Four Brits in third round for first time in 20 years

British tennis enjoyed spectacular success at Wimbledon yesterday as four homeplayers made it through to the third round of the tournament for the first time in 20 years.

Wins for Johanna Konta, Heather Watson and Aljaz Bedene as well as Scot Andy Murray, marked the first time Britons have achieved the feat since 1997. Konta and Watson have become the first two British women to appear in the third-round draw since 1986 when Jo Durie and Anne Hobbs both made it through.

The tally of Britons in the third round could reach five today if Kyle Edmund beats French player Gaël Monfils this afternoon.

Yesterday’s string of wins came on a bizarre day for Wimbledon as flying ants, a coin-throwing incident and a furore over a perspirationsoaked towel added intrigue to the day’s play.

Players on the outer courts of the All England club found their efforts to serve and volley interrupted by thousands of flying ants launched into the humid air of south-west London by the alluring scent of a queen of the species who had flown the nest.

Players including Frenchman Jo-wilfried Tsonga and Britain’s Bedene found themselves using their rackets as impromptu fly swatters as the insects swarmed around Wimbledon’s outer courts in the sweltering conditions that lead to one of the natural world’s signature events of the British summer.

Meanwhile, Judy Murray spoke of her shock at seeing a man pull a tennis star’s towel from a boy’s hands. American player Jack Sock threw his towel into the crowd after his match on Tuesday and a young fan caught it, only for a man to snatch it from him.

A clip of the incident quickly appeared on Twitter, with Ms Murray tweeting: “If you’re the bloke in the blue polo shirt and hat, you should be ashamed...”

She said: “I thought ‘What are you doing?’. I hope that somebody recognises him and comes forward with his name and that Jack Sock can give him a towel.”

The player, ranked 18, tweeted: “If anyone knows the kid that unfortunately had the towel ripped out of his hands ... tweet his name at me and I’ll be sure to get him one.”

The US Open and the Australian Open also offered to send towels to the youngster.

Russian player Daniil Medvedev was accused of losing his temper after he threw coins at an umpire’s chair after being knocked out of the Championship. He denied accusations that he was implying the umpire was bribed.

0 Judy Murray with her Strictly partner Anton du Beke yesterday