By Erik Gudris | Monday, June 23, 2014
Top seed Novak Djokovic rolled past his first round opponent during opening day at Wimbledon. But Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was forced to stop play at a key moment in his five set battlle.
Photo Credit: AP
Some things never change at Wimbledon. Novak Djokovic racing past a first round opponent. Fabio Fognini entertaining and annoying spectators. And, of course, the rain.
Wimbledon - Azarenka Gets First Win Since January
Thankfully on opening day, the weather didn't play a factor until very late in the early evening. Clearer skies allowed defending champion Andy Murray to commence Centre Court action and his title defense with a three set win over David Goffin. Soon, it was time for Novak Djokovic to make his first appearance on the famed court this year.
The top seed looked ready to leave just as quickly as he had arrived. Only because Djokovic put on a blistering display of superb shotmaking against World No. 56 Andrey Golubev. Holding at love and then breaking his opponent right away, Djokovic raced away with a 6-0 first set. Before anyone could blink, Djokovic was up 5-0 in the second. Golubev finally got on the board, but didn't really find any true momentum until the third set.
That didn't really matter much though to Djokovic who never faced a break point all afternoon. Seizing a late break of serve himself in the final set, Djokovic soon closed out the 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 win in just 84 minutes.
“It was a great start, especially in the first two sets,” Djokovic said later. “I cannot be happier with that performance, especially with no matches under my belt.”
Djokovic will look to repeat his sizzling form against the always dangerous Czech veteran Radek Stepanek next.
Fognini Wins in Five as Tsonga Forced to Wait Another Day
Whether one loves or hates Italy's Fabio Fognini, either way he makes everybody pay attention to him, whether they want to or not. That was the case again when the No. 16 seed Fognini quickly found himself two sets down against American Alex Kuznetsov.
With his trademark monologues and flashes of anger, Fognini clawed his way back to win the next two sets. A final set showdown ensued with both players often showing their frustrations at the umpire. Though he lost in the opening round last year, Fognini looked determined not to repeat that result. He managed a late break of serve and completed the comeback 2-6, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 9-7 victory.
Fognini celebrated by blowing off not shaking the umpire's hand and yelling out a few unmentionable words. This tweet sums up how close the match really was.
Being unhappy with umpires proved a popular theme in another match that also went the distance.
No. 14 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France found himself up against Austrian veteran Jurgen Melzer. Though Melzer had never beaten Tsonga in four tries and just came into town having reaching the semis of a grass court tune up in Den Bosch, the Austrian proved he had something left.
After splitting the first four sets, Melzer found himself down an early break to Tsonga in the fifth. It was then Melzer started complaining to the umpire about the fading light of the early London evening.
"Why do we have to play when it's dark," Melzer said. That got little sympathy from the umpire who made no move to halt play. Tsonga, who held his lead for 5-4, walked to his chair as he prepared to serve for the match.
But the one thing no one can control at Wimbledon suddenly made its presence felt for the first time at the Championships.
Rain started and then continued for over 30 minutes. With no let up in sight, play was suspended for the evening forcing both Tsonga, Melzer and several other players on other courts to return tomorrow. It wouldn't be a surprise if neither Tsonga nor Melzer get much sleep tonight.
Other players who advanced today included Tomas Berdych who probably got more attention for a photo of him in the buff that will soon appear in ESPN Magazine's "The Body Issue". Crowd favorite Marcos Baghdatis beat another crowd favorite in Dustin Brown while Australia's Marinko Matoesvic ousted No. 18 seed Fernando Verdasco. And 26-year-old Tim Puetz of Germany, ranked No. 251 in the world and a qualifier this year, defeated Teymuraz Gabashvili, to reach the second round and possibly collect the biggest paycheck of his career.
On opening day, the Wimbledon dream ended for some, but for many others, it's just getting started. Even if delayed a day by rain.