Resolutely sidestepping the hype, Murray is focused on the job in hand, though the fact that he will be playing the 2009 Championships in Fred Perry clothing is an omen, for good, one prays, that he cannot avoid acknowledging. As most people must surely be aware, Perry was the last home-bred Wimbledon champion an eye-popping 73 years back. We are overdue, both in England and Scotland. As third seed and the top gun in his half of the draw, Murray should not find this afternoon's Centre Court opponent, Robert Kendrick, an insurmountable hurdle by the most outlandish stretch of the imagination. Kendrick is a 29-year-old American, born on the West Coast (Fresno) and resident on the East (Orlando) who has stepped on court three times against Murray with high expectations and departed crestfallen and defeated on each occasion. The first time they met, on grass at Newport (the one in Rhode Island) three years ago, Murray clocked up a "double bagel" (6-0, 6-0) and in the two subsequent encounters has won five of the six sets they played. Hardly a scenario, then, for Kendrick to be performing somersaults at the prospect of a fourth tilt at Murray. But, hey, Kendrick is an American, a nation never knowingly undersold on confidence, and he is entitled to be happy at just having achieved his highest ranking level (76) in a 10-year career. But Murray's matches these days come with a health warning attached: here is one for Kendrick to take on board. Murray has improved, perhaps beyond even his own high expectations, since these two last met just over two years ago. In the past 12 months, for example, since that comeback from two sets down at the 2008 Championships to Richard Gasquet, Murray has reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open, won three Masters Series titles in Cincinnati, Madrid and Miami, as well as other tournaments in St Petersburg, Doha, Rotterdam and at Queen's Club. Mightily impressive stuff, but Andy, who is a stats and facts zealot, will be well aware that three years ago on these very acres Kendrick was two sets up against the eventual finalist Rafael Nadal and fired 32 aces before bowing out. Murray will not, therefore, make the silly mistake of underestimating his opponent in today's third match on Centre Court and should move forward into the next round accordingly. Having been denied, by a switch of programme because of Nadal's withdrawal, the opportunity of beginning the defence of her Wimbledon crown on the first day, Venus Williams will make amends in the Centre Court opener under the (hopefully) open new roof and should do what sister Serena did yesterday by marking up victory in a straightforward fashion. Venus is a quietly-spoken lady, and everyone knows the adage about those who speak softly carrying a big stick, or in her case a potent racket. Such information will not be lost on Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele, who will occupy the spot on the other side of the net, possibly a little apprehensively, since she registers on the women's tennis computer at 97. Venus has held aloft the appropriately named Venus Rosewater Dish, which goes to the women's singles champion, in three of the past four years, and five times in all, the finest strut since Steffi Graf was in her pomp. Venus and grass court tennis, it seems, were designed for each other, and she will, with good reason, be confident of taking possession of that dish for a sixth time. At the 2006 Championships, it was Amelie Mauresmo who bisected that Venus hat-trick, but the sun has not shone on the Frenchwoman's endeavours subsequently. Having topped the world rankings in 2004, she appears here as the 17th seed and opens her challenge on Court 3 against Hungary's Melinda Czink. Fresh from her triumph at the Eastbourne tournament last weekend, the 19-year-old Dane, Caroline Wozniacki, will test her credentials as ninth seed on the new No. 2 Court against a wily and experienced campaigner from Japan, Kimiko Date Krumm who, minus the Krumm appendage, has appeared on multiple occasions at The Championships but has been reduced of late to lesser level tournaments. Andy Roddick, having recovered from the ankle strain suffered last week at Queen's Club, will be pleased to fulfil the order of play committee's request for him to step out on Centre Court in the afternoon's second match. He faces one of the myriad Frenchmen in this tournament, Jeremy Chardy. The two have not met previously. |
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Day 2 Preview
Sparkling arena rises from the 'Graveyard'
