Vondrousova out with a whimper,
agony for Murray, delight for Djokovic
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[July 03, 2024]
By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) -Marketa Vondrousova became the first defending
Wimbledon women's champion to make a first-round exit for 30 years
as she was bundled out by Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on
Tuesday.
The Czech sixth seed slumped to a 6-4 6-2 defeat as her reign ended
with a whimper and there was also crushing disappointment for
two-time champion Andy Murray.
The British favourite was denied a last hurrah on his beloved Centre
Court as his injury curse struck again, the 37-year-old withdrawing
from the singles just as the gates opened for day two of the
Championships
Murray admitted defeat in his race against time after surgery to
remove a spinal cyst - pulling out of his match against Czech Tomas
Machac, although he may still get to write the final chapter of his
fabled Wimbledon chronicle with his brother Jamie in the doubles
later this week.
While Murray will likely call time on his illustrious career after
the Olympics, his old adversary Novak Djokovic showed no sign of his
knee problems as he began his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam
title impressively.
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Serbia's Djokovic had surgery after pulling out of the French Open
and was a doubt for Wimbledon but the seven-time champion looked
razor sharp as he crushed Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva 6-1 6-2 6-2.
"Practice week went great but an official match on Centre Court is
completely different," Djokovic, who risked breaking Wimbledon's
all-white clothing policy with a grey knee support, told reporters.
"I didn't know how I would feel or how the knee would hold up, but
for an opening match I couldn't ask for a better start."
SWIATEK 'RUSTY'
Light rain disrupted play on a couple of occasions but it did not
interfere with women's top seed Iga Swiatek, who came through a
dangerous first-round against American Sofia Kenin under the Court
One roof.
Five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek was pushed hard by the former
Australian Open winner but prevailed 6-3 6-4.
"Felt a little bit rusty, but I'm happy that I'm through to the
second round," Swiatek, who has won four French Opens but is yet to
really make her mark at Wimbledon, said.
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![](../images/070324PIX/sports24.jpg)
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club,
London, Britain - July 2, 2024 Czech Republic's Marketa Vondrousova
in action during her first round match against Spain's Jessica
Bouzas Maneiro REUTERS/Matthew Childs
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"When you switch to any surface, first couple of
matches are not going to be comfortable and you have to accept
that."
Vondrousova became the first unseeded woman to win the women's title
last year but earned the far less welcome accolade after a miserable
display against Bouzas Maneiro who picked the perfect time to earn
her first Grand Slam victory.
The Czech had been troubled by a hip injury but refused to blame
that for her defeat.
"Today I was really nervous since the start. I couldn't shake it
off," she told reporters.
Russian Andrey Rublev became the highest men's seed to depart as the
world number six was stunned by Francisco Comesana of Argentina on
his Grand Slam debut.
Rublev thumped his racket into his own leg in frustration as he went
down 6-4 5-7 6-2 7-6(5).
French Open runner-up Alexander Zverev, the fourth seed, made light
work of Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena, while Polish seventh seed
Hubert Hurkacz eased past qualifier Radu Albot.
Elena Rybakina, women's champion in 2022, made a bright start as she
thrashed qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse while there were also wins
for American fifth seed Jessica Pegula who dropped two games in
dispatching Ashlyn Krueger and Britain's number one Katie Boulter,
over experienced Tatjana Maria.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman;Editing by Alison Williams)
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