June 23, 2010

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Roger Federer came close to saying farewell early to Wimbledon this year, as he started the tournament two sets down in his first match against Alejandro Falla. However, the champion in him came out and he was able to turn it around. He won the next three sets with a final score of 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(1), 6-0 and then went on to win his second round match against Ilija Bozoljac in four sets.

Other top players including Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Robin Soderling and Lleyton Hewitt eased through their first round matches while Spaniards Fernando Verdasco and Nicolas Almagro were ousted in the first round. Novak Djokovic, like Federer, had a tough first round match against Belgium's Olivier Rochus, but was able to pull it out in five sets. Jurgen Melzer defeated Dustin Brown of Jamaica in four sets. Brown is the first Jamaican to play at Wimbledon in 40 years and performed well against the No. 16 seed. In second round matches Djokovic had an easier time beating Taylor Dent in three sets while Roddick overthrew Frenchman Michael Llordra to advance to the third round.

There were a few upsets in both the men's and women's draw as we said goodbye to Marin Cilic and Stanislas Wawrinka who were both defeated in the first round. French Open women's finalists Samantha Stosur and Francesca Schiavone we also taken out with Stosur losing to a qualifier in the first round.

The favourites are dominating the women's draw as the Williams sisters and Maria Sharapova have all advanced easily so far. Belgium's Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, both making their returns to Wimbledon after brief retirements, have advanced to the third round.