Marketa Vondrousova on Tuesday became the first defending women’s Wimbledon champion to lose in the first round for 30 years.
Novak Djokovic barely broke sweat as he launched his bid for a record-equalling eighth men’s singles title and women’s top seed Iga Swiatek eased through.
But it was a painful day for Czech sixth seed Vondrousova, whose time in the Wimbledon spotlight was cut short as she went down down 6-4, 6-2 to Spain’s unheralded Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in 66 minutes.
Vondrousova is only the second defending champion to lose in the first round at the All England Club in the Open Era.
The only other time it has happened was 30 years ago, when Lori McNeil defeated three-time defending champion Steffi Graf.
World number 83 Bouzas Maneiro, playing in only the third Grand Slam main draw of her career, broke her opponent five times in the match under the roof on Centre Court.
Vondrousova, who said she was wary in her first match since she hurt her hip at last month’s Berlin grass-court tournament, struggled with her serve and racked up 28 unforced errors.
“Practice was fine and everything,” said the Czech. “Today I was a bit scared because of my leg too. But I don’t think that was the reason. I felt nervous from the start.” She added: “It’s tough to go out defending the title.”
It was a different story for women’s world number one and five-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek, who beat former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-4 with a minimum of fuss.
Elena Rybakina, the 2022 champion, cantered past Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-1 while fifth seed Jessica Pegula lost just two games against US compatriot Ashlyn Krueger in a 6-2, 6-0 demolition job.
Djokovic had a knee operation after pulling out before his French Open quarter-final – sparking fears he would not be fit in time for Wimbledon. But the Serbian world number two, who was beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s final, dismissed Czech player Vit Kopriva 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 without facing a single break point. He knows time is not on his side as he bids to equal Federer’s Wimbledon title record and become the first player – man or woman – to win 25 Grand Slam singles titles.
“I tried to really focus on the game and not think about the knee too much,” said Djokovic, bidding for a record 25th major.
“Everything that I could do, I have done over the last three weeks along with my team to be able to play here for you today. I think if it was for any other tournament I probably would not have risked it, would not have rushed as much but I just love Wimbledon, love coming back here.”
An angry Andrey Rublev, a quarter-finalist last year, exited in four sets against Argentina’s Francisco Comesana, playing his first Grand Slam match.
The Russian sixth seed repeatedly smashed his racquet against his knee in the third set in frustration and lost 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).
Zverev reaches round two
French Open runner-up Alexander Zverev, the fourth seed, made light work of Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.
Zverev, 27, has never gone past the fourth round at Wimbledon – his worst record at a Grand Slam.
“I’ve struggled over the years on these beautiful courts, unfortunately, but I feel different this year, somehow much more into it and more alive on these courts. Hopefully I can show that in the next few matches,” Zverev said on court.
“For some reason, very early in my career I decided that I hate grass courts, then for some reasons this year, I decided that I love them. That is the biggest change. I also feel this is the most open Wimbledon in 20-plus years. We had great champions like (Roger) Federer, (Rafael) Nadal, (Novak) Djokovic, (Andy) Murray and it was always between them. It is much more open this year, if somebody has two great weeks then they can do great things.
“I hope, for once, it is going to be me.”
