Defending champion Venus Williams and world No.1 Dinara Safina moved into the Wimbledon second round on Tuesday as time caught up with All England Club veterans Kimiko Date Krumm and Jelena Dokic. Williams, the five-time, 29-year-old champion, beat Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele 6-3, 6-2 in a sunkissed Centre Court workout.
"It is the best place to be when you are a pro tennis player and I savour every blade of it," said Williams who now faces Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko.
"I've had that crown for several years and I want to make it mine again."
The American had her serve broken twice and had to spend an hour and 18 minutes on court against the 19-year-old, world 97. Russian top seed Safina, who has never got beyond the third round, reached the last 64 with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Spain's Lourdes Dominguez Lino and next plays Paraguay's Rossana de los Rios.
Safina, the beaten finalist in Australia and at Roland Garros this year, shrugged off a knee injury on Court One.
"It's a problem I've had for two months. I was struggling in the second set, but hopefully treatment will help."
Date Krumm and Dokic's hopes of a fairytale melted in the Wimbledon heat.
Date Krumm, the 38-year-old Japanese who last played here in 1996, took the first set off Danish ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki but slipped to a 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 defeat.
The Japanese player reached the semifinals in 1996; when she made her debut in 1989, Wozniacki was still a year away from being born.
Date Krumm, 20 years older than the blonde Dane, needed extensive medical treatment on her injured thigh as the marathon tie took its toll.
Wozniacki, who came into Wimbledon having captured the Eastbourne grasscourt tournament, admitted that Date Krumm's flat-hitting style had caught her by surprise.
Dokic, who made her career breakthrough here in 1999 when she defeated defending champion Martina Hingis, before her professional and private life went into a downward spiral, also needed medical attention.
The 26-year-old Australian took the first set off German qualifier Tatjana Malek before losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Dokic complained of feeling dizzy at the end of the second set and had her blood pressure taken at courtside.
"There's been a lot of stuff happen," said Dokic who last played here in 2004, spending most of the intervening years escaping the iron hand of controversial father Damir.
Also progressing in the women's draw was Serbian sixth seed Jelena Jankovic who defeated Germany's Julia Göerges 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) and she will face the Czech Republic's Iveta Benesova.
In the men's first round, Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro, a semi-finalist at Roland Garros, brushed aside France's Arnaud Clement 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.
There wins also for 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, who defeated Robby Ginepri 6-4, 6-1, 6-1, while two-time runner-up Andy Roddick saw off France's Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3.
I like to tell a good story
It’s not just Roger Federer’s magical skills with the racquet that marks him out as a great champion. Rather, it is the way in which the handsome Swede conducts himself on and off the court that marks him out as a great human being.
Born to a Swiss-German father — Robert Federer and mother Lynette Federer of South African nationality — the 28-year old has been blessed to speak no less than six languages. Though he considers German as his main language, Roger is equally fluent in Swiss, French and English. And just as he likes to be in cruise control on the court, he is equally at home handling the media.
When Federer last won Wimbledon in 2007, he set the unofficial record for the most amount of time for the media. On most days, by the time he was through it was late into the night. Similarly, after he won the French Open early this month, he was more than patient with the media. And things look no different at the All England Club.
“I was well educated in this regard. I think it’s important to take that time. It’s part of tennis today and I guess, with the different languages, that’s something different too,” says Federer about his off-field assignments.
“I have always enjoyed it. It’s not the most fun part of the job, but I also have a good time. I like to tell a good story. Whether it’s for spectators who were in the stadium or those who couldn’t be there, at least they get something good to read about or hear about.”
Indeed, for someone who’s well versed with so many languages, the likes of Federer are always welcome for the media. “I speak a few different languages. Then you have the papers, the radio, the magazines and whatever. It ends up being a lot. But, honestly, after I’ve won a tournament, or a big match, there is something that needs information. I don’t mind giving time. Half an hour more, one hour more sometimes, it’s not the end of the world for me.”
And what happens when he loses? “Well, you lose, you leave. It’s pretty simple. You don’t want to hang around,” says Federer with a smile. Well, if only our cricketers were to take a leaf out of Federer’s book!
SECOND SERVE
My name is Williamsova!
At a post match conference, trust Serena Williams to talk at length about fashion and her school in Africa and she is always more than willing to speak her mind. However, for a change, she paid a lefthanded compliment to the several Russians in the draw. In fact, the American wondered whether even she came from Russia and whether her name ought to have been Williamsova. “I just know the standard — everyone is from Russia. Sometimes, I think, I’m from Russia, too. I feel like, you know, okay, all these new ‘ovas.’ I don’t know anyone. I don’t really recognize anyone. That’s just how it is. So, does Serena get the feeling that she too might have left Russia for America when she was seven years old? I think so, and I think my name must have been Williamsova! But you can’t really blame Serena for saying what she said because this years first-round draw had no less than 24 ‘ovas’ besides seven ‘evas’ including Elena Dementieva.
