Wimbledon Day 1

Its that time of year where the Strawberries are out and the gates are open to the most famous and is seen as the biggest Tennis event in the world at SW19. The first match at this famous centre court was the traditional Mens Singles winner of the last year to get the event under way. It was an slow start for the defending champion as he was really tested in the first set. He was down 4-2 before he went up and gear and came back with an double break and took the first set 6-4. He continued that mood into the second as he blew the veteran American Russell (world number 90)aged 33 6-2 in the second and by the same score in the 3rd. He slowly got into the game but when he did he was hard to stop and looked good on his way to defending the title.

The person who he beat in the final last year was also an comfortable winner as he blew away his opponent Volandri. Volandri looked like an player who was uncomfortable on grass and was reluctant to go forward and have baseline rallies but Berdych was too strong in all areas and won 6-2, 6-2, 6-1.

Though it wasnt an easy victory Britain's Number 1 Andy Murray as he had to battle past Daniel Gimeno-Traver. This game was played under the roof throughout as it was raining at Wimbledon. Daniel Gimeno-Traver matched Murray from stroke to stroke throughout the first set. Even though he wasnt getting an look in at the Murray serve he was serving comfortably at the other end until the 9th game where Murray got broken at the 3rd time of asking. Daniel Gimeno-Traver then served out the first set. He then looked good in the second causing Murray more problems and Murray saved another 2 break points.

But Murray looked more dangerous on the Daniel Gimeno-Traver serve as he was making less errors and Daniel Gimeno-Traver was making more. In the 8th game he did break and after that Murray looked an different person. Daniel Gimeno-Traver did not win another game for the rest of the match. Murray levelled at one set all winning it 6-3 and then Murray stepped up another gear where Daniel Gimeno-Traver just could not handle. Murray raced through the 3rd 6-0. Daniel Gimeno-Traver did seem to have an small knew problem which did have an time out for but it made no difference as he was even better in the 4th and ended up winning it 6-0. So the final score was 4-6. 6-3, 6-0, 6-0. On the mens side of the draw there were also wins for Monfils, Wawrinka, Gasquet, Fish and Raonic the big Canadian server the only seed to go out on the men's side was the 30th seed Bellucci.

On the Women's side of the draw the 5 time winner Venus Williams came through her first round match against Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan. Amanmuradova is one of the few players who can claim to be taller than Venus but that is where the comparisons stop. They had some really good exchanges during the first set both hitting winners but when Venus got the break the result was never in doubt. One break was enough in the first to win 6-3 and then in the second she raced through it 6-1. This is only her second competition since her injury which kept her out for the last 5 months. Venus looked sharp and fit and looked hungry for another title. She will face the oldest women left in the draw Kimiko Date-Krumm (40 years old and 277 days) in the second round she beat local girl Katie O'Brien. She completed out classed the young Brit in the first set as she did an bagel winning 6-0. O'Brien did fight in the second set fighting back from an break down but Kimiko Date-Krumm used her experience and outclassed her by breaking her in the 11th game and there was no way back for her. Kimiko Date-Krumm won 6-0, 7-5.

Zvonareva was given an real scare against the American Riske. All looked good and easy when she won the first set 6-0 but Riske starting going for her shots in the second set and started hitting the lines. Zvonareva had no answers and was over-powered in the second eventually losing it 6-3. The third set was an tense set as both women had chances to break each other. But the decisive game came in the 8th game where Zvonareva got the break which she needed. She was able to hold onto her serve and get into the second round winning 6-0, 3-6, 6-3.

But the tie of the first round in the women's was Schiavone vs Dokic. Two girls known for there fighting ability and that was apparent throughout there match on centre court. Some great big shots and some great touch play was shown as the first set went close but Schiavone had that extra bit of touch which got her the break in the 9th game of the match. It looked bad for Dokic as she looked to have mentally gone when she became 0-30 down on her serve in the first game of the second set but she went for an big backhand winner which went in and brought an change of fortune. She started to get that flow back that she had in the early part of the first set and upped her game. Schiavone level dropped slightly and Dokic took full advantage and raced to an 6-1 second set. As the game was getting tense at 1-1 the rain came and the game was paused as they got the roof closed and got the court to the right temperature.

The break seemed to have helped Schiavone as when they started again she got an break and was looking like she might go on and win at 3-1. But Dokic fought straight back and broke to love and then held serve to make it 3-3. Schiavone help her next game and then broke the Dokic serve to serve for the match. Far from giving up Dokic really make the final game really difficult for her as she had 3 break back points in that game but it was Schiavone who took the match on her 3rd match point for her self and got through 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. There were also wins for Wickmayer, Kuznetsova but there were an few shocks as as Kanepi (the 17th seed) Peer (the 22nd seed) and Makarova (28th seed) all went out.