Day 1: The Men

No doubt about it, there's a big difference what was, and what could have been. What could have been after Day 1 – and very easily as it turns out – was a top half of the men's draw without Roger Federer, Nikolay Davydenko or Novak Djokovic. It would have been thrilling today, no doubt about it, but imagine Andy Roddick in 12 days, possibly playing a surprise opponent for a spot in the Wimbledon finals. It would be a TV fiasco.
The good news is that all three survived their first-round matches. Federer got through Alejandro Falla – 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-0. Djokovic topped nemesis Olivier Rochus – the only Belgian, man or woman, to lose today – 4-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the latest ever finish at Wimbledon, and Davydenko eked out a win over Kevin Anderson – 3-6, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (3), 7-5, 9-7. The good news is that those three are still in the tournament, and the men's draw is better for it. The bad news is that all three suddenly have a lot of tennis on their legs. We'll see if that comes back to bite them down the road.
Especially with other top guys struggling much less. Victor Hanescu, the 31st seed, needed five sets to advance (6-7[4], 7-6[3], 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 over Andrey Kuznetsov), but he's the only other seeded player who had a really tough win. Roddick advanced easily - 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 over Rajeev Ram. Lleyton Hewitt needed four sets, but the last three went 6-0, 6-2, 6-2. I'm sure he's not complaining too much. Gael Monfils is through in three as is Tomas Berdych and Albert Montanes. Feliciano Lopez, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Jurgen Melzer needed four sets to get through. But they're all through.
There were a few upsets on the grass today, in some of the more interesting matches. Denis Istomin, a guy who's been around the lower levels for awhile, topped 20th seed Stanislas Wawrinka in five – for my money, that was probably the most surprising upset of the day. Florian Mayer's upset of Marin Cilic was far less surprising – as I wrote before, Mayer is a former quarterfinalist with a big serve – but the style of the loss was surprising, 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(1). If Cilic wants to belong at the top level, hopefully he shows a little more heart than that in the future. Ivan Ljubicic, the 17th seed, was also a Day 1 casualty, going down to Michal Przysiesny of Poland in three. Tough loss for Ljubicic, but at the same time, he's a player who doesn't have the strongest history at the majors.
The best news for Federer may be that his draw is still very kind. If he can get his head back in the game and focus, he won't get a seeded player until at least the Round of 16. He's got time to play himself into the tournament. Maybe this was the kick in the behind he needed to jump-start his season again after a lackluster spring. In the meantime, if you're Lopez or Melzer or Berdych, how are you not thinking you at least have a prayer, now? Federer's close call against Falla may have just let a lot of guys into the tournament. And what about (presumably) Djokovic, Hewitt or Roddick down the road? I have to admit, I never thought the men's draw would be this interesting after the first day. It makes you wonder what tomorrow's gonna bring.