Wimbledon live: De Minaur fights back after early shock in second-round clash with Cazaux

Aussie hope Alex de Minaur was clinical in a thumping win over Arthur Cazaux at Wimbledon but hometown fans were left reeling as Jack Draper was bundled out by a former finalist. See all the results.

British fourth seed Jack Draper suffered a shock Wimbledon exit as former finalist Marin Cilic rolled back the years on Thursday to reach the third round.

Cilic, the Croatian world number 83, blasted 53 winners in a 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory that stunned the partisan British fans on Court One.

Draper is the new figurehead of British tennis after taking on a role filled for a generation by the now-retired former Wimbledon winner Andy Murray.

But the 23-year-old has a poor record at his home Grand Slam. He is yet to make it past the second round in four appearances at the grass-court tournament.

Britain's Jack Draper looks shocked after losing in the second round at Wimbledon. Picture: Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP

Draper is the latest highly-ranked star to endure a surprise exit from Wimbledon this year, with German men’s third seed Alexander Zverev and four of the top five women’s seeds all eliminated.

Draper made his breakthrough last season with a run to the US Open semi-finals, yet he has failed to make the last eight at any of this year’s three Grand Slams.

In contrast to Draper’s woes in south-west London, Cilic, 36, has an impressive record at Wimbledon, finishing as runner-up in 2017, when he lost in the final against Roger Federer.

The former world number three has not played at the All England Club since 2021 and has slipped down the rankings after battling injuries.

Cilic has reached three Grand Slam finals, winning his sole major title at the 2014 US Open and losing to Federer at Wimbledon in 2017 and the Australian Open in 2018.

Marin Cilic turned back the clock to defeat fourth seed Jack Draper at Wimbledon. Picture: Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP

Now 36, the big-serving Cilic is firmly in the twilight of his career. He had lost in the opening round at the Australian and French Opens this year, but his superb display against Draper underlined his enduring quality on grass.

He returned to the top 100 by winning the second-tier Challenger event in Nottingham last month.

DE MINAUR SEALS THUMPING WIN TO REACH THIRD ROUND

Alex de Minaur is through to the third round at Wimbledon after overcoming an early setback to smash Arthur Cazaux in four sets.

It was a tough old start for de Minaur, who dropped the first set, but he came roaring back to progress at the All England Club.

De Minaur faced Arthur Cazaux, the man who dumped fellow Aussie Adam Walton in five sets, and it was the Frenchman who struck first blood.

Cazaux claimed the first set 6-4 with de Minaur guilty of far too many errors to gift his second-round rival the advantage.

He bounced back in the second in decisive fashion, romping to a quick, 6-2 win to get on board, then doubled down in the third, overcoming a tough Cazaux fightback to win 6-4.

De Minaur flew through the fourth set 6-0 to seal his third round berth.

Alex De Minaur is through to the third round. Picture: Getty Images

“It definitely wasn’t an easy match, there were some tough moments out there,” he said.

“I’m happy I was able to hang on there, find a way through and I’m super excited to be back in the third round.”

De Minaur overcame Roberto Carballes Baena in the first round, claiming a straight sets victory to progress.

Aleksander Vukic faces the toughest task of all, taking on No.1 seed Jannik Sinner.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic struggled with stomach issues in his four-set win in the first round against Frenchman Alexandre Muller before recovering strongly, praising “miracle pills”.

Novak Djokovic celebrates his first-round victory against Alexandre Muller. Picture: Getty Images

He is unlikely to lose sleep over the match-up with the 154th-ranked Briton, who, at 35, is three years younger than him, but he is wary of his opponent’s experience on grass and the home support.

“It’s a good test for both of us,” said Djokovic.

“I think he’s been picking his form up, as well. I think his rankings are not doing him justice at the moment. He deserves to be ranked higher.

Defending champion Barbor Krejcikova is in action against Caroline Dolehide, while there’s a slew of doubles matches as well.