However, the sparkling show court could not be more different to its "Graveyard of Champions" predecessor. Located on the former Court 13 site, the plush 4,000-seat stadium has a distinctly intimate feel, yet it boasts nearly double the numbers of seats as the former No.2 Court. The court previously known as No.2 has now been renamed as Court 3, and is hopefully not too confusing for those fans who knew that one of the best seats at Wimbledon was in the back row of what was then Court 3 (and now Court 4), offering views of both courts. There's no such opportunity for a sneaky peek at the new No.2 Court. The new arena is exclusive to ticket-holders in its own right and the cushioned seats and Hawk-Eye lend it the prestige of a mini Centre or No.1 Court. It was, therefore, fitting that junior Wimbledon champion Laura Robson opened proceedings in the oval-shaped arena, which is 3.5m below ground level. The British teenager, who was making her first appearance in the main draw, pushed Daniela Hantuchova to three sets in an almost gladiatorial affair. Speaking about the new court afterwards, Robson said: "It was really nice. I was the first one that got to play on it. It was pretty good. It's quite deep. When you see it from just outside it just looks like a normal stadium, but it really goes quite deep. But it's really, really nice and the court was really good." But it was the Slovakian who made history to become the first player to win a match on the new court, eventually coming through 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Whether the show court will quickly become a new "Graveyard of Champions" remains to be seen – as no Wimbledon greats have been assigned matches there so far. |
No.2 Court beginsStylish Federer off to impressive start
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| Roger Federer justified his role as favourite to win the 2009 men's title by swatting aside the challenge of Yen-Hsun Lu from Taipei 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 on a Centre Court where, despite overcast conditions, the new roof remained open throughout. It was a highly impressive performance, since Lu did his nation proud with a battling show, especially in a tightly-contested first set. Federer's warm welcome to officially open the 2009 Championships was probably a mixture of affection for the five-time champion and approval for his eye-catching and stylish apparel - long trousers, jacket with the collar turned up and, underneath that, a fitted waistcoat, all in white and all discarded prior to the Swiss marching out to hold his first two service games to love. But if Federer, and the spectators, imagined this was the prelude to a rout, they were wrong. Showing determination and no little skill, the 64th-ranked Lu attacked his distinguished opponent at every opportunity. Lu's ability to battle was best demonstrated in the fourth game of the opening set when he fought off four break points, and followed this up by breaking the Federer serve for a 3-2 lead as the world No.2 netted a backhand. Needing to counter-attack quickly, Federer did just that, although with the help of a little luck. He reached break point with a net cord that fell dead on Lu's side of the netting and was level at 3-3 after the Taipei player's forehand error. Try as he might, Federer could not shake off his tenacious opponent in a tight opening set. Facing a break that would have put Federer 5-3 up, Lu again battled his way clear of danger and it seemed the Swiss might face the indignity of a tiebreak. But at 5-6, and despite serving successive aces, Lu faced a set point when he missed a simple dink volley. Federer needed no further incentive, and a backhand winner put him a set ahead after 48 minutes. Having stamped his authority on the proceedings, Federer raced into a 3-0 lead in the second set before Lu was able to stem the flood of Swiss winners with more brave and impressive attacking that earned him warm applause. But the Swiss was not to be denied, taking a 5-2 lead by swatting aside a couple of break points and holding serve with that tennis rarity - a winner hit around, rather than over, the net, a feat that Federer greeted with another rarity, a raised fist It had been an impressive fight, but Lu was up against a master of the game who had achieved the brightest of starts in pursuit of a record 15th Grand Slam. | |||||||||||
Federer finery finds favour
Roger Federer talks a good game – which is only to be expected. After over half a decade at the very summit of the sport, he has been able to hone his interview technique to perfection – even if his latest tennis outfit becomes the main talking point. His interview style has become a self-referential topic of conversation in press conferences. “I guess it already starts that I speak a few different languages,” said Federer after his straight sets win over Yen Hsun-Lu in the first round. “ Then you have the papers, the radios, the magazines – it ends up being a lot but, honestly, especially after I've won a tournament or if I think it's a big match, there is something that needs information, I don't mind giving half-an-hour, one hour more. “I've always enjoyed it. It's not