Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Day 2

Champions at the last two Wimbledon editions split the difference in Tuesday opening matches, with Czech holder Marketa Vondrousova ambushed 6-4, 6-2 by 83rd-ranked Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

The sixth seed was the first defending champion to lose in the first round here since Steffi Graf was beaten in 1994 by Lori McNeil.

2022 titleholder Elena Rybakina got past Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-1

Spanish outsider Bouzas Maneiro ticked several boxes with her upset result, earning her first main draw Grand Slams win, her first on grass, and her first career Top 10 success.

She had lost her only match this season on grass at a Challenger in June. Her only WTA win this season was a defeat of Paula Badosa in Madrid as a qualifier.

“I’m really happy, this is one of the most important moments of my life, my career” she said. “I felt no pressure.. I just wanted to enjoy the moment and play freely.

“I did it and I’m so happy for that.”

Bouzas Maneiro took a lead of a set and a break, reaching 5-2 in the second with a break of Vondrousova. 

The underdog advanced two games later, landing a winner down the line on match point after 66 minutes.

“I was comfortable playing here,” she said. “I don’t know why but it felt like home.”

Vondrousova, first unseeded woman to win the title here, refused to blame a hip injury he suffered a fortnight ago, but admitted she was badly off her game. “I think I was a bit slower maybe, I was a bit scared.

“But credits to her. She was playing a good match. I didn’t feel at my best.

“She didn’t give me many points for free. I was very nervous from this morning.

“I’d love to stay longer, but today was really tough.”

Rybakina improved to 15-2 at Wimbledon as she won her 36th match of the season. Qualifier Rus remains winless here in the main draw after four attempts.

Top seed Iga Swiatek got through a battle of Grand Slam winners, defeating Sonia Kenin 6-3, 6-4 to open her campaign with a no-nonsense victory.

The five-time Grand Slam champion Pole whose Wimbledon best is last year’s quarter-final, out-hit 2020 Australian Open champion Kenin to reach the second round in just over an hour and a quarter.

“It was a solid start, not easy,” the winner said. “You have to be ready for everything.

“There is no chance to get slowly into the tournament, you have to be ready straightaway,” she said after concluding her 44th match win this season.

“I feel like this year I’m playing better on grass,” said the four-time Roland Garros winner.

Jessica Pegula began her fortnight with a crushing 6-2, 6-0 win over American compariot Ashlyn Krueger.

The fifth-seeded winner delivered 17 winners and held her unforced court to just seven in the rout which lasted 49 minutes before rain stopped play briefly in late morning.

“I’m happy I got through before the rain came, that’s always a bonus, especially here,” the winner said.

“I’m feeling really good that I played a solid match.”

The grass titlewinner in Berlin last month added: “You have to put in your mind that you’re here to win matches. 

“But I’m not telling myself that in the mirror over and over
again. 

“Just (have) belief in every single match, maybe (don’t) get too ahead of myself.”

German Tatjana Maria dented home hopes with her 7-6 (6), 7-5 defeat of British No. 1 Katie Boulter. But Harriet Dart got a win for the home nation with her 6-4, 6-0 defeat of Bai Zhuoxuan.

Main photo:- JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO wins first round match by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd