Wimbledon 2011, Day 1: Venus Williams, Rafa Nadal Cruise In Rain-Shortened Opening Round

5. Drawn And Quarterfinalisted -- Here’s a weird stat from the women’s draw that I doubt means much, but is still sort of cool: All three women whose best career run at a slam was to the quarterfinals who completed matches on Day 1 (Shahar Peer, Sorana Cirstea, Kaia Kanepi) lost. Wimbledon 2010 quarterfinalist Kanepi, the No. 17 seed, lost in especially spectacular fashion, winning only five games against Sara Errani.

6. Monday Showers Bring Tuesday Flowers (Or Something) -- Almost half (31 of 64) of the matches scheduled for Day 1 did not finish, meaning that Day 2 will be absolutely packed with action. Andy Roddick, Juan Martin del Potro, Fernando Verdasco, Petra Kvitova, Victoria Azarenka, Andrea Petkovic, and Jelena Jankovic highlight the rollover action, all taking the court in addition to the bevy of previously scheduled matches from the bottom half of the Gentlemen’s Singles draw and top half of the Ladies’ Singles.

British hope Andy Murray, the fourth-seeded player in the men’s Wimbledon 2011 draw, lost the opening set of his first round match against ATP No. 59 Daniel Gimeno-Traver, and things were looking grim. But Murray recovered brilliantly, winning the last 15 games of the match for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 victory.

With rain cancelling play on all other courts, Murray’s early struggles under Centre Court’s retractable roof had the full attention of the tennis world.

We all know it isn’t Wimbledon without some rain. But even by London standards, this rain was ahead of schedule. Monday’s mid-afternoon downpour on Day 1 halted play on all courts, and set a record for the earliest-ever use of the three-year old retractable roof over Centre Court.

In only the second main stage match of the tournament, No. 6 Francesca Schiavone and Jelena Dokic were halted early in the third set, with Schiavone serving at 6-4, 1-6, 1-1. After a delay of just under an an hour, the two players returned to the court to play under the roof as the only match continuing through the inclement weather.

Dokic has a track record of pulling off big upsets at Wimbledon, most notably with a first round drubbing of top-seeded Martina Hingis at Wimbledon 1999 on her way to a shocking quarterfinal run. But history was not to repeat itself today, as crafty net play and kick serves into Dokic’s body were enough for Schiavone to stave off the upset bid and seal a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 victory.

Dokic made the final of the grass court tournament in s-Hertogenbosch last week, but choked away her shot at the title there in a similar fashion to the way in which she lost today’s match, serving double faults at the most crucial junctures of the third set. Based on the results of these two matches, the tactic of missing serves late is not a strategy Dokic should employ further.

Schiavone next faces the winner of the first round match between Barbora Zahlavova Strycova and Aleksandra Wozniak, which has not yet begun.

Andy Murray’s predictable romp over Daniel Gimeno-Traver is next up inside Centre Court.

One of our early “matches to watch” at Wimbledon 2011 lived up to its billing on Court 1, as second-seeded Vera Zvonareva was pushed to three sets by young American Allison Riske. Riske had previously found her greatest successes on tour thus far on the grass courts of Birmingham, with her dictating style of play paying dividends on the slick lawns.

Judged on height alone, the first round Wimbledon 2011 match between 6’1” Venus Williams and 6’3” Akgul Amanmuradova would seem to be a pretty evenly matched one.

But since matches at Wimbledon are decided based on tennis prowess, the five-time champion Williams had a decided advantage from the get-go (once she arrived on court some 10 minutes late, that is). After a somewhat competitive start, Williams cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 first round victory on Court 2 over the No. 97 Uzbek.

The oft-erratic Williams struck only five unforced errors in the 95-minute match, displaying form that should reestablish her place as a perennial contender at the All-England Club.

What will likely grab more headlines than the routine win is Venus’ bizarre outfit, which looked like a onesie that might have been worn at Studio 54. Hopefully this is one of those tournaments where she brings a new outfit for each match, because this one doesn’t need to see the light of day ever again.

In addition to Venus, Americans already have a man through to the second round as well. Tenth-seeded Mardy Fish toughed out a tight three-set victory over Spaniard Marcel Granollers, 7-6(3), 7-6(5), 6-4.

Stay tuned to this StoryStream for more results from Day 1 of Wimbledon 2011. Get live scores at Wimbledon’s official website, and watch matches online for free on ESPN3.