Federer begins in emphatic fashion

Azarenka survives fall to progress to round two at Wimbledon.


Afp June 24, 2013
Federer began his campaign for a record eighth Wimbledon title in style, taking just 69 minutes to storm past Hanescu. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON: Defending champion Roger Federer began his bid for a record eighth Wimbledon title with a 69-minute demolition of Victor Hanescu yesterday as Victoria Azarenka overcame a horrific fall to also progress.

Federer, 31, swept to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 win on Centre Court to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his first triumph at the All England Club with an impressive victory.

The seven-time champion Swiss fired 32 winners and just six unforced errors as he clinched a sixth career victory over the 47th-ranked Hanescu.

“It’s the most special thing to be back on Centre Court,” said Federer, playing in his 55th straight Grand Slam and seeking an 18th major. “I still enjoy it out there. It was a pleasure to play and I’m very happy to get the first round out of the way.

“I am not sure how much better I could have played. It was good to get it done quickly as it was cold and it released some of the pressure.”

Federer came into Wimbledon on the back of his first title of 2013 in Halle, the grasscourt win taking him level with John McEnroe on 77 career titles.

“Halle came at the right time. It shows I am peaking in time for Wimbledon,” added third-seeded Federer, who next plays Sergiy Stakhovsky of the Ukraine for a place in the last-32.

Azarenka fights tears to round two

Women’s second-seed Azarenka, a semi-finalist in 2011 and 2012, moved into the second round, beating Portugal’s world number 106 Maria Joao Koehler 6-1, 6-2.

The 23-year-old Belarusian, the reigning Australian Open champion, broke down in tears after suffering a worrying fall in the second game of the second set on Court One as her right leg gave way in her service action.

Azarenka collapsed in crippling pain before her first-round match was delayed by 10 minutes for her to have her right knee heavily strapped.

“It was such a shock,” said Azarenka, who eventually regained her composure to book a second round match-up with experienced Italian, Flavia Pennetta. “I felt my whole body collapse.

“But then it calmed down. I was trying to stay in the moment and give my best.”

Maria Sharapova came through a tough battle with France’s Kristina Mladenovic on Monday to make it into the second round at Wimbledon.

The 2004 Wimbledon champion secured a straight sets win in the first women’s match on Centre Court, but it was a tight affair, with the third seed eventually triumphing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.

In another match, Ana Ivanovic took a set to warm up but eventually cruised through to the second round at Wimbledon with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-0 win over French qualifier Virginie Razzano.

Italian fifth-seed Sara Errani became the first major casualty of this year’s Wimbledon when she slumped to a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Puerto Rican teenager Monica Puig.

Puig, 19, the world number 65, who is playing a grasscourt tournament for the first time as a professional, goes on to face Silvia Soler Espinosa of Spain.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2013.

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