The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Precision of Swiss takes a little more of his time
● Federer slow out of traps but then overwhelms Harris
Roger Federer took a little time to get going after dropping the opening set of his first-round match against Wimbledon rookie Lloyd Harris.
Now 37, it is perhaps understandable that the Swiss master is a shade slower out of the traps these days.
But once got into his stride it was only a matter of time before he wrapped up a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win.
“I think it’s a combination of a few things, my legs weren’t moving and things were not happening,” said Federer.
“You know, it is always slightly unusual, the first let’s say two or three matches here at Wimbledon.
“I couldn’t really have any impact. He was doing a good job of returning me. It wasn’t like I was serving poorly, you know. I guess I wasn’t hitting my spots and he was reading my serve.
“But I think with my experience I stayed calm. I know I have other things in the bag that I can come up with, other tricks. I just took a bit of time.”
South African Harris has never won a match on grass, but at least he will always be able to say he took the first set he played at Wimbledon on Centre Court against Federer.
It was only the second time anyone had claimed a set off Federer in a firstround match in his last 17 Wimbledon appearances.
Harris, 22 and ranked 86 in the world, needed a medical time-out after the third set and had his calf heavily strapped.
Playing Federer is hard enough at the best of times, but Harris gamely carried on despite some obvious discomfort.
However, Federer had the finish line in sight as he booked a place in round two and a meeting with Britain’s Jay Clarke.
“I don’t know him very well,” Federer added.
“I’ve seen him around. I know him a little bit better than Lloyd. Not a whole lot, though.”
British number four Clarke is through after claiming his first victory at the All England Club. He made the most of his wild card by coming from a set down to beat US qualifier Noah Rubin 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.
Clarke knew the potential prize at stake and battled back impressively to become the seventh home player to win a first-round match this year.
As well as a date with Federer, probably on Centre Court, Clarke’s efforts also earned him the biggest payday of his career, with a second-round spot worth £72,000.
Clarke, who grew up in inner-city Derby, has spoken in the past of his family’s financial struggles to support his tennis dreams.