ATP
Wimbledon Men’s Day 1
Holder Novak Djokovic won his 29th match in a row at Wimbledon on Monday, with the seven-time winner helping to dry off the Centre Court grass during an opening-day rain interruption.
The second seed pitched in as weather blew in, with officials likely wondering why they did not shut the roof immediately.
Instead, they delayed and paid the price with an interruption of 90 wasted minutes, during which a fidgety Djokovic got to work with a towel in hopes of getting back on court as soon as possible for what ended as a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (4) defeat of Argentine Pedro Cachin.
“It was frustrating for the crowd waiting for us (to resume),” the winner said. “We both wanted to play but it was a bit too slippery.
“But once the roof was opened, we were out there.”
No. 68 Cachin saved three match points before Djokovic – bidding for his fifth consecutive trophy here – finished off the afternoon after nearly four hours on and off court to reach the second round.
He improved to 87-10 at the tournament.
Djokovic came to the major without any official tournament preparation on grass – his usual scenario.
“The opening match is always a bit tricky, especially since I had no lead-up event.
“Grass is quite different in terms of movement, style and tactics. It takes more time to adjust than on any other surface
“But there is no reason I can’t (make the transition) again.
“I’m going match by match; I hope the level of tennis will elevate.”
Clay-centric Casper Ruud, seeded fourth, duplicated his career best Wimbledon showing by winning the first round 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 over French qualifier Laurent Lokoli.
The outsider put up a fight as he won the second set but was eventually double-faulted to lose to the steady Norwegian who has played finals at three of the last five Grand Slams.
“I take every match as an underdog here, I don’t have the perfect game for grass,” Ruud said.
“Today I played quite well, but there are many more players ahead of me who are favourites.
“I’ll just try to play loose and without pressure. I want to enjoy it every time I step onto court.”
Seventh seed Andrey Rublev became the first man through to the second round with his defeat of 2022 double winner Max Purcell 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in 93 minutes.
Rublev, who was unable to compete here in 2022 due to the ban on Russian players, is glad to be back.
“Obviously I feel really happy to be back; in general I haven;t played much Wimbledon… I was injured or it was pandemic or then they banned us.
“Of course I feel really special and really happy to be back in London to play at one of the best tournaments and to get a win today was a nice moment.”
He advanced with 27 winners and five breaks of serve as he won his 11th straight opening match this season..
Italian 14th seed Lorenzo Musetti ended a run of two straight losses in the first round here as he defeated Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru 6-3, 6-1, 7-5, making his point with 33 winners.
Jordan Thompson will next face Djokovic after spending three and a half hours battling Brandon Nakishima of the US, with the Australian coming from two sets to love down for a 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-3 result.
econd seed pitched in as weather blew in, with officials likely wondering why they did not shut the roof immediately.
Instead, they delayed and paid the price with an interruption of 90 wasted minutes, during which a fidgety Djokovic got to work with a towel in hopes of getting back on court as soon as possible for what ended as a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (4) defeat of Argentine Pedro Cashin.
“It was frustrating for the crowd waiting for us (to resume),” the winner said. “We both wanted to play but it was a bit too slippery.
“But once the roof was opened, we were out there.”
No. 68 Cachin saved three match points before Djokovic – bidding for his fifth consecutive trophy here – finished off the afternoon after nearly four hours on and off court to reach the second round.
He improved to 87-10 at the tournament.
Djokovic came to the major without any official tournament preparation on grass – his usual scenario.
“The opening match is always a bit tricky, especially since I had no lead-up event.
“Grass is quite different in terms of movement, style and tactics. It takes more time to adjust than on any other surface
“But there is no reason I can’t (make the transition) again.
“I’m going match by match; I hope the level of tennis will elevate.”
Clay-centric Casper Ruud, seeded fourth, duplicated his career best Wimbledon showing by winning the first round 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 over French qualifier Laurent Lokoli.
The outsider put up a fight as he won the second set but was eventually double-faulted to lose to the steady Norwegian who has played finals at three of the last five Grand Slams.
“I take every match as an underdog here, I don’t have the perfect game for grass,” Ruud said.
“Today I played quite well, but there are many more players ahead of me who are favourites.
“I’ll just try to play loose and without pressure. I want to enjoy it every time I step onto court.”
Seventh seed Andrey Rublev became the first man through to the second round with his defeat of 2022 double winner Max Purcell 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in 93 minutes.
Rublev, who was unable to compete here in 2022 due to the ban on Russian players, is glad to be back.
“Obviously I feel really happy to be back; in general I haven;t played much Wimbledon… I was injured or it was pandemic or then they banned us.
“Of course I feel really special and really happy to be back in London to play at
one of the best tournaments and. To get a win today was a nice moment.”
He advanced with 27 winners and five breaks of serve as he won his 11th straight opening match this season..
Italian 14th seed Lorenzo Musetti ended a run of two straight losses in the first round here as he defeated Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru 6-3, 6-1, 7-5, making his point with 33 winners.
Jordan Thompson will next face Djokovic after spending three and a half hours battling Brandon Nakishima of the US, with the Australian coming from two sets to love down for a 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-3 result.
Main photo:- Novak Djokovic takes a tumble over the net during first round Wimbledon win – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Carlos Alcaraz ended a four-and-a-half month injury exile with a resounding 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Roman Safiullin on Monday at the US Open to mark his return to the courts after a wrist injury.
The defending champion now ranked third is hoping to become the first man to successfully defend the title here Roger Federer won US Open over five consecutive editions (2004-2008).
