Halep big casualty in Rd 3

London, July 7

World No. 1 Simona Halep was knocked out of Wimbledon today, losing to Taiwan's Hsieh Su-Wei 3-6 6-4 7-5 in the third round as the All England Club seeds' carnage claimed another victim. 

Defeat for Halep means that Karolina Pliskova, at No. 7, is the only women's top-10 seed to reach the fourth round. It also further boosted Serena Williams's chances of becoming an eight-time Wimbledon champion.  Hsieh, the world No. 48, battled back from 2-5 down in the final set and saved a match point when the Romanian served for the match at 5-3 in the decider. It will be Hsieh's first appearance in the last-16 of a Slam where she will face Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia for a place in the quarterfinals.

Nadal on loop

Two-time champion Rafael Nadal reached the last-16 for the eighth time and made sure of keeping the world No. 1 ranking.  The second seed comfortably defeated Australian teenager Alex De Minaur 6-1 6-2 6-4. "A positive match against a player who is very young with a lot of energy, some tough moments in the beginning. Some tough moments in the third but happy to be through," said Nadal. He will face Jiri Vesely, who defeated Italy's Fabio Fognini 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-3 6-2,  in the quarterfinals. 

Nadal, with Spain out of the World Cup, was heading to watch England play Sweden. He had obviously captured the national mood.  "I'll go and watch some football — England, it's coming home or not?" he said in reference to a football song.

Djokovic stuns home crowd

Novak Djokovic silenced a raucous Centre Court crowd as he came back to beat home favourite Kyle Edmund 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 in the third round. Juan Martin del Potro overcame service troubles and Benoit Paire's fine serve-and-volley game to beat the Frenchman 6-4 7-6(4) 6-3 and reach the fourth round for the fourth time. 

Kyrgios vs Nishikori

Nick Kyrgios, fresh from a social media row with Marion Bartoli after she accused him of squandering his talents, plays Japan's Kei Nishikori. Kyrgios, the Australian 15th seed, is bidding to reach the fourth round for the fourth time. Nishikori bids to make the last-16 for a third time and record his 350th career win.

Uytvanck wins

Alison Van Uytvanck beat Anett Kontaveit, the 28th seeded Estonian, 6-2, 6-3. She will meet fellow last-16 debutant Russian 14th seed Daria Kasatkina, who defeated Ashleigh Barty of Australia 7-5, 6-3. 

Sharan-Sitak enter pre-quarterfinals

Divij Sharan and Artem Sitak came from two sets down to prevail over Julio Peralta and Horacio Zeballos (6-7 4-6 6-3 7-6 6-4) and enter the pre-quarters. — Agencies

Results 

Women: Dominika Cibulkova bt1 Elise Mertens 6-2 6-2, Jelena Ostapenko bt Vitalia Diatchenko 6-0 6-4, Daria Kasatkina bt Ashleigh Barty 7-5 6-3, Alison Van Uytvanck bt Anett Kontaveit 6-2 6-3, Angelique Kerber bt Naomi Osaka 6-2 6-4 

Men: Milos Raonic bt Dennis Novak 7-6(5) 4-6 7-5 6-2, Ernests Gulbis bt Alexander Zverev 7-6(2) 4-6 5-7 6-3 6-0