back in action on day four, taking on Spain’s Jaume Munar in the second round to win his second consecutive Grand Slam. The pair also met at Roland Garros, with de Minaur winning in straight sets.
“I’m very interested in this matchup,” de Minaur said. “Of course I’ve played him on clay, but honestly, I don’t think I’d get anything out of that matchup if I played him on grass. It’s a completely different surface. I think there’s a lot more in my racquet.
“I’ve probably got a little bit more experience on grass than he does, but he’s had a couple of good matches. I remember him playing (Cameron) Norrie and having an absolutely fierce battle here (at Wimbledon 2022) that year. So I don’t take it lightly. I’m trying to play my tennis, play positive tennis and hopefully that’ll give me a good chance.”
De Minau, 25, is aiming to reach the third round of Wimbledon for the third time in her career and first time since 2022.
Daria Saville headlines Court 14, taking on world number 19 Marta Kostyuk in a second-round women’s singles match, which was postponed after play was halted due to bad weather at the All England Club yesterday.
The doubles action on day four will feature six more Australian players, including the first pair of Rinky Hijikata and John Peers. The Australian pair will face the Murray brothers, Andy and Jamie, on Centre Court.
It is the first opening round doubles match to be held on Wimbledon’s famous Centre Court since 1995.
> READ: Pierce and Hijikata excited to compete with Murray brothers at Wimbledon
Wimbledon will be broadcast live in Australia on the Nine Network and Stan Sport, with coverage starting at 7.30pm AEST.
Australian athletes in action on Day 4:
Men’s Singles Round 2
[9] Alex de Minor (Australia) v Jaume Munar (ESP), Court 3, First Match (from 8pm AEST)
Adam Walton (Australia) v Francisco Comesana (ARG), Court 16, First Match (from 8pm AEST)
Alexei Popyrin (Australia) V [30] Thomas Martin Echeverri (ARG), Court 11, Second Match
Thanasi Kokkinakis (Australia) V [Q] Lucas Pouille (FRA), Court 8, Game 3
Women’s Singles Round 2
Daria Saville (Australia) V [18] Marta Kostyuk (UKR), Court 14, First Match (from 8pm AEST)
Men’s Doubles 1st Round
John Patrick Smith (Australia)/Andreas Mies (GER) vs Victor Cornea (ROU)/Fabian Marozsan (HUN), Court 6, First Match (from 8pm AEST)
[15] Max Purcell (Australia)/Jordan Thompson (Australia) V [WC] Jay Clarke (GBR)/Marcus Willis (GBR), Court 10, Game 2
Linky Hijikata (Australia)/John Pierce (Australia) V [WC] Andy Murray (GBR)/Jamie Murray (GBR), Centre Court, Game 3
Women’s Doubles 1st Round
[3] Ellen Perez (Australia)/Nicole Melichard-Martinez (USA) vs. [WC] Sarah Beth Grey (GBR)/Tara Moore (GBR), Court 9, First Match (from 8pm AEST)
Daria Saville (Australia)/Yuanwei (CHN) [9] Lyudmyla Kichenok(UKR)/Jelena Ostapenko(LAT), Court 16, 4th match
> View: Full schedule for day 4 of Wimbledon 2024
Find out how to play: Visit play.tennis.com.au Get out there and have fun!
