Federer, Djokovic thrash rivals in opening matches
Wimbledon, England — Novak Djokovic has started another winning streak.
The second-seeded Serb beat Jeremy Chardy of France 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 yesterday to open his Wimbledon campaign, his first victory since his 43-match winning streak and perfect start to the season ended in the French Open semifinals.
After a two-week break, the 24-year-old Serb said he’s ready to kick off another run of success.
“When this streak ended in Paris, it was kind of a relief as well because it’s been a very, very successful five, six months for me, but very long as well and exhausting,” Djokovic said. “I’ve played so many matches.
Djokovic didn’t play any grass-court warm-up tournaments after Roland Garros, but he didn’t show any sign of rust against the No. 54-ranked Chardy.
The Serb dropped just two points on serve in the first set and 11 in the entire match. He saved the only break point he faced.
In the match before his on Centre Court, six-time champion Roger Federer was almost as dominant on serve, losing 12 points.
One year after escaping from his first-round match at Wimbledon with a five-set victory, Federer and his commanding serve were in no mood for a repeat performance.
The six-time Wimbledon champion won 68 of the 80 points on his serve against Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan and saved the only three break points he faced, winning 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-2.
Last year, playing first on Centre Court as defending champion, Federer lost the opening two sets before eventually beating Alejandro Falla 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-0.
“Yeah,” Federer said, “but the result was the same: I was able to win.”
If Federer can maintain the form that led him back into the French Open final this month — albeit ending with a fourth loss to Rafael Nadal in the deciding match at Roland Garros — he’ll have a chance to equal the record of seven Wimbledon titles held by Pete Sampras and Willie Renshaw.
Women’s side
French Open champion Li Na safely negotiated her opening match, beating Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia 6-3, 6-3.
The third-seeded Li broke serve four times on her way to a routine win over the No. 72-ranked Kudryavtseva.
Li became the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam singles title when she beat Francesca Schiavone in the French Open final this month. She is trying to become the seventh woman to achieve a French Open-Wimbledon double in the Open era.
Former champion Maria Sharapova moved into the second round, winning an all-Russian match against Anna Chakvetadze 6-2, 6-1.
The No. 52-ranked Chakvetadze managed to break once in the second set but was otherwise outclassed by her sixth-seeded opponent in just over an hour.
Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki made a confident start in her latest bid to win a first Grand Slam title with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Arantxa Parra.
Isner-Mahut rematch
The rematch of the longest match in tennis history certainly was a lot shorter.
A year after needing 11 hours, 5 minutes spread over three days to finish a match that ended 70-68 in the fifth set, John Isner required only about two hours and a mere three sets to beat Nicolas Mahut of France, 7-6 (4), 6-2, 7-6 (6).
Robin Soderling also cruised into the next round by beating Philipp Petzschner of Germany 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (5). /AP
