Last year’s Champion Serena Williams made an emotional return to Centre Court today. She fought hard to beat Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai and was overcome as she left the court. She has spent almost 12 months out of the sport with a foot injury and had a subsequent pulmonary embolism which put her near her deathbed. Williams started the first set well and went on to win 6-3. Rezai wasn’t going to give up the game easily though, the former world No.15 has too had a tough time of late after a troubled relations with her coach, her father, but came into her own in the second set, winning 6-3 herself. In the final set Williams used her powerful groundstrokes to detrimental effect, sending her through to the second round. Williams will now go on to play Simona Halep.
Turning to the Men’s draw and six times Wimbledon Champion Roger Federer outclassed Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin to cruise into the second round. Federer dominated on serve to win the match 7-6 6-4 6-2 and will now face Adrian Mannarino in the second round.
Another player who whipped past his opponent was No.2 Novak Djokovic who had an easy win against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy on Centre Court. After his long winning streak was broken at the French Open he took time off, missed Queens, and looked back to his best today.
Andy Roddick kick started his Wimbledon campaign with a straight sets victory over German Andreas Beck. The eight seed Roddick produced some dazzling serves but it wasn’t a walkover, the American eventually winning 6-4 7-6 6-3.
James Ward bowed to 19th seed Michael Llodra. After Ward’s impressive run at Queens he was out played by the Frenchman. The British No.3 seed Daniel Cox from Loughborough lost his first tie game against Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhousky 6-2 6-4 6-4. Another British hope Daniel Evan fought hard but lost in four sets to 20th seed Florian Mayer. All hopes now rest with Andy Murray, who is the only British man through to the second round. Another loser was Conor Niland from Ireland who battled through five sets against Adrian Mannarino but couldn’t overcome the Frenchman.
Last year epic match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut could not be replicated this year, the American Isner won in just over two hours 7-6 6-2 7-6.
In other results Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro broke his opponent's serve six times to complete a simple victory over Italian Flavio Cipolla. 21st seed Fernando Verdasco came back from 2 sets down to defeat Czech player Radek Stepanek. Former Champion Lleyton Hewitt and fifth seed Robin Soderling both won their first round clashes in four sets to make it through to the next stage.
Back to the women’s results and No.1 seed Caroline Wozniacki cruised to victory over Arantxa Parra Santonja, winning 6-2 6-1. The Dane needed under an hour to defeat her Spanish opponent and will face France's Virginie Razzano.
There was a shock defeat for 15th seed Jelena Jankovic as she bowed out to Maria Jose Sanchez Martinez. Jankovic hadn’t been knocked out in the first round since the French Open in 2005.
British No.1 Elena Baltacha outdid German Mona Barthel in the first round and will join Anne Keothavong in the second round after she defeated compatriot Naomi Broady. Keothavong beat the British wildcard, as expected, and will now face eighth seed Petra Kvitova.
11th seed Andrea Petkovic defeated Stephanie Gacon and gave the crowd a hula hoop mime after her victory. Petkovic, creator of the World famous Petko dance, will have to think of a new dance if she beats her next opponent the Canadian Stephanie Dubois.
In other matches 4th seed Victoria Azarenka won her first round tie along with Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic and Marion Bartoli who passed easily into the second round with simple wins over their opponents.
Tomorrow will see Andy Murray back in action against Tobias Kamke along with Venus Williams, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick and Anne Keothavong. The weather prediction is not great but at least with the roof on Centre Court we’ll see some action.
Image source - flickr
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