Wimble-dull? No top women reach last rounds
FOR the first time in Wimbledon’s history, none of the top ten women’s seeds have managed to reach the quarter-finals. Although seven-time champion Serena Williams will be on Centre Court today fighting for a semi-final place, she is seeded only 25 after taking time out of the game to have her first child – 10-month-old daughter Olympia. Karolina Pliskova, who was seeded seventh, was the last of the top ten seeds to be eliminated, beaten in straight sets yesterday by Holland’s Kiki Bertens. Her defeat leaves Germany’s Angelique Kerber, who is seeded 11th, as the highest female player remaining.
Defending champion Garbine Muguruza and world number one Simona Halep both went out in the first week.
After Johanna Konta reached the Wimbledon semi-finals last year, home hopes were resting on her shoulders.
But Britain’s number one, who has struggled for form since last year’s tournament at SW19, was unable to find inspiration from the home crowd and went out in the second round.
The fall of all the leading women combined with the withdrawal of Andy Murray from the men’s singles has left bosses at the All England Club disputing claims that this year’s championship has attracted little interest – especially with England’s football team grabbing everyone’s attention.
TV pundit and former footballer Ian Wright went so far as to joke on Twitter: ‘Is Wimbledon on?’