Sharapova gets past Kutuzova at Wimbledon

AP – Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts as she takes a point fromViktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine, during their …

2 hrs 3 mins ago

WIMBLEDON, England – Maria Sharapova has overcome a poor start to beat Viktoriya Kutuzova in the first round at Wimbledon.

Sharapova rallied from two breaks down in the first set before winning 7-5, 6-4 on Monday.

The former top-ranked Russian trailed 4-1 and 5-3 in the first set before winning the last four games.

Both players struggled to hold serve in the second. Sharapova broke Kutuzova for a 5-3 lead to serve for the match, but was broken at love. The 2004 champion then broke again, converting her first match point when Kutuzova netted a backhand.

Roof stays open, Federer wins to start Wimbledon

AP – Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball to Lu Yen-Hsun of Chinese Taipei during their round on …

By STEVEN WINE, AP Sports Writer Steven Wine, Ap Sports Writer – 28 mins ago

WIMBLEDON, England – The new roof wasn't tested. Roger Federer was — briefly.

The retractable roof stayed open Monday for the first match on Centre Court at Wimbledon, and Federer fell behind early before charging past Yen-hsun Lee of Taiwan, 7-5, 6-3, 6-2.

Federer failed to convert his first four break-point chances, then lost serve to trail 3-2. But he immediately broke back, broke again in the final game of the first set and dominated from there.

"I thought I played really well," Federer said. "My opponent was tough."

Bidding for his sixth Wimbledon title, Federer won for the 41st time in his past 42 matches at the All England Club. The lone loss came in last year's final to Rafael Nadal, a match hailed by some as the sport's best ever.

The tournament began in cloudy but dry weather. When it rains, the translucent roof on the 87-year-old stadium will be closed so play can continue.

"I guess the moment will come that I'll play indoors here," Federer said. "But you don't really hope for it during the match."

Playing second on Centre Court was two-time champion Serena Williams, who lost only nine points on her serve and beat qualifier Neuza Silva 6-1, 7-5. The No. 2-seeded Williams, runner-up to her sister Venus a year ago, improved to 5-5 since starting the year 21-2.

"I'm just happy to have a win under my belt here," Williams said. "I was a little nervous going into the match."

Maria Sharapova, the 2004 women's champion, won the final four games of the first set and beat qualifier Viktoriya Kutuzova 7-5, 6-4.

"She's a very aggressive player," Sharapova said. "She went for many shots very freely and loosely, and I was just trying to hold on."

Sharapova, making a comeback from shoulder surgery last October, saved a set point in the opening set with a forehand winner and later shook off two awkward spills behind the baseline.

The first seeded player to lose was No. 17 James Blake, who was beaten by Andreas Seppi 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (5). Blake failed to convert a set point in the third set and squandered a 5-love lead in the tiebreaker.

Blake also lost in the first round at the French Open last month.

"I still feel like I can play with anyone in the world, but it's just for some reason lately it has been very inconsistent," he said. "I know I still have the ability. It's just frustrating, because it's happening at big tournaments where I'm having my not-so-good performances."

Another American, No. 28-seeded Mardy Fish, never lost serve and led 6-3, 6-2, 4-1 when Sergio Roitman retired with a right shoulder injury.

For the first match on an immaculate Centre Court, Federer entered sporting a sleek new white warmup outfit with gold trim that included a jacket with a turned-up collar, a vest, slacks and two-toned shoes. The crowd roared when he appeared, and he responded with a wave and smile.

There were more cheers — and a few whistles of approval — when he removed his jacket to reveal the vest.

"Kind of a little bit more modern look — a bit more military jacket this time, but obviously staying true to Wimbledon with the white colors," Federer said. "I hope people like it."

By the time the match started, Federer had stripped down to shorts and a short-sleeve shirt. He was assigned to play the first match on Centre Court after defending men's champion Nadal withdrew Friday because of sore knees.

"Rafa deserves it obviously more than I do this year," Federer said. "But somebody had to do it, so I'm very happy that they chose me. It gets your heart beating, that's for sure."

