So who looks strong so far for the title?
Djokovic, Wawrinka, Nishikori and Nadal are all present and correct at this stage but Murray looks the strongest here amongst the biggest hitters. Oh and a certain Argentine is lurking in the shadows – although unlike in Rio I feel Juan-Martin is still a way away from challenging over a fortnight. Cilic and Tsonga are still around too and could certainly cause some headlines.
Elsewhere it is great to see the likes of Baghdatis, Isner, Monfils and Karlovic still producing the goods and reminding us of a more exciting past generation.
Women
For once, the ladies draw is shaping up as nicely as the men’s – although we are still in relatively early stages of course. Both Williams siblings, Kerber, Halep and Belinda Bencic look the most impressive, but there are so many more households still looking dangerous. Not least Jo Konta who is joined by Kvitova, Vesnina and Radwanska who admittedly needs to up her game after struggling against Naomi Broady.
Resurgences for Wozniacki and the continuing success of the ageless Italians makes up some other narratives.
Who’s out?
Women
But it is bye bye to some biggies so far: Muguruza, Kuznetsova, Bacsinszky, Stosur (shock!) and Ivanovic (not so much).
Men
Raonic is the biggest shock but Querrey (Tipsarevic), Goffin (Donaldson) and Zverev (Edmund) were sizeable exits too. Gilles Simon, Feliciano Lopez and Bernard Tomic are all out too.
Heroes so far?: Belinda Bencic/Caro Wozniacki/Jo Konta (couldn’t decide sorry) and seed-slayer Kyle Edmund.
Best match-ups in Round 3:
Deep breath:
Isner vs Edmund
Del-Potro vs Ferrer
Evans vs Wawrinka
Nishikori vs Mahut
Suarez Navarro vs Vesnina
Niculescu vs Wozniacki
Konta vs Bencic
Kvitova vs Svitolina
All Things Tennis 