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Last Updated: Monday, 23 June, 2003, 20:57 GMT 21:57 UK
Wimbledon diary: day one
By Alex Perry and Caroline Cheese
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Knocking up

Richard Williams, father of Venus and Serena
Even Mr Williams couldn't escape the security checks
Even the players and their families are not allowed to escape the stringent security measures at this year's Championships.

Richard Williams, father of Venus and Serena, had to have his bag checked like the rest of us.

"Will you confiscate Viagra?" asked Williams.

A search of his bag came up with nothing, but given that Serena and Venus have three other sisters perhaps he doesn't need any after all.


Return of the Beast

As Ivo Karlovic celebrated winning his first ever Grand Slam match, another young player achieved the same feat - albeit in less grand surroundings.

Out on Court Six, Rafael Nadal, making his debut at Grand Slam level, beat Mario Ancic in four sets.

The 16-year-old, nephew of Barcelona legend Miguel Nadal, burst onto the scene during this year's claycourt season, beating Spanish compatriots Albert Costa and Carlos Moya.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
My parents are average height. I don't know who is tall. Postman maybe.
6ft 10ins Ivo Karlovic

And if anyone expected him to struggle on the grass of Wimbledon against a man who beat Roger Federer in the first round last year, they were proved spectacularly wrong.

But while he is as single-minded as they come when it comes to his tennis, he appears to be a little more confused when it comes to football.

"When my uncle played for Barcelona, the whole family wanted Barcelona to win," he said.

"Before that we were for Real Madrid. After my uncle left Barcelona, then we're all for Real again."


Striking out

The threat of a boycott by the men at next year's Wimbledon was still a talking point as Monday progressed.

Even the defeat of the defending champion in the first round could not detract from the financial struggle between the men's governing body and the Grand Slam chairmen.

Lleyton Hewitt, who clearly had plenty of other things to worry about after his defeat to Ivo Karlovic, could not escape being quizzed on the boycott but he had encouraging news.

"I would find it very hard to believe," he said.

Meanwhile, Andy Roddick showed he was well practised in the art of avoiding controversy when he responded: "I'm here to play tennis."


Double trouble

Evgenia Koulikovskaya is hardly a name that trips off the tongue - but her tennis style makes the 23-year-old Russian unique.

She is a statistician's dream, or perhaps nightmare, with an incredible record of never having made a backhand error.

At an early age, the ambidextrous Muscovite could not decide which hand she preferred to play her forehand with - so she plumped for both.

It didn't seem to do her any good at Wimbledon - losing in straight sets in the first round.





Links to more Daily Diary stories


 

WIMBLEDON 2003

MEN'S FINAL

LADIES' FINAL


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