Women’s seeds at Wimbledon have been bleeding, with 3 of Top 5 already out
We’re halfway through the first week of Wimbledon and already early exits have included Petra Kvitova, Maria Sharapova, Elina Svitolina, Sloane Stephens and Caroline Garcia, followed up by Caroline Wozniacki in the second round.
The first couple of rounds at Wimbledon usually include a shock exit or two, but to have the second seed go out on Wednesday, just after three others went out during Round 1, is a bloodbath before we even get to Round 3.
Wimbledon darling Petra Kvitova, 8th seed, out in Round 1 due to ‘nerves’
A sentimental favorite going into Wimbledon, fans have been hoping that the place Petra Kvitova won her two grand slams would cement her comeback from a horrific knife attack at the end of 2016 that left her main hitting hand lacerated with what seemed like a career-ending injury.
Her fight back to the top ever since has been nothing short of miraculous and completely inspiring. Combine that with the performance the Czech has put on all year, clocking in the most WTA titles on the Tour. Kvitova took time off after her exemplary win at Birmingham to nurse an ankle inflammation. But everything was lining up for the former world No. 2 heading into her favorite slam. What happened?
"“I’m sad. I wanted to win very badly, maybe too much. The nerves were there again. I just tried to kind of fight with myself,” Kvitova said after the loss to Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 4-6, 6-4, 0-6.“I was the biggest opponent I could have. I didn’t really have a clear mind. I was thinking a little bit too much.“Probably at Wimbledon it’s a little bit more than the other Grand Slams because obviously I know I can play well.”"
U.S. Open winner and Roland Garros finalist Sloane Stephens (No. 4 seed) seems unmotivated
Roland Garros finalist Sloane Stephens lost to world No. 55 Donna Vekic in a lopsided match that found the U.S. Open winner playing an error-prone game (22 errors) riddled with poor movement, losing 1-6, 3-6. The American didn’t seem to be bothered by the fact that she’s now lost in the first round of Wimbledon two years in a row, an attitude that bothers some.
“I don’t hang on to things very long,” Stephens said afterward nonchalantly. “I let go of it and move on.”
“I question whether she has a burning desire to win more Grand Slams or be No. 1,” ESPN analyst Chris Evert said when Stephens lost in R1 at the Australian Open earlier this year. “I don’t see it as much as I do with other players.”
Consistency plagues the American player, who tends to achieve breakthrough wins and finals appearances followed up with a string of shocking early exits. This will be something Sloane Stephens will need to work on if she wants to be considered great.
24th seed Maria Sharapova goes out in Round 1 after a fantastic clay season
Expectations were high for Maria Sharapova going into Wimbledon after the momentum built up during the clay season, where she reached the quarters and semis at several major tournaments, including the quarterfinals at the French Open. While it’s clear she’s still building herself back up from her doping ban that ended last year — and getting to the finals at Wimbledon would have been a stretch — no one thought she would go out so early. The Russian lost to world No. 138 and compatriot, Vitalia Diatchenko, 6-7(3), 7-6(3), 4-6, the lowest ranked player she’s lost to since 2008.
Kim Clijsters, former world No. 1 and tennis pundit, has a theory why this is happening to so many top seeds.
"“When you’re a Serena or a Sharapova the younger players who are now at the WTA level admired them for many, many years, grew up watching them,” Clijster said according to The Guardian. “They’re capable of playing them now and they don’t fear them anymore. They’re going all out, playing some of their best tennis.”"
Second round takes out second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki
Confidence has beleaguered Caroline Wozniacki in the past, but she turned a major leaf when she accomplished the double major achievement of getting the No. 1 ranking back with her first grand slam at the Australian Open this year, six years after she was the top rank without a slam. She had silenced her critics in one of the best finals in women’s grand slam history against current No. 1 Simona Halep.
But conviction was lacking when she lost to Ekaterina Makarova, despite a fight back in the second set, 4-6, 6-1, 5-7.
“I did everything I could. I fought as hard as I could. I can’t even be mad at myself because I played up to the level that I can,” Wozniacki said, looking completely defeated after the match. “It’s frustrating because I feel like I could have gone and done something really great here.”
No. 5 seed Elina Svitolina looked out of sorts, and No. 6 seed Caroline Garcia out too
Elina Svitolina looked uncomfortable from the start, struggling with a foot injury and her movement, and lost in three sets to Tatjana Maria, 6-7(3), 6-4, 1-6. Maria displayed a confident surface game, coming off a grass court victory at the Mallorca Open, her maiden title, just a week ago.
Just outside the Top Five, the sixth seed Caroline Garcia lost to a strong, resilient Belinda Bencic from Switzerland, a talented player who used to be in the Top 10 and was famous for sending Venus Williams packing at the Australian Open earlier this year as well as winning the Hopman Cup with teammate Roger Federer. She upset Garcia in straight sets 7-6(2), 6-3.
Change seems to be in the air in the women’s game
"“I think it just shows the depth of women’s tennis right now,” said 10th seed Madison Keys, one of the few in the Top 10 left in the draw.“I think at the beginning of a tournament, you’d never know who’s going to win. There are no 100 percent winners anymore. I think every single match is competitive.”"
In addition to Keys, first and third seeds Simona Halep and defending champ Garbine Muguruza are through, and so are seventh seed Karolina Pliskova, and ninth seed Venus Williams, as well as her sister, Serena, seeded 25.
Wimbledon third round matches begin Friday, viewable on ESPN.