Wimbledon wobbles for Caroline Wozniacki who’s become the biggest casualty so far as she tried and failed to see off Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova.
The Dane, who won at Eastbourne last week was seeded second ahead of her retutn to SW19 as she crashed out in three sets 6-4 1-6 7-5 on Court One.
Wozniacki’s exit means half of the top teen seeds have already been dumped out including Sloane Stephens, Elina Svitolina, Caroline Garcia and Petra Kvitova.
The unseeded Makarova stormed into a 5-1 first set lead, which she eventually took 6-4.
Wozniacki never gives and cruised to the second set before Makarova once again raced into a 5-1 lead in the decider before a furtherfightback.
She served for the match, then had four match points at 5-4 before eventually getting the job done at the sixth attempt. Makarova said:
“Caroline is always a very tough opponent and we have played so many times. “It’s only the second time I have beaten her. It is tough to face her but I am so happy.”
American Madison Keys celebrated Independence Day moving into the third round easing past Thailand’s Luksika Kumkhum 6-4 6-3.
Croatian Donna Vekic followed up her win over another American Sloane Stephens with a 7-5 6-4 win over Rebecca Peterson.
Karolina Pliskova won the battle of former world number ones against Victoria Azarenka. The Czech seventh seed was a 6-3 6-3 winner in the Centre Court opener.
Venus Williams overcame a scare as last year’s runner-up came from a set down to beat Alexandra Dulgheru 4-6 6-0 6-1. Her sister Serena, meanwhile, enjoyed her Centre Court return as she easily progressed.
The seven-time champion hasn’t been seen since her 2016 final win over Angelique Kerber on centre court but the unseeded Viktoriya Tomova provided little obstacle for the American veteran who overpowered the Bulgarian to progress 6-1 6-4.
The pursuit for a ninth #Wimbledon title continues for @RogerFederer… pic.twitter.com/vvTSkxHwgp
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2018
In the men’s singles the legendary Roger Federer’s eased his way into round three. The 36-year-old destroyed Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko 6-4 6-4 6-1 in just 90 minutes on Centre Court.
The eight-time winner and defending champion has racked up 27 consecutive sets here in a run of nine successive wins spread over this year and last.
Federer put on a dazzling display showed off a mixture of shots, firing down 48 winners
“I played very well again, I felt good out there, less nerves than in the first round, which is normal,” Federer said. “I am happy with how I am hitting the ball and concentration on my own service games and I am able to mix it up on return. “I needed to put him away and I was able to do that and I am very happy.”
Gael Monfils has revealed he has finally learned how to love grass after reaching Wimbledon’s third round for the second year running. Frenchman Monfils edged past Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi to book a clash with 11th seed Sam Querrey. The 31-year-old believes he has discovered a new-found appreciation for his least-favourite surface.
“After years and years of improving slowly, finally I can say that I like the grass,” said Monfils. “I’m happy, with the way I’ve played in these two matches. I’m trying to like the grass as much now as I like playing tennis. “I’ve had to have the mindset that it’s just another surface.”
Canada’s 13th seed Milos Raonic swept past Australian John Millman in straight sets, but in predictably attritional fashion, requiring three tie-breaks for victory. Raonic drove home, to book a third-round clash with Dennis Novak, who toppled 17th seed Lucas Pouille in a fine five-set victory.
