Wimbledon KO for fancied third seed as champ progresses
American Jessica Pegula was fancied by many having come to London off the back of winning the Bad Homburg warm-up event, but the world No.3 was KO'd in the first round by unheralded Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen also had many backers after impressing at Queen's, but the Chinese fifth seed lost to Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova 7-5 4-6 6-1.
It looked as if defending champion Barbora Krejcikova would also go out prematurely 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.
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".
The 24-year-old Cocciaretto, who missed Wimbledon last year because of pneumonia, added: "I'm really grateful that now I can play, that now I'm in this big tournament, big stage. I'm just enjoying it."
Pegula, a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 2023, hit five winners while making 24 unforced errors.
"For this to happen today, it's disappointing. I don't know how else to put it," she said. "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. Kudos to her for playing at a high level that I couldn't match today."
Zheng Qinwen had reached at least the quarter-finals in her last three events, 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.
Before settling against Eala, the first Filipina in the Wimbledon main draw in the Open era, Krejcikova looked in danger of following compatriot Marketa Vondrousova last year in surrendering the title at the first chance.
However, another Czech, 15th-seed Karolina Muchova, lost 7-5 6-2 to Xinyu Wang.
Elsewhere seeds Iga Swiatek, Clara Tauson and Mirra Andreeva progressed but Marta Kostyuk, seeded 26, lost to Veronika Erjavec.
with agencies
Dark horses ought to thrive on grass but two of the most favoured in the women's singles have failed to survive the first round on Wimbledon's pastures.
American Jessica Pegula was fancied by many having come to London off the back of winning the Bad Homburg warm-up event, but the world No.3 was KO'd in the first round by unheralded Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen also had many backers after impressing at Queen's, but the Chinese fifth seed lost to Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova 7-5 4-6 6-1.
It looked as if defending champion Barbora Krejcikova would also go out prematurely 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.
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".
The 24-year-old Cocciaretto, who missed Wimbledon last year because of pneumonia, added: "I'm really grateful that now I can play, that now I'm in this big tournament, big stage. I'm just enjoying it."
Pegula, a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 2023, hit five winners while making 24 unforced errors.
"For this to happen today, it's disappointing. I don't know how else to put it," she said. "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. Kudos to her for playing at a high level that I couldn't match today."
Zheng Qinwen had reached at least the quarter-finals in her last three events, 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.
Before settling against Eala, the first Filipina in the Wimbledon main draw in the Open era, Krejcikova looked in danger of following compatriot Marketa Vondrousova last year in surrendering the title at the first chance.
However, another Czech, 15th-seed Karolina Muchova, lost 7-5 6-2 to Xinyu Wang.
Elsewhere seeds Iga Swiatek, Clara Tauson and Mirra Andreeva progressed but Marta Kostyuk, seeded 26, lost to Veronika Erjavec.
with agencies
Dark horses ought to thrive on grass but two of the most favoured in the women's singles have failed to survive the first round on Wimbledon's pastures.
American Jessica Pegula was fancied by many having come to London off the back of winning the Bad Homburg warm-up event, but the world No.3 was KO'd in the first round by unheralded Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen also had many backers after impressing at Queen's, but the Chinese fifth seed lost to Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova 7-5 4-6 6-1.
It looked as if defending champion Barbora Krejcikova would also go out prematurely 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.
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".
The 24-year-old Cocciaretto, who missed Wimbledon last year because of pneumonia, added: "I'm really grateful that now I can play, that now I'm in this big tournament, big stage. I'm just enjoying it."
Pegula, a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 2023, hit five winners while making 24 unforced errors.
"For this to happen today, it's disappointing. I don't know how else to put it," she said. "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. Kudos to her for playing at a high level that I couldn't match today."
Zheng Qinwen had reached at least the quarter-finals in her last three events, 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.
Before settling against Eala, the first Filipina in the Wimbledon main draw in the Open era, Krejcikova looked in danger of following compatriot Marketa Vondrousova last year in surrendering the title at the first chance.
However, another Czech, 15th-seed Karolina Muchova, lost 7-5 6-2 to Xinyu Wang.
Elsewhere seeds Iga Swiatek, Clara Tauson and Mirra Andreeva progressed but Marta Kostyuk, seeded 26, lost to Veronika Erjavec.
with agencies
Dark horses ought to thrive on grass but two of the most favoured in the women's singles have failed to survive the first round on Wimbledon's pastures.
American Jessica Pegula was fancied by many having come to London off the back of winning the Bad Homburg warm-up event, but the world No.3 was KO'd in the first round by unheralded Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen also had many backers after impressing at Queen's, but the Chinese fifth seed lost to Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova 7-5 4-6 6-1.
It looked as if defending champion Barbora Krejcikova would also go out prematurely 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.
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".
The 24-year-old Cocciaretto, who missed Wimbledon last year because of pneumonia, added: "I'm really grateful that now I can play, that now I'm in this big tournament, big stage. I'm just enjoying it."
Pegula, a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 2023, hit five winners while making 24 unforced errors.