Federer’s secret
So much is being talked and written about Roger Federer winning the French Open and having a date with history at Wimbledon and, of course, fatherhood. Everyone knows that his charming wife is expecting the couple’s first baby. However, nobody knows when the baby is due to arrive. And Federer, for all his willingness to share information with the international media, remains tightlipped. The query was thrown up to the Swiss, who looked embarrassed. “Oh! Lets talk about something else,” he pleaded. ‘Roger, the world wants to know it,’ insisted the scribe. “I’m not telling you,” smiled Federer. ‘Is it happening during this fortnight?’ “I don’t know,” the Swiss said as everyone had a good laugh.
men's First round Day 2 Results
Andy Murray (3) def. Robert Kendrick 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-4
Juan Martin Del Potro (5) def. Arnaud Clement 6-3, 6-1, 6-2
Andy Roddick (6) def. Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-3
Gilles Simon (8) def. Bobby Reynolds 6-4, 6-3, 6-3
Fernando Gonzalez (10) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili 7-5, 7-5, 6-3
Nikolay Davydenko (12) def. Daniel Evans 6-2, 6-3, 6-3
Marat Safin (14) vs. Jesse Levine 2-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 4-6
David Ferrer (16) def. Kevin Kim 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
Stanislas Wawrinka (19) def. Eduardo Schwank 7-5, 6-4, 6-1
Tomas Berdych (20) def. Alex Bogdanovic 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Radek Stepanek (23) def. Alejandro Falla 6-4, 6-4, 6-1
Tommy Haas (24) def. Alexander Peya 6-7 (5-7), 7-6, 6-3, 6-4
Dmitry Tursunov (25) vs. Mischa Zverev 4-6, 2-6, 0-3 retired
Jurgen Melzer (26) def. Wayne Odesnik 6-1, 6-4, 6-2
Viktor Troicki (30) def. Brian Dabul 6-4, 6-4, 6-3
Victor Hanescu (31) def. Ivan Navarro 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 12-10
Nicolas Kiefer (33) vs. Fabrice Santoro 4-6, 2-6, 2-6
Oscar Hernandez vs. Leonardo Mayer 0-6, 0-6, 3-6
Michael Llodra def. Joshua Goodall 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Juan Carlos Ferrero def. Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
Fabio Fognini def. Denis Istomin 1-6, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 3-1 retired
Frederico Gil vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu 1-6, 6-2, 4-6, 2-6
Benjamin Becker def. Roko Karanusic 6-4, 6-4, 6-1
Christophe Rochus vs. Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 1-6, 9-11
Taylor Dent vs. Daniel Gimeno-Traver 5-7, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4
Potito Starace def. Jose Acasuso 7-6, 6-3 retired
Victor Crivoi def. Bjorn Phau 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 6-3
Nicolas Devilder def. Nicolas Lapentti 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
Pablo Andujar vs. Martin Vassallo Arguello 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 2-6
Rajeev Ram vs. Philipp Petzschner 6-2, 1-6, 6-7 (3-7), 1-6
Thiago Alves def. Andrei Pavel 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, 2-6, 6-1
Grigor Dimitrov vs. Igor Kunitsyn 6-3, 0-6, 0-4 retired
Riccardo Ghedin vs. Ernests Gulbis 2-6, 4-6, 4-6
Lleyton Hewitt def. Robby Ginepri 6-4, 6-1, 6-1
Women's First round Day 2 Results
Dinara Safina (1) def. Lourdes Dominguez Lino 7-5, 6-3
Venus Williams (3) def. Stefanie Voegele 6-3, 6-2
Svetlana Kuznetsova (5) def. Akiko Morigami 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
Jelena Jankovic (6) def. Julia Goerges 6-4, 7-6
Vera Zvonareva (7) def. Georgie Stoop 7-6, 4-6, 6-4
Caroline Wozniacki (9) def. Kimiko Date Krumm 5-7, 6-3, 6-1
Agnieszka Radwanska (11) def. Maria JoseSanchez Martinez 7-5, 6-1
Ana Ivanovic (13) def. Lucie Hradecka 5-7, 6-2, 8-6
Flavia Pennetta (15) def. Nuria Llagostera Vives 3-6, 6-1, 6-0
Amelie Mauresmo (17) def. Melinda Czink 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
Samantha Stosur (18) def. Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-2
Na Li (19) def. Galina Voskoboeva 7-6 (7-5), 6-0
Anabel Medina Garrigues (20) def. Marta Domachowska 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Vera Dushevina def. Alize Cornet (22) 3-6, 6-0, 6-4
Kaia Kanepi (25) vs. Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4, 3-6, 3-6
Sybille Bammer (29) vs. Melanie Oudin 6-4, 4-6, 2-6
Agnes Szavay (30) vs. Kirsten Flipkens 5-7, 4-6
Anna Chakvetadze (32) vs. Sabine Lisicki 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 2-6
Olga Govortsova def. Tatiana Perebiynis 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Patricia Mayr def. Anne Keothavong 7-5, 6-2
Anastasija Sevastova vs. Kateryna Bondarenko 3-6, 6-7 (5-7)
Alexa Glatch vs. Shuai Peng 4-6, 6-2, 4-6
Alberta Brianti vs. Tathiana Garbin 4-6, 3-6
Nicole Vaidisova vs. Rossana de los Rios 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6
Elena Baltacha def. Alona Bondarenko 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Pauline Parmentier def. Akgul Amanmuradova 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Petra Kvitova vs. Maria Kirilenko 4-6, 4-6
Vania King def. Mariya Koryttseva 6-4, 6-2
Katie O'Brien vs. Iveta Benesova 2-6, 7-5, 4-6
Sara Errani def. Stephanie Dubois 7-5, 6-2
Tatjana Malek def. Jelena Dokic 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
Kristina Kucova def. Aiko Nakamura 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
Ekaterina Makarova def. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 7-5, 2-6, 6-3
Monica Niculescu vs. Yaroslava Shvedova 1-6, 0-6
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