WIMBLEDON: Highlights from day 1

Playing on the hallowed turf for the first time in the court’s centenary year, U.S. Open champion Raducanu prevailed 6-4 6-4 over in-form Belgian Alison van Uytvanck, who had won two grasscourt events prior to Wimbledon.

Murray, on the other hand, overcame an opening set hiccup to maintain his 100% record in the first round at Wimbledon to beat Australian James Duckworth 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 under the floodlights in a match where the roof was closed for the final set.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic shrugged off some rust to beat South Korea’s Kwon Soon-woo 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 on Centre Court for his 80th match win at Wimbledon while women’s third seed Ons Jabeur powered past Mirjam Bjorklund 6-1 6-3.

The biggest upset of day one came courtesy of Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina who beat seventh seed and last year’s semi-finalist Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(4) 6-4 5-7 2-6 7-6(8).

Hurkacz had underlined his Wimbledon credentials when he beat world number one Daniil Medvedev in the final at Halle but despite fighting back from two sets down, it was Davidovich Fokina who prevailed in a roller-coaster match.

Carlos Alcaraz, the youngest man in the draw, had a tough opening match against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff but the 19-year-old Spaniard produced some stunning shots that made the highlight reel in a 4-6 7-5 4-6 7-6(3) 6-4 victory.

Former world number one Andy Murray came back from a set down to beat Australian James Duckworth 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 on Centre Court to move into the second round.

Former champion and 15th seed Angelique Kerber beat Kristina Mladenovic 6-0 7-5 to move into the second round. Kerber, who won the title in 2018, will play Magda Linette in the next round.

Spanish 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, the youngest man in the draw, came through a tight opening match with a 4-6 7-5 4-6 7-6(3) 6-4 victory over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.

Emma Raducanu marked her Centre Court debut with a 6-4 6-4 win over 10th seed Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium. Britain’s U.S. Open champion was playing her first match since retiring from a match due to a rib injury three weeks ago.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina stunned seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz, a semi-finalist last year, 7-6(4) 6-4 5-7 2-6 7-6(8) to secure his first win at Wimbledon on his second appearance.

Joining the Spaniard in the next round was third seed Casper Ruud, who beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6(1) 7-6(9) 6-2.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic beat South Korea’s Kwon Soon-woo 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 on Centre Court for his 80th match win at Wimbledon, which made the Serbian the first player to record 80 singles victories at all four Grand Slams.

Briton Cameron Norrie, the ninth seed, beat Pablo Andujar 6-0 7-6(3) 6-3.

Play was suspended on the outside courts due to rain as action continued under the closed roofs on Centre Court and Court One.

Third seed Ons Jabeur powered past Mirjam Bjorklund 6-1 6-3. The Tunisian, a quarter-finalist last year, showed no signs of being hampered by the knee injury that forced her out of the Eastbourne tune-up event.

Play got underway again following a suspension due to rain.

Play began under cloudy skies at Wimbledon, with the temperature hovering around 19 degrees Celsius (66.2 degrees Fahrenheit).

REUTERS