Federer rolls to grass-court history with 42nd straight win

By Bill Scott Jun 27, 2006, 16:04 GMT

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns to Richard Gasquet of France during their first round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Tuesday 27 June 2006. EPA/HUGO PHILPOTT

London - Roger Federer set the all-time record for most consecutive matches won on grass on Tuesday, finishing a rain-interrupted contest from Monday 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 over Richard Gasquet at the Wimbledon Championships for a 42nd win on the surface.

The Swiss world number 1, bidding for a fourth straight title at the All England club, took a set and 1-2 into the dressing room overnight in the first-round encounter.

He came back 24 hours later to beat the mark established by five- time Wimbledon winner Bjorn Borg at the London Grand Slam alone from 1976 until the 1981 final he lost against John McEnroe.

'It's nice, isn't it,' said a player who last was beaten on grass in the 2002 Wimbledon first round to Mario Ancic. 'It's still going, so even better.

'Many of those 42 in a row have been extremely close,' said Federer, 26-4 at Wimbledon. 'I had about four or five which I could have lost easily.

'I'm surprised myself that I've kept it this long. But to come through today was basically my only wish.'

Federer is aiming to become only the seventh man in Wimbledon history to win the title four successive years.

Gasquet came in with a title from last week's grass event at Nottingham while Federer, losing French Open finalist to Rafael Nadal, claimed the trophy in Halle, Germany, for the fourth year running.

Federer quietly took the record with a blistering overhead to the empty court on the first of two match points, his 35th winner of the match against 13 unforced errors and five breaks of the Gasquet serve.

Joining the top seed in the second round as officials doubled up the programme after Monday's bad weather was the seventh-seeded Ancic, who defeated Nicolas Almagro of Spain, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, 7-6 (7-4).

Fourth-seeded Argentine David Nalbandian, a surprise finalist four years ago, played at less than full fitness after quitting his French Open semi-final this month against Federer with an abdominal strain.

But the South American still came though to defeat South African Wesley Moodie 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.

'Sometimes I was a little afraid in the serve sometimes. I couldn't the ball one hundred per cent.'

American James Blake, seeded eighth, put out Dane Kristian Pless 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4.

Women's seeds rolled to easy victories, led by Justine Henin-Hardenne.

The number 3 Belgian who followed up a third Roland Garros title on clay with a grass trophy last weekend at Eastbourne, had no trouble with Hong Kong's Meng Yuan 6-0, 6-1.

'I was a bit tired from my last two matches in Eastbourne,' said the winner. 'The rain (interruption) yesterday helped me a little bit. I was feeling better today.

'I played well, very consistent, pretty aggressive. I went forward. That's the kind of match you need in your first rounds.'

She was joined by former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, who turned 21 and celebrated with a win over Italian Romina Oprandi 6-3, 6-2.

The 12th-seeded Martina Hingis marked her return to Wimbledon with a 6-2, 6-2 defeat of Ukrainian Olga Savchuk after a five-year absence.

A day after starting a match interrupted by rain, the Swiss advanced against the 18-year-old number 102.

Hingis, the 1997 champion, last played Wimbledon in 2001,losing in the first round.

The 25-year-old reached quarter-finalist at both previous Grand Slams this season after returning to the game after three years away in a reversed retirement.

Hingis broke four times while never dropping serve, with Savchuk committing 20 unforced errors and the Swiss striking 26 winners.

'When I got here, I felt comfortable right away,' said the five-time Grand Slam winner. 'I had a good preparation.'

Men's number 12 Thomas Johansson became the first seed to lose as he dropped an all-Swedish match with fellow veteran Jonas Bjorkman 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, 6-1, the 11th time the pair of good friends have played.