Wimbledon 2021 Day Five Preview and Order of Play | Djokovic and Murray headline the action

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are among the former champions in action on Day Five as the third round of Wimbledon 2021 commences on Friday.

There are 16 singles matches to be played on day five at the All England Club, where 32 players will aim to secure their place in the second week of the season’s third Grand Slam.

Reigning champion Djokovic is aiming to record a 17th successive win in the event when he takes on Denis Kudla, who is making his first appearance at this stage since 2015.

Meanwhile, you must go back to Murray’s 2005 debut for the only time he has failed to progress beyond round three at Wimbledon.

The two-time winner goes up against Denis Shapovalov with the 10th seed appearing in the last 32 at SW19 for the first time.

Fellow Briton Dan Evans is targeting his first venture into the fourth round when he faces Slam main draw debutant Sebastian Korda, while 2019 semi-finalist Roberto Bautista Agut resumes his quest to go the extra steps against Dominik Koepfer.

Fifth seed Andrey Rublev and Fabio Fognini face off targeting a first appearance in round four, as do Diego Schwartzman and Marton Fucsovics, who defeated 19th seed Jannik Sinner at the opening hurdle.

After reaching the fourth round at Roland Garros, Cristian Garin is looking to achieve the same feat here by defeating Gael Monfils’ conqueror in Pedro Martinez, while Frances Tiafoe takes on Karen Khachanov aiming to continue his impressive run that included a straight-sets victory over third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Elsewhere, 2017 winner Garbine Muguruza is one of only two former champions remaining in the Ladies’ draw.

Appearing at this stage for the first time since after a pair of straight-set wins, the Spaniard faces African number one Ons Jabeur, who is also yet to drop a set this year after beating five-time champion Venus Williams along the way.

A quarter-finalist in 2013, Sloane Stephens has not progressed beyond the third round since. But the American will aim to change the record against wildcard Liudmila Samsonova, who is making her first appearance at this stage of a Slam.

Like Stephens, compatriot Madison Keys has not reached round four since a quarter-final appearance in 2015. She faces 13th seed Elise Mertens, who is yet to drop a set at SW19 this year.

The same can be said of Iga Swiatek and Karolina Pliskova, who face Irina-Camelia Begu and Tereza Martincova respectively. Debutant Elena Rybakina has also won four sets without reply so far; she takes on Maria Sakkari’s conqueror in Shelby Rogers.

Still seeking her first Grand Slam quarter-final, second seed Aryna Sabalenka hopes to take a step closer to achieving that against 19-year-old qualifier Maria Osorio Serrano, who is appearing in only her second Slam main draw.

Madison Brengle looks to build on her win over fourth seed Sofia Kenin in the other third-round clash of the day.

The American faces Viktorija Golubic with both players hoping it will be third time lucky in their quest to reach round four here.

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Wimbledon 2021 Day Five Schedule of Play

Friday July 2

Third Round

CENTRE COURT (1.30pm)
Ons Jabeur v Garbine Muguruza
Dan Evans v Sebastian Korda
Denis Shapovalov v Andy Murray

NO.1 COURT (1pm)
Liudmila Samsonova v Sloane Stephens
Novak Djokovic v Denis Kudla
Elise Mertens v Madison Keys

NO.2 COURT (11am)
Karolina Pliskova v Tereza Martincova
Maria Camila Osorio Serrano v Aryna Sabalenka
Dominik Koepfer v Roberto Bautista Agut

NO.3 COURT (11am)
Fabio Fognini v Andrey Rublev
Diego Schwartzman v Marton Fucsovics

COURT 12 (11am)
Iga Swiatek v Irina-Camelia Begu
Cristian Garin v Pedro Martinez
Viktorija Golubic v Madison Brengle

COURT 18 (11am)
Frances Tiafoe v Karen Khachanov
Shelby Rogers v Elena Rybakina