LONDON (Reuters) – Highlights of the first day at the Wimbledon tennis championships on Monday (times GMT):
1352 SWIATEK THROUGH AFTER RAIN DELAY
World number one Iga Swiatek of Poland completed a 6-1 6-3 win over China’s Zhu Lin under the closed roof on Court One following a brief rain delay.
1335 WIMBLEDON HAD BETTER OPTIONS THAN BANNING RUSSIAN PLAYERS – RUBLEV
Asked if Wimbledon had made a mistake by banning Russian and Belarusian players in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine, Russian seventh seed Andrey Rublev told reporters: “If we really want to help or do what is better for tennis and for the people, I think there was better options.
“Not just to ban. Because in the end, it made no difference… Now we are here, and I’m really happy to be back and to compete.”
1321 PLAY SUSPENDED DUE TO RAIN
Play was suspended on all courts at Wimbledon due to rain. Defending champion Novak Djokovic was playing on Centre Court, where he took the first set against Argentina’s Pedro Cachin. Swiatek was leading Zhu Lin by a set.
1252 AZARENKA THROUGH IN THREE SETS
Twice major winner Victoria Azarenka held off China’s Yuan Yue in a tight match to secure a 6-4 5-7 6-4 win and advance to the second round.
1245 WIMBLEDON ADVISES FANS TO STAY AT HOME
Wimbledon organisers on Twitter said their grounds are expected to be at capacity on Monday, adding that fans intending to queue should not travel to the All England Club.
1236 PEGULA SURVIVES DAVIS SCARE
American fourth seed Jessica Pegula overcame a second-set wobble to beat compatriot Lauren Davis 6-2 6-7(8) 6-3 in the first round.
1234 LOCAL HOPE DART KNOCKED OUT
France’s Diane Parry dealt Briton Harriet Dart a second set bagel en route to a 6-7(4) 6-0 6-4 comeback win.
1159 RUSSIANS RUBLEV, KUDERMETOVA THROUGH IN STRAIGHT SETS
Rublev moved into the second round of Wimbledon with a clinical 6-3 7-5 6-4 win over Australia’s Max Purcell in one hour 33 minutes.
Rublev’s 12th seeded compatriot Veronika Kudermetova moved past Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi with a 7-6(4) 6-4 win.
1008 PLAY UNDERWAY
Play began under cloudy skies with the temperature hovering around 17 degrees Celsius.
(Reporting by Hritika Sharma and Aadi Nair; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Ed Osmond)
