Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Seven-time winner Novak Djokovic and defending champion Janic Ciner both came through first-round scares to advance to Wimbledon on a day where 10 Britons were sent tumbling.
Djokovic took three hours and 12 minutes to eventually overcome a struggling Ebbing Wu 4-6 7-5 4-6 4-6.
The roof was off at the end of the second set which was won by China’s Wu and on the restart it was the world number 99 who initially handled the change of circumstances better.
The crowd was in full support of the underdog who got under the skin of Djokovic, who is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title in west London.
Djokovic broke his opponent in the ninth game of the third set and put a finger behind his ear as tension grew on center court.
The 39-year-old was showing signs of fatigue in the fourth set and spent time between serves and points stretching and flexing his joints. At one point she bucked her hips with her noose as she tried to muster the strength to get him over the line.
Djokovic continued to huff and puff in the fourth set and got a crucial break in the ninth game to move one game away from victory.
And he didn’t waste the opportunity to serve as he loved to maintain his unbeaten record in the opening round of Wimbledon.
Cena upset to win in five
Janic Ciner survived an early scare in his Wimbledon title defense
Janic Ciner averted a potential upset by beating unseeded Miomir Kecmanovic, although it took the defending champion five sets to win his first match at Wimbledon this year.
He defeated the Serbian 4-6, 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-2 6-3.
World No. 1 and reigning champion Ciner was given a warning shot when Kekmanovic won their first set.
Cena looked settled as he won the second set, only to drop another set before eventually pulling away.
He suffered a bad fall in the third set before going to a tiebreak. He fell to the ground with his knees bent downwards. Papi initially screamed in pain but he got up and did not seek treatment.
Papi fought on despite blood showing through his right trainer
Kekmanovic brilliantly won the third set tiebreak.
The Italian, however, regained his composure and, even as his legs appeared to be bleeding, took charge in fine style, securing the next two sets to continue his championship defence.
Ten Brits rolling
The 10 home players who finished their matches on Monday added to the misery with Jack Draper and Emma Radukanu injured.
It could have been worse but Jack Pinnington-Jones escaped the bad light against Brandon Nakashima with two sets down and will have to finish his opener on Tuesday.
The loss is the worst for the home side since the daily record began in 2000, while the remaining players are likely to surpass the record 16 first-round defeats when they take to the court on Tuesday.
Fran Jones, who reached the final after losing 6-4, 6-4 to France’s Diane Parry, said: “It’s going to make bad headlines, perhaps a bit unfairly. I think, with some of the draws that people are handed, it’s always going to be difficult.
“But no one can hide from the weight of Wimbledon. It’s important for everyone, and I’m sure that played a factor in the home slam.”
The Lawn Tennis Association can justifiably point to the fact that the draws have been particularly unkind this year, with only Cameron Norrie facing a player below him.
The British No.1’s loss to American Michael Zheng was undoubtedly the most disappointing of the day, although the qualifier played a superb match to win in a fifth-set tie-break.
Harriet Dart came close to pulling off a major upset against former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, eventually losing 6-3 3-6 6-4.
Qualifier Oliver Tarvet, who lost in the second round to Carlos Alcaraz last year, also played at a high level in the four-hour clash against 25th seed Arthur Rinderknecht but could not force a decisive set.
Britain’s teenage trio Mimi Xu, Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic were also among the losers after a tough draw.
Elsewhere, wild card Felix Gil was beaten by Spanish star Rafael Zodar, while fellow debutants Alicia Dudeney and Max Basing also lost.
Sabalenka advanced to the second round
Aryna Sabalenka rated herself “eight out of 10” after beating past qualifier Teodora Kostovich in straight sets.
The world number one is yet to add Wimbledon to his tally of Grand Slam titles but cruised to a 6-2 6-3 victory in 65 minutes.
Sabalenka said, ‘I have to say, I feel pretty good for the first match. “I rate myself eight out of 10.”
Osaka made the latest Grand Slam fashion statement
Naomi Osaka continues her Grand Slam fashion show with eye-catching Wimbledon outfits
The 28-year-old’s on-court entrance became part of the show, and Naomi Osaka turned to her tradition for her latest look, walking onto court three. All-white kimono-style formal dress decorated with embroidered cranes and cherry blossoms.
Chowalinska was out after falling on match point
Maja Cwalinska crashed out of Wimbledon in the first round
French Open runner-up Maja Chwalinska crashed out of Wimbledon after losing 2-6, 7-5 6-2 to Thai qualifier Mannchaya Sawangkau in the first round after falling on match point.
“I fell and I felt my ankle. I wanted to continue, but I didn’t feel comfortable moving, so I wanted to tap it, but I would have lost the point anyway, it didn’t matter if I fell or not,” Cwalinska told reporters.
“It certainly didn’t help me later, but it is what it is.”
Watch the ATP and WTA tours on Sky Sports or live Stream with NOW And The Sky Sports appSky Sports is giving subscribers access to more than 50 per cent of live games at no extra cost this year. Learn more here.
