Tuesday at the Olympic Tennis Centre will see both defending champions in the men’s and women’s draw aim to continue their quest for a second consecutive gold medal.
Andy Murray will play Juan Monaco in what will be a dress rehearsal ahead of his country’s Davis Cup clash with Argentina next month. The world No.2 leads the head-to-head 3-2, but hasn’t played the 32-year-old since 2014. Murray has encountered difficulty against the Argentine before in matches and could be tested again in Rio. The Brit is bidding to become the first man in history to successfully defend an Olympic title.
The current women’s Olympic champion, Serena Williams, faces Elina Svitolina in the third round. The American, who is bidding to win her fifth Olympic medal, is the overwhelming favourite against the Ukrainian player. Earlier this year at the French Open, Williams crushed the 21-year-old 6-1, 6-1. Williams booked her place in the last sixteen after battling past Alize Cornet 7-6(5), 6-2.
In other matches on day four, Rafael Nadal continues his comeback from a wrist injury against Andreas Seppi. The Spaniard dropped just three games in his opening match compared to Seppi, who endured a three-set marathon against Illya Marchenko. Nadal has won six out of his seven encounters against Seppi and his last three victories was in straight sets.
Madison Keys will need to be at the top of her game against Carla Suarez Navarro. Tiredness could be a factor in the match after the American seventh seed required over three hours to defeat Kristina Mladenovic on Monday. It will be the second clash between the two players this year after the Birmingham International. On that occasion Keys battled to win in three sets.
Other notable matches to watch out for include Angelique Kerber against Sam Stosur, Garbine Muguruza against Monica Puig and Davis Ferrer faces Russia’s Evgeny Donskoy.
Tuesday’s order of play
Centre Court
Starting at: 10:45 am
Madison Keys (USA) v Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP)
Juan Monaco (ARG) v Andy Murray (GBR)
Rafael Nadal (ESP) v Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Serena Williams (USA) v Elina Svitolina (UKR)
Pablo Cuevas (URU) v Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)
Court 1
Starting at: 11:00 am
David Ferrer (ESP) v Evgeny Donskoy (RUS)
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) v Johanna Konta (GBR)
Samantha Stosur (AUS) v Angelique Kerber (GER)
Melo/Soares (BRA) v Florin Mergea (ROU)/Horia Tecau (ROU)
Lopez/Nadal (ESP) v Oliver Marach (AUT)/Alexander Peya (AUT)
Court 2
Starting at: 11:00 am
Petra Kvitova (CZE) v Ekaterina Makarova (RUS)
Garbine Muguruza (ESP) v Monica Puig (PUR)
Benoit Paire (FRA) v Fabio Fognini (ITA)
Garbine Muguruza (ESP)/Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) v Kirsten Flipkens (BEL)/Yanina Wickmayer (BEL)
Daniel Nestor (CAN)/Vasek Pospisil (CAN) v Fabio Fognini (ITA)/Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Court 3
Starting at: 11:00 am
Yuichi Sugita (JPN) v Gilles Simon (FRA)
Sara Errani (ITA) v Daria Kasatkina (RUS)
Dudi Sela (ISR) v David Goffin (BEL)
Steve Johnson (USA)/Jack Sock (USA) v Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)/David Ferrer (ESP)
Court 4
Starting at: 11:00 am
Laura Siegemund (GER) v Kirsten Flipkens (BEL)
Gastao Elias (POR) v Steve Johnson (USA)
Lucie Safarova (CZE)/Barbora Strycova (CZE) v Eugenie Bouchard (CAN)/Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN)
Yifan Xu (CHN)/Saisa Zheng (CHN) v Sara Errani (ITA)/Roberta Vinci (ITA)
Court 7
Starting at: 11:00 am
Andrea Hlavackova (CZE)/Lucie Hradecka (CZE) v Shuai Peng (CHN)/Shuai Zhang (CHN)
Andreea Mitu (ROU)/Raluca Olaru (ROU) v Ekaterina Makarova (RUS)/Elena Vesnina (RUS)
