Wawrinka plans to sort out knee problem after Wimbledon exit

Stan Wawrinka will take time away from the game to try to cure his left knee problem after crashing out of Wimbledon in the first round.

On a day when Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal breezed into round two, fifth seed Wawrinka was the victim of the opening day’s big upset, losing 6-4 3-6 6-4 6-1 to Russian Daniil Medvedev.

Nadal could no doubt sympathise with the Swiss, who he dismissed so brutally in the final of the French Open three weeks ago.

A left knee issue Wawrinka thought was behind him flared up on the grass and he looked uncomfortable throughout his Centre Court ordeal.

The 32-year-old said: “It’s not something new, but something I had in the past, the end of last year and also in Australia.

“Since I had that problem, this was the first time I’m playing on grass. Apparently grass is not the best surface for my knee.

“I need to figure out exactly what’s the problem now, what I’m going to do, and come back on the tennis court when I am feeling without any pain.”

Wimbledon is the only grand slam Wawrinka has yet to win, with the Swiss never making it past the quarter-finals, and he must try again next year.

He said: “I wasn’t feeling the way I wanted to feel. But I played against a great player who I think was confident today, was playing well, was playing fast. It was a tough, tough day.”

Medvedev was playing in only his third grand slam and this was a first victory at this level for the 21-year-old – one of a crop of hugely promising young Russians.

He knelt down to kiss the grass after clinching the biggest win of his career and told the BBC: “I’m just really happy, my first grand slam win, Centre Court of Wimbledon.”

Nadal has struggled with his knees on grass since 2011 but was in supreme shape in winning a 10th French Open and carried that form into Wimbledon.

The world No 2 dismissed Australian John Millman for the loss of just six games, winning 6-1 6-3 6-2.

British No 4 Alijaz Bedene had a far more torturous route, however, eventually coming through a marathon slug-fest with big-serving 21st seed Ivo Karlovic 8-6 in the fifth set.

The previous four sets had all gone to tie-breaks, and in total 61 consecutive games went with serve until Bedene finally wore down the 38-year-old Croatian.

“A five-set win with only one break of serve, it feels good,” he said.

“It wasn’t easy to see at the end, but he was getting tired, all he could do was serve, but I felt good and I was hoping we would finish the match today.”

Meanwhile Nick Kyrgios’ Wimbledon lasted just two sets before the 20th seed pulled out with an ongoing hip problem.

Kyrgios had rated himself just 60-65% fit before the start of the tournament and looked to be in tears at one changeover.

He pulled the plug after French opponent Pierre-Hugues Herbert took a 6-3 6-4 lead following consultation with the trainer.

Two dark horses both eased into round two, with seventh seed Marin Cilic beating Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4 6-2 6-3 and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga seeing off British wild card Cameron Norrie.

Norrie has taken time out from a sociology degree in Texas to play professional tennis this year but the 21-year-old was given a lesson by Tsonga, who cruised to a 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory.