French Open finalists Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas experienced contrasting fortunes in their opening-day matches at Wimbledon.
The pair were playing their first match since Djokovic came from two sets down to win in Paris 15 days ago and the Serbian overcame a tricky start to make it through to the second round.
The defending champion opened play on Centre Court against British debutant Jack Draper and was stunned to drop the opening set.
However, he quickly recovered to win 4-6 6-1 6-1 6-2 and said: “I thought he was playing well. He was fighting. Obviously for him, a unique occasion playing for the first time on Wimbledon Centre Court. He has done well.
“But anyway, (it) was a very good performance. I’m pleased with the second, third and fourth sets, the way I played from the back of the court. I started returning better, as well, midway (through the) second set.”
Greek star crashes out
Tsitsipas, however, crashed out with a straight-sets defeat to world number 57 Frances Tiafoe.
The American was far too good in a 6-4 6-3 6-4 win, with Tsitsipas saying afterwards he was not fully motivated.
He said: “There have been times that I was much more motivated than this. But that’s no reason for me not to play well.
“The conditions are the same for each single player. The bubble makes it really tiring week by week.
“It’s certainly very difficult when you know mentally you’re going to go from one bubble, being in that bubble two-and-a-half weeks, maybe even more than that, like close to a month, to be honest.
“Just like two weeks later you still have to undergo the same procedure and the same thing again.
“It’s just not easy. It’s a challenge on its own already. But I don’t want to put emphasis to that too much. We had a match today, (I) had my opportunities.
“My opponent played much better, significantly better, than me. There wasn’t the drive that I was hoping for. There wasn’t that same fighting spirit that I usually put out on the court.”
Watson beaten in epic
British interest in the women's draw suffered another blow as Heather Watson suffered a late night horror show as she tumbled out of Wimbledon to lucky loser Kristie Ahn.
Watson, Britain’s best hope in the women’s singles this fortnight following Johanna Konta’s withdrawal, had her match moved to Court One after rain wrecked the first half of the opening day.
But the 29-year-old fell to a sixth first-round exit in 11th Wimbledon appearances after a three-set marathon finished 2-6 7-6 (3) 8-6 at 10.17pm.
Katie Boulter had earlier marked her return to Wimbledon by becoming the first British winner of the 2021 tournament.
The 24-year-old missed the Championships in 2019 with the back problem that plunged her out of the top 100 after a breakthrough season the previous year.
Boulter is ranked down at 219 but she is undoubtedly a better player than that and she has shown on many occasions that big stages bring the best out of her.
She had a kind draw against American qualifier Danielle Lao, making her Wimbledon debut at the age of 30, but had to battle from a set down to win 6-7 (6) 6-3 6-4.
Liam Broady registered just his second win at Wimbledon as he swept aside Marco Cecchinato in straight sets.
The British number five, who last won at SW19 in 2015, beat the Italian 6-3 6-4 6-0.
The 27-year-old will play either ninth seed Diego Schwartzman or Benoit Paire in the next round.
