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by Comebacks were the theme that highlighted what turned out to be the longest day of tennis in Wimbledon history.
Top-seeded Roger Federer survived a five-set scare against unseeded Alejandro Falla. On numerous occasions, it looked as if the defending champion was going to be ousted in the first round. Federer, a six-time Wimbledon champion, dug himself out of a two-set hole to defeat Falla, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-0. Falla had the opportunity to serve out the match in the fourth set up 5-3, but Federer prevailed and eventually wore down the 60th-ranked Colombian. Federer will face Ilija Bozoljac in the second round. It will be their first career meeting.
Novak Djokovoic, the third seed from Serbia, fought back from 0-2 down in the fifth set to defeat Olivier Rochus 4-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 with just minutes remaining before an 11:00 p.m. Wimbledon curfew. The match was suspended for 35 minutes while the retractable roof on Centre Court had to be closed due to fading sunlight after the third set. Rochus won the third set and seized the momentum of the match by going up 2-1 before officials decided to close the roof.
Djokovic was given time to recover and work out some technical flaws and was the stronger player when both returned to close out the Wimbledon night. Djokovic served for the set and won the match with a little under two minutes remaining at 10:58 p.m. local time. It was the latest night of play in the history of the tournament.
Another five-set comeback was fashioned by No. 7 seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia. He defeated hard-serving Kevin Anderson of South Africa 3-6, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (3), 7-5, 9-7. Like Federer, Davydenko had to come back from a two-set deficit. This is Davydenko's second tournament back from a wrist injury that kept him sidelined for nearly three months.
No. 15 seed Lleyton Hewitt also came back to defeat Maximo Gonzalez of Argentina 5-7, 6-0, 6-2, 6-2. Hewitt served up 12 aces, earning his 99th career victory on grass. It is the most among any active player on tour.
Four American men advanced on Day 1 of the tournament. No. 5 seed Andy Roddick handily defeated fellow compatriot Rajeev Ram 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Mardy Fish was also impressive over Bernard Tomic of Australia 6-3, 7-6 (
, 6-2. The other two Americans who advanced were Taylor Dent and Brendan Evans.
Roddick will have a tough second-round match against Michael Llodra of France. Llodra won last week's Wimbledon tuneup tournament in Eastbourne, England.
There were a handful of seeds that were upset on opening day as well. No. 11 seed Marin Cilic played a lackluster match and fell to Florian Mayer in straight sets. Another player to fall in straight sets on Monday was No. 17 seed Ivan Ljubicic, who lost to Michal Przysiezny of Poland. Denis Istomin upset the 20th-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka in five sets. No. 30 Tommy Robredo of Spain also lost to Australian Peter Luczak in four sets.
Other seeded players to advance on the men's side of the draw Monday were: Tomas Berdych (12), Jurgen Melzer (16), Gael Monfils (21), Feliciano Lopez (22), Albert Montanes (28), Philipp Kohlschreiber (29) and Victor Hanescu (31).
Source: http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2010/06/21/mens-day-1-recap-top-seeds-survive-grueling-wimbledon-openers/
Top-seeded Roger Federer survived a five-set scare against unseeded Alejandro Falla. On numerous occasions, it looked as if the defending champion was going to be ousted in the first round. Federer, a six-time Wimbledon champion, dug himself out of a two-set hole to defeat Falla, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-0. Falla had the opportunity to serve out the match in the fourth set up 5-3, but Federer prevailed and eventually wore down the 60th-ranked Colombian. Federer will face Ilija Bozoljac in the second round. It will be their first career meeting.
Novak Djokovoic, the third seed from Serbia, fought back from 0-2 down in the fifth set to defeat Olivier Rochus 4-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 with just minutes remaining before an 11:00 p.m. Wimbledon curfew. The match was suspended for 35 minutes while the retractable roof on Centre Court had to be closed due to fading sunlight after the third set. Rochus won the third set and seized the momentum of the match by going up 2-1 before officials decided to close the roof.
Djokovic was given time to recover and work out some technical flaws and was the stronger player when both returned to close out the Wimbledon night. Djokovic served for the set and won the match with a little under two minutes remaining at 10:58 p.m. local time. It was the latest night of play in the history of the tournament.
Another five-set comeback was fashioned by No. 7 seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia. He defeated hard-serving Kevin Anderson of South Africa 3-6, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (3), 7-5, 9-7. Like Federer, Davydenko had to come back from a two-set deficit. This is Davydenko's second tournament back from a wrist injury that kept him sidelined for nearly three months.
No. 15 seed Lleyton Hewitt also came back to defeat Maximo Gonzalez of Argentina 5-7, 6-0, 6-2, 6-2. Hewitt served up 12 aces, earning his 99th career victory on grass. It is the most among any active player on tour.
Four American men advanced on Day 1 of the tournament. No. 5 seed Andy Roddick handily defeated fellow compatriot Rajeev Ram 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Mardy Fish was also impressive over Bernard Tomic of Australia 6-3, 7-6 (
, 6-2. The other two Americans who advanced were Taylor Dent and Brendan Evans.Roddick will have a tough second-round match against Michael Llodra of France. Llodra won last week's Wimbledon tuneup tournament in Eastbourne, England.
There were a handful of seeds that were upset on opening day as well. No. 11 seed Marin Cilic played a lackluster match and fell to Florian Mayer in straight sets. Another player to fall in straight sets on Monday was No. 17 seed Ivan Ljubicic, who lost to Michal Przysiezny of Poland. Denis Istomin upset the 20th-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka in five sets. No. 30 Tommy Robredo of Spain also lost to Australian Peter Luczak in four sets.
Other seeded players to advance on the men's side of the draw Monday were: Tomas Berdych (12), Jurgen Melzer (16), Gael Monfils (21), Feliciano Lopez (22), Albert Montanes (28), Philipp Kohlschreiber (29) and Victor Hanescu (31).
Source: http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2010/06/21/mens-day-1-recap-top-seeds-survive-grueling-wimbledon-openers/
