London: Juan Martin Del Potro made a winning return to Grand Slam competition on Tuesday, defeating Albert Ramos of Spain 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 in the first round at Wimbledon.
The eighth-seeded Del Potro did not play at the French Open because of respiratory problems. Facing an opponent playing only his fourth tournament on grass, the big-hitting Del Potro had 34 winners - including 10 aces - and maintained his record of always advancing to the second round at the All England Club in six appearances.
James Blake of the U.S. ended a five-match Wimbledon losing streak by beating 93rd-ranked Thiemo De Bakker of the Netherlands 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round.
The 33-year-old Blake, a former top-five player currently ranked 87th, reached the second round at the All England Club for the first time since 2008. He lost his opening matches at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament each of the past four years. Blake's best Wimbledon showings were reaching the third round in 2006 and 2007.
Playing an opponent less than half her age, veteran Japanese player Kimiko Date-Krumm needed just 44 minutes to defeat German teenager Carina Witthoeft 6-0, 6-2 in the first round. The 42-year-old Date-Krumm is the second-oldest player to have won a match at Wimbledon after Martina Navratilova, who was 47 when she reached the second round in 2004.
The 18-year-old Witthoeft was making her Grand Slam debut, while Date-Krumm's first appearance in a major tournament dates back to the 1989 French Open. Date-Krumm reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 1996, a few months after Witthoeft celebrated her first birthday. "I have a lot of passion," Date-Krumm said when asked why she was still playing. "I like challenges, because it's not easy for my age."
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