Andy Murray: James Ward will shine in the spotlight against Novak Djokovic

“It makes a lot of people who are close to me back in my country happy”. Everything you hit is coming back.

Williams to the media at a pre-Championships press conference: “I think it’s important to learn from every loss that you have”, she said. Fighting her way through the draw, the then-world number four earned impressive victories over potentially risky opponents, before coming up second best in the semifinals, falling to Madison Keys in straight sets.

Ward has had a tough time on and off the court since his run to the third round previous year elevated him to a career-high ranking of 89. “It doesn’t matter to me”.

Williams, 36, is the oldest woman in the main draw of this year’s tournament and first won Wimbledon in 2000 when Vekic was just four.

She lost her first match but stayed in Majorca with her family for a few more days to train and relax.

The most unlikely of those is world number 775 Marcus Willis, who takes on Ricardas Berankis on Court 17. “It’s pretty cool. It’s really awesome”.

Djokovic gets his campaign under way against Britain’s James Ward on Centre Court at 1pm on Monday.

Where the two don’t agree is in their attitude: Williams insists she feels no pressure to perform this fortnight, while Djokovic believes it’s impossible to escape those expectations.

“We go year by year”, Djokovic said, “and I’m glad that Boris wants to keep going”.

“[Nick] Kyrgios is definitely one of the players that can go far”.

Today Novak Djokovic Starts Wimbledon With A Wn, and does so in rather easy fashion.

World No.1 Novak Djokovic has denied being banned from riding his bicycle to Wimbledon.

Meanwhile, former world number one Ana Ivanovic was knocked out of the first round of the women’s competition and then revealed she won’t play again until the Olympics to recover from a wrist injury.

The world number one has won six of the last eight Grand Slams and since beating Roger Federer in the All England Club final past year he has gone onto hold all four major titles at the same time.

Yes, she now has the label “Grand Slam champion” attached to her name after her victory in the French Open three weeks ago.

It would also put him three-quarters of the way to becoming the first since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar Grand Slam.

Djokovic made a flawless start in the opening set, making just three unforced errors as Ward seemed overwhelmed by the occasion.

Muguruza, seeded No. 2 at Wimbledon, said she was calm in the immediate aftermath of the French Open and was still calm now.

“This year I don’t feel as much tension as I usually do. So he should be fine”.

Ward forced an unlikely tiebreak with several strong serves, but the Serb grabbed the early mini-break and ran out to a 5-1 lead.

“I’m definitely ready to start playing at this point”, Williams said.