Wimbledon wrap: Muguruza stunned as seeds drop

It was like the first day of Spring at Wimbledon yesterday. No, not because the bees were buzzing and sun was shining, but rather because there were seeds falling all over the place. No fewer than 15 of the big guns went out on a busy, surprising day at SW19, and this is the wrap.

The women’s draw:
When Garbine Muguruza hoisted the Roland Garros trophy above her head just a few days ago, some predicted that it was just a matter of time before the Spaniard climbed to the top of the world rankings. Well, that ‘matter of time’ just stretched out a tad. The World No.2 and 2015 runner-up wasn’t just sent packing on the Grass, she was crushed 6-3 6-2 by World No.124 Jana Cepelova in less than an hour.

“I think my energy was missing a little bit today,” Muguruza mused post-match. “I feel empty a little bit, and I start to be sick. But I think it was a little bit of a combination.”

It was the start of things to come.

Home hopes were dashed when Jo Konta was walloped 6-3 1-6 6-1 by Genie Bouchard; Belinda Bencic was forced to retire against Julia Boserup; Elena Vesnina swept aside Andrea Petkovic; Stosur lost to Lisicki; Errani to Cornet… and so it went on.

However, amidst the destruction some of the bigger names did manage to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Venus Williams took down Greek phenom Maria Sakkari in three; Aga Radwanska found a way past a spirited Ana Konjuh, winning 9-7 in the third; and Simona Halep lost just two games against Francesca Schiavone, winning 6-1 6-1.

The men’s draw:
What the bottom half of the draw lacks in Federer and Djokovic, it makes up for in Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori. The Brit once again looked in ominous form as he dismantled the occasionally dangerous Yen-Hsun Lu 6-3 6-2 6-1.

“It’s always difficult to know how close you are to being your best. But I was hitting the ball clean. I was happy with how I played,” Murray said, without really saying much.

Kei Nishikori was looking a little less ominous (but still pretty handy) as he took down Julien Benneteau in four sets. Benneteau, who is languishing at World No.547, took the first set of an engrossing encounter, before Nishikori turned the match around to take it 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-2.

But while Murray and Nishikori secured their spots for Saturday, David Ferrer and Dominic Thiem will spend the weekend sightseeing in London. The pair, neither of whom are particularly at home on the grass, were unceremoniously dumped out of The Championships. Ferrer was the first to fall, dismissed 6-1 6-4 6-3 by Nicolas Mahut. Thiem’s match was a closer affair, the No.8 seed losing to Jiri Vesely 7-6(4) 7-6(5) 7-6(3) in just under three hours.

Elsewhere, Grigor Dimitrov took down Gilles Simon in four; Milos Raonic swept aside Andreas Seppi 7-6(5) 6-4 6-2; Marin Cilic won the battle of the big servers, taking down Stakhovsky 6-2 6-7(6) 6-4 6-4; and David Goffin ousted Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-4 6-0 6-3.

Finally, all hail Matt Barton. The Aussie not only won his first ever Grand Slam match, but his first ever five setter, beating Albano Olivetti 6-7(7) 7-6(5) 6-3 6-7(5) 14-12.

Ones to watch:
Ones to watch? There is only one. When Juan Martin Del Potro takes on Stan Wawrinka the rest of Wimbledon should stop. Stan doesn’t like grass, Delpo is on his way back, and if they both turn up there could be fireworks.

If you want to watch something else, there is plenty to choose from. Nick Kyrgios v Dustin Brown could be a shotmaking smorgasbord, while Milos Raonic will be wary of Jack Sock over on No.1 court. On the women’s side, Petra Kvitova faces another tricky tie against Ekaterina Makarova, and Simona Halep won’t be looking forward to facing Kiki Bertens.