The No. 2-seeded Swiss is a strong favorite to win a record-breaking 15th major title.

After being broken early, Federer held every service game. He finished with 10 unforced errors and hit 42 winners from all over the court.

One winner was a running backhand from several steps beyond the sideline, which he ripped up the line into the corner to win the point. It was a spectacular shot even by Federer's standards, and the stoic Swiss celebrated with a raised fist as the crowd roared.

Nadal vows to bounce back from Wimbledon withdrawal

AFP/File – World number one Rafael Nadal (seen here on June 18) insists his decision to withdraw from Wimbledon …

by Steve Griffiths Steve Griffiths – Fri Jun 19, 8:34 pm ET

LONDON (AFP) – World number one Rafael Nadal insists his decision to withdraw from Wimbledon is not a sign that his powers are on the wane.

Nadal opted not to defend his All England Club title after accepting that he would be performing at less than 100 percent because he has yet to fully recover from knee tendinitis.

The Spaniard has been dogged by the problem for several years as a result of his all-action style and love of playing on clay courts.

He admitted pulling out was the toughest moment of his career but said that he is convinced he can return better than ever.

"I had physical problems in two of the most important tournaments for me, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, so it is tough to accept for me," Nadal said.

"I am going to work very hard to come back as soon as possible and when I do, I want to come back with 100 percent right both mentality and physically.

"One of the big problems now is that when I am playing, I am thinking more about the knees than the game. It is difficult to play like this. I want to come back feeling 100 percent.

"It is not a chronic problem. I can recover for sure."

Just 12 months after savouring his first Wimbledon title after a thrilling five-set victory over Roger Federer, it was a far more sombre Nadal who drove away from the south-west London venue this time.

Ending Federer's five-year reign as Wimbledon champion had been a crowning achievement for Nadal, who already had four French Open titles on his CV.

But Federer has already taken over as French Open champion and now he is the firm favourite to regain the Wimbledon title as well.

Australian Open champion Nadal, the fourth man not to defend the Wimbledon crown in the modern era, was desperate to fight for the trophy but he acknowledged there was no way his knees would have stood up to two weeks of gruelling action.

"When I enter a tournament like Wimbledon I want to try to win but my feeling right now is that I am not ready to win," he said.

"Not playing Wimbledon was one of the toughest decisions of my career. But the situation makes the decision a little bit easier.

"I don't feel I am ready to approach a tournament as important as Wimbledon.

"I have decided that I just cannot play this tournament this year. I tried everything, I worked very hard in the last weeks to arrive here in the best condition.

"Friday's match was the last test and although I didn't feel terrible I was not close to my best.

"It is tough but at the same time, I have no option. I don't feel ready to compete at 100 percent for two weeks.

"I have played with some problems on the knees for the last few months.

"Now I am going to be out for some time but I don't know how long. I arrived at one of the most important moments in the year in my worst condition."

Venus is simply the best says sister Serena

AFP/File – US tennis player Venus Williams is pictured in 2008. Serena Williams has saluted her sister Venus as …

by Steve Griffiths Steve Griffiths – Sat Jun 20, 12:21 pm ET

LONDON (AFP) – Serena Williams has saluted her sister Venus Williams as the best grass-court player of her generation as the Americans prepare to continue their dominance at Wimbledon.

Between them the Williams sisters have won seven of the last nine women's singles titles at the All-England Club, but it is Venus, with five victories compared to Serena's two, who has reigned supreme on the lush lawns of south-west London.

If Venus can retain the title for a third successive year she will become the first women since Steffi Graf to complete a hat-trick of Wimbledon crowns.

But even if Venus never wins another match at Wimbledon, Serena, who was beaten by her sister in last year's final, insists she is already firmly established as the best on grass in the last 20 years.

"I think she has proven herself to be the best grass court player in our generation," Serena said.

"She has an amazing serve and I think that helps a lot. She has an amazing return and she's really fast. She has long arms, so she just gets everything back.

"It's hard playing a player like that, especially on the grass when it's, you know, a faster surface and have you that much less time to react.

"She's an extremely smart player as well, so she's always thinking and knowing what to do."

