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Journalism of Courage
Rafael Nadal opened his Wimbledon title defense with a convincing victory Monday,beating Michael Russell 6-4,6-2,6-2 on a fantastic day while his parents watched from the Royal Box. In keeping with tradition,the defending mens champion played the first match on Centre Court at the All England Club and the top-ranked Spaniard put on a worthy performance to begin the 125th edition of the championships.
Five-time womens champion Venus Williams also swept into the second round with a 6-3 6-1 win over 97th-rank Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan.
I started so-so in the first set,but after that I start to hit very well the forehand and I think I finished playing a very good level, Nadal said. The two players shared a laugh after Russell successfully challenged what had been ruled an ace by Nadal on match point. Nadal won the next point,though,to finish the match in just under two hours.
Emotional start for Rafa
It was the first time Nadal has walked onto Centre Court as defending champion. After winning the title for the first time in 2008,he missed the tournament the following year with a knee injury. Fantastic, he said. Seriously,I never played in a court like this. (It) was a big emotion and a great honour to be the first player to play in this fabulous court. It was a very,very exciting feeling. Watching from the Royal Box were Nadals parents,Sebastian and Ana Maria. Too many beautiful things to see my mom and my dad in the Royal Box, Nadal said. I think for them (it) was a great experience. So,everything in general was very,very nice today.
While Nadal and Williams played in mostly sunny conditions,the first rain delay of the tournament came in late afternoon. Sixth-seeded Francesca Schiavone and Jelena Dokic were locked at 1-1 in the third set on Centre Court when play was halted by the showers. The retractable roof,which has been in place since 2009 but rarely used,was then closed and the match was resumed in covered conditions after which Schiavone won 6-4 1-6 6-3.
Williams,who played at Eastbourne last week after an injury layoff of nearly five months,took Amanmuradova apart in 59 minutes with her hard-hitting all-court game. She served seven aces,broke four times and had 23 winners to only five unforced errors none in the second set.
Amanmuradova,who has now lost in the first round at Wimbledon in all four appearances,is taller than Williams at 6-foot-3 and can hit hard. But once Williams found her rhythm,she couldnt be stopped,winning six games in a row and the last 12 points to close the match.
Williams made a statement not only with her tennis but with her fashion sense,wearing a one-piece playsuit which exposed some of her back. The outfit featured cutout sleeves,a deep V neckline and a gold belt wrapped around the waist.
Its a jumper, she said. Jumpers are very now, as is lace. The shoulders have a lot of draping. Its a trendy dress. Its cool and fun. The back is a like a cutout or peekaboo. Im always trying to do something different and fun.
Williams had been sidelined after injuring her hip at the Australian Open. She had fallen to No. 30 in the rankings but is seeded No. 23,the same position she held when she won the tournament in 2007. Playing in her 15th Wimbledon,she extended her record to 69-9.
Williams second-round opponent will be Japans Kimiko Date-Krumm,who became the second oldest women to win a match at Wimbledon,beating Katie OBrien 6-0,7-5 on Monday.
In another match,2010 runner-up Vera Zvonareva downed 115th-ranked American Alison Riske 6-0,3-6,6-3. The second-seeded Russian looked in trouble after the second set against the Riske,20,whose best results are on grass. But Zvonareva raised her game and closed the match with an ace.
The first seeded man to lose was No. 30 Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil 7-6 (3),6-4,6-2 to 35-year-old German Rainer Schuettler,the oldest player in the mens draw. Tomas Berdych and Richard Gasquet also advanced.
