COURT REPORT: It’s a Battle of the A-Listers against the British GP

• Madison Keys was serving for the match before injury forced her to retire 
• Novak Djokovic was more than happy to help peel back the court covers 
• Wimbledon paid tribute to the Daily Mail’s iconic tennis writer Mike Dickson

Middle Sunday was a day where British involvement in the men’s and women’s singles was extinguished and a series of retirements soured the mood on a rainy day in south London. 

Emma Raducanu’s shock defeat to New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun on Centre Court proved to be the headline result, while Madison Keys was in floods of tears as she had to retire in the deciding set of her match against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.

Grigor Dimitrov didn’t even make it until the end of the first set before he retired with a knee issue against Daniil Medvedev, who faces world No 1 Jannik Sinner next. 

Mail Sport’s JAMES SHARPE was on hand to recap some of the things you may have missed.

TRIBUTE TO ‘MR WIMBLEDON’ 

There was another lovely tribute to Mail Sport’s ‘Mr Wimbledon’ Mike Dickson on Sunday as his wife Lucy and daughter Ruby were guests in the Royal Box. 

‘A great loss to the game,’ said Andrew Castle of Dicko in the BBC commentary box during Carlos Alcaraz’s match on Centre Court. 

The All England Club have gone out of their way to pay their respects this week, leaving his desk empty in the media suite, and this was another classy touch to the man we all miss.

BRUTAL END FOR KEYS

Madison Keys broke down in tears as she retired from her match with Jasmine Paolini despite being on the verge of a place in the quarter-final.

The American led 5-2 in the deciding set on No 1 Court only to injure her groin on the point she lost her serve.

Keys took a nine-minute medical timeout before serving for the match at 5-4 as she tried to soldier in floods of tears but eventually had to concede.

BATTLE OF THE A-LISTERS 

While A-Listers like Chris Hemsworth, Michael Douglas and Cara Delevingne flocked to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, Centre Court boasted a humbler array of celebs on Middle Sunday. 

Richard Osman, Gabby Logan, a bloke from Bridgerton. Mary Berry too. Actress Salma Hayek raised the profile a bit. Still, I know which bunch I’d rather have over for dinner.

NOVAK LENDS A HAND

It was gone 9.30pm on Saturday when Novak Djokovic wrapped up his four-set win on Saturday in just over three hours. He didn’t do his press conference for over an hour.

How, then, do you imagine the 24-time Grand Slam champion spent his day off on Sunday? By helping push the covers off the practice courts, of course.

MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN

Seven Americans have reached the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time in 20 years. The last time they did so, two made it all the way to the final but finished as runners-up as Serena Williams lost to Maria Sharapova and Roger Federer defeated Andy Roddick. The new star of American tennis Coco Guaff was only four months old.

AUSSIES COOK UP A STORM

Every year, Tennis Australia host their ‘Aussie Barbecue’ at a hired house near the All England Club to honour the achievements of one of their countrymen. 

This year, it was eight-time Grand Slam winner Ken Rosewall, 90, who reached his first Wimbledon final 70 years ago and his last in 1974. Four-time Wimbledon champion Rod Laver, 86, was also in attendance. 

‘Here’s to you Muscles!’ he tweeted in tribute.