Sawt Falasteen - Alcaraz aims to avoid Wimbledon giant-killing after Sabalenka wins

Two days of searing temperatures in London gave way to persistent drizzle that delayed play but the sun eventually returned during the second-round matches.

Women's world number one Sabalenka opened proceedings on Centre Court, out-duelling 48th-ranked Marie Bouzkova 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 in a heavy-hitting contest.

The Belarusian, who suffered painful defeats in the finals of both the Australian Open and the French Open this year, lashed an impressive 41 winners in a match lasting one hour and 35 minutes.

It meant she avoided the fate of several top stars including second seed Coco Gauff, third seed Jessica Pegula and fifth seed Zheng Qinwen, who crashed out in the first-round.

"Honestly it's very sad to see so many top players losing in the first round but you better focus on yourself and stay away from the results," said the three-time Grand Slam winner in her on-court interview.

"I hope it's no upsets anymore in this tournament, if you know what I mean!"

Sabalenka was joined in the third round by sixth seed and Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who made short work of Serbia's Olga Danilovic, winning 6-4, 6-2.

- David v Goliath -

Alcaraz's meeting with British qualifier Tarvet is a classic David against Goliath encounter.

While the Spaniard, a five-time Grand Slam champion, is bidding for a third successive Wimbledon crown, world number 733 Tarvet is playing just his second main draw match at the All England Club.

World number two Alcaraz has won his past 19 matches, a blistering streak that has brought him titles at the Rome Masters, the French Open and Queen's Club.

The 22-year-old, who fought back from two sets down to beat Jannik Sinner on clay in an epic final at Roland Garros last month, is equally dynamic on grass, winning 30 of his 33 Tour-level matches on the surface.

His last defeat at Wimbledon came against Sinner in the fourth round in 2022.

In stark contrast to Alcaraz's fame and fortune, the unheralded Tarvet is just starting his tennis career and cannot even collect all of his Wimbledon prize money.

As a student of the University of San Diego he has to maintain amateur status and will have to give up most of his earnings.

But he has joked that he will be creative with his expenses, suggesting he might treat himself to business-class travel or pay his coaches extra.

Tarvet, playing his first Grand Slam, was not short of self-belief ahead of the Alcaraz clash.

"I'm quietly confident that I can win against anyone," he said. "Alcaraz isn't an exception to that. Obviously, he's done an incredible amount in the tennis world. He's a difficult guy not to respect."

Following 48 hours of major surprises across the men's and women's draws, an Alcaraz defeat would rank as arguably the most seismic shock in Wimbledon history.

In the first two days, eight of the top 10 seeded players across the men's and women's singles draws have been eliminated, a Grand Slam record in the Open era.

On the men's side, 13 seeded players lost in the first round, breaking the previous tournament record of 11 and tying the 2004 Australian Open for the most at a Grand Slam.

Third seed Alexander Zverev was the highest-ranked man to fall, losing on Tuesday to France's Arthur Rinderknech.

Italian seventh seed Lorenzo Musetti also lost against Nikoloz Basilashvili, while Rune and Daniil Medvedev, both seeded in the top 10, were defeated on Monday.

American 12th seed Frances Tiafoe was the latest leading player to endure a surprise defeat, losing to British world number 61 Cameron Norrie 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 in the second-round.

Later on Wednesday, former US Open champion Emma Raducanu faces 2023 Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova on Centre Court.

Z.Ramadan--SF-PST