Serena, Djokovic bring back order after Nadal shocker
Source: Agencies |
June 26, 2013, Wednesday
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AFTER the shockwaves that rumbled around Wimbledon on opening night Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic restored a sense of order with routine wins to begin their campaigns in London yesterday.
No current athlete in the world of sport can match the 31-year-old Serena for reliability at present and the American, despite a brief blip, eased past Luxembourg's Mandy Minella 6-1, 6-3 as she eyes a sixth singles title at the All England Club.
Rafael Nadal's defeat by little-known Belgian Steve Darcis ranked as one of Wimbledon's greatest shocks, but there was never any question of Williams suffering a similar fate as she limbered up in the Centre Court sunshine.
Moving smoothly on the grass and firing some heavy artillery Minella's way, the French Open champion clocked up her 32nd consecutive victory and looked every bit the overwhelming favorite to claim a 17th grand slam crown.
Men's top seed Djokovic also proved rock solid as he cruised past Germany's Florian Mayer 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 to reach the second round.
The Serb broke 34th-ranked Mayer's opening service game and never looked troubled on Centre Court, wrapping up victory by swiping away a winning forehand.
Djokovic was back in action for the first time since losing a semi-final epic against Nadal at the French Open and looked sharp on the lush grass.
His next opponent will be an American in the form of either qualifier Bobby Reynolds or wildcard Steve Johnson.
Elsewhere, while 18-year-old American Madison Keys was inflicting further damage on British hopes by removing Heather Watson from the women's singles draw in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm was flying the flag for the golden oldies.
The 42-year-old, who played her first Wimbledon in 1989, crushed 18-year-old German qualifier Carina Witthoeft 6-0, 6-2.
"Tennis is not only power, not only speed, not only for young players," said Date-Krumm, who pulled out a teapot to explain her love of the beverage during her news conference.
There was more Japanese success as Kei Nishikori beat Australia's Matthew Ebden 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.
No current athlete in the world of sport can match the 31-year-old Serena for reliability at present and the American, despite a brief blip, eased past Luxembourg's Mandy Minella 6-1, 6-3 as she eyes a sixth singles title at the All England Club.
Rafael Nadal's defeat by little-known Belgian Steve Darcis ranked as one of Wimbledon's greatest shocks, but there was never any question of Williams suffering a similar fate as she limbered up in the Centre Court sunshine.
Moving smoothly on the grass and firing some heavy artillery Minella's way, the French Open champion clocked up her 32nd consecutive victory and looked every bit the overwhelming favorite to claim a 17th grand slam crown.
Men's top seed Djokovic also proved rock solid as he cruised past Germany's Florian Mayer 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 to reach the second round.
The Serb broke 34th-ranked Mayer's opening service game and never looked troubled on Centre Court, wrapping up victory by swiping away a winning forehand.
Djokovic was back in action for the first time since losing a semi-final epic against Nadal at the French Open and looked sharp on the lush grass.
His next opponent will be an American in the form of either qualifier Bobby Reynolds or wildcard Steve Johnson.
Elsewhere, while 18-year-old American Madison Keys was inflicting further damage on British hopes by removing Heather Watson from the women's singles draw in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm was flying the flag for the golden oldies.
The 42-year-old, who played her first Wimbledon in 1989, crushed 18-year-old German qualifier Carina Witthoeft 6-0, 6-2.
"Tennis is not only power, not only speed, not only for young players," said Date-Krumm, who pulled out a teapot to explain her love of the beverage during her news conference.
There was more Japanese success as Kei Nishikori beat Australia's Matthew Ebden 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.
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