Abby Brammell

By Emily Andrews and Paul Harris

Defeated: Golden girl Laura Robson is out on the first day at Wimbledon


Facing the fourth seed on Centre Court would be enough to put most of us off our forehand – and our backhand – never mind the serve.

But although 16-year-old Laura Robson battled fearlessly against Jelena Jankovic, she lost in straight sets in Wimbledon's first round yesterday. And the teenager wasn't the only British woman to fail.

All four crashed out, leaving Andy Murray as the best hope to carry the flag for the nation.

Many had pinned their hopes on Laura, the former junior champion, to capitalise on her rise to top-level tennis. And she was determined to make the most of her Centre Court debut.

But she soon found out that pluckiness is no substitute for experience. After her defeat at the hands of the 23-year-old Serb, she said: 'She's no. four in the world for a reason, she played well. 'I thought [playing on Centre] was going to be a lot more overwhelming, but the court's not as big as it seems on TV.

'I was a lot more nervous when I woke up yesterday morning and then when I got into the court I was just trying to focus on not losing 6-0 6-0.'

Laura has only just finished her schooling – and is not even full-time on the professional circuit yet. But she has vowed to make tennis her 'number one priority' so she can win Wimbledon one day.

'Ideally I would have liked to have won it this year, but that's obviously not going to happen,' she added. The youngster, 232 places in the rankings below her opponent, played with panache.

Although she lost the first set 6-3, in the second set, she broke her opponent's serve and took her to a tiebreak before losing it 7-6. As a first-round loser, she takes away £11,250 to add to her career winnings of £56,150.

But although an older player might cheer herself up with some retail therapy, Laura is unlikely to do so. Her parents keep her prize money safe and are 'very much' in control so she can't spend it.

Elena Baltacha, 26, was favourite to beat Croatia's Petra Martic. She served for the match in the second set, but she was defeated by the player 24 places lower in the rankings.
Melanie South, 24, lost 6-1 6-2 to world no. 69 Regina Kulikova. Katie O'Brien, 24, lost 6-3, 6-7, 64 to 28th seed Alona Bondarenko.
Tens of thousands of fans flocked to the All England Club for a humid opening day's tennis.

Some had camped out for three days to be at the front of the queue that snaked through SW19, and if they were hoping to enjoy a strawberry they were soon put off with the price of £2.50 for a little punnet.

And hopes of cheering on British top women's players to victory soon evaporated in the heat of a June afternoon.



Tennis fans queue during Day One of the 2010 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club


First through the gates: Fiona Porter (front) had been queuing for Wimbledon since Friday


Bring it on! A line of security guards walk in front of thousands of tennis fans arriving at Wimbledon for the first day of the Championships


No 1 Elena Baltacha, 26, were soon dashed as she became the nation's first casualty.

She had actually served for the match in the second set against Petra Martic before her game fell apart and she slumped to defeat against an opponent 24 places lower in the world rankings.

And 16-year-old former junior champion Laura Robson was knocked out in two sets on her Centre Court debut against Serbian fourth seed Jelena Jankovic, after brave fight that went to a tie-break in the second set.


But it was Swiss favourite Roger Federer many fans had come to see defend his crown on Cenre Court, with some speaking of camping out for days to win their chance to watch their hero.
But they were in for a nerve-jangling afternoon as the Swiss ace dropped his opening two sets against Alejandro Falla before slipping into gear and winning the match.
The walkways around the practice courts were crammed as home favourite Andy Murray was put through his paces before his opening match tomorrow.



Defending champion Roger Federer of Switzerland serves to Alejandro Falla in his tight opening match of the tournament


Roger Federer's wife Mirka manages a smile after his nailbiting first match on Centre Court


Murray's team took the opportunity to quash fears he might not bow for the Queen when she visits SW19 on Thursday. Murray, who is seeded fourth, and will play tomorrow posted a message on his Twitter page today confirming he would bow.

He wrote: 'Few stories about me not bowing to the Queen if I play in front of her.

Not the case, would be an honour and privilege, of course I'll bow.'


Andy Murray works out on a practice court today under the watchful eye of his mother Judy


Sharp-eyed fans of Maria Sharapova were treated to the site of her warming up with her fitness coach in a side road near the courts. She was put through her paces before stretching off and warming down.

As always, the world's favourite tennis contest attracted devoted fans.

Fiona Porter said she coped with 'three freezing nights and horrible toilets' by imagining she was cuddling up to Federer.

The 34-year-old set up temporary home at a golf course near the All England Club to secure her No 1 voucher as the tournament opened for business.

The nursery nurse, from Winchester, said: 'It was freezing at night - I imagined I was cuddling up to Roger when it got really horrible.

There are a lot of us here so it has been quite fun. I'd certainly do it all again for Roger.'

