“I knew it was going to be tough, I’ve the lost the last couple of times to Gael, he is a tremendous athlete and has a really big serve. The second-set tie-break was huge, we both had opportunities and I was able to pull through. It could have gone either way in the third.”  Hewitt said

“I’ve prepared so much and I feel so well, I’ve spent the last four weeks – seeing I lost early at the French – hitting on hardcourt, synthetic grass, prior to coming on to the grass in Birmingham, Eastbourne. So my preparation could not have been better, so I was just ready, busting to get out there and finally play an actual match.” Alicia Molik

Lleyton Hewitt, Peter Luczak and Jarmila Groth also safely progressed into the second round at Wimbledon.