By Mayowa Oyebamiji
Defending champion Marketa Vondrousova was knocked out in the first round of Wimbledon onTuesday, the first female holder to fall at the opening hurdle since Steffi Graf 30 years ago.Czech Vondrousova, who became the first unseeded woman to lift the title last year, earned afar less welcome accolade after a 6-4 6-2 defeat by Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Ranked world number 83, Bouzas Maneiro had won only one tour-level match all year headinginto Wimbledon, but secured her first win across all Grand Slams when she slapped a backhanddown the line.
Struggling with a hip injury which derailed her preparation, sixth-seeded Vondrousova nowheads for the exit while Bouzas Maneiro will next face compatriot Cristina Bucsa or RomanianAna Bogdan in the second round.