On day one five Australians took to the beautifully manicured lawn courts at Wimbledon, by the end of the day just one had advanced to the second round.
Jordan Thompson was the first to lose, going down in comprehensive fashion against last year’s semifinalist Sam Querrey. The final score was 6-2, 6-4, 6-3. Querrey was able to break Thompson five times from 10 opportunities while Thompson failed to convert the four opportunities he earned. The key stat was the winning percentage on the first serve. The big American won 93% (39/42) compared to the Australian with 60% (30/50).
Next to taste defeat was Ajla Tomljanovic the world no. 65 who faced a former training partner from Tomljanovic’s days in Florida. USA’s Madison Keys the world no. 11 was too strong for Tomljanovic and will look to continue her recent strong performances at grand slam events. Keys was runner-up at the 2017 US Open, reached the quarters in Australia and made the semis at Roland Garros. Tomljanovic was not able to earn a break point against Keys, while giving up six of which three were converted by her opponent.
Embed from Getty Images
Photo: LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 02: Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia returns to Madison Keys of the United States during their Ladies’ Singles first round match on day one of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 2, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
John-Patrick Smith was another Australian who lost in straight sets, tasting defeat at the hands of Italy’s Andreas Seppi. Smith crashed out 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 against the Italian veteran.
Embed from Getty Images
Photo: LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 02: John-Patrick Smith of Australia returns against Andreas Seppi of Italy during their Men’s Singles first round match on day one of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 2, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Of the four losses by Australians on day one, it was the loss by Jason Kubler against Argentina’s Guido Pella that was most disappointing. After earning a main-draw spot for the first time through qualifying, Kubler was not able to take advantage of playing an opponent with little to show on grass. Kubler earned 17 break points against his opponent but was only able to convert on five, while giving his opponent a look at 16 of which six were converted. If just a few points went the way of the Australian when looking at break points he could have easily advanced to a big matchup that he craved, against Marin Cilic. Instead, he can at least say he played at Wimbledon after overcoming six knee surgeries.
Embed from Getty Images
Photo: LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 02: Jason Kubler of Australia returns to Guido Pella of Argentina during their Men’s Singles first round match on day one of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 2, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
The good news from day one was the win by John Millman against Italian qualifier Stefano Travaglia. Millman let an early lead slip before dropping the first set in a tie-breaker. Millman got on top of his opponent and was able to complete the win as expected. Millman converted seven of sixteen break points compared to two from nine for the Italian. The winners were 36 to 33 in favour of the Australian. It was the unforced errors count that was the key, with Millman racking up 25 to 35.
Millman will play big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic in round two. A difficult matchup considering Raonic was a semifinalist in 2014 and runner-up in 2016 and a quarterfinalist last year and Raonic made the Stuttgart final where he lost to Federer. Raonic did, however, have to withdraw from a second-round match at the Queen’s Club event after suffering a right pectoral strain at the end of his first-round match, one that he won after his opponent was forced to retire.
