Wozniacki exit is a real anty climax
Caroline is gnat happy in defeat but insists insects aren’t to blame
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI insisted flying ants were not to blame after she was swatted out of Wimbledon.
And the grumpy Aussie Open champion reckons her shock conqueror Ekaterina Makarova won’t be buzzing around at SW19 for much longer.
Wozniacki was clearly gnat happy after becoming the latest and highest seed to fall this year against world No.35 Makarova.
She asked the umpire to stop play and retired to her seat to apply insect repellent after the bugs suddenly invaded Court One during the second set of her second-round tie.
Unhappy Wozniacki’s focus was also disrupted by a burst of drizzle which led to more complaints from the stroppy second seed.
And despite fighting off the flies and saving five match points she was eventually downed 6-4 1-6 7-5 by Russian former world No.8 Makarova.
Wozniacki said: “I don’t think it had any impact but it was definitely a first for me here.
“I just asked if they had some repellant, insect repellant. There were a lot of them at one point then it died down.”
Makarova recovered from her second-set thrashing to lead 5-3 in the third but blew four match points to give Wozniacki hope as she got the jitters.
She then blew a fifth after going 40-0 up on Wozniacki’s serve but the 2014 quarterfinalist took the sixth to reach round three and make it five of the top-10 out of Wimbledon in the first two rounds. Not that Wozniacki was that impressed.
She said: “For her to keep this level, I would be very surprised if you saw her go far.”
Elsewhere, Venus Williams was “overjoyed” to see more women’s matches than men’s on Centre and Court One for a second day running.
The last time it happened on successive days was 2016 but in Wimbledon history it has been a rare occurrence. Yesterday there were five women’s matches compared to two men’s.
Williams, who overcame Alexandra Dulgheru in three, said: “I was overjoyed when I saw the schedule. We have a lot of equal play on the main courts in the other three Grand Slams.
“It was just fantastic to see Wimbledon also follow suit.”
Sister Serena, who crushed Viktoriya Tomova 6-1 6-4, said: “It’s wonderful. For many years it was two men’s, one women’s. It’s great. I noticed that they were giving more women matches on the Centre Court.
“I’m just really proud to be here and play at a tournament that can recognize that.”
Meanwhile, British No.1 Jo Konta will today be the first top player hit by the decision to seed Serena Williams.
The American superstar is ranked world No.181 after her maternity leave. But her record of winning seven titles here has seen her seeded No.25 – with then world No.32 Dominika Cibulkova bumped out.
Konta faces the Slovakian in the second round today.