Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek won their opening matches with little issue, and both are on course to make a deep run in the 2023 Wimbledon, just as the pre-tournament Wimbledon 2023 odds predicted.
However, not everyone is having a fun time on the grass courts.
Nick Kyrgios and Venus Williams attempted to make a comeback here in London, but both had to exit early after suffering untimely injuries.
In case you missed last weekend’s action, SBOTOP is here to bring you the latest Wimbledon 2023 updates.
The rain didn’t bother Djokovic and Swiatek
Four-time defending champion Novak Djokovic launched his bid for a fifth straight Wimbledon crown on a high note by defeating Pedro Cachin, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(4), on Centre Court on Monday.
Djokovic had a shaky start when Cachin claimed an early break because the Serb dropped serve in the third game of the match. However, he eventually took the first set.
After the opening set, the match had to be stopped due to a rain delay, which lasted for one hour and 29 minutes. The stoppage actually helped Djokovic because it gave him a much-needed breather, which helped him break the no. 68-ranked Cachin in the first game after the resumption.
Cachin tried to take the third set into a tiebreaker on serve when he came back from 0-30 at 5-4 down, but Djokovic converted four of his 11 break points en route to securing the victory.
This was Djokovic’s 29th straight tour-level win on grass, and he has also won 22 matches in a row at majors dating back to last year’s edition of this particular tournament. The Serb is set to take on Jordan Thompson next.
Swiatek also rolled through her opening-round match despite the rain delay, as she defeated Zhu Lin, 6-1, 6-3, on Monday.
The Pole had a brief scare when she was up 4-0 in the first set as she slipped on the wet grass court, but she shook it off by registering 22 winners, which is more than three times as many as her Chinese counterpart, and saving three of four break points to claim her 10th win on grass courts.
In the run-up to this tournament, Swiatek competed in the Bad Homburg Open but had to retire in the semi-finals because she was feeling under the weather, so seeing her move well against Zhu is a great sign.
The WTA’s top-ranked player is slated to face Sara Sorribes Tormo next. Swiatek is hopeful that she’ll make it past the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time in her career.
Williams suffers nasty spill in Wimbledon return
Venus Williams’ comeback didn’t go as planned, as she lost to Elina Svitolina, 6-4, 6-3, last night.
The five-time Wimbledon champion actually started brightly, going up 2-1, but the slippery court injured her right leg, and the complexion of the match completely changed.
When she fell on the court, the entire venue was silent as Williams screamed in pain. She did get up to finish the match, but the injury sapped her of her powerful movement in the early proceedings.
The loss is unfortunate for the 43-year-old Williams because she doesn’t play regularly anymore. Prior to Wimbledon, her last Grand Slam appearance was at the 2022 US Open, where she lost to Aliston Van Uytvanck in the opening match.
Wimbledon holds a special place in Williams’ heart because it’s where she won her very first Grand Slam 23 years ago. The hope is that this won’t be the last time we see her in a Grand Slam.
Elina Svitolina is playing her second Grand Slam since giving birth to her daughter in October 2022. The Ukrainian now has a 4-1 head-to-head record against Williams, and she will face Elise Mertens in the second round.
Kyrgios “heartbroken” after withdrawing from Wimbledon
Nick Kyrgios told reporters on Sunday that he was fit for Wimbledon, where he was set to be the No. 30 seed. However, just hours later, he announced that he wouldn’t play because of his new injury.
“I’m really sad to say that I have to withdraw from Wimbledon this year,” he wrote on his Instagram. “During my comeback, I experienced some pain in my wrist during the week of Mallorca. As a precaution, I had it scanned, and it came back showing a torn ligament on my wrist.”Kyrgios made the 2022 Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, who won in four sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6. Kyrgios won’t be able to replicate his deepest Grand Slam run this time, and his next shot at appearing in a Grand Slam will arrive at the US Open next month.
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