Johan Kriek: Agassi rises to first-round challenge

LONDON — There are probably 50 different kinds of rain at Wimbledon — from a drizzle to a downpour to a deluge — and the first day of this year's Championships saw just about all of them.

But Tuesday ... what a difference a day makes! Not only was the weather perfect but, you could not ask for a better slate of matches. First of all, Roger Federer finished off his match against Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Roger looks very good playing on grass.

But what followed was even better. When Andre Agassi walked on the court to battle Boris Pashanski of Serbia/Montenegro everyone was there to see one of Andre's final Grand Slam matches. The first set was unnerving — the newcomer made some unexpected shots and suddenly Andre was down 2-6.

Second set — you could see a new resolve in Andre. The set ended 6-2 in the American's favor and that was followed by 6-4 and 6-3 sets for the match. Once he got the rhythm it looked like the old Andre out there. Maybe. Just maybe. (Sorry folks, I gotta root for the "old guys"....)

Another American, James Blake, took out Danish player Kristian Pless in a four-setter. Let's hope Blake stays injury-free for two weeks.

Kriek

Meanwhile the perennial favorite of the British crowd Tim Henman was facing Robin Soderling of Sweden. "Our Tim" (as the Brits call him) has always struggled to represent his country at its finest tennis event but never manages to get a Wimbledon title. It took Tim five sets but he is past the dangerous first round and British hearts are starting or daring to hope.

The ladies were also out in force with some of the best players getting the first round behind them. Number 3 seed Justine Henin-Hardenne made short work of Chinese player Meng Yuan, 6-0, 6-1. After that Kim Clijsters (#2) scored a victory over Russian Vera Zvonarena 7-5, 6-3. And, guess who's back! Martina Hingis looked very strong against Ukranian Olga Savchuk 6-2, 6-2. This is the year we are saying good-by to Andre - but we may be saying "hello again" to Martina. She looks like she wants to win matches!

Wimbledon does a great job getting matches played. One bad day of rain may make a "speed bump" in the schedule but if good weather holds out everything will be back on track in short order.

Traditionally, there is no tennis played on the "middle Sunday" of the two-week event. Only once do I remember a year when persistent rain forced the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club to hold matches on middle Sunday. Let's hope the sunny days are here to stay.

Johan Kriek holds two Australian Open Grand Slam singles titles and has won three Wimbledon "Over 45 Doubles" titles, as well as two consecutive U.S. Open Master Doubles titles. He currently works as Ambassador of Sport and Director of Tennis for WCI Communities.