"For this to happen today, it's disappointing. I don't know how else to put it," she said. "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. Kudos to her for playing at a high level that I couldn't match today."
Zheng Qinwen had reached at least the quarter-finals in her last three events, 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.
Before settling against Eala, the first Filipina in the Wimbledon main draw in the Open era, Krejcikova looked in danger of following compatriot Marketa Vondrousova last year in surrendering the title at the first chance.
However, another Czech, 15th-seed Karolina Muchova, lost 7-5 6-2 to Xinyu Wang.
Elsewhere seeds Iga Swiatek, Clara Tauson and Mirra Andreeva progressed but Marta Kostyuk, seeded 26, lost to Veronika Erjavec.
with agencies
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
19 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Terrified world No.33 Yulia Putintseva halts play at Wimbledon over ‘crazy' fan: ‘Take him out'
World No.33 Yulia Putintseva asked the umpire to eject a spectator from her first-round match at Wimbledon over safety concerns, calling the attendee 'dangerous' and 'crazy'. Putintseva went on to lose 6-0 6-0 to American Amanda Anisimova in just 43 minutes and was visibly emotional while sitting down ahead of the final game. Trailing 0-3 in the first set on court 15, Putintseva reported the fan to the umpire at the change of ends. 'Can you take him out? I'm not going to continue playing until he leaves,' she was heard telling the umpire on the BBC broadcast. 'These people are dangerous, they're crazy.' After being asked by the umpire which fan it was, Putintseva gestured to the stand behind where she was serving and said it was a spectator wearing green. The umpire then said he would phone security before getting down from his chair to speak to two members of security staff who were courtside. 'Maybe he has a knife and he will attack after, I don't know,' Putintseva, who didn't speak to the media after the match, said. In a statement, the organisers said: 'Following a complaint about the behaviour of a spectator at the match on court 15, the chair umpire informed security and the matter was dealt with.' The incident comes after a man was ejected from the Dubai Tennis Championships after displaying 'fixated behavior' towards British player Emma Raducanu in February. The man followed Raducanu to at least four competitions earlier this year, and on noticing him in Dubai, the British star previously said she 'couldn't see the ball through tears' due to her distress. British media reported that the man had tried to obtain tickets to Wimbledon, but was flagged and blocked by the All England Club's security system. Raducanu praised Wimbledon for doing an 'amazing job' at preventing the man accused of stalking her from buying tickets to the tournament. 'Wimbledon and everyone did an amazing job. I got a notification, the police contacted me and told me everything was OK,' Raducanu told the BBC. 'I know that I am not the first athlete to go through this, and I probably won't be the last — not just as an athlete, but females in general.'
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Two days of carnage: Big names fall in record numbers at Wimbledon
It's been two days of carnage on the famous grass courts at Wimbledon, as the stars crashed out of the first round in record numbers at the All England club. Eight top-10 seeds exited in the first round, which was the highest at a grand slam in the professional era, while 23 seeds — 13 men, 10 women — have failed to reach the second round, equalling the highest total at any grand slam tournament since they began assigning 32 seeds in each singles bracket in 2001. As the shocks kept coming, here's who stumbled and fell in a first round that delivered plenty of surprising results – and opened up the draw significantly for those remaining in the prestigious grasscourt event in London. For the latest on the Australian contingent, click here. Coco Gauff (No.2) Gauff was the day's most surprising casualty, overpowered by fired-up Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska 7-6 (7-3), 6-1. The American was chasing a French Open-Wimbledon double after her Paris triumph but looked out of sorts on Court One's slick surface, slipping several times early in the match. She had nine double faults and made 29 unforced errors, shaking her head in disbelief. 'I think it was a great match today, I was really on fire,' said the world No. 42 Yastremska, whose best previous grand slam performance was reaching the semi-finals at the 2024 Australian Open.
The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
Two days of carnage: Big names fall in record numbers at Wimbledon
It's been two days of carnage on the famous grass courts at Wimbledon, as the stars crashed out of the first round in record numbers at the All England club. Eight top-10 seeds exited in the first round, which was the highest at a grand slam in the professional era, while 23 seeds — 13 men, 10 women — have failed to reach the second round, equalling the highest total at any grand slam tournament since they began assigning 32 seeds in each singles bracket in 2001. As the shocks kept coming, here's who stumbled and fell in a first round that delivered plenty of surprising results – and opened up the draw significantly for those remaining in the prestigious grasscourt event in London. For the latest on the Australian contingent, click here. Coco Gauff (No.2) Gauff was the day's most surprising casualty, overpowered by fired-up Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska 7-6 (7-3), 6-1. The American was chasing a French Open-Wimbledon double after her Paris triumph but looked out of sorts on Court One's slick surface, slipping several times early in the match. She had nine double faults and made 29 unforced errors, shaking her head in disbelief. 'I think it was a great match today, I was really on fire,' said the world No. 42 Yastremska, whose best previous grand slam performance was reaching the semi-finals at the 2024 Australian Open.
