Well before the Centre Court spotlight shifted to Williams’ singles comeback match, defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek overcame a wobble to reach the second round with a 6-1 2-6 6-3 win over powerful American Taylor Townsend.
“I’m happy I could get through a match like that because I got quite tense in the second set and I was able to come back to my game,” said Swiatek, fighting back tears.
“These are the moments where you feel that you did your job because it’s not hard when everything goes your way and you’re so confident that everything goes in.”
American Amanda Anisimova, who was crushed by Swiatek in last year’s final, cruised to a 6-3 6-2 win over qualifier Lina Gjorcheska in 61 minutes before fellow former finalists Jasmine Paolini and Karolina Pliskova also progressed to round two.
“It’s not easy to play a qualifier,” Anisimova said of the challenge of taking on Gjorcheska, who became the first player from North Macedonia to compete in a Grand Slam main draw.
“I feel like they’ve had a few matches under their belt. She was playing really good tennis today. I’m happy to be through to the next one.”
