Bouchard loses on busy Day 1 at Wimbledon
It was a mixed day for Canadians on the opening day at Wimbledon, while Venus Williams won her first match since being sued by the estate of a Florida man who died after a car crash police say she caused.
Montreal’s Francoise Abanda defeated Japan’s Kurumi Nara 6-2, 6-4, while Eugenie Bouchard of Westmount, Que., dropped a 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 decision to Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro.
Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz defeated wild-card entry Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2).
The 10th-seeded Williams beat Elise Mertens 7-6 (7), 6-4 Monday in the first round at the Grand Slam event, a tournament the American has won five times.
“There are really no words to describe how devastating and ... I’m completely speechless,” said Williams, who teared up when asked about the accident.
Defending champ Andy Murray also won his opening match, beating Alexander Bublik 6-1, 6-4, 6-2. Murray entered the tournament after pulling out of a pair of exhibition matches because of a sore hip.
Petra Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion who was injured in a knife attack at her home in December, beat Sweden’s Johanna Larsson 6-3, 6-4, while Rafael Nadal defeated Australia’s John Millman 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.
Second-seeded Simona Halep and No. 17 Madison Keys also won. Halep beat New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic 6-4, 6-1. Keys defeated Japan’s Nao Hibino Japan 6-4, 6-2.
Victoria Azarenka made a successful return to Wimbledon, winning her opening match over CiCi Bellis 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. The unseeded Belarusian returned to tennis only last month after giving birth to her first child in December.
Nick Kyrgios retired due to injury from his first-round match.
Three-time major champion and French Open runner-up Stan Wawrinka was bothered by his left knee and lost 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to Daniil Medvedev.