the most fun part of the job, but I also have a good time. The spectators who were in the stadium and the people that couldn't be there get something good to read or hear about. If you lose, you leave though,” he quipped, referring to that final last year. “I like to tell a good story,” Federer smiled as he enjoyed a verbal joust with the media over his refusal to reveal the due date for his wife’s baby. “Ah, it's a pity we're moving on [to another] language right now,” he grinned, before giving the Swiss media the “good story” that they were looking for. There was little to say about a routine win over his unheralded opponent from Taipei, so talk swiftly moved to the day’s real talking point – the five-time champion’s new outfit. “Everyone was talking about it in the locker-room!” he exclaimed with genuine excitement. “People were saying ‘Wow, looks great!’ This is the fourth year that I’ve done it and I was just hoping that it would look good. You spend all your time talking about forehands and backhands, so it’s good to change. When I play at Indian Wells, I meet with someone from Nike and then it’s a long process after that, but it’s great fun.” “It is a blazer year? Will it be a cardigan? They always have lots of good ideas and even though it didn’t look right to begin with, they got there in the end,” said Federer of his collared shirt, waistcoat, jacket and long trousers, all with gold piping. “It’s more modern than last year’s blazer. I like to respect the tradition here. I could wear a dark jacket to come out on court since I’d be taking it off later, but I like to respect the tradition.” And to think most players only have time to worry about their games. |
Blake attacks Tour after crashing out
A fatigued Blake admitted afterwards that it was difficult to stay focused while playing so much tennis and believed the tour calendar attributed to the withdrawal of defending Wimbledon Champion Rafael Nadal. “I'm probably not supposed to say anything about the schedule or about the ATP in that way, but it's just tough for guys,” said the 29-year-old American. “There's really not many ways to mess with the schedule, to take tournaments away, but it would definitely help the players' careers be a little bit longer. “I don't want to sit here and say there's an easy solution, because I know it's tough. I've been on the [ATP] player council. I know how difficult those meetings are, how much the tournaments want to hold on to their spots. But for the players' longevity, something should be done. “You need to be training, there's no real pre‑season. We're at a slam three weeks into the year [at the Australian Open], so you can't warm up into a year. You don't have 20 or 30 games of pre‑season like in baseball.” Blake, who two weeks ago enjoyed a fine run to the finals of the Queen’s Club pre-Wimbledon grass court event, was struggling throughout this first-round match with a heavily strapped ankle. This, along with an upset stomach, slowed him down, playing into the hands of the consistent Seppi. Seppi’s trademark counter-attacking baseline game also helped frustrate the American’s power game as he was pushed around the court and forced to make mistakes at the crucial moments when going for his shots. Seppi looked quicker from the back of the court than Blake and was returning well, earning 15 break points during the match, four of which he converted. “He did a better job of hitting his backhand solid enough to keep me from being able to take it up the line and start getting forehands," admitted a downbeat Blake afterwards. The fourth break crucially turned the third set back in Seppi’s favour, allowing him to fight back in a set that Blake was winning, despite having to request pain killers from the ATP Tour trainer in the third game. Blake’s powerful forehands earned him an early three-point lead in the tiebreak, and the crowd began to believe that the American would turn the match around. But two scuffed backhands from Blake allowed the Italian to fight back and force a match point, which he then converted with an incredible inside-out forehand, to send the American crashing out of the tournament at the first hurdle. | |||||
Blake reflects
Verdasco vanquishes Briton's challenge
No doubt the mere experience of playing on No.1 Court will stand Ward in good stead, but Verdasco’s superior skill in every department left the British wild card brutally exposed. Ward, in his Grand Slam debut, was clearly feeling the nerves, struggling on his first serve. He sent an easy volley long before delivering a double fault for break point. It was easy pickings for Verdasco, as he dismantled Ward’s game with horrible ease. The crowd did their best for the Briton, roaring him on when he mustered his first game point with the score at 0-4. He needed three attempts before he could convert the chance, but convert he did to an ovation. But his groundstrokes were drifting long, and 25-year-old Verdasco took the set at a brisk stroll 6-1. True, both Verdasco and Ward are currently enjoying a career high in the world rankings, but there’s a big difference - Verdasco is at number seven while Ward is 220. |
