Iga Swiatek makes positive start to Wimbledon with first-round win over Zhu Lin, Jessica Pegula survives scare
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Updated 04/07/2023 at 09:09 GMT
World No. 1 Iga Swaitek got her bid for a first Wimbledon title up and running with a straight-sets victory over world No. 34 Zhu Lin. Swiatek has never made it past the fourth round at the Grand Slam but made a perfect start by winning the first five games against Zhu. The match was briefly interrupted by rain in the second set but when the players returned Swiatek closed out the win.
'That is that!' - Wimbledon Day 1 wrap-up as Djokovic and Swiatek start with wins
Iga Swiatek made a strong start to her Wimbledon campaign as she beat Zhu Lin in straight sets.
The world No. 1 won the opening five games in a row as she came out in impressive fashion on Court One.
Even though world No. 34 Zhu avoided an opening bagel and gave Swiatek a tougher time in the second set, she could not avoid defeat.
Swiatek, who is bidding for a first Wimbledon title, closed out the 6-1 6-3 win after the roof had been closed due to rain.
“I feel really kind of confident," Swiatek said in her on-court interview.
"I felt I did a really good job of adjusting to grass. I wanted to see how today was going to go and when I came on court it felt amazing."
Swiatek next faces Martina Trevisan or Sara Sorribes Tormo.
While there remain questions over whether Swiatek can be as strong on grass as she is on clay and hard courts, this result, along with reaching her first grass quarter-final last week, are encouraging signs.
She came out firing against Zhu, breaking to love in the second game and then backing it up with a love hold.
Two more games followed as Swiatek looked poised to add another bagel set to her collection.
Zhu managed to avoid that fate, saving two set points and taking the sixth game, but Swiatek served it out the next game, sealing the set with a forehand winner.
Swiatek did not have things all her own way in the second set.
Zhu opened with a love hold and then passed up two break points in the next game after Swiatek had foot faulted.
Even though Swiatek broke for a 2-1 lead, Zhu levelled immediately with a fine winner into the corner.
Swiatek made it three breaks in a row as she restored her advantage in the next game and then moved into a 4-2 lead with a love hold.
A rain delay stopped Swiatek in her tracks as players went off court for 20 minutes as the roof was closed.
But when they returned it was Swiatek who won the next two games to clinch the win.
Fourth seed Jessica Pegula survived a scare as she came from a break down in the final set to beat fellow American Lauren Davis 6-2 6-7(8) 6-3.
Pegula has not lost in the opening round of a Slam since the 2020 French Open.
She had three match points in the second set tie-break but couldn’t convert any of them.
Pegula looked in trouble as Davis broke to start the deciding set, but hit back immediately and eventually came out on top to reach the second round.
Venus Williams was beaten 6-4 6-3 by Elina Svitolina.
Five-time champion Williams, making her 24th appearance at Wimbledon, appeared to suffer an injury in the first set when she slipped at the net and screamed in pain.
Former Wimbledon semi-finalist Svitolina will next play 28th seed Elise Mertens.
Daria Kasatkina won 6-1 6-4 against Caroline Dolehide and will next face British No. 2 Jodie Burrage, while fifth seed Caroline Garcia beat Katie Volynets 6-4 6-3.
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Stream daily highlights from Wimbledon at 10pm UK time, as well as the two singles finals live on July 15 and 16, on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
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