• Wimbledon, Day One

Defending champion Nadal strolls past plucky Russell

ESPN staff
June 20, 2011
Rafael Nadal enjoyed a comfortable victory against Michael Russell © Getty Images
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Plays of the Day: Day One
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Rafael Nadal looked every inch a champion as he kicked off the defence of his Wimbledon title in style.

Unbeaten at the All England Club since 2007 but denied the chance to defend his 2008 title due to injury, Nadal shrugged off a slow start to power into the second round with a 6-4 6-2 6-2 victory over Michael Russell.

It was a tentative start from the world No. 1 as he opened proceedings on Centre Court, moving feelingly on the flawless green surface.

A double fault in the sixth game gifted Russell the break as the American took a shock lead in the opening set. But normal service resumed as Nadal broke back immediately, courtesy of a glorious running forehand down the line.

And this time it was Russell's turn to gift Nadal the break; two double faults followed by a wild forehand which fizzed beyond the baseline.

After a nervous few moments, it was ultimately an easy hold as the Spaniard wrapped up the set before carrying his momentum into the second, snatching an early break to set him well on course for victory.

Despite a spectacular double dive from Russell, the double break swiftly followed as the Spaniard tightened his stranglehold on the match. The world No. 90 battled valiantly, but it merely delayed the inevitable as Nadal strolled towards victory and a place in the second round, where he will meet another American in the shape of Ryan Sweeting, who battled from two sets down to beat Pablo Andujar 3-6 4-6 6-1 7-6(1) 6-1.

Milos Raonic could meet Nadal in the third round © Getty Images
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Last year's runner-up Tomas Berdych showed signs he could be playing deep into the second week after he raced into the second round with an emphatic win over Italy's Filippo Volandri. The sixth seed hit 32 to winners to his opponent's eight as he wrapped up a 6-2 6-2 6-1 victory in an hour and 34 minutes.

Milos Raonic could be a potential third-round opponent for Nadal, and the big-serving Canadian looked to be in ominous form as he eased into the second round with a straight-sets win over Frenchman Marc Gicquel. Raonic, seeded No. 31 at the All England Club, has an explosive game well-suited to the grass, and could be a dangerous opponent for Nadal, should he make it past second-round opponent Gilles Muller.

The talented Frenchman Gael Monfils booked his place in the second round with a 6-4 7-6(3) 6-3 victory over Germany's Matthias Bachinger, while Stanislas Wawrinka enjoyed a routine 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over Potito Starace.

American No. 1 Mardy Fish emerged victorious in his first-round match against Marcel Granollers. Despite hitting twice as many winners and 26 aces to his opponent's two, Fish had to battle his way to a 7-6(3) 7-6(5) 6-4 win.

Spain's Feliciano Lopez moved into the second round with a 6-4 7-5 6-3 victory over Michael Berrer, where he will meet another German, after Rainer Schuettler beat Thomaz Bellucci in straight sets.

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