WIMBLEDON, England — Just outside the grounds of the All England Club stands a giant blue hydraulic lift that supports a camera to capture a bird’s-eye view of the grounds. That may have been the only way to fully appreciate the compelling action that took place Friday from high noon until darkness fell.
While many top players advanced without difficulty, including Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka, Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams, two Wimbledon semifinalists from last year were upset, and Serena Williams’s quest to win the Grand Slam was nearly dashed on Centre Court before she rallied to defeat the local favorite, Heather Watson, who is 23.