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Nadal, Henman eliminated at Wimbledon
Rafael Nadal's inexperience on grass tripped him up on Thursday at Wimbledon.
Rafael Nadal's inexperience on grass tripped him up on Thursday at Wimbledon.
The French Open champion lost in the second round to Gilles Muller 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Nadal, 19, had said he was too green on grass to win Wimbledon this year, and missed opportunities doomed him against Muller. The Spaniard converted just one of 13 break-point chances.
Also eliminated was Englishman Tim Henman, who failed to make it into the second week of the tournament for the first time since 1995. Henman was beaten by Dmitry Tursunov 3-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 8-6.
No British man has won Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.
Defending champion Maria Sharapova won the first nine games, lost just four points in the second set and beat 15-year-old Sesil Karatantcheva 6-0, 6-1.
Karatantcheva defeated four-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams last month at the French Open and reached the quarterfinals. But the young Bulgarian, who trains in Florida, was unable to pull off another upset.
"I knew she got to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam," Sharapova said. "Obviously, grass is totally different."
Karatantcheva held her own at the start. The first game lasted 14 points, and she had five game points in the opening set - but failed to convert any. In the second set, Karatantcheva lost the first 12 points and the last 12.
"Grass for now is definitely not my thing," she said. "I'm not sure I was ready for such a good opponent in such a little time on grass.
"I think I played a lot better than I did in the first round," she said. "Obviously, in the first round ou're going to have a little bit of nerves. I got a lot better. Hopefully, I'll keep improving, because the tennis is going to get tougher."
Two-time champion Williams also advanced, beating Icole Pratt 7-5, 6-3. Williams, who said she's trying to be more aggressive on grass, won 19 points at the net and even played serve-and-volley four times.
"For me, it's good to move forward because I have penetrating shots and a ton of reach at the net," said Williams, seeded 14th. "It's definitely the place to be. I've always believed in it, but faith without works is dead."
Eleni Daniilidou, who upset French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne in the first round, defeated Laura Granville 6-2, 6-0.
No. 16 Nathalie Dechy beat wild card Jane O'Donoghue 6-2, 6-2, eliminating the last British woman in the tournament. No. 20 Daniela Hantuchova, who next plays Williams, defeated Shahar Peer 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
No. 29 Marion Bartoli and No. 32 Virginie Razzano lost. Bartoli was beaten by American Jill Craybas 6-1, 6-4. Razzano lost to Cara Black 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).
Also in men's play, 19-year-old Richard Gasquet hit 18 aces and beat qualifier Gilles Elseneer 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (3/7), 6-2.
