Trio of women's top five seeds crash out of Wimbledon
Crowned French Open champion barely three weeks ago, the American lost 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 to the 42nd-ranked Ukrainian, her defeat capping a day of shocks.
Her exit came after third-seeded compatriot Jessica Pegula, who arrived off the back of winning the Bad Homburg warm-up event, was KO'd by unheralded Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
And fifth-seeded Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, who also had many backers after impressing at Queen's, lost to Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova 7-5 4-6 6-1.
The upsets appear to have left the way clear for world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka to add the Wimbledon title to her previous US and Australian Open wins. But given the surprises already many players will fancy their chances.
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Among them will be defending champion Barbora Krejcikova who was in danger of following compatriot Marketa Vondrousova last year in surrendering the title at the first chance when she lost the first set to Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. But the Czech, who is seeded 17th after an injury-hit year, regained her poise to win 3-6 6-2 6-1.
Gauff double-faulted nine times and seemed at a loss to know how to remedy the problem. But she was given a lifeline when Yastremska also double-faulted when serving for the first set, only to crumble in the tie-break and subsequent second set.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Australia's weather bomb, the surprising costs of getting one more dog, and BTS are back. (Source: 1News)
The match had been switched at late notice to Court No.1 due to overruns on Centre Court and Yastremska said "that gave me more chance — I played the junior final on this court [and lost], there are lots of memories."
Pegula, who beat Iga Swiatek in straight sets at Bad Homburg, had not lost in the first round at a grand slam since the French Open in 2020.
But Cocciaretto, ranked 116, was unperturbed by her status and form in dismissing the third seed 6-2 6-3 on Tuesday.
The Italian, whose ranking has dipped in recent months, said she had told herself to "be more aggressive and go for it, don't think about losing or winning the point".
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"For this to happen today, it's disappointing. I don't know how else to put it," said Pegula, who hit five winners while making 24 unforced errors.
"I'm upset that I wasn't able to turn anything around. But at the same time, I do feel like she played kind of insane. Hats off to her."
Zheng Qinwen had reached at least the quarter-finals in her last three events, the Rome Masters, Roland Garros and Queen's, where she made the semi-finals. But this was the Zheng of old as she suffered her third straight first-round exit at Wimbledon.
Siniakova is 81 in the world but no stranger to success being the No.1 ranked doubles player and a three-time winner at the All England Club, including last year alongside Taylor Townsend.
Seven of her 10 major doubles titles were won with Krejcikova who showed the way in singles with her win here last year.
However, another Czech, 15th-seed Karolina Muchova, lost 7-5 6-2 to Xinyu Wang.
Elsewhere seeds Iga Swiatek, Clara Tauson, Mirra Andreeva, Elena Rybakina and Sofia Kenin progressed but Magdelena Frech, Marta Kostyuk and Magda Linette, seeded 25, 26 and 27 respectively, lost to Victoria Mboko, Veronika Erjavec and Elsa Jaquemot.
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On her last visit to the lawns of SW19 two-time champ Petra Kvitova said farewell with a 6-3 6-1 defeat to 10th seed Emma Navarro.
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