Roger was untouchable on his serve, losing only 18 points in the entire match, never letting Pella to reach at least a deuce on return. Djokovic has won 15 straight matches on grass. No wonder then that his reaction to the draw was mainly hoping in vain that perhaps it was his namesake Alex whose name had been pulled out beside Djokovic’s. ABC also will air some replays on the weekend. Djokovic didn’t let any kind of surprise, fending them off to stay in front, and he took the tie break 7-3, making 3 mini-breaks. Coric made a mini-break in the very first point, building a healthy 4-2 lead before Karlovic responded with 3 points in a row, to go 5-4 up.
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The players stayed on serve the rest of the way, with Muguruza serving out the match at love.
He broke again at the start of the next, taking a commanding 3-0 lead before Ward finally got on the board to a standing ovation with the 29-year-old from London whipping up the crowd.
Before play was stopped by rain on the outside courts, three players managed to finish matches that had been suspended the previous day: 10th-seeded Tomas Berdych completed a 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (2) win over Ivan Dodig; Andrea Petkovic, seeded No. 32, beat Nao Hibino of Japan, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2; and Evgeniya Rodina downed Lesia Tsurenko 6-3, 7-5. Groans followed when a flawless Djokovic forehand confirmed the break of serve. He hasn’t dropped a set so far this week as he bids for a fourth Wimbledon title, fifth straight Grand Slam championship and 13th major overall.
French Open champion Garbine Muguruza is in a battle in her opening-round match at Wimbledon.
The second-seeded Spaniard won the first set 6-2 against Camila Giorgi, but the Italian has won the second set 7-5 to force a decisive third. He added: “I just didn’t want to get back home tonight and regret anything”.
The 28th-seeded American ended the match with his 33rd ace, beating Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic 6-7 (6), 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-2, 12-10.
The first seeded player ousted was No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber, who fell in four sets to Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert. Those questions and more will find answers over the next two weeks. Ivanovic thinks there is “enough time” for the wrist pain “to settle down” so she can represent Serbia at the Summer Games.
Novak Djokovic believes Nick Kyrgios is a genuine contender at Wimbledon this year and that the men’s draw is wide open. Earlier this month the world No 1 became the first man for 47 years – and only the third in history – to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time. Williams ran through the tiebreaker. The Briton stayed in the match by holding serve at 3-5, but it was only delaying the inevitable. “The first set, there were some hairy moments there, down some set points, but I guess that’s where experience sets in”.
Women’s winners included No. 9 Madison Keys, No. 14 Samantha Stosur and former finalist Sabine Lisicki, while No. 25 Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania was ousted in straight sets by Carina Witthoeft of Germany. Now, if I don’t win the first match it’s a disaster!
Vicky Duval was back at Wimbledon on Monday, competing in the grass-court Grand Slam tournament for the first time in two years after recovering from Hodgkin lymphoma.
Murray insists he will be just as nervous as his 22-year-old opponent, who is ranked 235. Simply being on court was a symbolic step forward. But a year later, while trying to qualify for Wimbledon, Duval was told she had cancer.
Canada’s sixth seed Milos Raonic, now receiving the coaching help of former champion John McEnroe, has a big serve and thunderous forehand.
After a yearlong recovery, Duval returned to playing low-level tournaments.
Liam Broady admits Tuesday will be the biggest day of his career as he walks out at Wimbledon to face 2013 champion Andy Murray.
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Under cloudy skies, play began on schedule on the outside courts at the All England Club.