Soderling's star still shining
For a few brief moments this month – admittedly a little long than quarter of an hour – Robin Soderling was a star. The Swede was the first man to beat Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros and, from that fourth-round victory, he went all the way to the final. And then he lost. In straight sets. Played a chap called Federer who proved to be rather too good for him. His 15 minutes was over. Now he has another shot at the fame game in SW19 after beating Gilles Muller in the first round 6-7 (7-4), 7-5, 6-1, 6-2. The 13th seed almost missed his chance, mind you, dropping the first set, but after he got his nose in front in the second, it was plain sailing. Until this year, Soderling’s greatest claim to celebrity and notoriety was making the normally equable Nadal angry at the All England Club two years ago. As the rain sent both men back and forth between locker room and court, their match dragged on for days and everyone’s temper was beginning to fray. So when the Swede starting mimicking Nadal’s little tics and mannerisms, the Spaniard took umbrage. He also took the win in five sets but afterwards had a grumble about Mr Soderling’s manners. “In the locker room, for the other players, [he] is not the best guy in the locker room,” Nadal said. But those ill-mannered days appear to be behind Soderling now. He is being coached by compatriot Magnus Norman, the former French Open finalist and world No.2. Norman, one of nature’s quiet souls, appears to have brought the best from his charge. Soderling admits happily that he used to have a foul temper. Playing games with his parents as a boy, he would fling the board and all the pieces to the floor if he was losing at anything from Monopoly to tiddly winks. These days, and thanks to Norman’s guidance, he keeps the anger under control and is able to channel it in order to bring the best out of his game. Against Muller, the rasping forehand and cracking serve that had taken him so far in Paris were still very much in evidence. The only slight problem was that Muller had an equally ferocious serve and a nice line in returns, too. For almost two sets, there was barely a whisker between them but then Soderling edged ahead, took the second set and motored to the finish. Still, he had better make the most of his moment in the sun – Soderling is in the same section of the draw as Roger Federer and could meet him in the fourth round if both men keep winning. To beat one Grand Slam champion in the fourth round of a major tournament is impressive. To beat two Grand Slam champions in the fourth rounds of consecutive major tournaments may be asking a bit too much. |
Djokovic slips past battling Benetteau
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| fourth seed Novak Djokovic survived an endurance test against Frenchman Julien Benetteau to win through to the second round but he needed three hours and 28 minutes of concerted effort to complete the job.
Djokovic would have come into the match reminding viewers that, amid the hype over Roger Federer and Andy Murray, The Championships is more than just a two-horse race. But he was given serious cause for thought when he lost the first set in just over an hour. It was a remarkably close set with not a single break point until the 12th game. Both players served well, Djokovic even hitting an ace with a second serve, and the Frenchman remaining accurate and persistent. The first problem for Benettau came when he was 6-5 down and serving. At deuce, Djokovic hit a classic backhand winner for set point but the Frenchman saved that with a service winner. Benettau’s following ace and service winner forced a tie-break. Djokovic had one set point but Benetteau had three and settled it 10-8 with a backhand down the line played behind Djokovic’s back. The second set also had to be decided by a tie-break but the difference this time was that Djokovic won at a canter -7-1. The 22-year-old Serb began by hitting a fine cross court backhand against serve, which set the pace, then built on this with some variety of pace. He finally punched a backhand service return winner to square the match. In the third set, Benetteau had already slipped 2-0 behind, when he literally slipped behind the baseline at deuce in the third game. He needed attention for some pain to his right side and although he was able to play on, Djokovic stretched his lead to 5-0 before Benetteau, to loud applause, took a game. Djokovic appeared to have a routine service game to win the set but he double-faulted three times to lose the game. But the set still came to him 6-2 