Federer Off to Good Start, but Serena Concerned About Hamstring

Jun 25, 07:30 PM

Current Headlines: WIMBLEDON, England _ Only those who waited out the 2{- hour delay to the start of the schedule, the subsequent three rain stoppages and the tiresome run of one-sided matches were rewarded on Day 1 at Wimbledon.

As the failing light on this mercurial Monday threatened to leave British hero Tim Henman and Carlos Moya squinting at each other across the net, tournament referee Andrew Jarrett halted play at 9:17 p.m., right after the muscle-shirted Spaniard had parried away four match points for a 5-5 deadlock in the fifth set.

The final set alone, though unfinished, had provided more excitement than straight-set wins by the four marquee names on the opening-day docket _ top seeds Roger Federer and Justine Henin, No. 3 Andy Roddick and No. 7 Serena Williams, who appears to have something of a mystery hamstring injury.

But for all the excitement of the Henman-Moya battle, it was a bittersweet day for those who reveled in the match. Unless they have Centre Court tickets on Tuesday as well, they'll have to watch the conclusion on the BBC and get grounds passes and camp out on Henman Hill, where they are entitled to scream and clap at a giant television screen.

It was one of those peek-a-boo days with the sun, and the last of the dark, rain-filled clouds didn't disappear until late afternoon.

Williams might have been the happiest to get off court before another drenching hit.

"I heard there was going to be showers from 6 p.m. on, and I was extremely upset when it got tied at 3-all," she said of her 7-5, 6-0 win over Lourdes Dominguez Lino. "I thought for sure I was going to have to play tomorrow."

Williams is playing doubles here with her sister, Venus, which means potentially 13 matches in 14 days. One thing she didn't need was more match play Tuesday, which might be the only day off she gets, and she says she needs that to rest her right leg.

"I don't think it's a pulled hamstring, just a tight hamstring," she said. The leg, however, wasn't strapped. "When it's taped it hurts my other leg. Like the rubbing, I get a burn on my other leg. I hate it," she explained.

Of the 64 matches on the Day 1 card, only 26 were finished _ 12 on the men's side. But the major personalities got through.

Federer, one-seventh of the way to a record-tying fifth straight Wimbledon title, whisked through Russia's Teimuraz Gabashvili, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, and Andy Roddick, pouring in 74 percent of his first serves without being broken, followed with a 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (3) win over Justin Gimelstob.

Henin needed only 56 minutes to drop qualifier Jorgelina Cravero 6-3, 6-0.

Other top seeds through to the second round: No. 5 Fernando Gonzalez, No. 13 Tommy Haas, No. 9 Martina Hingis, who had to rally to beat British wild card Naomi Cavaday in three sets, and No. 15 Patty Schnyder.

Four other Americans were beaten, in addition to Gimelstob. Sam Querrey, the 19-year-old from Thousand Oaks, Calif., played very poorly in losing in straight sets to qualifier Alejandro Falla, and Zack Fleishman, Robby Ginepri and Ashley Harkleroad also were taken down.

It was a good day for Laura Granville, who broke a six-match losing streak with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 win over Aleksandra Wozniak.

Most of the early-day focus was on Federer, who walked onto Centre Court in cream-colored, 1930s-styled tennis trousers. He did not, however, play in them.

"It was cold, but not that cold," said Federer, who once again defended his decision not to play any lead-up grass court tournaments to Wimbledon.

"Look, for me, my body was hurting after the French, after the clay season. What do you want me to say? I'm not going to start risking injury, risking my body. I'd rather play Wimbledon than Halle, lose there and not play Wimbledon at 100 percent."

Roddick's match was closer than Federer's because Gimelstob, who acknowledged this could be his final Wimbledon, served well enough to stay tight in the final two sets.

But Roddick's serving was extraordinary.

"You give me the option to have that number for the tournament and I would take it right now," he said. "If you're taking care of your serve, that only puts more pressure on the other guy. I felt it was a pretty good serving day, especially considering the conditions were a little cold, a little bit unpredictable."

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