IT’S the annual tennis extravaganza that is Wimbledon and this is the place for a bite-size look at what’s going on at SW19.
The WIMBLEDON WRAP will provide a quick review of the previous day and a preview of that today’s play as from 256 starters in the men’s and women’s singles, they are whittled down to our two Champions. Enjoy!
Hip Hip Murray!
THE headline news from day one was that Andy Murray was fit and able to take his place to open proceedings on Centre Court. The hip injury that hampered his preparations did not stop him from easing to a straight sets win over lucky loser Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan. Next up tomorrow is a clash with the entertaining Dustin Brown.
But while Murray was coasting through, there was a major upset as Stan Wawrinka, the reigning US Open Champion was the day’s biggest casualty as he was dumped out by up-and-coming young Russian Daniil Medvedev. The Swiss has never gone beyond the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and also hampered by a bad knee, his unease on the grass was exposed.
Centre Court welcomed back Petra Kvitova after her stabbing last December and the two-time Women’s Singles winner responded with victory over Johanna Larsson. Five-time Wimbledon Champion Venus Williams also began with a win, but the headlines from her were created by a tearful response in the press conference afterwards when quizzed about the fatal car accident in which she was involved in Florida last month.
Elsewhere on day one, there were encouraging British victories for Jo Konta, who showed no ill effects from her back to the head at Eastbourne, Heather Watson and Aljaz Bedene, who toppled the 6ft 10in giant serving machine, Ivo Karlovic.
The Queen is Dead
SERENA WILLIAMS should be stepping out on Centre Court at 1pm as the defending Ladies’ Champion, but as we all know, she is absent this year given that she is seven months pregnant. Instead World No.1 and last year’s runner-up, Angelique Kerber, will perform the role.
After Kerber, the stage is taken over by two Wimbledon giants, with ten wins between them. Novak Djokovic, fresh from his victory at Eastbourne, takes on hard-hitting leftie Martin Klizan before Centre Court can pay homage to Roger Federer as he begins his quest for an eighth title. However, the Swiss star has a trickier opening assignment than normal against the talented Alexandr Dolgopolov.
Brit Watch
THERE is a guaranteed British winner today as Kyle Edmund takes on qualifier Alex Ward in the first round. Neither man has won a main draw match in singles yet. James Ward takes on the veteran Marcos Baghdatis and Katie Boulter is the sole female on display against American Christina McHale.
Seed in Peril
DOMINIC THIEM is one of the rising stars of the men’s game but the Austrian is far more comfortable on clay than grass. The No.8 seed has never gone beyond the second round at Wimbledon and has a tricky opener against Vasek Pospisil of Canada, a big server who has won the men’s doubles and reached the quarter-finals in singles.
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