WIMBLEDON — Stan Wawrinka (SUI) began his quest for a Career Slam with a straight-set victory in Round 1. After the match, Wawrinka said it was the best he has felt heading into Wimbledon in the past few years.
“Really happy the way I've been feeling physically,” said Wawrinka, who only needed 90 minutes to advance. “Today was a great match, a great start. Three sets, so it's good to start like that.”
It was also a successful opening day for Hubert Hurkacz (POL) and Dayana Yastremska (UKR), who both won their first match at Wimbledon. Hurkacz upset 32-seed Dusan Lajovic in four sets, while Yastremska defeated Camila Giorgi, a quarterfinalist last year, in straight sets.
To begin Day 2, defending champion Angelique Kerber (GER) took Centre Court and picked up right where she left off. Facing crafty countrywoman Tatjana Maria, Kerber fired 22 winners and stayed patient with Maria’s deep slices and lobs to advance.
“I was trying to stay in the moment,” said Kerber. “She was slicing off both sides and coming to net. I was just trying to find a way to win every single point.”
Nick Kyrgios (AUS) finished his first round match following Kerber’s victory. After seeing [3] Rafael Nadal as a potential opponent in the second round, Kyrgios admitted having extra motivation to play “one of the greatest tennis players of all time.” But first, Kyrgios had to get through fellow Aussie Jordan Thompson.
In a popcorn match, Kyrgios went down 2-5 in the opening set, but rallied back to take it in a tiebreaker. Kyrgios dropped two of the next three sets, forcing the match into a decider. In the fifth set alone, Kyrgios hit 11 winners, advancing with a 7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 0-6, 6-1 victory.
“I know if I play the right type of tennis I can have success against him,” said Kyrgios referring to his second round match against Nadal. “I have to come with the right attitude. I have to be willing to fight."
Follow @Yonex_Tennis on Twitter and Instagram for daily updates from #TeamYonex.
Men
Denis Kudla (USA) - VCORE 98 def. Malek Jaziri, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3
Hubert Hurkacz (POL) - VCORE PRO 97 / POLYTOUR STRIKE 125 / ECLIPSION2 / London Collection def. [32] Dusan Lajovic, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
[22] Stan Wawrinka (SUI) – VCORE PRO 97 / ECLIPSION2 / London Collection def. Ruben Bemelmans, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) – EZONE 98 / POLYTOUR PRO 125 def. Dennis Novak, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2
Ricardas Berankis (LTU) – VCORE PRO 97 / POLYTOUR STRIKE 125 / ECLIPSION2 / London Collection def. [29] Denis Shapovalov. 7-6, 6-4, 6-3
Nick Kyrgios (AUS) - EZONE 98/ POLYTOUR PRO 120 def. Jordan Thompson, 7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 0-6, 6-1
Steve Johnson (USA) - VCORE 98 def. Albert Ramos Viñolas, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
Women
Harriet Dart (GBR) - VCORE 100 / POLYTOUR PRO 125 def. Christina McHale, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
Ivana Jorovic (SRB) - EZONE 100 / POLYTOUR PRO 125 / ECLIPSION2 / London Collection def. Lesley Kerkhove, 7-6, 6-4
[13] Belinda Bencic (SUI) - EZONE 100 / POLYTOUR PRO 125 def. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-2, 6-3
Kaja Juvan (SLO) - EZONE 100 / POLYTOUR PRO 125 def. Kristyna Plískova, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
Varvara Flink (RUS) - EZONE 100 / POLYTOUR PRO 130 def. Paula Badosa, 6-4, 6-2
[5] Angelique Kerber (GER) - VCORE 100 / POLYTOUR FIRE 120 def. Tatjana Maria, 6-4, 6-3
Tamara Zidansek (SLO) – VCORE 100 / POLYTOUR PRO 125 def. Eugenie Bouchard, 6-3, 5-7, 8-6
Yafan Wang (CHN) – VCORE 98 / POLYTOUR SPIN 125 def. Tereza Martincova, 6-2, 7-5
Marie Bouzkova (CZE) – VCORE 100 / POLYTOUR PRO 125 def. Mona Barthel, 6-3, 6-3
[12] Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) – EZONE 98 / POLYTOUR PRO 125 / ECLIPSION2 / London Collection def. Kristie Ahn, 6-3, 6-4
Monica Puig (PUR) – VCORE 100 / FUSIONREV3 / London Collection def. Anna Karolína Schmiedlová, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5
Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) – EZONE 100 / POLYTOUR PRO 125 def. [10] Aryna Sabalenka, 6-2, 6-4
Dayana Yastremska (UKR) – VCORE PRO 100 / POLYTOUR STRIKE 125 & POLYTOUR DRIVE 125 / FUSIONREV3/ London Collection def. Camila Giorgi, 6-3, 6-3
Viktorija Golubic (SUI) – VCORE 98 def. Iga Swiatek, 6-2, 7-6