Top seed Iga Swiatek up and running at Wimbledon as she storms into second round
- Planet Sport writer
- 4 July 2023
The in-form Pole looked ominously at ease on grass as she blew past Zhu Lin in quick time.
Iga Swiatek did not take long to get her Wimbledon campaign off to a winning start as she easily disposed of Zhu Lin.
The world number one is looking to add to the French Open and US Open titles she has won in the last 10 months and made a convincing opening on Court One, winning 6-1 6-3.
The Pole does not have the best pedigree at SW19, having never made it past the fourth round, but signs are positive that this will be the year she has a proper crack at winning the title.
Chinese Zhu - ranked 34th in the world - was no match for her, with a routine victory only slightly delayed by a rain shower that saw the roof on Court One closed.Fourth seed Jessica Pegula also made it through to the second round, but she was made to work hard against her fellow American Lauren Davis.
After comfortably winning the opener, Pegula was pegged back as it went to a decider only for her to regain control and seal a 6-2 6-7 (8) 6-3 victory.
Two-time US Open champion Victoria Azarenka also needed three sets to beat Yuan Yue 6-4 5-7 6-4.
Russian Liudmila Samsonova did not have the best return to Wimbledon as the 15th seed went out 7-6 (1) 7-6 (4) to Ana Bogdan.
Harriet Dart was the first home player to be knocked out as she lost in three sets to Frenchwoman Diane Parry.
Seventh seed Coco Gauff became the biggest casualty of the first day as she went down in a thrilling three-set contest to fellow American Sofia Kenin.
The former Australian Open champion won 6-4 4-6 6-2 in arguably her best performance since winning in Melbourne three years ago.
Fifth seed Caroline Garcia had no problems in a 6-4 6-3 win over Katie Volynets while Briton Jodie Burrage enjoyed her first win at Wimbledon, dispatching Caty McNally 6-1 6-3.
Wild card Venus Williams' Centre Court outing was ruined by a knee injury suffered in the third game against Elina Svitolina.
The 43-year-old, who has won five times at SW19, was able to carry on after slipping at the net but went down 6-4 6-3.
There were also wins for seeds Belinda Bencic, Daria Kasatkina and Veronika Kudermetova.
