Fernando Verdasco and Marcell Granollers are the first two Spaniards to reach the second round of Wimbledon in 2015, after both achieved impressive victories against Martin Klizan and Serbian Janko Tipsarevic. Granollers was the first one to advance, on Court 7, defeating Tipsarevic 6-3, 6-4, 6-2: who in 2012 was ranked eighth in the world... but now stands at number 486 in the ATP after a series of physical problems. "Beauty will save the world": the motto by Fyodor Dostoevsky that, tattooed in Japanese, Tipsarevic proudly displays on his arm, was of no value against Granollers' volleys and charges at the net. The Barcelona player won 77% of those attacks: 17/22.
"It was a splendid match and I am satisfied with it. It was brilliant how I saved the break points I faced at the start of the second set," reasoned Granollers, who indeed saved eight out of the nine break points against his serve. On the other hand, Tipsarevic only won one out of those nine points... while Granollers broke the Serb's serve on five out of the eleven opportunities he had.
When appearing before the Spanish journalists, Granollers also spoke about the recent events surrounding Spanish tennis, including the letter that he also signed on Sunday night along with 43 other players, coaches, and legends of this sport in Spain. "I only know what I have read about the alleged resignation of Gala León... and I don't know much more. But at this point, I expect anything. the situation is a shame and none of us are happy about Spain being in the Second Division or what could happen in this tie against Russia, in two weeks' time." In the second round, Granollers will face Argentine Leonardo Mayer.
Later, on the shiny Court 14, Verdasco (quarterfinalist at Wimbledon in 2013, and defeated in five sets by Andy Murray, the champion that year) prevailed in a battle between left-handers (which lasted four hours minus three minutes) against tough Slovak Martin Klizan: ranked number 49 in the world, while Verdasco is 43rd. With a remarkable 27 aces, Verdasco came out on top in the left-handed clash with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-7 (5), and 13-11 scoreline. Verdasco and Klizan had never faced each other until today.
Both players committed a dozen double faults. Klizan won two sets... with only one converted break point (1/10) against the rapid effects of Verdasco's serves, who won 58% of points with second serves... and 71% of net approaches: 29/41. In the second round, Verdasco will face Dominic Thiem, the 21-year-old powerful Austrian currently ranked number 30 in the ATP. Thiem advanced at the expense of Israeli Dudi Sela.