Wimbledon 2024: Ostapenko v Krejcikova, Rybakina v Svitolina, De Minaur v Djokovic in quarter-finals – live

That women’s tennis is the most unpredictable sport in the world is a truth extolled so often in these pages it has become a truism. But it remains the case, gloriously so, and is encapsulated perfectly by today’s first quarter-final.

Jelena Ostapenko – Ostapenkz to us – is perhaps the funnest player in the sport, a bouncing bundle of implacable positivity. She fears nothing, ignores consequences, and unloads the suitcase on every shot – a lesson not just for tennis but for life. This philosophy brought her the French Open title in 2017, aged 20 – the first unseeded player to take Roland-Garros since 1933 – and she arrives at this match in similar form but with greater experience, her barrage of blazing winners bringing her to here without having lost a set.

Her opponent today is the same but different, a surprise French Open champion but in dissimilar vein. Prior to May 2021, Barbora Krejcikova was a doubles specialist – she’s won a career grand slam and three of the four twice – but in recent times, her canny, all-court aggression has made her a very serious singles proposition. Don’t believe anyone who thinks they know who’ll win this one.

Opening up on Centre, we’ve Elena Rybakina and Elina Svitolina, on the face of things a more predictable encounter. The former won Wimbledon in 2022, has grooved herself over the last week or so, and her opponent’s lack of weapons makes it almost impossible for her to lose if she plays well.

On the men’s side, meanwhile, Alex De Minaur will see if his relentless scurrying can trouble Novak Djokovic’s relentless everything – and if he objected to Danes supporting their man, wait until the Aussies are in. Other hand, at least Demooooooon doesn’t sound like booooo. Or boo-urns.

Finally, we also have Lorenzo Musetti v Taylor Fritz, a matchup no one anticipated. Both are yet to advance beyond this stage of a major. But the American has been getting closer in recent years, now much more than a colossal serve and fired with the confidence of beating Alexander Zverev from two sets down. Musetti, though, was an excellent junior and, at 22, is coming into his own. It feels unlikely that, at this stage, he can do enough to negate Fritz’s power and knowhow, but it’s going to be fun finding out.

Play: 1pm BST No 1 Court, 1.30pm Centre Court