Ironman Federer keeps majors streak alive
Halep, Bouchard sent packing after first-round losses
LONDON — Heat, rain, cold weather, wind, injuries or advancing years. Nothing has stopped Roger Federer from playing every single grand slam tennis event since 2000.
Despite temperatures of up to 86 degrees on Tuesday, Federer, the seven-time champion, breezed past Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 on Wimbledon’s Centre Court to move to the second round. At 33, Federer is a decade older than his opponent. What seemed like yet another routine match for the seven-time Wimbledon champion from Switzerland marked his record 63rd consecutive appearance in the four majors. Before Wimbledon, Federer had been tied with Japan’s Ai Sugiyama at 62.
“I’ve played hurt and sick before, but somehow the streak is still alive,” the second-seed said after the winning the match with 26 winners and only 12 unforced errors. “I definitely had to get lucky as well. I’ve been injured at times.”
Federer lost in last year’s final and hasn’t won the Wimbledon title since 2012.
Simona Halep became n the highest-seeded player to lose, falling in the first round a year after reaching the semifinals at the All England Club. The thirdseeded Romanian, who also reached the French Open final last year, lost to Jana Cepelova of Slovakia 5-7, 64, 6-3.
With record temperatures n forecast for Wednesday, Wimbledon organizers may implement a heat rule — but for women only. After Britain’s temperatures rose to as high as 86 degrees Tuesday, organizers are bracing themselves for a tournament heat record Wednesday. The heat rule allows women singles players to leave court for 10 minutes between the second and third set when the so-called Heat Stress Index — which measures air temperature, humidity and the surface temperature — is at or above 87 degrees.
Three of the four remaining n American men play Wednesday, including No. 17 John Isner and 52ndranked Steve Johnson.
Joining Halep on n the sidelines is last year’s Wimbledon runner-up, 12th-seeded Eugenie Bouchard. She lost her opening match to Chinese qualifier Duan Ying-Ying 7-6 (3), 6-4. Since the 21year-old Canadian reached the semifinals or better at the first three Grand Slams last year, Bouchard has advanced past the quarterfinals of only one tournament and is 4-13 since this year’s Australian Open, including eight first-round tournament losses.
Andy Murray didn’t n disappoint. The thirdseeded Brit advanced to the second round with a 6-4, 76 (3), 6-4 win over Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan on Centre Court. He said he was told the on-court temperature reached 106 degrees. That’s a rare number for London, even in summer. “It was definitely hot today,” said Murray, the first British man to win the Wimbledon title since Fred Perry in 1936. “I mean, I haven’t played loads of matches on that court when it has been as warm as that.”
Serena and Venus n Williams pulled out of the women’s doubles. The siblings, who have won five Wimbledon doubles championships, play their second round in singles Wednesday and may meet in the last 16.
Two-time Wimbledon n winner Petra Kvitova opened play on Centre Court, beating Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-1, 6-0. The second-seeded Kvitova, who is from the Czech Republic, said her parents made the trip for her match but will be heading home right away. “I have to say ‘Sorry’ to them” for such a short match, Kvitova joked.
American Jack Sock, n the 31st seed, lost to Sam Groth, an Australian who once hit the fastest serve at
163.4 mph, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.