On Court, Lehecka and Li Tu are away, tied at 1-1 in the first; on Laver, Sabalenka is ready to serve and … play.

On Court 5, Bouzas Maneiro has taken the first set off GB’s Kartal 6-1 and played very nicely in so doing.

It’s not easy to work out a way Sabalenka doesn’t win this title for a third year in a row. She’s in her absolute prime – not just as a player but as a person, so settled in her life and so confident on court that it’s moving to behold. Life comes so naturally to her these days, she can make light of the sluggish balls with her frankly unprecedented power, and no one looks good enough to stop her. We shall see!

Here come Sabalenka and Stephens…

Going on currently:

Paula Badosa (11) 6-3 2-2 Wang Xinyu

Yuliia Starodubtseva 5-7 0-1 Leylah Fernandez (3)

Bernarda Pera 6-7 3-3 Tatiana Maria

Hugo Gaston 6-2 3-6 1-1 Omar Jasika

Sonay Kartal 1-4 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro

Claire Tauson 5-4 Linda Noskova (29)

Preamble