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Serena restores order on grass ( 2003-06-25 09:27) (Agencies)
Her tumbling tears now a fading memory, Serena Williams faced the world with a serene smile as she flexed her grasscourt muscles on Tuesday to open her Wimbledon defence in solid fashion. The top seed, left heartbroken and sobbing by an acrimonious loss to Justine Henin-Hardenne in the semi-finals of the French Open earlier this month, restored the 'Williams World Order' on grass with a 6-3 6-3 win over compatriot Jill Craybas. "I must say I was a bit nervous today," she said. "I don't know why. But once the first few games were over I kind of got into the groove a little better." Andre Agassi was quickly into his groove and steadied the men's draw following champion Lleyton Hewitt's scarcely credible defeat to qualifier Ivo Karlovic on day one. The 33-year-old world number one worked his way past British wildcard Jamie Delgado 6-4 6-0 5-7 6-4. "I tell you, just getting through the first one is the highest priority," he said. "For me at this stage in my career it's quite a feeling to be out there... as I get older, I have more capacity to embrace those moments."
HENMAN HILLBILLIES Tim Henman gave his "Henman Hillbillies" something to cheer about although he had his own moments on court one. The Briton's laboured 6-2 7-6 3-6 6-1 victory over Czech lucky loser Tomas Zib will hardly strike fear into the hearts of the leading contenders here, however. Prior to Serena Williams's Parisian setback and the emotional meltdown it triggered, the 21-year-old had won four straight grand slams, beating elder sister Venus in each final. While Tuesday's victory was hardly a whitewash, the 58-minute win was a firm statement that Serena is still the woman to beat. "I think I didn't want to take anything for granted. I didn't want to make history by having two defending champions lose in the first round," she said, referring to Hewitt's shock defeat. In Paris, Serena had been goaded by the crowd and accused her opponent Henin of "lying and fabricating". On Monday she put the entire episode behind her. "My eyes were watering," she said, laughing, before adding that the issue had helped humanise her for many fans. "I think they saw that. They realised that even though I win a lot and I do a lot of things, I am human.
"YOUNG LADY" "I'm just a young lady trying to make my way in life and you can't expect everything to be perfect at all times." Serena's conqueror on that traumatic day, Belgian Henin began her Wimbledon bid with a 7-5 6-1 win over Ukrainian Julia Vakulenko. The third seed had her left hand and fingers heavily strapped following a fall in the Ordina Open final three days ago, but did not appear to be hindered by the injury. "I was happy that I could play at all today and was happy to get a win here," said the Belgian. "The injury is still bothering me as it's sore and painful but when I'm focusing on the match I'm not too bothered by it" Men's French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero made his transition to grass a smooth one, skittling Jean-Rene Lisnard 6-2 6-1 6-3. Eighth seed Jennifer Capriati made swift work of Myriam Casanova to breeze into the second round, overpowering the Swiss 6-1 6-3. The American former world number one, looking to end her 17-month title drought at her 10th grasscourt grand slam, withstood her 18-year-old opponent's valiant attempts to match her shot-for-shot before outblasting her from the baseline. "I still feel I'm in the game," Capriati told reporters. "I haven't won a title but I've played some good tournaments." Eleventh seed Jelena Dokic survived a scare against Britain's Elena Baltacha before creeping through 6-3 1-6 6-4.
SURPRISE FINALIST The blonde, currently playing under the Yugoslav flag, has struggled since splitting with her father Damir as her coach but recovered her composure in the third set to beat the 149th-ranked Baltacha. "I have lost so many matches like this the last few tournaments, to win this one was very good for my confidence," she said. In the men's draw Argentine seventh seed Guillermo Coria was not so fortunate. The claycourter failed to make the same impression on grass that he has on the dusty surface this season when he was beaten 7-5 7-6 6-3 by Olivier Rochus in the first round. Fellow Argentine David Nalbandian, a surprise finalist in the men's singles last year and sixth seed this time around, had a better day with a workmanlike 7-5 6-4 6-2 victory over chunky Belarussian baseliner Vladimir Voltchkov.
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