Mirra Andreeva, at seventh the second-highest seed remaining in the women’s draw, duplicated her career-best Wimbledon showing on Saturday, powering into the fourth round over Hailey Baptiste 6-1, 6-3.

The match was played under the roof of court No. 1 while play on outside courts was delayed a few hours by only the second appearance of rain this week at the traditionally weather-prone venue.

Andreeva, 18, and coached by former Wimbledon winner Conchita Martinez, has now booked the last 16 here two years after producing the same on her event debut at age 16.

The seed saved five break points in a monster 10-minute game as she held to lead a set and 5-2 over the 55th-ranked American.

Andreeva polished off victory in just over an hour and a quarter, advancing two games later on her first match point.

“Today for some reason, I was so focused,” the winner said. “I had watched her first round and knew she would be tough.

“She creates a lot of different situations on court, can break your rhythm and has a rocket on her forehand.

“I tried to stay focused on what I had to do, make as few mistakes as possible and try to put as many balls as I could into the court.

 .”My mindset is to let myself go and enjoy. With every match I play, my level is rising on grass.”

Iga Swiatek, the eighth seed, made quick work of Danielle Collins, dispatching the American 6-2, 6-3 in an efficient display during which she said the ball was “listening to me.”

“It’s much more fun on the grass this year,” the five-time Grand Slam champion who produced her best career result on grass only days ago with a final in Germany, said.

“The ball is ‘listening’ to me in practice, that’s pretty new on grass – I want to look for that feeling in matches also.

“It’s a new experience feeling good on grass. If the ball is listening, I don’t need to do much.:

Swiatek revealed that one of her favourite foods at the nearby local house she shares with her team comprises pasta and the odd pairing of Wimbledon’s traditional strawberries.

“It’s been my favourite since I was a kid,” the Pole said. “”With a little youghurt it’s just great.”

The former world No. 1 will next take on Clara Tauson, who stunned  2022 titleholder Elena Rybakina 7-6 (6), 6-3 in a match stopped twice by light rain.

The Scandinavian has never been this far at a Slam and moves into the last 16 with a bare minimum of grass experience. She advanced with 25 winners and 22 unforced errors. .

“Before this grass season I had never won a match on it (0-5),” said the player who changed her luck on the lawns with a Nottingham quarter-final last month before winning a round in Bad Homburg.

“It was amazing to play today – even if it was a little rainy. I had a really great match today. I’m happy with how I played,” Tauson said.

Tauson and Rybakina had to wait for nealry 20 minutes in the second interruption, with the Dane leading a set and 5-2.

Two games later it was over as Rybakina sent a return blowing over the baseline after two and a quarter hours of actual play.

“Elena’s serve is a big weapon, she plays so hard,” the winner said. “But I was there for every point and fighting for each one.

“When the rain came for the second time I had so many thoughts. I tried to put all that behind me, go out and fight for every point.”

Rybakina had little explanation for what went wrong.

“It was definitely not the result I wanted. Not the way I wanted to play, of course. It was a tough day for me. I’ll try to take only the positives from this tournament and prepare for the next ones.

“Before the rain and after we came back on the court, I had chances to win the first set also, but there were too many unforced errors from my side. 

The serve was not there at all, and it’s very difficult for me to play.”

Tenth seed Emma Navarro accounted for another former winner, defeating defending champion Barbora Krejcikova 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a comeback lasting for two and a half hours.

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who knocked out defending champion Market Vondrousova a year ago. remained a threat after defeating Dayana Yastremska 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.

The Spaniard now plays for the quarter-finals against Liudmila Samsonova, who put out Australian Daria Kastakina 6-2, 6-3,

Former world No. 4 Belinda Bencic, back on court after becoming a mother, equalled her Wimbledon best of the fourth round thanks to a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7) defeat of Elisabetta Cocciaretto.

Ekaterina Alexandrova ended the streak of Turk Zeynep Sonmez 6-3, 7-6 (1).

Main photo:- Iga swiatek celebrates beating Danielle Collins – by Roger Parker ISF