Federer Clears First Hurdle cEPA/ F.Coffrini Monday, June 20, 2005 Enjoying exactly the sort of brisk warm-up that he must have wished for, Roger Federer opened the defence of his Wimbledon title with a straightforward, straight sets victory over France's Paul-Henri Mathieu. The Swiss world number one and odds-on favourite to clock up his third straight title at The Championships needed just one hour 50 minutes to complete a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win in the sunshine of Centre Court. The 23-year-old Mathieu, who has played with distinction for his country in the Davis Cup, opts these days to base himself in Geneva, so is entitled to consider himself a neighbour of Federer's. In the early stages of this match he must also have felt he was also close in the matter of ability. When Federer broke for a 2-0 lead in the first set it seemed he was striking the first blows for a formal annihilation of an opponent who had won just one match in two previous visits to Wimbledon. Any such thoughts were rapidly dissipated, however, as the hard-hitting Mathieu broke back to level the contest at 2-2, but the champion rapidly settled any worries about the quality of his pedigree by breaking Mathieu once more and settling down to serve out for the first set in 38 minutes. Though he won only two games in the second set, Mathieu made much more of a fight of it. The first four games went with serve and then the Frenchman fell 15-40 behind as Federer dispatched a forehand volley into an empty court. Two errors from the titleholder helped Mathieu back to deuce but his tendency to commit unforced errors once more brought him into peril and eventually spelled his downfall. Having saved three break points, Mathieu directed a backhand down the line well wide. It was his 19th unforced error of a match in which he was guiltyof 33 altogether. The 20th error from Mathieu's racket, a forehand into the net, permitted Federer a second break and he served out comfortably for the second set after one hour 13 minutes. With 13 aces already to his credit, Federer bore down in the third set, though the fact that he was still less than completely satisfied with his form was evident in the occasional bellow of frustration when a shot went astray. Mathieu clung on bravely for eight games of the third set, though he could not cope with the power of an opponent who permitted him just three points in four service games. Then, at 4-4, Federer struck again to break serve, though he was once more indebted to Mathieu's tendency to perpetrate unforced errors. The Frenchman was responsible for every point won by Federer in that service break. From then on it was simple. Federer's 18th ace took him to match point and Mathieu's overhit forehand ended it. Written by Ronald Atkin --

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