The Wizard

There is something truly magical about watching Roger Federer play on grass that I think we lost last year when he was grinding through mono, and watching him play Rendy Lu yesterday, it was wonderful to see that he's back. David Foster Wallace described it as a religious experience, and I can see why - he practically floats on the grass. I swear he walks about two feet above it and flies.

*

Hell, even when he took that fall, it was graceful.

*

And how about that shot round the netpost, hmmm? That has to be one of the shots, if not the shot of the year. It was amazing.

*

And because it cannot be ignored... I love the outfit. Maybe not the bag, but I dig the jacket and I love the waistcoat. I know it's not so popular, but I love it. I know Dootsiez over at All I Need Is A Picket Fence wants to see a monogrammed cape and undies worn outside shorts next year - personally, I'm gunning for a cloak. A looooooong one. Possibly lined with faux ermine. With a hood. And a wizard hat. Or possibly a crown.

*

A word has to go to the man unlucky enough to face King Roger - I really like Lu Yen-hsun ("Rendy") and I'm sad he got this draw, because I mean, hello, as if I'm pulling against Roger. I really would see to like him go a few rounds at a Slam this year, because he really has a beautiful game - and he generally played calm in the big moments, which is so important. His clutch serving was great and he hit some great winners. He refused to let Federer steamroll him, and you have to give him kudos for that. Well done, Rendy.

*

Someone who did get steamrolled is James Blake. Seriously, what is wrong with him? Is he injured or just a basket case? He has done nothing this year. He is not only a member of the Club of Lost Souls, he's the current president. I have no clue what the dealio is with him, and I don't think I have much patience with it, either. Spank your inner moppet and get over it, whatever it is, James.

*

Over to the women, and the story of the day from my perspective had to be Jarmila Groth, who had a great win over Lucie Safarova - one of one Aussie through to the second round so far, which is good! Latest inductee to the Club of Lost Souls, however (though not up to Blake standards) is Patty Schnyder. Don't know what's up there.

*

Day 2 has now started - catch you on the flip side!

*

*

Today's Results

*

The Championships (Wimbledon)

*

Men's Draw

*

Roger Federer def. Yen-hsun Lu, 7-5 6-3 6-2

Novak Djokovic def. Julien Benneteau, 6-7 (8-10) 7-6 (7-1) 6-2 6-4

Fernando Verdasco def. James Ward, 6-1 6-3 6-4

Robin Soderling def. Gilles Muller, 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 6-1 6-2

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga def. Andrey Golubev, 6-3 5-7 7-5 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5)

Andreas Seppi def. James Blake, 7-5 6-4 7-6 (7-5)

Kristof Vliegen def. Nicolas Mahut, 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 5-7 5-7 6-4

Philipp Kohlschreiber def. Florent Serra, 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 6-4

Igor Andreev def. Evgeny Korolev, 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 7-6 (7-4)

Dudi Sela def. Santiago Gonzalez, 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-3

Vince Spadea def. Paul Capdeville, 6-0 6-4 7-5

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez def. Agustin Calleri, 6-2 6-3 6-2

Marin Cilic def. Alberto Martin, 6-3 6-4 6-4

Janko Tipsarevicdef. Jan Hernych, 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-4)

Stefan Koubek def. Edouard Roger-Vasselin, 7-5 6-3 4-6 3-6 6-3

Sam Querrey def. Danai Udomchoke, 6-3 6-4 6-4

Simon Greul def. Michael Yani, 6-4 6-2 7-5

Marcel Granollers def. Andreas Beck, 6-2 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-2

Steve Darcis def. Frank Dancevic, 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-3

Albert Montanes def. Grga Zemlja,6-4 6-4 6-4

Ivo Minar def. Maximo Gonzalez, 6-4 3-6 7-5 6-0

Nicolas Almagro def. Juan Monaco, 6-7 (3-7) 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 8-6

Tommy Robredo def. Luka Gregorc, 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 5-7 7-6 (7-3)

Mardy Fish def. Sergio Roitman, 6-3 6-2 4-1 retired

Simone Bolelli def. Daniel Koellerer, 6-7 (3-7) 2-6 7-5 6-4 6-4

Marc Gicquel def. Adrian Mannarino, 6-2 6-2 6-4

Ivo Karlovic def. Lukas Lacko, 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-3

Rainer Schuettler def. Xavier Malisse, 6-7 (9-11) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-1

Karol Beck def. Feliciano Lopez, 1-6 7-5 6-3 4-6 10-8

Guillermo Canas def. Diego Junquiera, 6-1 6-2 6-2

*

*

Women's Draw

*

Serena Williams def. Neuza Silva, 6-1 7-5

Mathilde Johansson def. Melanie South, 7-5 7-6 (7-5)

Maria Sharapova def. Viktoriya Kutuzova, 7-5 6-4

Elena Dementieva def. Alla Kudryavtseva, 6-4 6-1

Daniela Hantuchova def. Laura Robson, 3-6 6-4 6-2

Francesca Schiavone def. Aleksandra Wozniak, 4-6 6-4 6-4

Victoria Azarenka def. Severine Bremond Beltrame, 6-2 retired

Shahar Peer def. Maria Elena Camerin, 6-2 7-6 (7-3)

Arantxa Parra Santonja def. Tamarine Tanasugarn, 6-4 6-4

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova def. Petra Cetkovska, 6-2 6-2

Elena Vesnina def. Yanina Wickmayer, 6-1 6-1

Ioana Raluca Olaru def. Nathalie Dechy, 1-6 7-6 (7-0) 6-2

Virginie Razzano def. Tamira Paszek, 6-0 3-1 retired

Jie Zheng def. Kristina Barrois, 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-4)

Regina Kulikova def. Karolina Sprem, 4-6 7-5 6-3

Roberta Vinci def. Magdalena Rybarikova, 6-3 6-2

Gisela Dulko def. Stephanie Foretz, 6-3 7-5

Timea Bacsinszky def. Vesna Manasieva, 6-1 4-6 8-6

Jarmila Groth def. Lucie Safarova, 6-3 3-6 6-3

Aravane Rezai def. Ayumi Morita, 6-2 6-2

Nadia Petrova def. Anastasiya Yakimova, 6-1 6-1

Ai Sugiyama def. Patty Schnyder, 6-4 6-4

Sania Mirza def. Anna-Lena Groenefeld, 6-2 2-6 6-2

Jill Craybas def. Tsvetana Pironkova, 6-4 7-5

Sorana Cirstea def. Edina Gallovits, 7-5 6-1

Michelle Larcher de Brito def. Klara Zakopalova, 6-2 7-5

Dominika Cibulkova def. Julie Coin, 6-4 3-6 6-3

Marion Bartoli def. Yung-Jan Chan, 6-0 6-0

Urszula Radwanska def. Masa Zec Peskiric, 6-3 6-3

Alisa Kleybanova def. Sesil Karatantcheva, 6-2 7-5