and, at last, he was in front. The fourth set obviously gave the Serb a clearer target but Benetteau continued to show some fine touches even if he was now chasing the game. But Djokovic did not lose focus and served out to lead 5-4 in a game that included his 14th ace. In the next game, Benetteau saved a first match point with a service winner. A second match point went to Djokovic when Benetteau could not save a lob. But the Frenchman slid into the back of the court, injuring his left knee on the back surround as he did so and requiring a medical time-out to receive treatment. Djokovic crossed the court to sympathise with his opponent as an ice pack was applied. Play resumed and Benetteau saved a second match point, but the third was beyond him. Benetteau missed a backhand and Djokovic was through. And afterwards the former Australian Open champion insisted he was "very happy" to remain below the radar as the media focuses on Roger Federer and Andy Murray. He said: "I've been playing really well in the last two, three years. Having won a Grand Slam in Australia, I put myself in the position to be a candidate for a Grand Slam title in each Grand Slam I have played. "So right now, Andy Murray is in the spotlight, and he deserves it. And it's good. It releases kind of a little bit of pressure off me so I can play relaxed on the court." | |||||||||||
tsonga stretched to the limit
The tie-break in the third set saw some Tsonga magic as he raced around the ball to drive a winning forehand across the court. This was followed by another racing backhand to gain a mini-break. The fourth set also went to a tie-break. Tsonga clearly moved up a gear as he scented victory, hitting a Spitfire-fast “full toss” forehand return and following it up with a nifty net approach to volley a cross-court winner. This was one of the longest matches on court today at three hours, 21 minutes, and it was a relieved Tsonga who broke into a beaming grin, skipped across the court and thanked the crowd after he secured victory. Rainer Schuettler is no stranger to long matches at the All England Club either since he overcame Arnaud Clement in more than five hours last year. His victory today, in four sets, 6-7 (9-11), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1, over Xavier Malisse was slightly more comfortable, taking just two hours 57 minutes. In the ladies’, Jie Zheng is safely through to the second round. Zheng, from Chengdu in China, stunned Ana Ivanovic in the third round last year before bowing out in the semi-finals. Another run could be on the cards after the 16th seed disposed of Germany’s Kristina Barrois in twin tie-breaks, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4). Zheng faces Daniela Hantuchova, conqueror of junior champion Laura Robson in the second round. Russian Nadia Petrova, a quarter-finalist here last year, comfortably saw off the challenge of Anastasiya Yakimova 6-1, 6-1. India's Sania Mirza moved into the second round after beating Germany’s Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-2, 2-6, 6-2. |
Sharapova forced to fight hard for win
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| If Maria Sharapova was seeking a useful workout as she continues her return from injury, then she got it today on No.1 Court. She saw off a spirited challenge from Ukrainian qualifier Viktoriya Kutuzova, requiring one hour and 42 minutes to gain a 7-5, 6-4 victory. On paper this looked like a straightforward match for the 22-year-old Russian, who is seeded 24. But these are not straightforward times for the 2004 champion, barely six weeks into her comeback after nine months out with injury. Truth be told, few on No.1 Court had heard of Kutuzova either before this match, but it rapidly became clear that the 20-year-old world number 79 was not in the least overawed. For one thing, she gave every bit as good as she got in the grunting department, with the two of them exchanging bellows with every strike of the ball. Sharapova looked to be fighting back. She got one break back and almost levelled for 4-4. But when she failed, the set was within Kutuzova’s grasp. On a rare visit to the net, she volleyed in an attempt to convert set point, but a punchy Sharapova forehand saved it. Those familiar with Kutuzova’s play say that she has most difficulty playing well when she is ahead, and that characteristic emerged here. Meanwhile, Sharapova’s competitive determination was in full drive and from 3-5 she took four straight games to plunder a set she should have lost. Instead of crumbling, Kutuzova reacted with apparent calm, breaking in the first game of the second set. But she could not consolidate the lead, and Sharapova’s application brought her the break back. | |||||||
Girl aloud? De Brito keeps quiet... for now