Aside from the Williams sisters attempt to turn Wimbledon into their own private tournament, the main focus this year will be on the game's scream queens.

The issue has been a constant complaint for purists since Monica Seles made screaming a hot topic at Wimbledon in the 1990s. Portugal's Michelle Larcher de Brito, 16, is the latest noise-maker after grunting so loudly during a French Open match recently that her opponent claimed to the umpire.

The International Tennis Federation even admitted they were considering making "noise hindrance" part of its code of conduct, but Serena is adamant she has never been affected by noisy opponents.

"I grunt sometimes and sometimes I don't. But I've never been one that was out there going for the loudest grunt," Serena said.

"It's definitely not conscious. It's the effort level. I think I always give a hundred percent, but sometimes I'm so zoned I don't grunt. Sometimes I'm so zoned that I do grunt.

"I hope it wouldn't bother me (if an opponent grunts). That wouldn't be a good thing. I just try to focus mainly on what I'm doing on the side of the court that I'm on."

Venus sets her sights on Wimbledon hat-trick

AFP/File – Venus Williams has history in her sights as the American aims to cement her place among the grasscourt …

by Steve Griffiths Steve Griffiths – Sun Jun 21, 8:24 pm ET

LONDON (AFP) – Venus Williams has history in her sights as the American aims to cement her place among the grasscourt greats by completing a hat-trick of Wimbledon triumphs this year.

Williams will become only the fourth woman since the 1960s to claim three successive titles at the All England Club if she retains the aptly Venus Rosewater Dish, joining Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King in the elite list of treble champions.

Few would bet against the 29-year-old who has reached seven Wimbledon finals in the last decade.

This is the time of year Venus relishes most. While she has never won the Australian or French Opens, Wimbledon has been a love-affair almost from first sight.

But for sister Serena's two victories over her in the 2002 and 2003 finals, Venus would be closing in on Navratilova's record of nine singles titles.

That target is still within sight and Venus said: "That would be the ultimate. Her career spanned three decades, so I'm not sure if I have that much time.

"But if I did (play that long), I think I would definitely dream of that."

Serena knows more about Venus's qualities than anyone on the WTA Tour and she believes her sister is the woman to beat once again.

"I think she's everyone's worry. She has proven herself to be the best grasscourt player in our generation," Serena said. "She has an amazing serve and return. It's hard to play someone like that on grass."

The strongest challenge to Venus's dominance is likely to come from across the breakfast table at her Wimbledon base in the leafy south-west London village.

As ever with Serena, results in the lesser Tour events are no indicator of her ability to win Grand Slams, as she proved by failing to win a single tournament since January's victory at the Australian Open.

It is six years since Serena last won Wimbledon but on her day the world number two still has the beating of any of her peers - including Venus.

The same can't be said of world number one Dinara Safina, who will travel to London rocked after compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova thrashed her in the French Open final.

Safina has risen to the top of the womens' rankings without landing a Grand Slam victory.

The 23-year-old Russian may not fancy her chances of ending that frustrating run at Wimbledon as she has yet to make it past the third round.

If Safina can't dethrone Venus, the biggest threat could come from elsewhere in eastern Europe.

Maria Sharapova, the 2004 champion, is working her way back up the rankings after returning to the Tour in May following 10 months on the sidelines with a persistent shoulder injury.

The Russian insists her desire to succeed burns as brightly as ever.

"I've always been a fighter," she said. "If I was mentally weak I wouldn't be doing this, I'd be on some island with a nice cold pina colada. But there is no better feeling than waving to the crowd after you've won."

Another challenger should be Kuznetsova, whose morale is sky-high after her Roland Garros triumph, while world number four Elena Dementieva, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, reached the semi-finals last year.

There is no shortage of motivation for Serbian duo Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic, who both failed to make it past the fourth round last year despite being seeded one and two respectively, and have struggled since.

Attention will also be focued on 16-year-old Michelle Larcher de Brito, whose high-pitch on-court screeching has led the International Tennis Federation to consider making "noise hindrance" part of its code of conduct.