Nadal off to good start; Venus unveils new outfit, sweeps off Uzbek foe

Photo by AP

WIMBLEDON, England—Rafael Nadal opened his Wimbledon title defense with a convincing victory Monday, beating Michael Russell, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, on a “fantastic” day while his parents watched from the Royal Box.

In keeping with tradition, the defending men’s champion played the first match on Centre Court at the All England Club—and the top-ranked Spaniard put on a worthy performance to begin the 125th edition of the championships.

Five-time women’s champion Venus Williams, back on her favorite grass surface, also swept into the second round with a 6-3, 6-1 win over 97th-ranked Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan. The American also made a fashion statement, wearing a one-piece playsuit with cutout sleeves that exposed part of her back.

Nadal, coming off his sixth French Open title and 10th overall Grand Slam championship, double-faulted to go down a break 4-2 in the first set against the 91st-ranked Russell. But Nadal buckled down, ran off six straight games to take the set and go up a break in the second. He was in command the rest of the way against the 33-year-old American.

“I started so-so in the first set, but after that I start to hit very well the forehand and I think I finished playing a very good level,” Nadal said.

The two players shared a laugh after Russell successfully challenged what had been ruled an ace by Nadal on match point. Nadal won the next point, though, to finish the match in just under two hours.

It was the first time Nadal has walked onto Centre Court as defending champion. After winning the title for the first time in 2008, he missed the tournament the following year with a knee injury.

“Fantastic,” he said. “(It) was a big emotion to be the first player to play in this fabulous court.”

Watching from the Royal Box were Nadal’s parents, Sebastian and Ana Maria.

“Too many beautiful things to see my mom and my dad in the Royal Box,”’ Nadal said. “I think for them (it) was a great experience.”

Williams’ second-round opponent will be Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm, who became the second oldest women to win a match at Wimbledon, beating Katie O’Brien, 6-0, 7-5, on Monday.

In another featured women’s match, 2010 runner-up Vera Zvonareva downed 115th-ranked American Alison Riske, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3.

Sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych, who lost to Nadal in last year’s final, moved into the second round with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 win over Filippo Volandri of Italy.

Tenth-seeded American Mardy Fish beat Spain’s Marcel Granollers, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-4. Big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic, playing his first Wimbledon, topped Marc Gicquel of France, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-3. No. 14 Stanislas Wawrinka defeated Potito Starace of Italy, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.