There is nothing the press room likes better than a good gimmick. Forehands and backhands are all very well but they will only take you so far. If you want a decent headline, get a gimmick. De Brito has previous in the grunting department. At the French Open just a handful of weeks ago, she was so spectacularly loud as she faced Aravane Rezai that the Frenchwoman complained to the umpire about the noise. To be fair to Rezai, the grunt was so long that it started as De Brito struck the ball and was still going when the ball bounced on the other side of the net. As for the volume, she shrieks could be heard from two courts away. |
Robson beaten despite strong debut
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| Britain’s newest tennis hope, 15-year-old Laura Robson, said she was a "little bit upset" but "pretty proud" after her senior Wimbledon debut where she took former world number five Daniela Hantuchova to three sets in an impressive but ultimately unsuccessful display. The reigning junior champion, the youngest player to compete in the main draw at Wimbledon since Martina Hingis, was handed the honour of playing the opening match on Wimbledon’s new No. 2 Court. And she so nearly marked the event in true style, storming to the first set and going a break up in the second before her experienced Slovak opponent fought back to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. One year on from lifting the junior silverware, Robson’s return to Wimbledon’s famous lawns was marked with a royal welcome. The Duke of Kent, president of the All England Club, was introduced to the two players before the match as part of the proceedings to officially open the new court. It could easily have all gone to the head of a lesser player. But Robson is no ordinary 15-year-old. Her first point playing among “adult” company at Wimbledon was a booming ace – a great statement of intent against a player ranked 456 places above her. Robson took the first game comfortably and immediately broke Hantuchova’s serve to lead 2-0. It was just the thing she needed to calm any nerves. Robson’s forehand was working well and that meant that Hantuchova had to patrol the baseline to deal with the accuracy of the attack. Even when Robson dropped serve in the fifth game on a double fault she was able to bounce back in the next, breaking the Hantuchova serve to lead 4-2. And when she faced break points herself she was able to withstand the challenge of an opponent 11 years her senior. She fought off three of them in the seventh game to move 5-2 ahead, but then missed a chance at set point in the next game with a backhand error. In the ninth game, another set point came and went as Robson hit a double fault but she then clinched the set 6-3 when Hantuchova overhit to the baseline. The 15-year-old, who lives so close to the All England Club that she could almost have popped home for a breather at the end of that first set, was now halfway to a famous victory. In the second set, the pressure mounted with Robson attempting to maintain her lead and Hantuchova desperately striving to come back into the contest. In the fifth game, it looked like things were all going Robson’s way as she used a forehand to set the pace and earn a break point opportunity. She converted that chance in the next rally as Hantuchova hit just long with a cross court backhand. With Robson 3-2 up and serving, she was in the driving seat. But in the next game, the best shot was hit by Hantuchova who pulled out a forehand down the line for a first break point. Robson saved that with a service winner but, on a second break point, double-faulted for 3-3. The momentum was with Hantuchova, but there was still plenty of impressive play from Robson, particularly two aces that saw her hold for 4-4. Hantuchova was matching her – with two classic shots, a backhand down the line and then a forehand to show that she was ready to unsettle the British girl. In the end, it was two double faults that cost Robson dear, handing Hantuchova the second set 6-4. And as the tension grew so did the number of double faults from the young Briton. The key break of serves in the final set both came on double faults, the last of which gave Hantuchova victory. But in almost two hours on court Robson let no one down and rapturous applause accompanied her exit from the court. She had displayed court craft beyond her years for much of the match and will have learned huge lessons in the match against a vastly more experienced opponent. How much she has learned today, and in the past 12 months in a growing tennis spotlight, will be evident when she returns next week to defend her Wimbledon girls’ singles crown. "I hit a couple more double faults than I would have liked to, especially on the big points. But I'm still pleased with the way I played," Robson said "That was my Grand Slam debut today, and I played a really good match. So, you know, it's different to juniors, but it's not that much different. I mean, if I would have got killed love and love, then, yeah, I'd be coming in here with a different opinion. But I didn't, so it's not too different from the level that I'm already playing." After the match, Hantuchova was full of praise for her opponent. "It didn't feel very good being a set down and a couple games down and getting kicked by, you know, a girl 11 years younger than me," she said. "Because she's left handed it makes it a bit tougher, but her serve is very good. She was hitting a couple of aces a game, and also she was very smart how she was using it. So I think the serve was working very well for her. | ||||||||||||||||||
