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Rediff.com  » Sports » Wimbledon PIX: Djokovic, Zverev cruise; Rublev exits

Wimbledon PIX: Djokovic, Zverev cruise; Rublev exits

Last updated on: July 03, 2024 04:11 IST
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IMAGES from Day 2 of the Wimbledon Championships, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his first round match against Czech Republic's Vit Kopriva at Wimbledon on Tuesday. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters

Seven-times Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic eased concerns about his knee with a clinical performance to dismantle Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 on Tuesday and reach the second round.

Playing with a support on his right leg following a minor operation less than four weeks ago after a meniscus tear ended his French Open, the 37-year-old never faced a break point and needed a little less than two hours to prevail.

 

"I tried to really focus on the game and not think about the knee too much. Everything that I could do, I have done over the last three weeks along with my team to be able to play here for you today," Djokovic said.

"If it was for any other tournament I probably would not have risked it, would not have rushed as much, but I just love Wimbledon, love coming back here.

"I want to thank my surgeon again for doing a great job. Things would be a bit complicated (without successful surgery) to be able to play on the highest level and avoid major injuries has been good.

Draper seizes spotlight after Murray misery

Britain's Jack Draper celebrates winning his first round match against Sweden's Elias Ymer.

IMAGE: Britain's Jack Draper celebrates winning his first round match against Sweden's Elias Ymer. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters

Centre Court ticket holders were expecting to watch Andy Murray's last stand at Wimbledon on Tuesday but instead got a glimpse of the new force in British tennis in the shape of 22-year-old Jack Draper.

Despite some chewed fingernails as the stylish left-hander was made to dig deep against gallant Swedish qualifier Elias Ymer to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, they liked what they saw.

Twice Wimbledon champion and former world number one Murray withdrew from the singles in the morning having failed to recover in time from surgery to remove a spinal cyst.

While fans were disappointed at being deprived of seeing the 37-year-old Murray do battle one last time in what is his final Wimbledon, they ended the day cheering Draper into the second round under the Centre Court roof.

Draper stunned reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz at Queen's Club in the build-up to the All England Club fortnight and toppled Norrie as Britain's new number one.

He arrived seeded at a Grand Slam for the first time, at number 28, and while struggling at times against the shot-making of Ymer, he showed Murray-like resolve to avoid a slip-up.

The 28-year-old Ymer has never realised his full potential and is ranked outside the top 200, but he played beautifully in the opening set as Draper briefly looked weighed down by the expectation now loaded on his shoulders.

When he unleashed his powerful groundstrokes and began to find their target, Draper turned the match in his favour by winning the next two sets and looked on course for a quick finish.

In the long tradition of British players, including Murray, of putting fans through the wringer, Draper lost his focus and dropped serve at 4-4 in the fourth set, allowing Ymer to drag the match into a fifth set.

After a delay while the roof was closed and lights turned on, Draper returned to the stage full of intent and rattled through the deciding set to post his second Wimbledon win and set up an intriguing clash with Norrie.

Rublev beten by Grand Slam debutant Comesana

Australia's Francisco Comesana in action during his first round match against Russia's Andrey Rublev.

IMAGE: Australia's Francisco Comesana in action during his first round match against Russia's Andrey Rublev. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/Reuters

Russian sixth-seed Andrey Rublev crashed out of Wimbledon in the first round on Tuesday, losing 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(5) to world No.122 Francisco Comesana of Argentina, playing his first match at a Grand Slam.

Rublev, who last year reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, where he was defeated by Novak Djokovic, frequently lost his temper, screamed out loud, and ranted at his courtside coaching team.

At one point in the third set the 26-year-old, who also had a meltdown at the French Open in May, smashed his racket repeatedly over his knee, leaving it bloody and bruised for the rest of the match.

Indeed, Comesana thoroughly belied his lack of experience -- contesting only his second grass court match at any level, professional or junior -- and played with poise and control from the start.

The 23-year-old broke Rublev for a 3-2 lead in the first set and then held to win it, much to the frustration of Rublev.

Francisco Comesana and Andrey Rublev meet at the net after their match.

IMAGE: Francisco Comesana and Andrey Rublev meet at the net after their match. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/Reuters

Rublev broke back early in the second and began to assert himself, frequently wrong-footing Comesana or drawing him into long rallies and overpowering him with powerful forehand shots.

Comesana fought his way back from three set points down twice in the second set before losing it.

But the Argentinian, who fired down 21 aces in all, powered through the rain-interrupted third set and narrowly outdid Rublev for guile and accuracy in the fourth before drawing an unforced error from the Russian to finish the match in style.

"I dreamed to play here. I'm so happy I don't know what to say now," he said in an on-court interview.

Zverev makes winning start in bid for first Grand Slam title

IMAGE: Germany's Alexander Zverev in action during his first round match against Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena. Photograph: Hanna Mckay/ Reuters

Fourth seed Alexander Zverev eased to a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Roberto Carballes Baena in the first round of Wimbledon on Tuesday to get his latest bid for a maiden Grand Slam triumph up and running.

The German came up against a spirited Carballes Baena, who is 60 places below him in the world rankings, but his powerful serve and whipped forehand sent him through in straight sets.

A nervy Carballes Baena had to save three break points in the first game of the match but recovered to hold. The 31-year-old sent a backhand long in the fifth game to give Zverev the break and the German broke once more before wrapping up the set in little more than 30 minutes.

Carballes Baena battled under the closed roof of Court One but had no answer to Zverev's serve which averaged around 125 mph (200 kph) and produced 18 aces.

Zverev, runner-up at the French Open last month, broke straight away in the third but then had to save three break points as Carballes Baena increased his attacks. However, that just opened the door for Zverev to race ahead and seal the win.

The 27-year-old has never gone past the fourth round at Wimbledon - his worst record at a Grand Slam.

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