Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek Triumph at Wimbledon as Protesters and Rain Steal the Limelight

Protests and rain dominate Day 3 of Wimbledon 2022 tournament.

In a surprising turn of events at Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic made history by becoming the third player, alongside Roger Federer and Serena Williams, to win 350 Grand Slam matches. However, this achievement was overshadowed by the protests and rain that plagued the All England Club on Day 3 of the tournament.

Environmental activists managed to interrupt matches by throwing orange confetti onto the court, drawing attention to an anti-oil organization. These activists were subsequently arrested. Tim Henman, a four-time Wimbledon semifinalist and board member at the All England Club, expressed disappointment at the disruption caused.

In addition to the protests, rain showers made a comeback on Wednesday, causing delays and limiting the hours available for play. Players and spectators were left waiting for long periods of time. Holger Rune, ranked No. 6, described the day as "weird" due to the unexpected rain.

While some players were fortunate to compete under the retractable roofs, allowing them to progress to the third round, there are still 14 entrants who have yet to play a single point in the first round. Among them are Bianca Andreescu, Alexander Zverev, and Karolina Muchova. Iga Swiatek, the No. 1 woman, expressed her gratitude for being scheduled to play under the roof, as it provided certainty and ease of preparation.

Other players who advanced to the third round include Jannik Sinner and Daria Kasatkina. Djokovic, aiming for his eighth Wimbledon championship, won his match against Jordan Thompson after a close call in the second set. He maintained his winning streak on Centre Court, while other players, such as Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, had to endure multiple interruptions.

Fritz's first-round match was suspended on Monday and resumed on Wednesday, leading to a 6-4 2-6 6-4 7-5 6-3 victory. Tiafoe, on the other hand, seemed less bothered by the delays and won his match against Wu Yibing. Both players found ways to pass the time, with Fritz spending most of it on his phone and Tiafoe joking around with fellow players.

Another highlight of the tournament was the match between Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas, which was interrupted and eventually concluded on Wednesday. Tsitsipas emerged victorious after a grueling five-set match that lasted nearly four hours.

Overall, Day 3 of Wimbledon was filled with unexpected disruptions, protests, and rain delays. While some players managed to overcome these challenges and progress in the tournament, others are still waiting for their chance to compete. The unpredictable nature of the day kept players and spectators on their toes, adding to the excitement and anticipation of the matches to come.

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