| Monday, 23 June 2008 Written by Alix Ramsay The sun shone! The rain delays of the past couple of years seemed a million miles away as the world's best tennis players eased into their stride in perfect weather on the first day of Wimbledon 2008. Clearly neither Roger Federer nor Serena Williams had much faith in the weather forecasters, the defending champion arriving on court in a thick woolly cardigan and the former champion marching on to court in a white raincoat. Williams also seemed to have taken tonsorial advice from Jamie Murray and had adopted the "big hair" look, requiring a huge branded hair band to keep it in place. But having dispensed with the grandad's cardie after the warm-up, Federer was in scintillating form as he galloped into the second round. The fact that he was playing his old pal, Dominik Hrbaty, in what might be the Slovakian’s last trip to Wimbledon made no difference to the champion – he was ruthless and impressive as he won 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in just 79 minutes. Williams, on the other hand, was not at her sparkling best as she struggled past Kaia Kanepi 7-5, 6-3. Kanepi, from Estonia, has a habit of hitting the ball awfully hard and awfully accurately and, for a set at least, it was causing Williams all sorts of problems. But roaring herself on with blood-curdling cries of "Come On!" she lived to wear the raincoat another day. There was a distinct retro look to Lleyton Hewitt as he revived memories of his battling, belligerent best to edge past Robin Haase 6-7, 6-3, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2. The Australian former champion has spent most of the year dealing with a chronic hip injury but while he may not be quite the force that he once was, he will still fight until he drops to try and salvage a victory. Novak Djokovic was still sorting out his sartorial style for the fortnight. He wants to portray himself as a Grand Slam champion – he won the Australian Open – and he wants to be seen as a contender for the title here, but in his opening match he was looking a little creased and rumpled. It took him four sets to get past Michael Berrer, the world No.91 from Germany. Ana Ivanovic, meanwhile, picked up where she had left off at the French Open. Pretty in pink – or Neo Red, as her clothing sponsors like to call it – in Paris as she claimed the title, the top seed was pristine in predominantly white as she raced past Rossana de los Rios 6-1, 6-2. David Nalbandian was the highest seed to be eliminated, losing 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 to Frank Dancevic from Niagara Falls. The No.7 seed was oddly out of sorts and had neither the game not the heart to counter his Canadian rival. Not even he could quite put his finger on what the problems was. Two weeks ago, Dancevic had to pull out of his first round match at the Artois tournament at Queen's Club with a wrist injury. The injury only cleared up four days ago and yet now he finds himself in the second round against Bobby Reynolds. The highest ranked woman to fall at the first hurdle was Patty Schnyder, the twelfth seed who was beaten by Casey Dellacqua of Australia.
| 
Djokovic Survives Early Scare
Subscription Video (Live)
