Rafael Nadal
Starts strongly
Spain’s Garbine Muguruza opened her Wimbledon title defence with a 6-2, 7-5 win over British wild card Naomi Broady yesterday, while German fourth seed Alexander Zverev eased past injury-plagued James Duckworth of Australia 7-5, 6-2, 6-0 to reach the second round.
Muguruza is bidding to reach her third Wimbledon final after winning last year’s title match against Venus Williams and losing the 2015 showpiece against Serena Williams.
The two-time Grand Slam champion needed 88 minutes to see off world No 138 Broady on Centre Court.
“I’m back, it’s always good, I’m thinking to win and actually enjoy this time more,” Muguruza said.
“I’m pretty happy with my serve and controlling the emotions. To be back in a Grand Slam is always difficult, so I’m excited with the way I’m playing.”
Third seed Muguruza, 24, faces Belgium’s Alison van Uytvanck or Slovenia’s Polona Herzog in the second round.
Zverev, who made the last-16 in 2017, goes on to face either Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego or Taylor Fritz of the United States.
Duckworth, ranked 748th in the world, was playing just his fifth event of the year having featured in just one match in 2017 after undergoing foot surgery.
Spain’s Feliciano Lopez set a new record for consecutive Grand Slam appearances yesterday when he started his 66th Slam in a row at Wimbledon.
The 36-year-old left-handed Spaniard had equalled the mark set by Roger Federer at Roland Garros.
Yesterday, the 70th-ranked Lopez grabbed the record when he went on court to face Federico Delbonis of Argentina at the All England Club.
Lopez has not missed a Slam since making his debut at the 2002 French Open. His best runs at the Slams have all come at Wimbledon with three quarterfinal runs in 2005, 2008 and 2011. He also made the last eight at the US Open in 2015. –