Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray lost back-to-back Wimbledon matches in the second round at Center Court, stifling momentum after 10 British players reached the second round for the first time since 1984.
Raducanu’s sequel to her fairytale Wimbledon fourth round last year ended in the hands of a French veteran Caroline Garcia†
Garcia, the former world No. 4 who is now in 55th place, took out the No. 10 6-3, 6-3 in the third top-10 of the day.
Raducanu, who also won the 2021 US Open after qualifying, had tempered expectations for her return to Wimbledon. Her run to the lawn was hampered by a side sprain. She has had several coaching changes over the past year. She’s just 19.
“It’s okay because when I started this I didn’t really have a lot of expectations for myself,” said Raducanu. “Yes, I have had attention. But I’m a Slam champion, so no one can take that away from me. At least the pressure is on those who haven’t.
“I played tennis for seven hours in a month. To compete with these girls even at this level and win a round I think is a pretty good achievement. †
Later Murray played admirably, but American John Isner was overwhelming in a 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-7(3), 6-4 win. Isner fired 36 aces among his 82 winners to 32 unforced errors to defeat Murray for the first time in nine encounters.
In his next match, Isner will likely break the ATP record for most career toppers (since the stat was fully recorded in 1991). He has 13,724 aces. Croatian Ivo Karlovico holds the record with 13,728.
Murray, the 2013 and 2016 Wimbledon champion, had 39 winners and 13 unforced errors, but only two breakpoints, which he lost.
In his last eight majors from 2018, Murray has not made it past the third round. He nearly retired in 2019, his career saved by successful hip surgery.
“It’s extremely difficult with the issues I’ve had with my body over the past few years to make long-term predictions about how I’ll be even in a few weeks, let alone a year,” said Murray, 35, who was unable to serve for 10 days earlier this month after suffering an abdominal injury. “If I’m in a good place physically, yes, I’ll keep playing. But it is not easy to keep my body in optimal condition to compete at the highest level.”
Also Wednesday, No. 2 Women’s Seed Anett Kontaveit of Estonia and No. 3 men’s seed Casper Ruud of Norway lost in not so upset.
German Jule Niemeier eliminated Kontaveit 6-4, 6-0. Kontaveit reached the finals of five tournaments between October and February, but has only won one match since the end of April while dealing with the exhausting effects of COVID. She took two weeks off after the French Open.
Frenchman Ugo Humbert eliminated French Open runner-up Ruud 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4. Ruud recorded three wins in his career on grass and lost in the first round of Wimbledon in his previous two appearances.
Due to the departure of Ruud, a first major semi-finalist is guaranteed among the men. No. 7 seed Hubert HurkaczINo. 16 Pablo Carreno Busta and no. 18 Grigor Dimitrovy were previously kicked out of Ruud’s quarters in the first round. no. 9 Cameron Norrie of Great Britain is the only remaining top-20 in that quarter.
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Wimbledon: Emma Raducanu, Andy Murray ousted from Center Court originally appeared on NBCSports.com