06/29/2021 3:50 PM
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 06/29/2021 3:50 PM
Roger Federer had to work harder than expected to get into the second round at Wimbledon.
The Swiss, number eight in the world, was one set away from saying goodbye to the tournament on his debut, but he reacted in time and when it seemed that he had the game on track, an injury to the right knee of his rival, Frenchman
Adrian Mannarino
, sentenced his victory.
The former number one won 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 3-6, 6-2 and abandoned and took the first step towards his ninth title at the Cathedral.
Federer started plugged in against a rival who, regardless of the difference in hierarchy, stood him as equals from the beginning and did not give him anything.
The Swiss, however, played confidently with the serve in the first set, was a little better and with a break in the tenth game, he closed the set in 39 minutes.
In the second, the former number one lowered the intensity, lost effectiveness with the serve and began to err much more than at the beginning (he added 19 unforced).
And Mannarino did not miss the opportunity: he had his chances to gain an advantage in the set - he missed two breaks - although he had to wait for the tie break to take over the set and equalize the match.
Our eight-time champion is back 👋 @ rogerfederer and @AdrianMannarino head out under the roof of Center Court # Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/FPpxY1SWKM
- Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 29, 2021
The game was very even in the third chapter, with Federer more aggressive but also more erratic than his adversary, and with Mannarino going for the advantage.
The Frenchman struck first and went ahead 2-0;
but the Swiss recovered the break and equalized the score.
And in the sixth game, the number 41 in the ranking broke again and also took that set, to be one from hitting the big bang.
Federer did not accuse the blow and started in advantage in the fourth quarter, with a break in the second game.
In the seventh, when he served with the score 4-2 and 30-30, Mannarino slipped while going to get a ball to the thigh and his right knee was locked.
After receiving medical attention, the Frenchman returned to the field, but he was no longer the same.
Unable to move or stand on his knee, he gave up that set, after losing serve in the eighth game.
And he could barely play a point in the fifth - Federer served and went 15-0 - before retiring.
The Frenchman suffered a right knee injury that forced him to leave.
Photo REUTERS / Peter Nicholls
The Swiss is now waiting for the winner of the duel between Frenchman
Richard Gasquet
and Japanese
Yuichi Sugita
.
Just over a month after his 40th birthday, Federer is looking for his 21st Grand Slam title to improve the record he shares today with Rafael Nadal (absent from the tournament this year) and to go back on his own as the top winner of all the times.
The Swiss, however, did not arrive in London at his best, after a 2020 complicated by the pandemic and two operations on his right knee and a 2021 with little competition, in which, still in full recovery, he played only four tournaments , with a 5-3 record, none on grass in the previous English Grand Slam.
Our heart goes out to you, @AdrianMannarino - it was a performance to be proud of and we wish you a speedy recovery # Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/0uREBcRcrc
- Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 29, 2021
Now it is the turn of Serena Williams, who also wants to make history in the British capital.
The American, eighth in the WTA and sixth favorite, will go for her 24th "big" trophy to match the mark of
Margaret Court
, the top winner in that category.
The absences of Naomi Osaka, in mental recovery after her retirement from Roland Garros, and of the reigning champion Simona Halep, injured, positioned the former number one as one of the great candidates to reach, at least, until the final.
Although before dreaming of the title - which would be the eighth in London and the first in a "big" since Australia 2017 - she will have to overcome the debut against the Belarusian
Aliaksandra Sasnovich
, 100th, which should not pose great problems for the American.
On another rainy day in London, there was little action on the smaller courts;
but before the provisional suspension due to bad weather and in the two main stages, indoors, they were able to celebrate some favorites.
Barty, world number one, advanced to the second round by beating Suárez Navarro.
Photo AP Photo / Kirsty Wigglesworth
Australian
Ashleigh Barty
, world number one, defeated Spain's
Carla Suárez Navarro
6-1, 6-7 (1-7) and 6-1
, who played her second Grand Slam since her return to the circuit after overcoming cancer .
And Czech
Karolina Pliskova
, seeded eighth, beat Slovenian
Tamara Zidansek
7-5 and 6-4
.
On the men's side, the German Alexander Zverev, the fourth seed, defeated the Dutchman
Tallon Griekspoor
6-3, 6-4 and 6-1
; Canadian
Denis Shapovalov
(10th), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7 and 6-4 to German
Philipp Kohlschreiber
; the British
Daniel Evans
(22nd), 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 and 7-5 to the Spanish
Feliciano López
; and the Italian Fabio Fognini (26th) beat
Albert Ramos Viñolas
7-6 (7-4), 6-2 and 6-4
.