Last year's finalist Milos Raonic was tested on Tuesday but remained perfect in openers at The Championships, beating German Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6(5), 6-2, 7-6(4) on No. 1 Court. Raonic has now won all seven of his Wimbledon openers. His best run at the All England Club came a year ago when Raonic became the first Canadian to reach a Grand Slam tournament final before falling to Andy Murray in straight sets. The 26-year-old Raonic has struggled with injuries for much of this season, though, giving a walkover or altogether withdrawing from five tournaments so far this year. Last month, he fell in his grass-court opener at the Aegon Championships at The Queen's Club. The 2016 London finalist lost to #NextGenATP...
Novak Djokovic's bid for a fourth title at The Championships got underway on Tuesday on Centre Court. Djokovic, who three days ago clinched his 68th tour-level title at the Aegon International in Eastbourne, was leading Martin Klizan 6-3, 2-0 after 40 minutes of play when the Slovakian retired due to a left leg injury. “It was great to be back on Centre Court, the cathedral of tennis, where I have many special memories,” second seed Djokovic told BBC Television. “It’s never nice to win like this, but I tried to focus on my game plan. I thought I served well, but didn’t do so well on my returns.” Djokovic improved to a 29-7 record on the season, which also includes...
Juan Martin del Potro maintained his record of always reaching the second round of The Championships on Tuesday when he beat #NextGenATP Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 in three hours and three minutes. The No. 29 seed from Argentina, who reached the 2013 semi-finals (l. to Djokovic) and is making his eighth appearance at the All England Club, will next challenge Ernests Gulbis, who committed just 19 unforced errors and saved all six break points he faced in beating Victor Estrella Burgos 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 in 88 minutes. Del Potro, who was contesting his 50th grass-court match of his career (35-15), opened up a 3-0 lead in the first set and appeared to be in control of Kokkinakis,...
#NextGenATP Daniil Medvedev pulled off the upset of The Championships on Monday, knocking out three-time Grand Slam tournament champion Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to earn his first Grand Slam victory. The 21-year-old Russian had lost in the opening round of both of his previous Grand Slam showings, at the 2017 Australian Open (l. to Escobedo) and at Roland Garros earlier this year (retired against Borzi). The Moscow native had never played in the main draw at Wimbledon and had quite the stage for his debut – Centre Court against the World No. 3, who had twice reached the quarter-finals at the All England Club (2014, l. to Federer; 2015, l. to Gasquet). “First of all, it's my first...
Aljaz Bedene knew what he was in for on Monday at The Championships. In order to break down Ivo Karlovic for a place in the second round, he’d need to win tie-breaks. In the final game, after four tie-breaks and a pulsating four hours and 25 minutes, the 27-year-old Bedene struck a crosscourt forehand return winner, then a backhand return winner down the line past No. 21 seed Ivo Karlovic for the lone break of the match - and his 14th win of the season. Bedene maintained his perfect record (4-0) against Karlovic with a 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-7(7), 7-6(7), 8-6 victory on No. 3 Court in fading light at the All England Club. It is the first time a match...
