LONDON: World No 1 Iga Swiatek recovered from a dip in her level in the second set to see off Croatian qualifier Jana Fett 6-0, 6-3 in the Wimbledon first round on Tuesday and extend her winning run to 36 matches.
The 2018 junior champion, who exited the grasscourt Grand Slam in the fourth round last year, had the honour of opening the second day's play on Centre Court in the absence of the retired Ash Barty who won the 2021 title.
Playing her first match since winning a second French Open title this month, Poland's Swiatek powered through the opening set without losing a game -- registering a 6-0 set for the 17th time this year -- despite a stiff breeze swirling through the main show court.
A litany of unforced errors, including a double fault, however, led to Swiatek dropping serve at the start of the second set, allowing the 25-year-old Fett, ranked 252nd in the world, to get on the scoreboard.
Swiatek, who played with a ribbon in Ukrainian colours pinned to her cap as she did during her Roland Garros campaign, broke back immediately -- only to hand back the advantage in her next service game.
The Pole's struggles with her delivery continued as she had to save five break points to hold serve for the first time in the second set to get to 2-3 and stay in touch with Fett.
The hold seemed to spur on Swiatek and she won five games in a row to become the first women's player in the 21st century to win 36 consecutive matches.
She will meet Dutch Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove for a place in the third round who beat British wildcard Sonay Kartal Sonay Kartal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
Coco Gauff got off to a bumpy start and converted only four of 25 break points but those glitches were not enough to throw her off course as she reached the second round with a 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
The 18-year-old American is the youngest player in the singles draw and after her runner-up finish at the French Open this month, many are tipping her to go all the way at the All England Club.
She will next face Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu who beat Nastasja Mariana Schunk 6-4, 6-2.
Feisty Australian Nick Kyrgios came through a five-set first-round thriller against British wildcard Paul Jubb as his fearsome serve, including 30 aces, eventually overpowered the 22-year-old 3-6, 6-1, 7-5, 6-7(3), 7-5.
In other first round matches, Alexde Minaur beat Hugo Dellien 6-1, 6-3, 7-5, Jenson Brooksby beat Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-2, 6-3, Ricardas Berankis beat Sam Querrey 6-4, 7-5, 6-3, Marcos Giron beat 24th seed Holger Rune 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
In women's section, 4th seed Paula Badosa beat Louisa 6-2, 6-1, Chirico16th seed Simona Halep beat Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-2, 20th seed Amanda Anisimova beat Yue Yuan 6-3, 6-4, Ajla Tomljanovic stunned 18th seed Jil Teichmann 6-2, 6-3, Kirsten Flipkens beat Jaimee Fourlis 7-5, 6-2, 5th seed Maria Sakkari beat Zoe Hives 6-1, 6-4, 12th seed Jelena Ostapenko beat Oceane Dodin 6-4, 6-4 to reach second round. Agencies
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