While most delighted in the hot weather as temperatures peaked at 24C (75.2F), father-of-two Mark Davis, 32, from Chewton Mendip, Somerset, said: 'We are normally complaining about the rain but this year the sun's a bit of a concern.

'It's getting very hot already. We are hoping to get a glimpse of Laura Robson today but we haven't got Centre Court tickets.'






Maria Sharapova talks through her workout with her fitness coach on a side road in Wimbledon


There were also complaints over the strawberry prices which went up 25p for a punnet of 10 with fresh cream.

Louisa Casson, 18, from Finsbury Park, north London, said she thought the £2.50 price tag was 'ridiculous'. 'But I think it's what everyone expects,' she added.

Debbie Purdie, 46, who had travelled from Auckland, New Zealand, to watch the tennis, said: 'I would imagine it would be the case that strawberries would be much cheaper elsewhere, but I'm not surprised they are so expensive.'

Tennis great John McEnroe told supporters waiting in the queue he was not as optimistic for British success as he had been last year when Murray got to the semi-finals.

He said: 'It's not looking as good as last year but it's still pretty good for British hopes.



Wait is over: Many had camped out overnight to ensure they were at the front of the queue when gates finally opened


'It's not as if Brazil wins every World Cup and you could say the same about Federer winning every Wimbledon so there's definitely a reason to believe that, if Murray gets a couple of breaks, he can go a long way.

'But I'm not as confident as I was last year.'


Get to the back: Tennis fans queue in Wimbledon Park before the gates open at the start of Day One of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club


Father-of-two Mark Davis, 32, from Chewton Mendip, Somerset, said: 'We are normally complaining about the rain but this year the sun's a bit of a concern.

'It's getting very hot already. We are hoping to get a glimpse of Laura Robson today but we haven't got Centre Court tickets.'

SW19 is set to swelter in temperatures as high as 28C (82F), leaving the new £80million roof redundant.


Seasonal strawberries: Phoebe Douglas, 27 from Lewisham, (left) and Rosie Menzies, 26, from New Zealand enjoy the traditional Wimbledon treat


Last-minute preparations: A workman walks past Centre Court carrying a ladder before the crowd are allowed in


Getting going: Staff have their bags checked by security at the All England club as a fan packs up his Union Jack tent to start queueing


Clear skies are forecast until the weekend, with temperatures rising from 22C today to 25C on Wednesday and a sweltering 28C (82.4F) by the weekend.

If the mercury nudges up a fraction higher, Wimbledon will see the hottest temperatures recorded so far in 2010, beating the 28.8C at Heathrow Airport on May 24.

The roof, which took three years to build, was only used on one occasion last year as the tournament enjoyed scorching weather.

Met Office forecaster Rebecca Sherwin said: 'The Centre Court roof was hardly used last year and it looks like it won't be used early on in the tournament this year either.

'Monday will reach 22C or 23C, with temperatures increasing to 25C by Wednesday and getting warmer later in the week, with potentially 27C or 28C locally.


'It looks fairly settled for the first few days, with a bright start on Monday followed by some cloud and clearer on Tuesday and Wednesday.

'We're not expecting any rainfall. However the weather will turn a little unsettled towards the weekend.'

However, if periods of thunderstorms do decide to rain on the parade, at least the retractable roof that was estimated to cost £80 million will come in use.

And fans were also rejoicing at the welcome news that the dreaded vuvuzela - much derided at the World Cup in South Africa - has been banned.



THE CHARITY THAT'S CHEERING FOR FEDERER

Defending champion Roger Federer arrives on court for his first match: Last year he wore a blazer but resorted to more conventional attire for 2010


Oxfam stands to receive a boost of upwards of £100,000 if Swiss star Roger Federer manages to win a seventh Wimbledon title this year.

The reigning champion kickws off his defence on Centre Court today against Alejandro Falla, with most fans expecting the Colombian to be the first victim on an inexorable march into the record books.

The champ looked suitably suave in his trademark Federer kit, although this year he dispensed with the blazer and trousers.

But fans were in for a nail-biting time as a shaky-looking Federer lost his first two sets. The Swiss maestro eventually came through triumphant in five sets, keeping the charity's hopes alive and kicking.

The top seed paid tribute to his opponent as he came off court, saying: 'I've lost many matches this season I should have won and today I won a match I should have lost. He played incredible.'

The 'seven titles for Federer' were predicted by the late Nicholas Newlife, of Kidlington, Oxfordshire, who staked £1,520 on him winning seven titles at odds of 66-1 in 2003.

The bet stands to make £101,840 and Newlife, who died in February 2009 aged 69, leaving his entire estate to Oxfam

A number of outstanding bets placed by him have also come in, with the charity already netting £16,750.

Cathy Ferrier, fundraising and supporter marketing director at Oxfam, said: 'We're enormously grateful to Mr Newlife for his generous gift and we'll be keeping a close eye on Wimbledon as a result.'


source: dailymail