“For me it’s been a really tough five months. Being able to step on Arthur Ashe and being able to compete again.. as I said before the tournament, I couldn’t decide to come back in a better tournament than here in New York,” Alcaraz said.
“It’s a really special tenement for me. I tried to enjoy as much as I can. I missed it. I missed the crowd. The energy. I missed competition. I missed everything. 🥹 I’m just really really happy I was able to compete again.”
“On this (Ashe) court, I made my dream. First major. First time becoming No. 1 in the world.
“The warm welcome I receive every time I come here is crazy. I really appreciate it. I really feel the love from the people.”
One-time top 10 regular Stefanos Tsitsipas unleashed a major surprise on Cincinnati winner Arthur Fils with a turnaround 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-4 win as the French youngster failed to earn a two-set-to-love lead over the Greek.
“I don’t have the answer,” the 10th-seeded Fils said after his collapse in form. “Once the energy went down at the end of the second, I never felt again a good energy.
“I have to talk with my team, but at my level, to do such a mistake is almost unprofessional.”
He added: “I was trying to fight; at one point I broke back early in the fourth, so I was trying to find a way, but not accurate enough on the serve.
“The ball was not going very well out of my racquet. Even if I was fighting, was tough.”
Fils had beaten No. 53 Tsitsipas in all five of heir previous matches
The Greek, playing unseeded for the first time here, reaching the second round for the sixth time as he came from a set and 5-2 down.
Former ATP No. 3 Tsitsipas pronounced himself “speechless” at his success. “It’s an amazing start to the tournament, I’m very proud of myself.
“I’m taking it a day at a time. I don’t wanna be looking too far away. I prefer to stay grounded in the moment. A win like this today matters a lot to me.”
:French veteran Adrian Mannarino, aged 38, fought back from two sets to love down for only the second time in his career to advance past Thiago Tirante 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
The loss ended the dream of the 42nd-ranked Argentine who beat Novak Djokovic in the Cincinnati second round last month as the Serb competed for the first time since Wimbledon at the pre-Open event.
The first-round match began on opening day but was interrupted by night-time rain and concluded on Monday.
Andrey Rublev wore down lucky loser Otto Virtanen as the Finn cramped in the closing stages on the way to a 6-7 (5), 6-7 (0), 6-0, 6-2, 7-6 (5). Virtanen entered the draw as former champion Marin Cilic withdrew.
Main photo:- ‘New look” Carlos Alcaraz celebrates first round win on return from injury – ATPTour.com
Novak Djokovic hit the wall as the 24-time Grand Slam winner vomited at the back of the court and was treated by the trainer during a disheartening first round loss which ended early Monday morning on opening day of the US Open.
The 39-year-old Serb fell ill – he said things have been this way for weeks – as he took a loss to Mariano Navone 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
In addition to his stomach problems, the ailing Serb was seen by the trainer, the doctor and used an inhaler as he complained of cramping and general poor health during a stress test lasting nearly four and three-quarter hours.
The defeat came a fortnight after Djokovic was knocked out in his opening match in Cincinnati after reaching a Wimbledon semi-final.
“It was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me. It’s something I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year,” Djokovic said early Monday.
“Vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain.
“The back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out.
He added: “I was up a break up in the fourth, but just struggled all the way since the fourth game of the match. Congrats to him. He’s a nice guy, a fighter.
But, you know, I didn’t enjoy myself.”
The disappointing end was Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit in two decades and cut off a run of 78 Grand Slam first-round victories going back to a loss to Paul Goldstein at the 2006 Australian Open.
“From the perspective of the crowd and support, it was incredible, honestly from the beginning. They were trying to lift me up in important moments,” Djokovic said.
“I’m very sorry that I, you know, didn’t perform as well as I should have or could have… but the love and appreciation they gave me in the end really touched my heart.”
Seventh seed and 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev came good after losing here a year ago in the first round, posting a win over Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 for his 33rd victory of the season.
Montreal quarter-finalist Daniel Merida defeated Marton Fucsovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 to earn the fist straight-set men’s win of the fortnight.
Jiri Lehecka put out two-time semi-finalist Pablo Carreño Busta 6-1, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-2. The win served as revenge after the veteran Spaniard beat the Czech in the Roland Garros first round.
No. 101 Dino Prizmic spent nearly four hours before completing a win over Alexander Shevchenko to advance in five sets.
The 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 success was hard-fought, with Prizmic leading 5-2 and serving for it in the fourth set but needing to go all the way to claim his first victory here after saving two match points.
The Croat has threatened top 10 names in the past, beating Novak Djokovic in Rome and Ben Shelton in Madrid.
Cincinnati quarter-finalist Tommy Paul recovered after losing the opening set, storming back for a 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 win over Hong Kong qualifier Coleman Wong.
Day 1 British results were mixed, with Cam Norrie going down in an upset loss to Frenchman Luca van Assche 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 while debutant Toby Samuel’s earned the biggest win of his career as he stunned Czech Tomas Machac 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.
Former finalist Casper Ruud made a last-minute pull out on Sunday as the US Open began, with the Norwegian still affected by the back injury which forced his retirement only days ago in Cincinnati.
The runner-up four years ago to Carlos Alcaraz has been carrying the problems for several weeks and pulled the plug on his participation on opening day of the season;s final major.
Ruud becomes the 20th player to withdraw,, a list led by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who is dealing with a knee injury and who has not played since winning Wimbledon in July.
Ruud was due to start in New York against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, whom he defeated last month in Montreal.
Ruud now faces a rush to fitness if he is to compete at the Laver Cup in London from September 25.
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