Monday Sees Lower Half of Ladies Singles Draw Complete 1st Round at Wimbledon
Monday marked the completion of the 1st-round matches in the lower half of the Ladies Singles draw at Wimbledon. Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, Emma Navarro, and Linda Noskova were among the notable players who advanced safely to the next round. However, World No 8 Zheng Qinwen was the first of the Top 10 seeds to be eliminated.
Coco GauffNavarro, the No 19 seed from America, made quick work of China’s Wang Qiang, winning 6-0 6-2 in just 49 minutes. Noskova, the 26th seed from the Czech Republic, also progressed with a win over Italy’s Sara Errani, 7-6(3) 6-1.
Five years after her breakthrough at Wimbledon as a 15-year-old, Gauff, now ranked World No 2, is eager to make a deep run in this year’s tournament. She breezed past Caroline Dolehide, her fellow American, on Centre Court with a score of 6-1 6-2 in just 64 minutes.
Reflecting on her previous experiences at Wimbledon, Gauff shared, “Wimbledon is the place – not where the dream started, but where I believed that the dream was possible. I’ve played on a lot of big courts, but every time I play here I feel even more nervous – even more than in a Grand Slam final.”
After her convincing victory on Monday, Gauff expressed her excitement about the tournament and her goal of progressing further in the competition.
Osaka Returns to Wimbledon with a Three-Set Victory
Former World No 1, Naomi Osaka, made a successful return to Wimbledon after a 5-year absence. She faced a tough challenge in her opening match against Diane Parry but eventually prevailed, winning 6-1 1-6 6-4.
Osaka, who entered the draw as a wild card and is unseeded, showcased her skills in a match that tested her mental and physical abilities. She thanked the crowd for their support and acknowledged the importance of such challenging matches early in the tournament.
Among other notable results, former US Open champion Sloane Stephens advanced to the 2nd round with a straight-set victory over France’s Elsa Jacquemot. Stephens was initially scheduled to play Victoria Azarenka, who withdrew due to a shoulder injury.
Qualifier Lulu Sun Upsets No 8 Seed Zheng Qinwen
The first upset of a Top 10 player at Wimbledon came in the form of a three-set victory by qualifier Lulu Sun over No 8 seed Zheng Qinwen. Sun, ranked 123 in the world, displayed a variety of shots that troubled Zheng throughout the match.
Sun, who recently switched nationalities to represent New Zealand, showed her versatility and composure on the grass courts of Wimbledon. Her unique playing style and adaptability helped her secure a memorable win against a higher-ranked opponent.
Other players, including Paula Badosa and Bianca Andreescu, also progressed to the 2nd round with impressive victories in their respective matches on Day 1 of the tournament.
