Hewitt dumped out of Wimbledon on first day

This year's Wimbledon Championships began today without one or two familiar players - like Sampras, Ivanisevic and Safin - and it ended minus the defending men's champion, thanks to one of the biggest upsets of all-time.

Defending champion and world number two, Lleyton Hewitt, fell at the first hurdle of his title defence on centre court today, when he went down 6-1, 6-7, 3-6, 4-6 to unseeded Ivo Karlovic. The giant 6ft 10in Croatian is ranked 203 in the world, and today was the 24-year-old’s first-ever Grand Slam match.

This is only the second time in Wimbledon history that a defending champion has lost in the opening round. Back in 1967, it was American Charlie Pasarell who sent Manuel Santana packing.

With the Aussie out of the reckoning, it could leave the way open for the nation’s homegrown favourite, Tim Henman, to take the coveted singles title. But Tim fans will have to wait until tomorrow, when Henman faces Tomas Zib of Czechoslovakia.

British number two Greg Rusedski is expected to take on the German, Alexander Waske, on Court One later today.

Winner at Queen's and fellow tournament favourite, America's Andy Roddick, sailed through his first round match against Italian Davide Sanguinetti in a 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 win.

Victory also came easy today for women’s second seed, Belgian Kim Clijsters, who won her match 6-0, 6-0 against Rossana Neffa-De Los Rios of Paraguay.

Former champion Venus Williams, seeded four, easily moved into the second round with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Stanislava Hrozenska of Slovakia.

However, the first day of the tour's most glamorous tournament was marred by some controversy following the threat by leading players to boycott next year’s event.

It is alleged that the game’s leading players are in dispute over prize money and have warned that rival competitions may be organised to clash with next year’s Grand Slam events, if players do not receive a larger slice of the pie.

(MM)