Agnieszka Radwanska was looking for form and progression in her second-round match at Wimbledon this afternoon, where she faced world number 98 Mathilde Johansson.
World number four Radwanska started in ruthless fashion, claiming successive breaks early on to win the first set in just 22 minutes.
Radwanska was not deterred by a rain delay and marched past her French opponent with minimum fuss, claiming a straight-sets win with an impressive display.
Look back at a victory that sees Radwanska book a third-round clash against Madsion Keys by checking out Sports Mole's game-by-game updates below.
Afternoon tennis fans. Sports Mole's coverage from Wimbledon continues today with a clash between women's fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska and Mathilde Johansson.
Fourth seed Radwanska will get this match underway in just a moment on serve and starts as an overwhelming favourite against Johannsson, who has never beaten a player in the top 20 on tour. Radwanksa made the final at SW19 last year, but has yet to really get going in 2013.
Positive early signs from the French underdog Johansson, who does her confidence the world of good with a forehand winner at the baseline. Radwanska then serves a double fault and decides not to challenge after a long look down the line, leaving the opening game tied at deuce.
Some effective shot-making on second serve gets Radwanska out of early trouble on serve, grinding out a hold under pressure at deuce. Johansson is primarily a clay-court player but hit a nice forehand with neat footwork in that game, a touch she will need to show consistently to have any chance of a famous upset.
An assured show of patience helps Johnasson survive a lengthy baseline exchange to edge ahead 40-30 on serve. Radwanksa is then unable to chase down a clever forehand across court, with a first hold helping to settle any jitters for Johansson in her maiden Centre Court appearance.
The first sign of superior footwork from Radwanska, but alarmingly the groundstaff are lurking next to Centre Court, with a light drizzle predicted for this afternoon that is little surprise. Radwanska presses on and sends a drop shot short at the net. Johansson then wins a challenge by the finest of margins at the net, bringing us level at 30-30 with the point to be replayed.
Johansson's efforts are just held off by a strong first serve from Radwanska, who keeps the set on serve early on. The fourth seed must not take anything for granted today, particularly when you consider some of the seeds that have already fallen this year.
The French underdog looks more than willing to attack her shots early on, slamming what I count as the fifth forehand winner already down the line. A confident dart to the net chases down a drop shot but Johansson is unable to keep her return aimed towards the corner in play. 30-30 and the first signs of pressure from Radwanska on her opponent's serve.
BREAK POINT! Radwanska fails to keep a tame return in play, letting a break-point chance slip in the process. Johansson is quick to make an alarming error on her forehand side though, gifting the Pole a second opportunity to get a vital early break.
A poor decision to aim a forehand towards the line from Johansson gifts the fourth seed a break she barely had to exert herself to earn. After what looked like a promising start from the Frenchwoman that litter of unforced errors on serve is a genuine disappointment.
All too easy there for the former Wimbledon runner-up, who kept things simple and allowed her opponent's errors to take hold. Johansson needs to find her feet at the baseline quickly or her first appearance on Centre Court may be shortlived.
More signs of tension from Johansson on serve but she recovers to edge 30-15 ahead. A much-needed first serve then extends her advantage, but a double fault soon follows to give Radwanska a glimpse of a double break at deuce. Pressure is really on now for the world number 98.
A fourth double fault already for Johansson, with her service game locked at deuce for the fourth time. She is unable to send a passing forehand up the line, giving Radwanska a break point she takes with minimum fuss. The fourth seed will now serve for the first set after just 29 minutes on Centre Court.
SET! Just too many unforced errors for Johansson to compete at this level, with another stray forehand allowing Radwanska to claim the first set on serve. Nothing too radical from the former runner-up so far, just composed tennis to keep the pressure on her faltering opponent.
It all started so brightly for Johansson in the first two games, but that early showing proved to be a false dawn. The Frenchwoman has been unable to settle on serve and looks flustered in baseline exchanges, which is quite strange for a player who ranks clay as her preferred service. Let's see if the second set can provide a turning point for the world number 98.
BREAK POINTS! Johansson gets caught anticipating a drop shot, conceding two break points in the process. A gutsy effort at the baseline saves the first effort though, just sending a measured approach past Radwanska's hopeful dive at the net.
A strong effort at deuce proves to be in vain for Johansson, who sprays a cheap forehand wide at deuce. Yet another unforced error deep at the back of the court then costs her dearly in the next point, handing Radwanska an early break of serve in the second set.
The fourth seed consolidates that early break with a composed hold to love, finishing off a clinical game by stopping low to measure a precise forehand across court. All of a sudden things have got pretty desperate for Johansson, who needs to hold serve and fast in the next game.
BREAK POINT! Radwanska is sending the ball deep at the baseline every time, forcing mistakes from her opponent as she looks to hit winners and alleviate pressure without much joy. The serve is also a clear weakness of Johansson and gets her in trouble again, giving the Pole yet another break-point opportunity.
A spirited baseline exchange ends horribly for Johansson, who is just unable to keep focused when Radwanska takes her by surprise and charges in from deep. That effort was enough to earn the fourth seed a second break in the second set, perhaps effectively ending this one as a contest early on.
BREAK POINTS! Much more like from Johansson with the pressure off, keeping a deep forehand in play edge 15-30 ahead on Radwanska's serve. Another strong effort brings up two break points, this is a chance she must surely take to keep this match alive!
