Eleventh women’s seed falls
LONDON: Caroline Wozniacki’s honeymoon on grass was shortlived as she became the 11th women’s seed to fall on the first three days at Wimbledon in a 64, 16, 75 secondround defeat by Ekaterina Makarova.
The Danish second seed fought to the bitter end against the tenacious Russian, succumbing on the sixth match point after an absorbing match lasting two hours and nine minutes on Court One.
Makarova, three days short of her 30th birthday, broke early to take command of the first set.
Wozniacki complained about a swarm of flying ants on court and asked for repellent spray which seemed to sting her into action as she won five games in a row before claiming the second set.
Makarova came back strongly, however, and looked poised for an easy victory when she led 51 in the third.
Wozniacki produced her best tennis, though, to save three match points when 53 and 400 behind and saved another before breaking to level the set.
With both women playing fine tennis and moving each other all round the court, Makarova earned three more match points and converted the second.
Meanwhile, seventime champion Serena Williams moved up a gear to beat Bulgarian qualifier Viktoriya Tomova 61, 64 and reach the third round.
The 36yearold American barely broke sweat in a onesided first set but was tested by the world No 135 in the second without ever looking troubled.
Serena’s sister, Venus, also progressed into the third round, but was forced to fight back from a set down to beat Romanian qualifier Alexandra Dulgheru 46, 60, 61.
In the men’s draw, Roger Federer was back making a style statement with his dazzling tennis as he gave Slovakian Lukas Lacko a 64, 64, 61 dressing down to reach the third round.
The Swiss champion was at his breathtaking best as he crafted 48 exquisite winners during a 90minute match that seemed more an exhibition of his shotmaking than a charge towards a record ninth Wimbledon title.
He will next face Germany’s JanLennard Struff, who edged past Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic in five sets.
Play was suspended for the day after a spell of rain, with men’s third seed Marin Cilic leading 63, 61, 34 against Argentine Guido Pella. — Reuters