Tennis:Last year's Wimbledon runner-up Vera Zvonareva survived a first-round scare to defeat promising young American Alison Riske 6-0 3-6 6-3 on Monday. The second seed is one of the players expected to mount a serious title challenge after her run to the final 12 months ago, where she lost to Serena Williams, but she will certainly have to raise her game from this performance.
The Russian looked on course for an easy success after polishing off the first set without dropping a game but her opponent battled back to level the match.
In a hard-fought decider, Zvonareva piled on the pressure in the eighth game to gain the crucial break before confidently serving out the victory to set up a second-round meeting with fellow Russian Elena Vesnina, who beat Laura Pous-Tio of Spain in straight sets.
Earlier, Venus Williamscruised into the second round with a crushing straight-sets victory over Akgul Amanmuradova.
The five-time champion was far too strong for her opponent from Uzbekistan and took exactly one hour to seal a 6-3 6-1 triumph on Court Two.
Amanmuradova, the world number 97, did offer spirited resistance in the first set but Williams, who is playing only her second tournament since withdrawing from the Australian Open at the turn of the year with a hip injury, was always in control.
Sixth seed Francesca Schiavonewas grateful for a rain break as she survived a difficult first-round clash with Jelena Dokic.
With the deciding set tied at 1-1 and deuce on her own serve, Schiavone welcomed the hold-up. She had dropped the second set and was in obvious trouble at the start of the third, but when showers forced the players to hurry off Centre Court she had an opportunity to regain composure
The 30-year-old Italian returned to tie up a 6-4 1-6 6-3 victory, quashing the prospect of losing her Wimbledon opener for the second year in a row, after defeat to Vera Dushevina 12 months ago.
Russia's 12th seed Svetlana Kuznetsovacame from a set down to book her place in the second round with a 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over China's Shuai Zhang.
The 2009 French Open champion will next meet Alexandra Dulgheruafter the Romanian swept aside American Jill Craybas6-2 6-4.
Britain's Katie O'Briensuffered an early exit as she lost 6-0 7-5 against Kimiko Date-Krummto become the first player knocked out of this year's event.
The Japanese veteran took just 17 minutes to storm through the opening set as the British number five struggled to find any rhythm.
O'Brien performed much better in the second set but the 40-year-old Date-Krumm proved the stronger to wrap up her first-round victory.
Date Krumm will meet Williams in round two.
Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer, the 19th seed, beat America's Varvara Lepchenko7-5 6-3 but Israel's 22nd seed Shahar Peeris out after losing to Russia's Ksenia Pervak5-7 6-4 6-4.
Pervak will next meet Pauline Parmentierafter the Frenchwoman beat Romania's Sorana Cirstea, while Georgia's Anna Tatishvilibeat Russia's Anastasia Pivovarovain three sets.
Sara Erraniof Italy caused a minor upset as she knocked out 17th seed Kaia Kanepiof Estonia out with a 6-1 6-4 victory.
Russia's 28th seed Ekaterina Makarovawas also sent packing as American Christina McHaleclaimed a thrilling final set to triumph 2-6 6-1 8-6 while Romania's Monica Niculescubeat Austria's Sybille Bammer6-1 6-1.