Swiss impress at Wimbledon

Casanova enjoyed a surprise win over Slovakia's Henrieta Nagyova Keystone

Switzerland's tennis stars have continued the good start to this year's Wimbledon championship with Michel Kratochvil, Myriam Casanova and Emmanuelle Gagliardi all reaching the second round.

Four of the first five Swiss players in action have now made it past the opening round of the Grand Slam event with Roger Federer, Marc Rosset and Patty Schnyder all hoping to join them later on Tuesday.

Swiss women’s number four Marie-Gaïané Mikaelian (WTA 49) was unable to build on her recent title success in Tashkent, however. The 18-year-old from Tashkent became the first Swiss to exit Wimbledon after suffering a surprise straight sets defeat (3-6, 3-6) to Canada’s Maureen Drake (WTA 110).

Casanova stuns Nagyova

Following George Bastl’s Monday win over fellow lucky loser Denis Golovanov of Russia, Casanova (WTA 180) on Tuesday became the second Swiss to book a place in round two.

The 17-year-old from canton St Gallen enjoyed a welcome return match against Slovakia’s Henrieta Nagyova (WTA 51) on Tuesday – having previously taken a surprise point off Nagyova during Switzerland’s 2-3 Fed Cup defeat in April.

This time around Casanova was even more convincing. After coming through last week’s qualifying stages to reach the main Wimbledon draw, the young Swiss saw off Nagyova in straight sets (7-5, 6-4).

Facing Casanova in the second round will be the even more daunting prospect of Austria’s Barbara Schett, the tournament’s 29th seed.

Kratochvil cruises

Swiss men’s number two Michel Kratochvil (ATP 45) wrapped up a much more expected victory over Russia’s Nikolai Davydenko (ATP 84), also winning in straight sets (6-4, 6-2, 6-4) to set up a second round encounter with Georgia’s Irakli Labadze (ATP 86).

Also celebrating on Tuesday was Geneva’s Emmanuelle Gagliardi (WTA 47), although the Swiss women’s number four made hard work of her win over British wildcard Hannah Collin (WTA 403).

Stealing the first set 6-1, Gagliardi was unable to get a similar grip on the second set, which she eventually lost on a tie-break.

Despite losing a further service game early in the third set, the Swiss rediscovered her rhythm just in time to clinch a 6-1, 6-7 (1-7), 6-2 victory.

Gagliardi will now take on Bulgarian 19th seed Magdalena Maleeva (WTA 19) in the second round. Maleeva also faced little difficulties against local opposition on Tuesday, seeing off Britain’s Rachel Viollet 6-1, 6-0.

swissinfo with agencies