For about a week, anyway.
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The seven-time Wimbledon champion stressed it would not be imminent as he spoke on Saturday ahead of his bid to land yet more glory on the London grass courts.
“I think that everything which came with winning Wimbledon the first time was really difficult to handle”. Before Roland Garros, I’ve lost only two.
“Obviously I think it’s a pretty good chance”, said Venus.
He expects the decision to add a third week on the tennis calendar between the French Open and Wimbledon this year to have benefits.
Riske, who lost earlier this year, 6-4, 6-2, to Safarova at Madrid, has advanced to the round of 32 in each of the past two years. The victor of Andy Murray vs Roger Federer in the semi-finals will be the Wimbledon champion.
Djokovic displayed frustration in the post-match news conference when he was asked for a second straight day about comments by his coach, Boris Becker, that they have ways of communicating with each other during matches.
“It’s not of my concern, honestly”, he said.
The top-seeded Serb says “there are certain ways of communication which is encouragement, which is support, which is understanding the moment when to clap or say something that can lift my energy up, that can kind of motivate me to play a certain point”.
Victoria Azarenka is the first player to reach the second round of Wimbledon.
“When she plays on her terms, especially now, you would think Wimbledon and the USA Open would be the easier ones to win, especially with her serve”. And she took some time off earlier in the year to rest, skipping big tournaments in Paris and Florida. She has also yet to win a match on the main WTA Tour in four years as a professional.
“Oddly enough, it never has been my favourite surface, but I’ve always done really well here”. “I’m sure I enjoyed it”.
Williams said she’s learned from her past two Wimbledon defeats.
Women’s top seed Serena Williams also opens her account on Monday on Court One against Russia’s Margarita Gasparyan.
Kvitova beat Williams in the semifinals at the Madrid Open last month. I think she is a great champion, she’s always trying to find good form for the important points.
“I knew she would be a good player. I want to keep going”.
On the women’s side, defending champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic is seeded No. 2 and will face a strong challenge from American world No. 1 Serena Williams, who has won 21 majors, including Wimbledon titles in 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010 and 2012.
Russian Maria Sharapova, the 2004, champion eased to a 6-2 6-2 win over Great Britain’s Johanna Konta on Centre Court, and last week’s Eastbourne champion, Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, recovered from a slow start to overcome Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 3-6 6-1 6-3.
The final match on Centre Court on the opening day will see Wawrinka face Joao Sousa of Portugal. Before the grass season she had a record of 14-10 including a first round loss to Annika Beck at the French Open. He also won the 2014 Australian Open.
“It’s probably been the best preparation I’ve ever had for Wimbledon, for obvious reasons, because we have a week more on the grass. I’m experienced, and something that tennis has taught me over the years, is to move on, and to be able to do that very quickly”. “Whereas this year I feel my game is better”, Federer said.
“I knew the quality of my opponent, and I take everyone seriously”, Djokovic, who lost the French Open final, said in a televised interview. “I managed to get the necessary reset in my mind”.
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Hewitt, a former top-ranked player from Australia, won the title the year before Roger Federer started his run of five straight championships.
