Will Day 2 also provide fireworks?
If Day 2 of the Championships promises to be even half as exciting as Day 1 was, then fans are in for a real big treat, no question about that. And if that were to be indeed the case, fans of those top players would spend some anxious moments. However, as most would suggest, it’s all part and parcel of modern Sport and the depth of the game is something that eventually only enriches the game even further.
Serena Williams, first on Centre Court…
Centre Court action kicks off with 2-time champion and top seed Serena Williams playing her 1st Round match against 148-ranked Michelle Larcher De Brito of Portugal who’s turned pro in only 2007 and has never gone beyond the 4th Round of any Slam. Williams should have little difficulty in progressing further and so should be the case with the next person playing on the Centre Court.
Next up, Rafael Nadal…
After William’s match, it would be World no. 1 in the men’s section to play his 1st match at the All England Club. Rafael Nadal makes a comeback to the stage where he’d scored his dramatic victory over Roger Federer in 2008, thereby becoming the first Spanish man to win the coveted major since Manuel Santana in 1966. Nadal’s campaign begins against promising Japanese talent Kei Nishikori, who’s honed his grasscourt game at Florida’s famed Nick Bollettieri Academy. On the face of it, Nadal should have an easy outing but he lost to a seasoned clay courter at the Queen’s two weeks ago and may still be coming to terms with adjusting his game to the surface. Nonetheless, Nadal should eventually come through and face stiffer challenges not before a potential clash with Robin Soderling in the quarter-final.
Robin Soderling on Centre Court…
Soderling himself faces a tricky 1st round against American Robby Ginepri. The 27 year old Ginepri beat Soderling at the Chennai ATP earlier this year but on current form, Soderling will back himself to go through his initial test. The French Open finalist has had a tremendous two week run on clay but is one of the few players who doesn’t mind playing on any of the surfaces. Infact, Soderling’s run at Wimbledon last year was only stopped by a vintage Federer performance.
Andy Murray, not on Centre Court!
British hope Andy Murray also starts off his campaign today with a clash against Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic ranked 80 in the world. In 6 Grand Slam appearances so far, Hajek has been ousted thrice in the 1st Round, twice in 2nd rounds and only once made it to one stage further, which came at the 2007 French Open. Andy Murray should coast through this one but it did come as a major surprise when the authorities decided to stage this game at Court 1 and not on the showpiece Centre Court.
Other key ladies’ matches…
On the women’s front, other key players in action today feature 2004 champion Maria Sharapova, Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova and no. 3 seed Caroline Wozniacki. Top-seeded doubles pair of the Williams sisters also kick-start their campaign today.
Tsonga, Gonzalez, Almagro and the rest…
In the men’s draw, players such as Jo-Wilfred Tsonga and Fernando Gonzalez will play their first round matches today. Gonzalez’s encounter with Italian hope Fabio Fongini could go down to the wire as Fongini’s prone to creating upsets with his style of play. Nicolas Almagro’s match against another Italian, Andreas Seppi could be another close one but Almagro is a vastly improved player this year and though grass many not be his favourite surface, the man from Spain is tipped by many to atleast enter the Round of 16 this time around; his previous best effort has been a 3rd Round appearance last year. Somdev Devvarman along with his partner Treat Conrad Huey of Philippines start off their doubles campaign with a match-up against the Indo-Pak pair of Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq-Qureshi.
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