World No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic eased past wild card James Ward 6-0, 7-6 (3), 6-4 in the first round of Wimbledon on Monday. But the Londoner fought back, pushing Djokovic to save three break points for a 6-5 lead in the second set.
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There is likely to be another drop to come unless the 29-year-old can pull off one of the biggest shocks in tennis history and beat defending champion Novak Djokovic in round one. Sam Querrey, an American seeded No. 28, overcame Lukas Rosol in a marathon match that went to 12-10 in the fifth set.
“I encourage everyone to have a great time but to be vigilant and report anything suspicious to a police officer or member of staff”. Ward broke in the next game and the two players went to a tiebreaker, which Djokovic dominated to reassert control. In all four appearances at Wimbledon, Rogers has failed to get past the first round.
The 32-year-old, competing in his 12th straight Wimbledon, lost in four sets to Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert, the US Open doubles champion.
Venus Williams of the United States plays a return to Donna Vekic of Croatia, during their Women’s Singles Match during day one of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, June 27, 2016.
In other men’s matches, fifth-seed Kei Nishikori, ninth-seed Marin Cilic and 28th-seed Sam Querrey of the USA advanced as well.
“I felt like I couldn’t hit a victor against her today, she ran everything down and played fantastic tennis”, the eighth-seeded Williams said. “The first set, there were some hairy moments there, down some set points, but I guess that’s where experience sets in. I think I made the most of my chance”.
World number 772 Marcus Willis proved the unlikeliest of home Wimbledon heroes on Monday, sealing a fairytale 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Ricardas Berankis, ranked more than 700 places up above him.
The second-seeded Spaniard beat Camila Giorgi of Italy 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 on Centre Court.
Former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, seeded No. 23, blamed an injured right wrist after a 6-2, 7-5 loss against 21-year-old Russian qualifier Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Five-time women’s champion Venus Williams, meanwhile, had a stiffer test, overcoming Donna Vekic of Croatia 7-6 (3), 6-4 in the opening match on Court 1.
Lisicki, the German who lost to Marion Bartoli in the 2013 final, took exactly one hour to beat the 62nd-ranked American.
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After his match, Willis briefly turned fan to cheer on Dan Evans, who endured a nip and tuck battle with Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff before joining him in the second round with a 6-3 6-7 (6) 7-6 (7) 7-5 victory.
