To say that the second day of Wimbledon produced the same drama as day one would be a stretch. There were still some seeded players that got knocked out of the tournament but none of them seeded in the top ten.
The biggest upset of the day was when 22nd seeded Donna Vekic got beat 6-3, 3-6, 5-7 by Alison Riske. Even though Vekic was seeded it should be noted that Riske was a higher caliber opponent entering the match ranking 55th in the world. The match was the longest of the day at two hours and 29 minutes.
The other two seeded upsets of the day came in straight sets. Beatriz Haddad Maia ranked just 121 took down Garbine Muguruza seeded 26th 6-4, 6-4 and Lesia Tsurenko, seeded 33rd, was defeated by Barbora Strycova 6-3, 6-2.
Just like day one at Wimbledon the biggest news may have been between two unseeded opponents. Maria Sharapova faced Pauline Parmentier both ranked in the 80’s and the match was a close one. Sharapova won the first set 6-4 and was serving for match point in the second set at 5-3, but lost the match point. She then called a medical timeout to have her left wrist taped. Parmentier would go on to win the second set 7 (4)- 6 (4) and force a third set. The injury seemed to keep nagging Sharapova in the third set. Parmentier was up 5-0 in the third set and the injury seemed to be too much for Sharapova who decided to retire from the match.
The once top player in tennis has not had success recently and suffered a shoulder injury at the Australian Open. 2019 Wimbledon was the first time in 16 years that Sharapova was not seeded at Wimbledon the tournament she won back in 2004. After the match when Sharapova was asked if she could have completed the final point in the match she responded with “probably couldn’t have gotten through that final set” and that she had been in quite a bit of pain since the second set. Sharapova was upset with having to retire from the tournament and said she wants to try and get back to being completely healthy and playing at a high level.
Angelique Kerber the defending Wimbledon Champion won her match today in two sets. Current world number one Ashleigh Barty won her match in commanding fashion 6-4, 6-2. Americans Sloane Stephens and Serena Williams also advanced to the second round today in straight sets.
No seeded opponents will face off tomorrow, but viewers should pay close attention to Coco Gauff’s match against Magdaléna Rybáriková. Both of them caused upsets on day one and we will see who can continue their magical run in the tournament.
Coverage starts tomorrow for day three at 6 am ET on ESPN3.