Rest In Peace: Forever In Our Hearts” Steffi Graf Former Legend Tennis Star Player Dies In Plane Crash At….

Reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova joined Steffi Graf in the history books after she suffered a shock first-round exit, but Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina cruised into the last 64. Vondrousova was a surprise winner at the All England Club last year and returned to Centre Court on Tuesday to begin the defence of her crown, but she struggled physically in a 6-4 6-2 defeat to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in 67 minutes It made Vondrousova only the second defending women’s Wimbledon champion to crash out in the first round after Graf did in 1994 to Lori McNeil.

Before her 2023 triumph, Vondrousova had only won one main-draw match in SW19. She had arrived in the capital following an injury scare in Berlin two weeks prior. Despite her claims to be fully fit, the world number six made three double faults in her first service game and was broken right away. More breaks were exchanged, but the 83rd-ranked Spaniard Bouzas Maneiro of Spain won the first set in under 40 minutes. Vondrousova then attempted another double fault at the beginning of the second game, only to be broken again, and she seemed increasingly irritated with her failing health.

Bouzas Maneiro, 21, did not let that deter her from playing her shots, and she ended up winning her first grand slam with an incredible backhand.

“This is one of the most important moments of my life, in my career here on this court, this is amazing,” Bouzas Maneiro remarked. “This tournament, with its beautiful atmosphere, is the most beautiful tournament I have ever played in my life.” I thus want to express my gratitude to everyone who attended to see.