Originally published: June 27, 2012 10:42 AM Updated: June 27, 2012 12:52 PM By The Associated Press STEVEN WINE (AP Sports Writer)
Photo credit: AP Fabio Fognini of Italy during a match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at , England, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
WIMBLEDON, England - (AP) Roger Federer gave Prince Charles a bow, then gave Fabio Fognini a royal thumping.
With the Prince of visiting Wimbledon for the first time since 1970, Federer was at his best Wednesday and beat Fognini 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.
Six-time champion Federer won 37 of 41 points on his first serve, and won 21 of 23 points at the net against Fognini, an Italian ranked 68th.
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall sat in the first row of the Royal Box as Federer walked onto Centre Court for the day's first match. Federer and Fognini stood side by side as they bowed awkwardly toward the royals, and Charles responded with a wave and grin.
"They do brief you beforehand," Federer said. "I guess you don't do anything stupid. You behave. Obviously we were asked to bow, which is obviously no problem to do. We're thrilled for the tennis family that they came to watch Wimbledon today."
When Federer completed his victory, Charles and Camilla joined the crowd's applause.
Seeded third, Federer hopes to end his 2 -year drought in major tournaments, and he's off to a good start, losing only nine games through two rounds. He seeks to add to his record total of 16 Grand Slam championships, and he could match the record of seven Wimbledon men's titles set by Pete Sampras in 2000.
"I'm just happy overall with how I'm playing," Federer said. "I'm serving well when I have to. I'm moving well. I feel like my forehand and backhand are working well. All of a sudden you win quite comfortably, but you have to focus until the very last point, and I'm happy as well with my concentration level."
Shortly after Federer's victory, rain interrupted play, and the retractable roof on Centre Court was closed for the first time in the tournament. More than 20 matches on outside courts were postponed until Thursday.
Sloane Stephens, a 19-year-old American playing at Wimbledon for the first time, saved five set points in the first set and beat No. 23 Petra Cetkovska 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-3. In the final set, Stephens trailed love-30 in four consecutive service games, yet won them all.
"I'm 19 and I do still have some lapses," she said. "They're less now than I used to have in the past. I really don't get as upset when I lose points now. I'm not that emotional anymore."
Stephens is coming off her first run to the fourth round at a Grand Slam tournament, which happened this month at the
Heather Watson became the first British woman to reach the third round since 2002 when she defeated American Jamie Hampton 6-1, 6-4.
Sara Errani needed only seven seconds to complete a rain-interrupted win, and she didn't even have to hit a ball.
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