BREAK! Finally something for French fans to cheer on Centre Court as Johnasson hangs on by claiming a break of serve for the first time. Radwanska definitely got complacent in that game, staying deep and allowing some risky shot-making to pay off from her opponent.
Sharp movement from Johansson helps her claim successive games and make a fight of this second set. The forehand is finally working and catches Radwanska off guard in the corner. Can this be the start of a comeback from the world number 98?
Quite ominously there is definitely visible drizzle on Centre Court, but just at the moment both players seem happy to continue. That will come as a welcome relief for Johansson, who has just started to show signs of life in the last 10 minutes.
BREAK POINT! Worrying errors are starting to creep in now for Radwanska, who launches an unusual slice backhand wide and short. Johansson has an opportunity to level but spurns a chance to hammer home a winner at the net, leaving a potentially decisive game deadlocked at deuce.
A pair of challenges go Radwanska's way and she uses that advantage to its maximum, saving two break points under the first signs of genuine pressure from Johansson. The rain is definitely getting heavier at SW19, but no signs of a stop in play to allow for the roof to close at this stage.
Another brave effort at a forehand winner from Johansson drifts wide at 30-30 on serve. That inconsistency has been a real thorn in her side today, but she bounces back to make a neat volley at the net.
Play has been halted at 40-30 by the umpire, who wants to have a look at the playing surface with rain getting a touch heavier. The umbrellas are out and the ground staff are poised, think this might result in a delay to proceedings on Centre Court.
PLAY IS SUSPENDED! For the first time this week rain has forced a delay on Centre Court, with a rapid response from the Wimbledon staff putting the covers on quickly. There is of course a roof to put up on centre, but that normally takes around 20 minutes to happen once a decision has been made.
Both players have their own reasons to be slightly disappointed with the enforced delay. Radwanska is just two games away from clinching the match, while Johansson had finally started to build some long-overdue momentum deep in the second set.
Hopefully the delay is not too long and the signs are quite positive as the rain is not too heavy. Play is still going ahead on the outside courts, with Radwanska and Johannson unlucky to be the victim of a isolated shower on centre.
During the delay there is just time to tell you about an absolute thriller out on Court Three. Grigor Dimitrov and Grega Zemlja are deadlocked at 8-8 in the fifth set, with Maria Sharapova's other half Dimitrov saving two match points to keep the marathon second-round clash alive.
Things have been fairly quiet on the women's draw today, particularly when compared to the headlines of day three. 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm has produced a newsworthy win, breaking Virginia Wade's record as the oldest player in Wimbledon history to make round three.
And indeed Court Three has followed Centre Court's lead by putting the covers on. Quite bizarrely through play is still carrying on between Richard Gasquet and Go Soed, with both men happy to continue despite the light showers.
The strange delay continues with the covers taken off and quickly put back on by the officials on Centre Court. We have received word that the roof will be put on imminently, so expect play to resume in about 15 minutes.
While we wait a for a resumption on Centre there is time to tell you about routine progress from some of Radwansk'a main rivals for the title. Defending champion Serena Williams came through her match this afternoon in straight sets and remains an overwhelming favourite to retain the title.
Former French Open winner Li Na also came through a tough test to reach the third round, getting the better of Simona Halep in straight sets. With the draw relatively open players like Li Na have a genuine chance of reaching the latter stages, with our feature player today Radwanska also very much in the mix.
COVERS OFF, ROOF ON! An official announcement has just been made on Centre Court, with the players due back on court in five minutes time!
A reminder that when play resumes Radwanska will be 40-30 down on the Johansson serve, but up a set and a break and just two games away from victory. This delay must have been most unwelcome for the French underdog, who after a baptism of fire had finally started to give a strong account of herself in the second set.
Both players have just made their way back out on Centre Court, with the umpire in place to get this match underway as soon as possible. A quick warm-up is required first though, with the delay timed at around 35 minutes, allowing for the roof to be used for the first time in 2013.
A pretty thorough knock-up from the two players is just about finished. The pressure will be straight on Johansson to hold serve when we resume at 40-30 ahead. The Frenchwoman must cut out the unforced errors on her forehand side to have any chances of using this break to her advantage.
Here we go then, time is called and Johansson will restart the match with a narrow advantage on serve, but down a set a break in the match. Radwanska is normally pretty ruthless at this stage, lets see how she copes with the delay on Centre Court.
An efficient job on second serve from Johansson gives her just a glimmer of hope. Radwanska still needs just two games for a place in the third round and looks very comfortable with her position as the two players change ends.
A failed challenge on first serve fails to deter Radwanska as she marches forward, driving neat shots down the line on more than once occasion for a routine hold. Johansson must now serve to stay in the match, pressure on!
MATCH POINT! Strong baseline play from Radwanska is enough to put pressure on at 30-30, this could be the match over right here. Another lengthy exchange goes the fourth seed's way, with an assured shot down the line earning match point.
GAME SET AND MATCH! Deft touch at the net finishes things off for Radwnaska. A straight-sets victory timed in under 90 minutes, delay aside that is just about a perfect performance from the Polish contender.
Radwanska will now advance to the third round for an intriguing clash against American starlet Madison Keys. That is definitely a match to look out for this weekend.
That just about wraps things up from this match in the women's singles, with an efficient win from Radwanska secured. Thanks for your time and be sure to join us in just a few moments for the next match on Centre Court, which features top men's seed Novak Djokovic.
Written by
Liam Power
Liam Power
