Muguruza Bounced; Radwanska, Venus Advance at Wimbledon
French Open champion Garbine Muguruza’s run at Wimbledon came to a close on Thursday as the second-seeded Spaniard fell to Slovakia’s Jana Cepelova 6-3, 6-2 in the Wimbledon second round.
Last year, Cepelova ousted Simona Halep at this tournament and the Slovak continued her giant-slaying ways on Wednesday.
“I like to play against big stars, against the champions,” said Cepelova. “I try to keep winning against these champion players.”
Muguruza’s energy level was down and she didn’t seem to be playing with the same edge that carried her to the Roland Garros title a few weeks ago.
“It was going to be a rough tournament for me after winning a Grand Slam and coming here,” said Muguruza. “I think my energy was missing a little bit today. I felt empty a little but.
I think she played great, with no fear.”
Cepelova will look to expand on her win when she takes on 28th seed Lucie Safarova. The Czech defeated American Samantha Crawford 6-3, 6-4 in her second round match on Wednesday.
Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams hung on to defeat Greece's Maria Sakkari 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. She will play 29th seeded Russian Daria Kasatkina next.
Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber knocked off American Varvara Lepchenkp 6-1, 6-4 to set up a third-round matchup with Germany’s Carina Witthoeft.
Agnieszka Radwanska snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in her second round showdown with Croatian teenager Ana Konjuh, outlasting the 18-year old 6-2, 4-6, 9-7 to reach the third round.
Konjuh twice served for the match at 5-4 and 6-5 in the third sets, but rolled her ankle slipping on a ball late in the third set, and Radwanska took advantage of the opening to advance.
Up next for the Pole is Katerina Siniakova. The Czech upset 30th seed Caroline Garcia 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
American Sloane Stephens won her first round match on Thursday, breezing past Peng Shuai 7-6(5), 6-2 while her compatriot Coco Vandeweghe steamrolled Hungary’s Timea Babos 6-2, 6-3. American qualifier Julia Boserup advanced to the third round as she led seventh-seed Belinda Bencic 6-4, 1-0 before the Swiss retired.
Eugenie Bouchard held off a rally from Great Britain’s Johanna Konta to advance with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-1 victory, earning her a matchup with 19th seed Dominika Cibulkova.
It was a tough day for seeded players on the women’s side overall as 17th seed Elina Svitolina, 22nd seed Jelena Jankovic, 31st seed Kristina Mladenovic and 32nd seed Andrea Petkovic were all eliminated.
