ROGER FEDERER, NOVAK DJOKOVIC ADVANCE THROUGH WIMBLEDON OPENERS ON MONDAY
ROGER FEDERER, NOVAK DJOKOVIC ADVANCE THROUGH WIMBLEDON OPENERS ON MONDAY
By Ricky Dimon
Roger Federer took Guido Pella’s best shot but managed to come up with the necessary answers in a 7-6(5), 7-6(3), 6-3 victory during first-round action at Wimbledon on Monday. Federer did not face a single break point against an opponent who has still never won a grass-court match at the ATP level (Pella is 0-4 in his career on the green stuff).
Roger Federer of Switzerland returns to Guido Pella of Argentina during their first round match of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 27 June 2016. EPA/GERRY PENNY
“I was very happy with the way I played,” the 34-year-old Swiss commented. “If I would have used my chances earlier in the first and second set, maybe things would have been a bit easier. But I think Pella did a good job,” Federer said. “It’s an intense match. It’s the first round. It’s new grass. It’s always going to be a tough match. I’m happy I made it in three straight sets.”
After needing tiebreakers in each of the first two, Federer finally broke the underdog Argentine at 4-3 in the third by converting his ninth break-point opportunity of the afternoon. An ensuing love hold promptly wrapped up the proceedings.
In the second round, Federer is in line for an improbable meeting with British upstart Marcus Willis. Ranked 772nd in the world, Willis had to go through pre-qualifying just to get a wild card into the qualifying draw. Against all odds, the 25-year-old successfully booked a spot in the main draw and then stunned Ricardas Berankis in straight sets on Monday.
Said Federer, “I’m super pleased to be here and happy in a different way [for] Marcus.”
Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns to Britain’s James Ward in their first round match of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 27 June 2016. EPA/GERRY PENNY
They are joined in the last 64 by two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic, who took care of another British opponent–James Ward–via a 6-0, 7-6(3), 6-4 scoreline in two hours and four minutes. Djokovic has now won 29 consecutive Grand Slam matches, tied for the third longest streak in the Open Era.
He won the first nine games of the match before Ward began to find his range.
“I honestly didn’t expect myself to start that well,” the top-ranked Serb explained. “Nine games in a row; 6‑0, 3‑0. I thought it was just a matter of time when James would win his first game. I knew that the reaction of the crowd, and his own reaction, will be the way it was.
“As a home player, he enjoyed a lot of support today, especially when he won his first game. That’s when the energy kind of shifted on his side. He felt huge relief obviously winning the first game. On the other hand, I maybe dropped the concentration a little bit. The second set was quite close. Credit to him for serving well.
“The first part of the match was almost flawless, so I’m very pleased with the way I started Wimbledon.”
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.
Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp World Tour, Grass tennis, Guido Pella, James Ward, London, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis News, The Championships, Wimbledon 2016
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