Lu should not detain Federer too long on day one

SO THIS is how fate actually works. Roger Federer, assuming what many might believe is his natural position on Centre Court today, is as close as we may get to watching karma at work. In the absence of the injured 2008 champion, Rafa Nadal, Federer opens the championships and begins the two-week roller coaster ride in the front car, a position to which of course, he is not entirely unaccustomed.

What he may not be familiar with is the player beside him, Yen Hsun Lu, the practitioner from Chinese Taipei, who has yet to progress beyond the third round of a Grand Slam, which he achieved at the Australian Open this year. Wimbledon hasn’t been so kind and the second round in 2005 was his best run.

The Swiss, who seeks to leave behind the only other man who has won 14 Grand Slams, Pete Sampras, by claiming a sixth Wimbledon title, should not feel the bearing down of too much pressure, although the first week always leaves champions a little rattled. Occasionally the unfamiliarity of the opponent can be the biggest hindrance. As is always the case with Federer, there is some historical mark to meet or a record to break.

Lu should enjoy the experience, although the current French Open winner, Federer, did deviate from routine this year and step out of his normal warm-up event in Halle because of tiredness.

Immediately after him on the Centre Court – where fans will surely hope for rain and claim to be the first crowd in 123 years of the tournament to have seen a championship match played under what is described as the “new breathtaking canopy”– is twice champion Serena Williams. Sister Venus won last year.

Since the opening day has been given over to the lower half of the draw because of Nadal’s withdrawal Williams, seeded two, meets with the unseeded Neua Silva. The computer tells us the Portuguese player is ranked 155 and arrived via the qualifying tournament, which suggests her stay might not be as long as that of the American.

Pride of Serbia and fourth in the world, Novak Djokovic’s opening exchange with Julien Benneteau from France completes the top acts on Centre Court, while the other main show court, Court One, provides a miscellany of talent.

Maria Sharapova, who will surely reignite the screaming debate, continues to make her comeback after a long lay-off with a shoulder injury.

Qualifier Viktoriya Kuznetsova, from Ukraine, can, if she wishes, be the next in line to complain about the shrieks.

Five of the world’s top 10 players are Russians, making the draw a likely scenario for rekindling old narratives.

Russia versus America?

Hooray if that means sisters Serena and Venus Williams don’t meet in the final again.