Keys reflects on Aussie Open fairytale
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The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Wimbledon KO for fancied third seed as champ progresses
Dark horses ought to thrive on grass but two of the most favoured in the women's singles have failed to survive the first round on Wimbledon's pastures. American Jessica Pegula was fancied by many having come to London off the back of winning the Bad Homburg warm-up event, but the world No.3 was KO'd in the first round by unheralded Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen also had many backers after impressing at Queen's, but the Chinese fifth seed lost to Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova 7-5 4-6 6-1. It looked as if defending champion Barbora Krejcikova would also go out prematurely when she lost the first set to Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. But the Czech, who is seeded 17th after an injury-hit year, regained her poise to win 3-6 6-2 6-1. Pegula, who beat Iga Swiatek in straight sets at Bad Homburg, had not lost in the first round at a grand slam since the French Open in 2020. But Cocciaretto, ranked 116, was unperturbed by her status and form in dismissing the third seed 6-2 6-3 on Tuesday. The Italian, whose ranking has dipped in recent months, said she had told herself to "be more aggressive and go for it, don't think about losing or winning the point". The 24-year-old Cocciaretto, who missed Wimbledon last year because of pneumonia, added: "I'm really grateful that now I can play, that now I'm in this big tournament, big stage. I'm just enjoying it." Pegula, a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 2023, hit five winners while making 24 unforced errors. "For this to happen today, it's disappointing. I don't know how else to put it," she said. "I'm upset that I wasn't able to turn anything around. But at the same time, I do feel like she played kind of insane. Hats off to her. Kudos to her for playing at a high level that I couldn't match today." Zheng Qinwen had reached at least the quarter-finals in her last three events, Rome Masters, Roland Garros and Queen's, where she made the semi-finals. But this was the Zheng of old as she suffered her third straight first-round exit at Wimbledon. Siniakova is 81 in the world but no stranger to success being the No.1 ranked doubles player and a three-time winner at the All England Club, including last year alongside Taylor Townsend. Seven of her 10 major doubles titles were won with Krejcikova who showed the way in singles with her win here last year. Before settling against Eala, the first Filipina in the Wimbledon main draw in the Open era, Krejcikova looked in danger of following compatriot Marketa Vondrousova last year in surrendering the title at the first chance. However, another Czech, 15th-seed Karolina Muchova, lost 7-5 6-2 to Xinyu Wang. Elsewhere seeds Iga Swiatek, Clara Tauson and Mirra Andreeva progressed but Marta Kostyuk, seeded 26, lost to Veronika Erjavec. with agencies Dark horses ought to thrive on grass but two of the most favoured in the women's singles have failed to survive the first round on Wimbledon's pastures. American Jessica Pegula was fancied by many having come to London off the back of winning the Bad Homburg warm-up event, but the world No.3 was KO'd in the first round by unheralded Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen also had many backers after impressing at Queen's, but the Chinese fifth seed lost to Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova 7-5 4-6 6-1. It looked as if defending champion Barbora Krejcikova would also go out prematurely when she lost the first set to Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. But the Czech, who is seeded 17th after an injury-hit year, regained her poise to win 3-6 6-2 6-1. Pegula, who beat Iga Swiatek in straight sets at Bad Homburg, had not lost in the first round at a grand slam since the French Open in 2020. But Cocciaretto, ranked 116, was unperturbed by her status and form in dismissing the third seed 6-2 6-3 on Tuesday. The Italian, whose ranking has dipped in recent months, said she had told herself to "be more aggressive and go for it, don't think about losing or winning the point". The 24-year-old Cocciaretto, who missed Wimbledon last year because of pneumonia, added: "I'm really grateful that now I can play, that now I'm in this big tournament, big stage. I'm just enjoying it." Pegula, a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 2023, hit five winners while making 24 unforced errors. "For this to happen today, it's disappointing. I don't know how else to put it," she said. "I'm upset that I wasn't able to turn anything around. But at the same time, I