Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, became the first defending champion to lose in the first round since Steffi Graf in 1994, falling to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in shocking fashion.
Marketa Vondrousova's title defense at Wimbledon came to a crashing halt on Tuesday as the Czech star became the first defending champion to suffer a first-round exit since Steffi Graf in 1994.
Vondrousova, 25, made history last year when she became the first unseeded ladies single player to win at Wimbledon since 2002. Her triumph was a stunning achievement, but the weight of expectations proved too heavy to bear this year.
Defending Wimbledon Champ Vondrousova Suffers Historic First-Round Ouster
"I feel like everybody just expects you to win maybe, so that's tough too," Vondrousova said after bowing to unheralded Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-2. "But I was happy to be back on the Centre Court. It just didn't go as planned today."
Bouzas Maneiro, who was competing in just her third-ever Grand Slam tournament, seized her opportunity with both hands. It was her first win at a tour-level grass tournament and also her first victory over a top 10 ranked player.
Defending Wimbledon Champ Vondrousova Suffers Historic First-Round Ouster
Vondrousova's Wimbledon title defense was always going to be challenging. As the defending champion, she was seeded sixth and faced a tough draw. However, few expected her to stumble in the first round.
"It's tough to go out defending the title," Vondrousova said, fighting back tears. "I was really nervous from the morning and everything and [Bouzas Maneiro] was also playing good tennis. That's kind of tough, you don't have many chances to win free points."
Defending Wimbledon Champ Vondrousova Suffers Historic First-Round Ouster
Vondrousova's loss marks a rare occurrence in Wimbledon history. Graf is the only other defending champion to lose in the first round in the last 30 years.
The defeat will be a bitter pill to swallow for Vondrousova, who admitted to feeling pressure this year. She will now have to regroup and prepare for the rest of the season.
Despite the disappointment, Vondrousova's Wimbledon title in 2023 will forever be etched in history. She became the first Czech woman to win the tournament since Jana Novotna in 1998.
Bouzas Maneiro, meanwhile, can savor the moment. The 24-year-old has had a breakthrough year, winning her first WTA title in Prague in May. Her victory over Vondrousova is another feather in her cap and will boost her confidence going forward.
The Wimbledon tournament continues to deliver shocks and surprises. Vondrousova's exit is a reminder that even the defending champions are not immune to early setbacks. As the tournament progresses, anything is possible.
