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Seven-time champion Roger Federer eased into the second round at Wimbledon after beating Italian Paolo Lorenzi in straight sets. The Swiss fourth seed was barely troubled in a 6-1 6-1 6-3 win over a player who has never won a match at a Grand Slam in 13 attempts. World number two Rafael Nadal was forced to work harder to beat dangerous Slovak Martin Klizan 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-3.
The Spaniard will face Lukas Rosol, who upset him in 2012, in the second round.
Federer, who finished his match with an ace and will next face either Gilles Muller of Luxembourg or Frenchman Julian Benneteau, was happy with his opening effort.
“Getting the first one out of the way is always a good feeling,” said the 32-year-old. “I thought I played well, got a lot of breaks and served well.
“Lorenzi played his part but was always going to be up against it. This was the ideal start for Federer. On this surface when he is getting on the front foot he is still a match for anyone.”
“Walking down the tunnel I felt relaxed and happy to go on court but once you step out there you are ready and you do feel some pressure.”
Lorenzi’s record is the second worst in men’s Grand Slam history with only Juan-Antonio Marin of Costa Rica (no wins, 17 losses) below him but Federer paid tribute to the 32-year-old world number 83.
“I didn’t know about his record beforehand,” he said. “I thought he did a good job by trying to serve and volley and make the plays but he maybe doesn’t have a strong enough serve to do that.”
The win for Nadal, who was beaten in the first round last year by Belgium’s Steve Darcis, was his 700th top-level career victory.
Meanwhile, Former champions Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams both eased into the women’s second round at Wimbledon.
Sharapova, the 2004 champion and fifth seed, beat Britain’s world number 247 Samantha Murray 6-1 6-0 in 58 minutes.
Williams, the top seed and five-time champion, overcame compatriot and world number 113 Anna Tatishvili 6-1 6-2.
But seventh seed Jelena Jankovic, who partnered Jamie Murray to mixed doubles victory in 2007, was ousted in straight sets by world number 42 Kaia Kanepi.
The Estonian, who reached the quarter-finals last year, won 6-3 6-2.
Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki beat Shahar Peer to set up a meeting with Britain’s Naomi Broady.
The 16th-seeded Dane led her Israeli opponent 6-3 2-0 overnight and won four straight games on the resumption to go through.
“I don’t really know much about her (Broady),” admitted Wozniacki. “So I’ll have to have my team do a little bit of research and some scouting.”
Sharapova, who will next face Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky, said she was pleased to be off to a flying start on the grass after finishing her clay-court season by winning her second French Open title.
“Once Serena got settled into the match and got through the first few games of her first grass court match of the season, she got so much better. A few times during the match, we saw her try to guide the backhand, but as she became more confident, she started to take a few more swings with it.”
“It’s such a quick turnaround,” she said. “You just want to be physically rested but also have enough preparation and practice going into Wimbledon, it’s a thin line. But I’ve recovered mentally and physically.”
Williams, who had beaten Tatishvili in their two previous meetings, was also pleased to have gone through.
“Last time I played her, she ended the match by making it really tough. Today, she started where she finished in that match. She can hit the ball really hard, but I was ready for that,” she told BBC Sport. — BBC sport
Online Reporter