Sadikovic quit playing tennis two years ago, because she wasn’t enjoying life on tour and had financial problems.
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Defending champion Serena Williams racked up her 80th Wimbledon victory Tuesday while Andy Murray also raced into the second round before torrential rain wiped out nearly half the programme at the All England Club.
Struggling on serve and failing to dominate against a 148th-ranked Swiss qualifier playing in her first Grand Slam tournament on Tuesday, Williams labored to a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Amra Sadikovic – the 80th match win of her Wimbledon career.
American McHale saw off Daniela Hantuchova 7-5 6-2 to secure safe passage to the second round, but also set up a daunting third career meeting with Williams.
“I don’t feel any pressure or stress”, Williams said.
“I never underestimate anyone”.
“She’s done a lot for the game, she’s a great player but as we get older it gets tougher and she’s been around for 16-17 years and you’re going to have your ups and downs but I look at Wimbledon and she’s going to be right there”. She always gives her best performance in each match. “They’ve seen a couple of bad losses”. “This is what is giving other players hope”, said John McEnroe, US legend and coach of Milos Raonic, commentating for the BBC.
It came the day after Garbine Muguruza, the woman who beat Williams for this year’s French Open title, won her first-round Wimbledon match.
A year ago, Serena Williams left Wimbledon headed for NY and history: the first calendar grand slam since Steffi Graf’s in 1985 was just one win away. Since then, Williams lost in stunning fashion in the U.S. Open semifinals and in back-to-back finals at the Australian Open and French Open.
The men’s draw for Wimbledon features, of course, Novak Djokovic at the top with Andy Murray as the No. 2 side and Roger Federer at No. 3. She plays an old-school grass court game.
Murray, the 2013 champion, had not faced a fellow Britain in 56 previous Wimbledon matches while two home players had not squared off at the All England Club for 15 years. “We’ve practised together in the past”.
Up next for Williams is Christina McHale, who is ranked No. 65 in the world.
Fourth-seed Stan Wawrinka, a two-time Grand Slam victor, had significantly more difficulty with USA teenager Taylor Fritz.
In the second set, Vekic had a break chance for 5-3, but another unforced error squandered it.
Williams surprised many by failing to win any of the last three Grand Slam tournaments.
“It’s going to be a tough match”. Both players went eight for 13 at the net.
No. 15 Nick Kyrgios kept his cool – and hit another between-the-legs victor – as he beat 37-year-old Radek Stepanek 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (9), 6-1.
He next faces German wildcard Dustin Brown who got past Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
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Kyrgios set up an intriguing second-round match with Dustin Brown, another flashy shot-maker who beat Nadal here a year ago. Even at 34, there are lessons to take from on-court disappointments.
