WIMBLEDON STEPHENS OUT; SERENA, VENUS TRIUMPH
LONDON — Now that she’s “Mrs. Williams,” per the Wimbledon chair umpire, now that she’s a mother, now that she is back on tour, Serena Williams is ready to rediscover her full complement of shots and full ability to dominate.
“Not only do I expect to win,” she said Monday after picking up a victory in her first match at the All England Club in two years, “I expect to win emphatically.”
Williams found herself in a bit of a jam against 105th-ranked Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands, down by a break in the second set on a windy afternoon. And then, a five-game run and 25 minutes later, Williams had completed the 7-5, 6-3 result.
“I have such high expectations,” said Williams, whose 23 Grand Slam singles championships include seven at Wimbledon, so she was seeded 25th even though her ranking is 181st following an extended absence. “I don’t go out there expecting to ‘do well’ or ‘see what happens.’ That’s just not me.”
Day 1 at the grass-court Grand Slam featured some mild surprises, such as U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens’ third firstround exit in the past five majors, and losses by No. 5 El in aS vito lin a and No .6 G rigor Dimitrov (to three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka). Also drawing attention was Roger Federer’s new clothing sponsorship during his easyas-can-be victory at Centre Court. Nothing feels as significant in tennis today, though, as what Williams does — because of what she’s accomplished in the past and because of what she’s trying to accomplish in the present, with a baby in tow.
She’s won 15 matches in a row at Wimbledon, a streak that encompasses titles in 2015 and 2016. She sat out the tournament last year while pregnant; she gave birth to a daughter in September and married in November (hence the change from “Miss Williams” over the arena microphone). This is only her second major tournament in nearly 1½ years.
Five-time Wimbledon champ and 2017 finalist Venus Williams barely moved on with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-1 win over Johanna Larsson of Sweden. Caroline Wozniacki advanced with a 6-0, 6-3 win over American Varvara Lepchenko. American CoCo Vandeweghe lost 6-7 (3), 6-3, 8-6 to Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic. Former Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. Last year’s semifinalist Magdalena Rybarikova become the first seeded player to exit. The 19th-seeded Slovakian went down 7-5, 6-3 to Sorana Cirstea of Romania.
Federer beat Dusan Lajovic 6-1, 6-3, 6-4. Wawrinka beat Dimitrov 1-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-4 to claim just his second Grand Slam victory since last year’s Wimbledon. Gael Monfils advanced by defeating fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet 7-6 (6), 7-5, 6-4.
Borna Coric became the highest-seeded male to exit on Day 1 when he lost 7-6 (6), 6-2, 6-2 to Daniil Medvedev. Last year’s runner-up Marin Cilic advanced with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.