Andy Murray, James Ward, Elena Baltacha All Progress
26th June 2012
Andy Murray, James Ward, Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavong all progressed into the Wimbledon second round on Tuesday after success in their opening round matches.
Andy Murray
British No.1 Andy Murray enjoyed a straight-forward 6-1, 6-1, 6-4 win over Russian Nikolay Davydenko hitting only 6 unforced errors throughout the entire match. World No.4 Murray will play either Ivo Karlovic (CRO) or Dudi Sela (ISR) in round two.
James Ward
James Ward faced world No.36 Pablo Andujar of Spain in a match that was fought out over five sets. 26 year-old Pablo looked in a strong position as he took the opening set 6-4. However the British No.2 stormed back into the match to take the second 6-0.
Both men then battled over the next two sets to take the match into a fifth. 25 year-old Ward was 3-0 down, but then turned the match around winning six games in a row, ultimately sealing his place in the second round with a 3-6, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win.
Ward commented after his match: “I had looks on every single one of his service games by one or two in the third and fourth set. So I always knew if I kept to my own serve and I started serving a bit smarter and towards the end of the match, because he was returning really well off his backhand, so I mixed it up, bit more body and forehand, and then got a few more free points.”
Ward next plays American Mardy Fish.
Elena Baltacha
Elena Baltacha added to the British success after a three set win over Italian Karin Knapp. After winning the opener 6-4, world ranked 112 Knapp then took a nasty fall early on in the second. After calling for a medical time-out the match continued. However 28 year-old Baltacha looked like the more comfortable player on the grass as she ultimately took the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.
After her match Baltacha said: "I didn't particularly start well and she was a very tricky opponent. I managed to kind of get the second set done, and I felt like I played better, but I was struggling with the serve. I think it's probably because I haven't served for the last five days because I had a neck problem last week. Then the third set started and I felt like I was kind of me, in a way. I played well and I fought, and I was very, very delighted to have won that and to come through that being a set down."
Baltacha who was awarded a wild card into the Olympics earlier today also commented: "I am a very, very happy girl right now. I was very, very emotional at the end, especially with Judy. She told me that I got the wildcard for the Olympics. It was just amazing news.
“I think that's why we both just started crying our eyes out. I just really want to say thanks a lot to the ITF and the committee for giving me a place. I just can't explain to you how amazing it feels, you know, all my hard work over the last so many years and, you know, all the time I have played Fed Cup. Everything has just been so, so worth it. I'm really honoured and privileged that I have been given that chance."
Baltacha is next up against fourth seed and defending champion Petra Kvitova (CZE).
Anne Keothavong
Anne Keothavong also moved through to round two today after a straights sets win over Spaniard Laura Pous-Tio. In just under one hour and 25 minutes Keothavong sealed a 6-3, 6-3 win and will be up against either play Coco Vandeweghe of America or Italian tenth seed Sara Errani in round two.
Jamie Baker
Jamie Baker was the last of the Britons on court today against former finalist Andy Roddick of the USA. A very tight set opened play which Roddick clinched in the tie-break 7-6(1). Roddick was then leading 4-2 in the second when rain interrupted play for the day.
Laura Robson
Elsewhere Laura Robson was defeated by Francesca Schiavone after a three set battle in round one of the women's singles at Wimbledon.
The Italian former French Open champion recovered from a slow start to beat the British 18 year old 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Court 3 at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Johanna Konta
Johanna Konta was also back on court after her match against Christina McHale was suspended due to poor light on Monday. Restarting the match at 7-7 in the third set, the pair were further delayed as rain started to fall at The All England Club. Once back on court, play was tight but American McHale eventually defeated Konta 6-7(4), 6-2, 10-8.