VEKIC A HIT BUT STAN HER MAN’S IN TROUBLE

THERE were mixed fortunes for the Donna Vekic-Stan Wawrinka axis in the second round. All was sweetness and light on the opening day as the couple cheered each other to victory, but while Croat Vekic followed up with another fine win yesterday, Wawrinka was facing defeat as darkness enveloped the All England Club. Vekic, 22, who upset US Open champion Sloane Stephens on Monday, yesterday beat Swede Rebecca Peterson 7-5, 6-4 on Court 8. After effectively taking on Stephens’ No 4 seeding, she looks set for a long run. The future looks less bright for Wawrinka, however. The 33-year-old Swiss is in serious trouble against Italian qualifier Thomas Fabbiano. When play was suspended for the day because of bad light and rain, Fabbiano was serving at 7-6, 6-3, 5-6 ahead. With the score at deuce when they resume, Wawrinka is two points from taking the match to a fourth set but with his lack of match fitness it will not be easy. Warinka is back after two knee surgeries but defied his official standing as world No 224 by taking out No 6 seed Grigor Dimitrov on Monday. Vekic plays Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer tomorrow, but will be here today to see if her man Stan can pull off a miracle.