Azarenka survives fall, Federer through
Source: AFP |
June 25, 2013, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
DEFENDING champion Roger Federer began his bid for a record eighth Wimbledon title with a 69-minute demolition of Victor Hanescu yesterday while Victoria Azarenka overcame a horrific fall to also progress.
In a late match, Russia's Maria Sharapova beat Kristina Mladenovic of France 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Federer, 31, swept to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 win on Centre Court to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his first triumph at the All England Club with an impressive triumph. The seven-time champion Swiss fired 32 winners and just six unforced errors as he clinched a sixth career victory over the 47th-ranked Hanescu.
"It's the most special thing to be back on Centre Court," said Federer, playing in his 55th straight grand slam and seeking an 18th major. "I still enjoy it out there. It was a pleasure to play and I'm very happy to get the first round out of the way. I am not sure how much better I could have played. It was good to get it done quickly as it was cold..."
Federer came into Wimbledon on the back of his first title of 2013 in Halle.
"Halle came at the right time. It shows I am peaking in time for Wimbledon," said third-seeded Federer, who next plays Sergiy Stakhovsky of the Ukraine.
Women's second seed Azarenka, a semifinalist in 2011 and 2012, moved into second round, beating Portugal's world No. 106 Maria Joao Koehler 6-1, 6-2. The 23-year-old Belorussian, the reigning Australian Open champion, broke down in tears after suffering a worrying fall in the second game of the second set on Court One as her right leg gave way in her service action.
Azarenka collapsed in crippling pain before her first round match was delayed by 10 minutes for her to have her right knee heavily strapped.
"It was such a shock. I felt my whole body collapse," said Azarenka, who eventually regained her composure to book a second round match-up with experienced Italian, Flavia Pennetta.
Italian fifth seed Sara Errani became the first major casualty when she slumped to a 3-6, 2-6 defeat to Puerto Rican teenager Monica Puig.
Puig, 19, the world No. 65, who is playing a grasscourt tournament for the first time as a professional, goes on to face Silvia Soler Espinosa of Spain.
Errani, a semifinalist at the French Open earlier this month and runner-up in Paris to Maria Sharapova in 2012, had gone into her first round clash carrying a groin injury which forced her out of Eastbourne last week.
Ana Ivanovic took a set to warm up but eventually cruised through to the second round at Wimbledon with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-0 win over French qualifier Virginie Razzano. The former world No. 1, seeded 12, took an hour and eight minutes to get through her opening match on the half-empty Court 2.
In a late match, Russia's Maria Sharapova beat Kristina Mladenovic of France 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Federer, 31, swept to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 win on Centre Court to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his first triumph at the All England Club with an impressive triumph. The seven-time champion Swiss fired 32 winners and just six unforced errors as he clinched a sixth career victory over the 47th-ranked Hanescu.
"It's the most special thing to be back on Centre Court," said Federer, playing in his 55th straight grand slam and seeking an 18th major. "I still enjoy it out there. It was a pleasure to play and I'm very happy to get the first round out of the way. I am not sure how much better I could have played. It was good to get it done quickly as it was cold..."
Federer came into Wimbledon on the back of his first title of 2013 in Halle.
"Halle came at the right time. It shows I am peaking in time for Wimbledon," said third-seeded Federer, who next plays Sergiy Stakhovsky of the Ukraine.
Women's second seed Azarenka, a semifinalist in 2011 and 2012, moved into second round, beating Portugal's world No. 106 Maria Joao Koehler 6-1, 6-2. The 23-year-old Belorussian, the reigning Australian Open champion, broke down in tears after suffering a worrying fall in the second game of the second set on Court One as her right leg gave way in her service action.
Azarenka collapsed in crippling pain before her first round match was delayed by 10 minutes for her to have her right knee heavily strapped.
"It was such a shock. I felt my whole body collapse," said Azarenka, who eventually regained her composure to book a second round match-up with experienced Italian, Flavia Pennetta.
Italian fifth seed Sara Errani became the first major casualty when she slumped to a 3-6, 2-6 defeat to Puerto Rican teenager Monica Puig.
Puig, 19, the world No. 65, who is playing a grasscourt tournament for the first time as a professional, goes on to face Silvia Soler Espinosa of Spain.
Errani, a semifinalist at the French Open earlier this month and runner-up in Paris to Maria Sharapova in 2012, had gone into her first round clash carrying a groin injury which forced her out of Eastbourne last week.
Ana Ivanovic took a set to warm up but eventually cruised through to the second round at Wimbledon with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-0 win over French qualifier Virginie Razzano. The former world No. 1, seeded 12, took an hour and eight minutes to get through her opening match on the half-empty Court 2.
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