do feel like she played kind of insane. Hats off to her. Kudos to her for playing at a high level that I couldn't match today." Zheng Qinwen had reached at least the quarter-finals in her last three events, Rome Masters, Roland Garros and Queen's, where she made the semi-finals. But this was the Zheng of old as she suffered her third straight first-round exit at Wimbledon. Siniakova is 81 in the world but no stranger to success being the No.1 ranked doubles player and a three-time winner at the All England Club, including last year alongside Taylor Townsend. Seven of her 10 major doubles titles were won with Krejcikova who showed the way in singles with her win here last year. Before settling against Eala, the first Filipina in the Wimbledon main draw in the Open era, Krejcikova looked in danger of following compatriot Marketa Vondrousova last year in surrendering the title at the first chance. However, another Czech, 15th-seed Karolina Muchova, lost 7-5 6-2 to Xinyu Wang. Elsewhere seeds Iga Swiatek, Clara Tauson and Mirra Andreeva progressed but Marta Kostyuk, seeded 26, lost to Veronika Erjavec. with agencies Dark horses ought to thrive on grass but two of the most favoured in the women's singles have failed to survive the first round on Wimbledon's pastures. American Jessica Pegula was fancied by many having come to London off the back of winning the Bad Homburg warm-up event, but the world No.3 was KO'd in the first round by unheralded Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen also had many backers after impressing at Queen's, but the Chinese fifth seed lost to Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova 7-5 4-6 6-1. It looked as if defending champion Barbora Krejcikova would also go out prematurely when she lost the first set to Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. But the Czech, who is seeded 17th after an injury-hit year, regained her poise to win 3-6 6-2 6-1. Pegula, who beat Iga Swiatek in straight sets at Bad Homburg, had not lost in the first round at a grand slam since the French Open in 2020. But Cocciaretto, ranked 116, was unperturbed by her status and form in dismissing the third seed 6-2 6-3 on Tuesday. The Italian, whose ranking has dipped in recent months, said she had told herself to "be more aggressive and go for it, don't think about losing or winning the point". The 24-year-old Cocciaretto, who missed Wimbledon last year because of pneumonia, added: "I'm really grateful that now I can play, that now I'm in this big tournament, big stage. I'm just enjoying it." Pegula, a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 2023, hit five winners while making 24 unforced errors. "For this to happen today, it's disappointing. I don't know how else to put it," she said. "I'm upset that I wasn't able to turn anything around. But at the same time, I do feel like she played kind of insane. Hats off to her. Kudos to her for playing at a high level that I couldn't match today." Zheng Qinwen had reached at least the quarter-finals in her last three events, Rome Masters, Roland Garros and Queen's, where she made the semi-finals. But this was the Zheng of old as she suffered her third straight first-round exit at Wimbledon. Siniakova is 81 in the world but no stranger to success being the No.1 ranked doubles player and a three-time winner at the All England Club, including last year alongside Taylor Townsend. Seven of her 10 major doubles titles were won with Krejcikova who showed the way in singles with her win here last year. Before settling against Eala, the first Filipina in the Wimbledon main draw in the Open era, Krejcikova looked in danger of following compatriot Marketa Vondrousova last year in surrendering the title at the first chance. However, another Czech, 15th-seed Karolina Muchova, lost 7-5 6-2 to Xinyu Wang. Elsewhere seeds Iga Swiatek, Clara Tauson and Mirra Andreeva progressed but Marta Kostyuk, seeded 26, lost to Veronika Erjavec. with agencies Dark horses ought to thrive on grass but two of the most favoured in the women's singles have failed to survive the first round on Wimbledon's pastures. American Jessica Pegula was fancied by many having come to London off the back of winning the Bad Homburg warm-up event, but the world No.3 was KO'd in the first round by unheralded Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen also had many backers after impressing at Queen's, but the Chinese fifth seed lost to Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova 7-5 4-6 6-1. It looked as if defending champion Barbora Krejcikova would also go out prematurely when she lost the first set to Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. But the Czech, who is seeded 17th after an injury-hit year, regained her poise to win 