Venus, Sharapova, Jankovic Win In Opening Matches!

June 24th, 2008

London, England

The defending champion was in action today trying to make her start towards a fifth Wimbledon title while other title hopefuls were also in action all trying to tone their games on their way later into the tournament.

Venus Williams opened up play on Centre Court today as is the tradition at Wimbledon. Williams was playing against a tricky and determined British player in Naomi Cavaday. The young Brit was playing in front of her home crowd in the most important tennis stadium in the world, Venus who has won here four times previously was returning to her favorite court in the world. Venus started off rusty and Cavaday capitalized, taking the first set to a tiebreak before Venus eventually won with a 7-6(5) score. The second set was all Williams as she established order and reminded everyone why this is her court, with a 6-1 victory.

Maria Sharapova was also in action today sporting shorts and a tuxedo top, trying to be the fashionable one she always is. Playing against French woman, Stephanie Foretz, you sensed Sharapova would not be bothered and she wasn't. It didn't take long before the Russian dismissed Foretz 6-1, 6-4. The women's second seed and number 2 player in the world was also in action, Jelena Jankovic didn't have much trouble dispatching Olga Savchuk in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. Jankovic and Venus may meet in the Quarter-Finals a week from today.

Lindsay Davenport returned to action for the first time since she played an exhibition in Poland in early April. The rust was evident as Davenport had trouble dictating some points and losing the second set. But Davenport knows how to play on grass and used her experience to move on with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory over Renata Voracova. Daniela Hantuchova was also in action and won her first round match, 7-6(5), 6-4 over Sara Errani.

Tomorrow Round 2 action kicks off with Ana Ivanovic, Serena Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova all coming back in action.

Results:

Centre Court:

(7)Venus Williams d. Naomi Cavaday - 7-6(5), 6-1

Court 1:

(3)Maria Sharapova d. Stephanie Foretz - 6-1, 6-4

(2)Jelena Jankovic d. Olga Savchuk - 6-3, 6-2

Court 2:

Anne Keothavong d. Vania King - 4-6, 6-2, 6-3

(25)Lindsay Davenport d. Renata Voracova - 6-2, 5-7, 6-3

Court 3:

(20)Francesca Schiavone d. Tamira Paszek - 6-3, 5-7, 10-8

(13)Vera Zvonereva d. Aiko Nakamura - 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-1

Top 10 Seeds:

1. Ana Ivanovic - Round 2

2. Jelena Jankovic - Round 2

3. Maria Sharapova - Round 2

4. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Round 2

5. Elena Dementieva - Round 2

6. Serena Williams - Round 2

7. Venus Williams - Round 2

8. Anna Chavetadze - Round 2

9. Dinara Safina - Round 2

10. Daniela Hantuchova - Round 2