Federer rolls into second round after dropping first set

LONDON — Eight-time champion Roger Federer recovered from a first-set scare to record his 96th win at Wimbledon with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory over South African Lloyd Harris on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old Swiss star, who is aiming for a record-extending 21st Grand Slam title, struggled to find his rhythm, and a handful of mistakes saw him drop the first set of an opening Wimbledon match for the first time in nine years.

“I just struggled. As my legs weren’t moving,” Federer said.

“In defense you’re weak. The next thing you know you’re struggling.

“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.”

Harris had never played a tourlevel match on a grass court going into his introductory appearance at Wimbledon.

In contrast, Federer is the most successful active player on the surface with 181 victories and 19 grass tournament wins.

However, the 22-year-old was not intimidated by Federer’s illustrious career stats as he overwhelmed the former champion with powerful serving and groundstrokes to force Federer into errors.

Harris remained firm on serve and challenged Federer until the world No. 3 overcooked his backhand and conceded the lead.

It is the first time Federer has lost the first set in an openinground match at Wimbledon since he dropped two sets against Colombia’s Alejandro Falla in 2010.

He sprinted through the second set with two breaks and quick service holds to take the second set and even up the scores in a 22minute onslaught.

A wide forehand from Harris gave Federer another break for 52 in set three, and a netted return afforded the Grand Slam record holder a commanding position at two sets to one.

Federer finally treated the Centre Court crowd to a trademark backhand winner, which he sent effortlessly across the court for a match-winning break in set four.

And Federer kept his ambitions for a ninth title alive as he bookended his victory with an ace and moved into the second round for a 17th consecutive year.

He will play Britain’s Jay Clarke, who defeated American Noah Rubin 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.

There was another shocker in the men’s draw as Austria’s Dominic Thiem was beaten 6-7 (47), 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, 6-0 by American Sam Querrey, who moves on to face Russian Andrey Rublev.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios triumphed over five sets in a 7-6 (74), 3-6, 7-6 (12-10), 0-6, 6-1 battle with compatriot Jordan Thompson.

Kyrgios will play world No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the second round after he claimed a 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Japan’s Yuichi Sugita.

Canadian Denis Shapovalov took a 7-6 (7-0), 6-4, 6-3 loss to Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis.

In the women’s draw, newly crowned world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty began her campaign as the top seed at Wimbledon with a 6-4, 6-2 win over China’s Zheng Saisai.

Barty surrendered a 3-0 lead in the first set but when she won three consecutive games in the second set, the 23-year-old Australian made no mistake to win in 75 minutes.

“I’ve had some very tough matches against Saisai in the past,” Barty said. “It’s always a big challenge playing up against her.”

Barty will meet Alison van Uytvanck in the next round after the Belgian dismissed Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 46, 6-2.

On Centre Court, Germany’s Angelique Kerber began the defense of her Wimbledon crown with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over compatriot Tatjana Maria, despite losing serve four times in a match that featured 10 breaks.

“I was really nervous, to be honest, because (I was) going out there as the defending champion,” Kerber said.

“I was enjoying the points and the crowd, but of course with a lot of nerves at the beginning.”

Serena Williams, who lost to Kerber in last year’s final, is safely through to the second round after a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Italian Giulia Gatto-Monticone.

Williams moves on to face 18year-old Slovakian Kaja Juvan next.

Spain’s Garbine Muguruza is going home after the 2017 champion was defeated 6-4, 6-4 by Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Another former champion in Maria Sharapova retired through injury at 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 50 against France’s Pauline Parmentier.