- Defending Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova suffered a shock first-round defeat at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
- Vondrousova lost 6-4, 6-2 to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Centre Court.
- The Czech player became the first defending women’s champion at Wimbledon to lose in the first round the following year since Steffi Graf in 1994.
Newsypeople- Marketa Vondrousova’s bid to retain her Wimbledon title came to an unexpected halt as she was stunned in the first round by Spanish qualifier Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
In a match lasting just 69 minutes on Centre Court, the 21-year-old Jessica Bouzas Maneiro orchestrated a major upset, winning 6-4, 6-2.
Vondrousova, seeded sixth, was plagued by unforced errors and double faults, failing to find her rhythm on the grass. In stark contrast, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, ranked 83rd in the world, played with remarkable poise and accuracy, notching her first Grand Slam main draw victory with aplomb.
Reflecting on her monumental win, Bouzas Maneiro expressed her delight: “I’m really happy. I think this is one of the most important days of my life,” she said.
“The atmosphere here, the tournament is one of the most beautiful I’ve played in my life. Thank you so much to everybody who came here to watch me today.”
Vondrousova’s early exit ensures that Wimbledon will see a different women’s singles champion for the seventh consecutive year. Her defeat marks the first time a defending champion has been ousted in the opening round since Steffi Graf in 1994.
Meanwhile, world No. 1 Iga Swiatek had no such issues, breezing past 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin with a 6-3, 6-4 victory. Swiatek, already a five-time Grand Slam champion, is set to face either British wildcard Francesca Jones or Croatia’s Petra Martic in the second round.
See the news below…
For the FIRST time since 1994, the defending champion of Wimbledon – in women's singles – has been eliminated in the first round of the tournament.
— Relevant Tennis (@RelevantTennis) July 2, 2024
1994 – Graf
2024 – Vondrousova pic.twitter.com/RRasXJzepA
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