Canadian star Bianca Andreescu is the latest big name to go crashing out in the first round at Wimbledon after being stunned by Alize Cornet.
Andreescu, the No.5 seed in the ladies' singles draw, was no match for the French world No.58, who ran out a convincing 6-2 6-1 winner, her second win over the Canadian in two weeks after beating her in Berlin a fortnight ago.
Cornet broke the former U.S. Open champion five times and sealed the victory by chasing down a shot and hitting a lob that landed just inside the baseline on match point.
Andreescu could not get her game going at all in what was a second consecutive first-round exit at a Grand Slam after being bundled out of Roland-Garros at the first time of asking as well.
Like several players so far this week, Andreescu also struggled to find her feet at times, slipping on the baseline and taking a tumble at one stage.
As controversy rages on around the playing surface at Wimbledon, the All England Club blamed the wettest two opening days of Wimbledon "in almost a decade" for the players' tumbles, saying it indirectly led to "additional moisture" on the grass at Centre Court while the retractable roof has been closed for long periods.
The statement from the club comes after players in consecutive matches in the tournament's main stadium on Tuesday — Serena Williams and Adrian Mannarino — both slipped, hurt themselves and had to stop playing.
Mannarino's opponent, Roger Federer, said "it feels a tad more slippery, maybe, under the roof."
Wimbledon was canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic. The courts were removed and new grass installed, as happens after each tournament.
The club's statement said: "The preparation of the grass courts has been to exactly the same meticulous standard as in previous years."
The Centre Court has been roof closed "for long periods" due to showers on Days 1 and 2 this week, "at a time when the grass plant is at its most lush and green, which does result in additional moisture on what is a natural surface," the statement said, adding: "With each match that is played, the courts will continue to firm up."
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