Leylah Fernandez takes Wimbledon opener in 3 sets against Ukrainian opponent

Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., defeated Ukraine's Kateryna Baindl in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, to advance to the second round at Wimbledon on Monday.

It's Fernandez's first main-draw win at Wimbledon. She suffered a first-round exit in her only other appearance at the grass-court Grand Slam in 2021.

The 20-year-old lefty won just 65 per cent of her first-serve points, but broke the 29-year-old Baindl's serve six times en route to victory.

Fernandez, ranked 95th in the world entering the tournament, faces a difficult match against No. 5 Caroline Garcia of France in the next round.

Canadian men Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov are also in action on Monday.

Auger-Aliassime is playing American Michael Mmoh and Shapovalov takes on Radu Albot of Moldova.

Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek advanced with straight-set victories Monday despite a rain delay as Wimbledon got started.

Venus Williams and Coco Gauff are among the other big names in action later on Day 1.

It is the year's third major tournament, and Djokovic won the first two: the Australian Open in January and the French Open in June. That puts him halfway to the first calendar-year Grand Slam in men's tennis since 1969. He came close to the feat in 2021, falling just one victory short when he lost in the final of the U.S. Open.

He seeks a fifth consecutive title at the All England Club and eighth overall, which both would tie records for men.

Djokovic's title at Roland Garros was his 23rd at a Slam event, breaking a tie with Rafael Nadal for the men's mark in that category.

Djokovic, the No. 2 seed, beat Pedro Cachin 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (4) after a rain relay that lasted more than an hour. Groundskeepers used leaf blowers to dry the grass.

"It was definitely