Roger Federer feathered and dusted and finally sliced Damir Dzumhur. Andy Murray gave himself a serious no-nonsense talking to on Centre Court during his first round match with Mikhail Kukushkin and Rafa Nadal thundered and gored and then smashed Brazilian, Thomaz Bellucci.
All of it pleased the crowds as the high-profile cast of players did what they do, Federer seeking to become the first man in history to win eight titles, Murray trying to live up to Fred Perry’s other record (get the title back again) and Nadal determined to show that a slide that has pushed him down to 10th seed is an aberration.
“I think I played okay. Played solid. Very good with my backhand today. With my forehand, always okay,” said Nadal, who dropped his new action serve twice in the match. Perfect summing up, though. Nadal now faces Germany’s Dustin Brown, who beat him in Halle last year.
Fair share
The Spaniard has suffered his fair share of early-round KOs after Lukas Rosol, Steve Darcis and last year Australian Nick Kyrgios. He admitted that for the first three months of the year he was not playing, well, but as his injuries have cleared, he has had a strong two months. The 27-year-old Bellucci, ranked 42 in the world, was bidding to record his first win at Wimbledon since 2010.
“I am number 10 because I deserve to be number 10,” said Nadal. “That’s what happens. When you are injured for six months and you come back, number 10 is a great number.”
It took the twice Wimbledon champion two hours and 11 minutes to turn over his opponent, one minute faster than it took Murray to dispose of Kukushkin, the world number 59.
The Russian-born Kukushkin had lost seven of his last matches but his one thing in common with Murray is an inspirational female coach. The one difference is that Kukushkin married his – although Murray’s is pregnant.
Amelie Mauresmo announced on Twitter in April ‘Baby will be here in August.’ The openly gay 35-year-old accompanied her tweet with a baby-sized pair of sneakers. Murray also got married this year to Kim Sears, so things are definitely happening in all corners of the Scot’s camp.
His tennis was largely very good but unlike Federer’s utterly ruthless carve up, Murray lapsed for a short while in his match, not enough to panic an easily spooked centre court but enough for a nervous ripple of giggles.
The third-ranked 2013 champion was told by officials that the on-court temperature was 41 degrees.
“For me it’s a bit frustrating,” he said. “You want to go out and perform as best you can but today I didn’t feel I could do that. Still, I could have finished the second set a little bit better. Apart from that 15-20 minute period I was quite comfortable.”
There was some debate over whether Federer was actually perspiring after his 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 win over Dzumhur. It took 68 minutes and he won 85 per cent of his first-serve points.
Choreography
It was typical Federer choreography as he glided across the court, disdainfully swatting balls and sending down medium-paced aces, placed to perfection.
He tends to win like that and occasionally lose like that as well, with the illusion he performs of appearing not to be really trying.
Asked what one word described his mood in the first match of this year’s championship Federer said “nerves” and he wasn’t smiling.
“Back in the day maybe I would not be as ruthless as today,” confided Federer. “Now it’s trying to focus on what I need to do. I don’t think it really matters at the end of the day what the scoreline is. For me, it’s about playing the tournament, the ball that’s coming from my opponent.”