Stuttering Serena passes first test
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| Second seed Serena Williams is safely through to the second round of the 2009 Championships, but she was given a more demanding test than many had expected before overcoming qualifier Neuza Silva 6-1, 7-5 in one hour 14 minutes on Centre Court. It was a potentially nerve-shredding occasion for Silva, a 26-year-old from Portugal who was appearing in her first Grand Slam match, but she responded bravely and positively. Aided by a string of errors from Williams, she made a real fight of the second set after losing the first in 27 minutes and is entitled to feel proud of doing so well as the first Portuguese, man or woman, to appear on Centre Court. Silva has known the dark side of tennis, having been sidelined for three years with a wrist injury that almost caused her to give up the sport after her ranking dipped into the 600s. Now ranked 154, this match provided a brighter side for her career and she responded vigorously. Williams, with both ankles and her right wrist heavily taped, needed six minutes to break serve in the opening game, but made rapid enough progress afterwards. She was 4-0 ahead inside 20 minutes, though there was a warm Centre Court response when Silva managed to hold serve at the third attempt. Even though heavily outgunned in that opening set, Silva came back full of fight and, aided by some outrageous Williams errors, made a fine match of it in the second set. After holding serve to 2-2, Silva responded with a fist-pumping celebration of which any of her footballing compatriots would have been proud. But Serena, twice the Wimbledon champion, has never lost in the first round of any Grand Slam and she remembered her pedigree when it mattered. Despite failing to convert a match point at 5-4, the American closed out the last two games confidently. The match practice on grass had been needed, and at times it looked that way. After the match, Serena said she was she had let her concentration slip after dominating the first set. "I definitely think she increased her game, but also I think my concentration wasn't what I wanted it to be, on some key points, it wasn't where it should have been. And, you know, it's just a point here or there that can make or break a match," she said. | |||||||||||
Sharapova relishes home comforts in SW19
Maria Sharapova’s love affair with the All England Club began at the tender age of 17 when she disposed of Serena Williams to earn her first Wimbledon crown. Five years on, the Russian’s passion for the tournament and the Wimbledon way of life shows no sign of waning. “It’s the little things like living in a house, having a normal key instead of the hotel key, cooking your own breakfast, making your own tea. It’s a little homely,” she smiled after the match. “To me, it feels like this is where tennis is meant to be played. It feels very traditional. We only play a couple of tournaments on grass. When you get on, it’s just a feeling of excitement because I’ve definitely had wonderful memories here and good results in the past, ever since I was a junior.” In fact, Sharapova is just pleased to be competing again. Last autumn, the 22-year-old underwent an operation for a torn rotator cuff in her serving shoulder and has since endured a nine-month absence from the game. “If someone told me four months ago that I’d be here playing Wimbledon, I wouldn’t be surprised but I would be really happy about the fact. And I am happy to be here.” Indeed, Sharapova was put to the test in her encounter with Ukrainian qualifier Viktoriya Kutuzova but emerged with a 7-5, 6-4 victory. She admitted her opponent began extremely well but added that she was able to give Kutuzova a little bit of her own medicine. “I just stayed consistent. I made her play an extra ball. I thought I returned pretty good today.” The No. 24 seed is not resting on her laurels, however, and claims there is still a lot of work to be done until she gets back to the Maria that is 100%. She also points out that there is a thin line between winning and losing. “It’s just the combination of a few things coming together, you know: body feeling good, playing good, moving well. I’m just glad I pulled through today.” |
