Roger Federer's bid for a fourth successive Wimbledon title got
off to a whirlwind start only to be stalled by the fickle London
weather.
Only 35 minutes of play was possible on Centre Court while none
of the 64 scheduled first round matches were completed.
Federer, the world number one looked as if he had never been
away as he claimed a service break in the second game with
Frenchman Richard Gasquet and went on to claim the first set 6-3 in
just 26 minutes.
But with Federer about to serve at 1-2 in the second, rain
forced the players back to the locker room at 1245GMT and at
1820GMT play was called off for the day.
Victory in the final here on July 9, the same day as the World
Cup final, would see Federer become the third man, after Bjorn Borg
and Pete Sampras, to win four consecutive titles at the All England
club.
"I feel very good coming back to Wimbledon," said Federer on the
eve of the tournament.
"I remember the year before last I was very nervous because of
being the defending champion and everything. This year around I'm
much more relaxed.
"I've had a great start to the season. I haven't had a match
where I've played poorly all year long."
Federer's compatriot Martin Hingis started her first match here
in five years in impressive form opening up a 6-2 lead over
Ukraine's Olga Savchuk.
The 1997 champion, and former world number one, retired from
tennis in 2002 because of an ankle injury.
But after three years out of action, she has defied the odds by
making a successful comeback. A quarter-finalist in both the
Australian and French Opens this year, Hings won her first title
for four years in Rome in May.
Belgian second seed Kim Clijsters also enjoyed some early action
on Monday going into a 5-4 lead over Russia's Vera Zvonereva.
Federer, who needs one more win to break Bjorn Borg's record of
41 consecutive grass court victories, began the tournament as an
overwhelming favourite.
There is nevertheless a feeling among many in the sport that he
may be more vulnerable this year after a gruelling, but ultimately
unsuccessful bid to win the French Open earlier this month.
Federer was narrowly beaten by Rafael Nadal in the final at
Roland Garros and -- although he was still good enough to win the
tournament -- appeared jaded as he made his first outing of the
year on grass at Halle, Germany.
Gasquet came into Wimbledon having defended his Nottingham grass
court title at the weekend and buoyed by the knowledge that he is
just one of four players to have beaten Federer since the start of
2005.
French Open women's champion Justine Henin-Hardenne saw her
opening match against Yuan Meng of China fall victim to the weather
as did Britain's Tim Henman who was facing Sweden's Robin
Soderling.
The winner of that match was to face either Federer or Gasquet
in the next round. Venus Williams will begin the defence of her
women's singles title on Tuesday.
(AFP via CRI June 27, 2006)