The first day of the most prestigious tournament in the world is over and there were a few surprising results and performances on show.
The biggest shock of the day was the exit of three time Grand Slam winner Stanislas Wawrinka to Daniil Medvedev losing 6-4 3-6 6-4 6-1. The 21 year old Russian has never been in the main draw at Wimbledon, while Wawrinka lack’s the confidence to succeed on the grass and has actually fallen in the first round five times.
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Medvedev was dominant on his serve only losing four first serve points in the first set. Wawrinka battled back to win the second set, but injured his left knee in the process. The world number 49 battled through and came out with the biggest win of his career so far.
Reigning champion Andy Murray come through the first round unscathed, beating lucky loser Alexander Bublik 6-1 6-4 6-2. The world number one did seem to struggle at times with his sore hip, but was rarely tested in the match.
Murray will now face unorthodox German Dustin Brown, who knocked out Joao Sousa 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4.
The ever unpredictable Nick Kyrgios retired at two sets down to world number 70 Pierre- Hughes Herbert. The Frenchman looked at ease on the grass, while Kyrgios continued to struggle with a bad hip that has blighted his season so far. At 6-3 6-4 down the 20th seed decided to call it a day.
A positive shock result was Brit Aljaz Bedene defeating 21st seed Ivo Karlovic, winning an epic five set encounter 6-7 7-6 6-7 7-6 8-6. Both players were dominant on their serve, 38-year-old Karlovic hit 44 aces to Bedene’s 27 in the four hours 24 minutes match.
However, fellow Brit Cameron Norrie could have hardly faced a tougher opening round opponent. Jo-Wilfred Tsonga never seemed to get out the second gear as he strolled through the match winning 6-3 6-2 6-2.
Another comfortable victory was for ninth seed Kei Nishikori. The Japanese star beat world number 102 Marco Cecchinato 6-2 6-2 6-0 in 72 minutes.
18 year old Denis Shapovlov had a tough first round opponent in 6ft 8in Jerzy Janowicz. Last year’s junior Wimbledon champion couldn’t make it through to the next round losing 6-3 3-6 6-3 7-6 to the world number 141.
Another seed exited the tournament as Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, seeded 31, lost to Kevin Anderson 2-6 7-6 7-6 6-3.
After the days exciting matches there is no doubt more are just around the corner in the next two weeks at Wimbledon.
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