Day one of Wimbledon 2023 didn’t go as most would’ve hoped, with multiple big-time players hitting the door on their first turn in the tournament. Kim Birrell As the first player eliminated in a completed match, Birrell had a brief yet memorable game that grabbed headlines around the world. This time she was defeated in straight sets, 6-0 6-4 to Donna Vekic. Vekic, seeded 22nd and a semifinalist here last summer, appeared at home on the grass courts. She crushed Birrell with astonishing speed and aplomb.
The drama didn’t end there, as the day turned into night the drama raged on. Ajla Tomljanovic didn’t make it easy on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. In a tense three-set struggle, she lost the match, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. As an encore, Alcaraz showed off his warrior spirit in surviving a gritty five-set challenge from Italy’s Fabio Fognini. He won the championship match on the score of 7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1. The experienced Italian veteran ranked 138th in the world fought valiantly but was overmatched.
Notable Matches and Emerging Stars
The opening day’s matches showcased a mix of new talent on display, while exposing some established players who appear to be struggling. Naomi Osaka demonstrated her big match experience, dispatching Talia Gibson in a rare altercation. She took the match 6-4, 7-6, an upset that was considered the greatest match of Gibson’s career. This victory was a huge turning point in the sport for Osaka as she looks to regain her standing in the sport.
Australian Alexei Popyrin suffered a stunning first round loss to 461st ranked Brit. This injury blow is an unfortunate beginning to his Wimbledon campaign. This loss was a familiar scenario as Lleyton Hewitt faced the same fate in 2003. At the time, he was ranked 203rd and went on to beat Ivo Karlovic that day. Karlovic’s upset victory moved him up to 14th place in his world rankings. That’s a testament to how quickly things can turn in the world of tennis.
Perhaps the most notable first round result came from Jordan Thompson, who pulled off a stunning comeback win against Vit Kopriva. In fact, he lost his first two sets 3-6, 4-6. Next, he mounted a great comeback, taking the next three sets 6-3, 7-6 and 6-1. “I’m just praying I can get back on the court,” Thompson remarked after his victory, expressing his determination for continued success in the tournament.
High Seeds Fall Early
The day witnessed an early exodus of some of the top seeds from the tournament. Eighth seed Holger Rune was eliminated, falling in a brutal five-set anguish against Nicolas Jarry. The defeat sent shockwaves through the tennis world as Rune was one of the favorites to go deep in the tournament. Daniil Medvedev, another top-10 seed, departed Wimbledon earlier than expected, contributing to a day filled with surprises.
The difficulties encountered by these higher-seeded (and thus, higher-ranked) players speak to the chaotic nature of tennis during Wimbledon. Stefanos Tsitsipas was in the news after his retirement against Valentin Royer, joining the major upsets trend with one of the more shocking developments.
American Chris O’Connell’s third round encounter with Adrian Mannarino lasted only fifteen minutes. He lost in straight sets 6-2, 6-4, 6-3, all under two hours. The abbreviated exits only serve as a backdrop to the intense competition found throughout this year’s tournament. They reveal the incredible pressure players are under to put up great performances.
