Wimbledon day one: Novak Djokovic mops up, Emma Raducanu checks in, Jannik Sinner channels inner Pete Sampras
Bookies favourites Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek made light work of their day one opponents to progress into the Wimbledon second round with ease.
Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has not always felt at ease on the lawn at the All England Club but produced a near-faultless display on Court One to down world number 34 Zhu Lin in straight sets.
It was a similar story for Djokovic, looking for a fifth straight title in SW19, and after a delay due to rain before a slippery surface saw leaf blowers required to dry the court, he strolled to victory over Pedro Cachin.
Harriet Dart was the first British hopeful to exit the Championships but Liam Broady, Jodie Burrage and Jan Choinski clinched victories to give the home crowd plenty to cheer.
Here we look at the story from day one of the 2023 Championships.
Tweet of the day
Wimbledon is here… 🍓⁰⁰And here’s your guide to the quintessential essentials that make SW19 so iconic… 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/7Uc0KpXBfu
— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 3, 2023
Picture of the day
Quote of the day
“I was literally killing it, then I got killed by the grass.” – Venus Williams after slipping on Centre Court
Rehabbing Raducanu checks in
The start of @Wimbledon has been fantastic – have you been to the Vodafone Connection Experience in the Southern Village yet? ❤️🎾 #FeelTheConnection #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/AUgojX2cwo
— Vodafone UK (@VodafoneUK) July 3, 2023
Emma Raducanu is one of a number of high-profile absentees from this year’s Wimbledon following surgery on both wrists and her left ankle in May.
The 2021 US Open champion has been hampered by injuries since her stunning Flushing Meadows triumph and these latest setbacks ruled her out of the grass-court season, but she was still able to make a surprise appearance on the opening day of the Championships.
Raducanu, in her role as global ambassador for Evian, attended their VIP suite alongside fellow British prospect Jack Draper before the duo were involved in Vodaphone’s Connection Experience in the Southern Village.
Shot of the day
Jannik Sinner produces a smash that Pete Sampras would be proud of.
Sinner channels his inner Sampras 💥#Wimbledon | @janniksin pic.twitter.com/4ZAkYHLyw1
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2023
Brit Watch
Stat of the day
62 – Iga Swiatek is now 62-13 at Grand Slams. Only five female players in the Open Era have won more from their first 75 – Margaret Court, Monica Seles (69 each), Billie Jean King, Chris Evert (66 each) and Martina Hingis (64). Company.#Wimbledon | @WTA @WTA_insider @Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Vodj8eVk80
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) July 3, 2023
World No 1 Iga Swiatek finds herself in good company as she marches on at Grand Slams.
