Wimbledon 2021: Federer and Barty top the bill on day four

Our daily Wimbledon round-up will bring you all the latest news from SW19, with Roger Federer and Ash Barty both in action on Centre Court on day four.

Federer through to face Norrie 

Roger Federer was the star attraction on Centre Court today and he did not disappoint as he defeated Richard Gasquet for the 19th time to make it through to the third round.

The eight-time Wimbledon champion didn't have it all his own way at times, but ultimately came out on top against the experienced Frenchman, winning 7-6 (7-1), 6-1, 6-4.

Federer, 39, sets up a tie against British No2 Cam Norrie who breezed past Alex Bolt earlier in the day.

Barty sees off brave Blinkova

In the women’s draw, world No1 Ash Barty was not at her best against up-and-coming Russian Anna Blinkova — but eventually managed to book her place in round three with a straight-sets victory.

Barty, 25, had aready came through a testing opening clash against Carla Suarez Navarro and it was more of the same on Thursday afternoon, with some sloppy serving combined with aggresive play from Blinkova making for a tight encounter.

Though the scoreline suggests the win came in more comfortable fashion than it actually did, the Australian was quick to admit how hard she'd been made to work in her post-match interview.

"We had to do a lot of homework to work out how we would figure out her game," Barty said. "She played a great match. A few points here and there and it could have been a different story."

Impressive Norrie strikes down Bolt

Cam Norrie ensured there will be three British men in the Wimbledon third round draw for the first time since 1999 after destroying Australia’s Alex Bolt in convincing fashion.

Norrie, 25, registered his 31st win of a breakthrough calendar year in style, dropping only six games en route to a 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 triumph against his beleaguered opponent who was unable to offer any kind of resistance.

Now ranked No34 in the world, Norrie will now have the aforementioned match up with Federer — a prospect he is relishing.

"It will be special to play Roger," Norrie said. "If there's a good time to play Roger, I guess it's now, but he's still a decent player!"

Other key clashes

As well as Norrie, British fans will also be able to back 18-year-old Emma Raducanu in the third round after she produced a stunning performance to beat Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets.

The teenager, who sat her A-Levels earlier this year, is making her Grand Slam debut and will face Romanian Sorana Cirstea next.

The remainder of the British action today was in the doubles sphere — Harriet Dart and Heather Watson got their campaign underway with a straight set victory over Kaia Kanepi and Shuai Zhang. 

Alexander Zverev cruised past the aptly-named Tennys Sandgren while No2 seed Daniil Medvedev defeated Carlos Alcaraz Garfia.

In the ladies’ draw, former semi-finalist and recent Eastbourne winner Jelena Ostapenko needed three sets to knock out Daria Kasatkina whilst two-time Grand Slam winner Victoria Azarenka was defeated by Sorana Cirstea.