WOMEN’S DEFENDING CHAMP OUT OF FRENCH OPEN
LONDON — Men’s third seed Marin Cilic was knocked out of Wimbledon on Thursday following a shocking five-set defeat to Argentina’s Guido Pella in the second round.
A late upset came in the women’s draw as defending champion Garbine Muguruza was stunned 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 by Belgium’s Alison van Uytvanck.
The result now means only two of the top eight women’s seeds are left going into round three.
“Inside I was, like, dying, especially serving out for the match,” van Uytvanck said. “Confidence was there. I’m playing well the last couple of days, so that’s what I took with me on the court. I was in the zone and just hitting every ball, and it was going my way.”
Cilic, who was beaten in last year’s final by Roger Federer, led by two sets when their contest, which started on Wednesday, was suspended by rain.
The Croatian world No. 5 saved three match points but eventually fell to a 3-6, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 defeat.
“Yesterday I played really good. Played great (for) two sets. It was a little bit unfortunate to stop last night when I was (a) break down,” Cilic said. “I was just not feeling as comfortable as yesterday with hitting. I was not as accurate. I felt I had two different levels. That was probably the decisive thing at the end.”
Pella, who is ranked 82nd in the world, will face American Mackenzie McDonald in the third round on Friday.
On a packed Court Two late in the evening, Muguruza fought bravely to edge the first set against her Belgian opponent by a single break, but every shot van Uytvanck hit fell nicely for her in the second and third sets.
Van Uytvanck, who is ranked 47th in the world, stormed to a 4-2 lead in the second set and Muguruza’s frustration was in full view.
The 24-year-old threw her racket against the wall as a winner caught the line for van Uytvanck to level the match.
“I think she was playing really good,” Muguruza said. “It was a little bit tough for me, you know, to have an opponent that is having a great day, and the match is slipping out of your hand a little bit.”
What followed in the deciding set was brilliant shot-making from van Uytvanck as she made a fearless approach to each stroke.
Everything was going her way until a line call as she served on match point where an out shout reverberated around the stands.
When the decision was reversed, van Uytvanck thought her job was done because Muguruza’s return attempt failed.
But when the point was replayed, a much more powerful serve confirmed the biggest win of her grand slam career.
She enters the third round for the first time at Wimbledon to face Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit.
Back on Centre Court, Rafael Nadal endured a difficult second-round match on Centre Court with Mikhail Kukushkin, despite winning 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
Spain’s world number one will face Australia’s Alex De Minaur next.
“I know him. He’s good. He’s young. He’s dangerous,” Nadal said. “Good player. So let’s see. It’s a good challenge for me, too. (It) has been a very positive match this afternoon. I am very happy, the way that I played today. That’s going to be a good energy to play the next round.”
Novak Djokovic joins Nadal in the next round after dismissing Horacio Zeballos 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 and he will meet Britain’s Kyle Edmund, who beat American qualifier Bradley Klahn 6-4, 7-6 (7-0), 6-2.
Fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro eased through with a 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.
Australia’s Nick Kyrgios will square off with Japan’s Kei Nishikori in round three.
Nishikori bested Kyrgios’ compatriot in Bernard Tomic 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7), 7-5 and Kyrgios succeeded Dutchman Robin Haase 6-3, 6-4, 7-5
But Stan Wawrinka’s Wimbledon return has come to an end following a 7-6 (9-7), 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) defeat to Italian qualifier Thomas Fabbiano.
Meanwhile in the women’s draw, Simona Halep roared back from 5-3 down in the first set to triumph 7-5, 6-0 against China’s Saisai Zheng in 75 minutes.
Britain’s female hope Johanna Konta failed in her second round match as Dominika Cibulkova claimed a dominant 63, 6-4 win.