LONDON, (Reuters) – As victories go it was a breeze for Rafael Nadal against Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the first round of Wimbledon yesterday but it was the Spaniard’s ecstatic reaction that told the real story.
After rifling a smash deep into the other side of Centre Court to complete a 6-2 6-4 6-4 win he ripped off his white headband, thumped the net tape with his yellow racket, clenched his fists and looked skywards with his eyes closed.
Two years on from that unforgettable Sunday evening when his swashbuckling tennis floored Roger Federer to win the 2008 title in near darkness, a beaming Nadal could hardly contain himself as the Centre Court crowd rose to salute him.
“I can tell you, I’m very happy how I played today,” Nadal, whose aching knees prevented him from being able to defend his title last year, told reporters.
“It’s always special to play on this court. “I’m happy to come back to this tournament and play in probably the most beautiful and emblematic court in the world.”
Nadal’s one blip in a performance full of searing winners was a dropped serve in the third set but he exacted swift retribution to swat aside the 20-year-old wildcard.
Make no mistake. The 24-year-old, looking sharp, eager and hungry despite a long claycourt grind, is here to reclaim the title that Federer snatched back last year.
As opening salvos go it was emphatic, just as Serena Williams’s had been earlier when the defending women’s champion beat Portugal’s Michelle Larcher de Brito 6-0 6-4 in what she described as her “strawberry and cream outfit”.
Williams does not care much for first-round dramas, especially in grand slams where she now has a 43-0 record.
Since debuting at Wimbledon in 1998, the American has only lost one set at the first hurdle and the 28-year-old was ominant again, smacking down 15 aces as the temperatures soared into the high 70s.
She will have a royal audience tomorrow against Russian Anna Chakvetadze when Queen Elizabeth makes her first visit to the All England Club since 1977 and world number one Williams said she would spend today perfecting her curtsy.
“I’m definitely going to work on it a little more,” said the three-times Wimbledon champion. “I’m trying to tone down my wrist action. But my curtsy is really fun. It’s something that she’ll definitely never forget.”
Federer will be spared royal etiquette when he plays his second round today against Serbia’s Ilija Bozoljac.
Then again the Swiss has enough on his plate trying to find some form after being within three points of defeat against unheralded Alejandro Falla in Monday’s tortuous opener.
Federer’s toils would not have gone unnoticed by Nadal, British fourth seed Andy Murray or French Open runner-up Robin Soderling as they all sauntered through on Day Two.
Murray is the only home player left after another demoralising day for British tennis but the Scot’s play during a 7-5 6-1 6-2 defeat of Czech Jan Hajek suggested “Andy-monium” could break out on Henman Hill next week.
Soderling, who could face Nadal in the last eight, dropped just seven games against Robby Ginepri.
Eleven Spanish men were in singles action on Tuesday but apart from Nadal, David Ferrer and Marcel Granollers, the rest all perished. Fernando Verdasco became the highest seed to fall in the men’s draw when the No.8 lost to Italy’s Fabio Fognini.
A quartet of Italian women reached the second round on Ladies Day with 10th seed Flavia Pennetta continuing the Spain-bashing with a 6-4 6-0 win over Anabel Medina Garrigues. Romina Oprandi ended British hopes in the women’s draw, beating teenager Heather Watson 6-4 1-6 6-3.
Third seed Caroline Wozniacki stopped the Italian charge with an impressive 6-1 6-1 defeat of Tathiana Garbin and Maria Sharapova dazzled too, reminding everyone of the power that propelled her to the 2004 title with a 6-1 6-0 thrashing of fellow Russian Anastasia Pivovarova.
Australian Samantha Stosur’s stay proved short-lived as the French Open runner-up and sixth seed here was sent packing 6-4 6-4 by Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi.
