Nadal and Monfils Roll as Wimbledon 2011 Begins
And … we’re off! The 125th Wimbledon Championships have gotten underway with a great list of matches on court today. Excuse me for being a bit perturbed as I’ve already been let down by American Donald Young and Germany’s Tommy Haas. Both succumbed to defeat today in four sets after I had picked them to win, and even Haas’ second round match as well. But who am I kidding, Donald Young just continues to let us down, giving me no confidence to ever pick him to win a main draw match again.
On to more important news, the first match on Centre Court was world number one and defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain. Across the net from Nadal stood American journeyman Michael Russell. Russell, who came out firing, caught Nadal and everybody off guard when he took a 4-2 lead in the first set. However, Nadal quickly regrouped and took the set 6-4. He went on to win the next two sets in convincing fashion giving him the win, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. Nadal will now face young American Ryan Sweeting, who rallied back from two sets to none down, and take the match in five.
Also advancing to the second round thus far are Gael Monfils of France and American Mardy Fish, both winning in straight sets. Monfils, the number nine seed, took out Germany’s Matthias Bachinger, 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-3. Fish, the number 10 seed, defeated a more recognizable player, Marcel Granollers, in straight sets, 7-6(3), 7-6(5), 6-4. The American will now take on Dennis Istomin of Uzbekistan after Istomin upset Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber in four sets. Monfils will now battle against Grega Zemlja of Slovenia.
Still left to play on Monday are Andy Murray of Great Britain, Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, Andy Roddick of the United States, and Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina.