3-6 6-2 6-1. Pegula, who beat Iga Swiatek in straight sets at Bad Homburg, had not lost in the first round at a grand slam since the French Open in 2020. But Cocciaretto, ranked 116, was unperturbed by her status and form in dismissing the third seed 6-2 6-3 on Tuesday. The Italian, whose ranking has dipped in recent months, said she had told herself to "be more aggressive and go for it, don't think about losing or winning the point". The 24-year-old Cocciaretto, who missed Wimbledon last year because of pneumonia, added: "I'm really grateful that now I can play, that now I'm in this big tournament, big stage. I'm just enjoying it." Pegula, a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 2023, hit five winners while making 24 unforced errors. "For this to happen today, it's disappointing. I don't know how else to put it," she said. "I'm upset that I wasn't able to turn anything around. But at the same time, I do feel like she played kind of insane. Hats off to her. Kudos to her for playing at a high level that I couldn't match today." Zheng Qinwen had reached at least the quarter-finals in her last three events, Rome Masters, Roland Garros and Queen's, where she made the semi-finals. But this was the Zheng of old as she suffered her third straight first-round exit at Wimbledon. Siniakova is 81 in the world but no stranger to success being the No.1 ranked doubles player and a three-time winner at the All England Club, including last year alongside Taylor Townsend. Seven of her 10 major doubles titles were won with Krejcikova who showed the way in singles with her win here last year. Before settling against Eala, the first Filipina in the Wimbledon main draw in the Open era, Krejcikova looked in danger of following compatriot Marketa Vondrousova last year in surrendering the title at the first chance. However, another Czech, 15th-seed Karolina Muchova, lost 7-5 6-2 to Xinyu Wang. Elsewhere seeds Iga Swiatek, Clara Tauson and Mirra Andreeva progressed but Marta Kostyuk, seeded 26, lost to Veronika Erjavec. with agencies
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
Fancied third seed dumped out of Wimbledon by Italian
American Jessica Pegula was seen by many as a Wimbledon dark horse having come to London off the back of winning the the Bad Homburg warm-up event, but the world No.3 has been KO'd in the first round by unheralded Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Pegula, who beat Iga Swiatek in straight sets at Bad Homburg, had not lost in the first round at a grand slam since the French Open in 2020. But Cocciaretto, ranked 116, was unperturbed by her status and form in dismissing the third seed 6-2, 6-3 on Tuesday. The Italian, whose ranking has dipped in recent months, said she had told herself to "be more aggressive and go for it, don't think about losing or winning the point." Pegula, a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 2023, hit five winners while making 24 unforced errors. She had reached five singles finals this year — second only to top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka's seven.
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
Kasatkina gets Aussie Wimbledon show back on the road
Daria Kasatkina has got the Australian show back on the road on another sun-drenched day at Wimbledon but looked less than happy with her mistake-ridden first-round win. After Monday's calamitous opening day featured seven Australian players exiting and only an injured Jordan Thompson battling through, Kasatkina at least was able to kick off Tuesday, again in searing temperatures, with a 7-5 6-3 victory over Colombian Emiliana Arango. Making hard work of subduing her lively opponent, 16th seed Kasatkina, the celebrated new recruit for Australian tennis, wasn't helped by dishing up 11 double faults and 38 unforced errors against the world No.76. By the time she finally sealed victory with an ace, Kasatkina looked to her box in frustration as if to ask why she had laboured so much in the one hour 38 minute battle, especially as she had been helped by the South American making 39 errors of her own. Kasatkina, who had lost her three matches on grass this season after being the last Australian standing in the fourth round at the French Open, said she had hoped an eighth visit to Wimbledon would prove rejuvenating. It was certainly restorative for the Australian's women's challenge as she's their only victor so far, with qualifier Priscilla Hon also going down 6-2 7-5 to Russian 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova among Tuesday's early qualifiers. Sydney's James McCabe, who had also battled through qualifying at Roehampton, struggled on his Wimbledon main draw debut, well beaten 6-1 6-4 6-3 by Hungary's world No.58, Fabian Marozsan.
