THREE-TIME MAJOR winner Stan Wawrinka was knocked out of Wimbledon today, falling in five sets to 6ft 11in Reilly Opelka as defending champion Novak Djokovic waited to push his bid for a fifth title.
Two-time quarter-finalist Wawrinka, 34, was beaten 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 8-6 by his American opponent, the tallest man in the sport and 13 years his junior.
Opelka fired 23 aces and 59 winners and goes on to face either 2016 runner-up Milos Raonic of Canada or Robin Haase of the Netherlands.
Opelka will be appearing in the third round at a Slam for the first time having never won a grass court match in his career prior to coming to Wimbledon.
Wawrinka won warm applause for giving a line judge a warm embrace after accidentally colliding with her as he sprinted to hit a backhand.
“I was a bit too far to return a serve. I think I went against her, so I was sure she had some pain and was not happy, so I gave her a little hug,” said the genial Swiss.
Marathon men.@ReillyOpelka reaches the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time on his #Wimbledon debut after an epic five-set duel against Stan Wawrinka#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/hiByieuxBd
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2019
Also feeling the pain was Russia’s Margarita Gasparyan who was forced to retire when just two points from victory against Ukraine eighth seed Elina Svitolina.
World number 62 Gasparyan was 7-5, 5-4 ahead when she collapsed to the ground on Court Three, suffering with cramping.
Although she bravely tried to continue, the Russian, who has undergone three knee surgeries in her career, was forced to quit.
“I was a little bit shocked, it’s never nice to get this when someone is injured like that,” said Svitolina who goes on to face Greece’s Maria Sakkari for a place in the last 16.
“It’s really unfortunate for her.”
Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova reached the last 32 with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Puerto Rico’s Olympic champion Monica Puig.
Pliskova, one of four players who could end Wimbledon as world number one, will face Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan for a spot in the fourth round.
In a match which opened proceedings on Centre Court, 52nd-ranked Puig was clearly over-awed, winning just nine points in a 20-minute first set.
Former world number one and double Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka swept past Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2, 6-0.
Azarenka, now at 40 in the world, was a semi-finalist at the All England Club in 2011 and 2012.
Next up is a last-32 clash with either fellow ex-world number one Simona Halep or Mihaela Buzarnescu.
It’s the first time that 2018 French Open champion Halep has ever met a fellow Romanian at a Slam.
Djokovic’s path to a fifth title was eased on Monday when potential title rivals Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev were knocked out of his section of the draw.
Later Wednesday, the top seed takes on world number 111 Denis Kudla of the United States where he will attempt to make the last 32 for the 14th time.
The Kiev-born Kudla, who moved to the US with his parents on his first birthday, made the third round in 2015, knocking out Zverev in the first round.
Cori Gauff, just 15 years old, was the sensation of the first round when she stunned five-time champion Venus Williams having already become the youngest player to qualify for Wimbledon.
She faces 30-year-old Magdalena Rybarikova who made the semi-finals in 2017.
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I think this will be one of the most anticipated munster games for quite a while. I’m really looking forward to it. Nothing on the line, everyone expecting a hammering given the preparation. Bring it on.
@Jim Demps: well said Jim. Nothing to loose and everything to gain. Munster Abu!
@Jim Demps: I was actually looking forward to the matches in SA too, especially to see how the fringe players were going to get on
@Jim Demps: so now that JGP and Lowe have improved so much, you’ve turned your attention on Harry Byrne here and also on YouTube comments on OTB. You sad man, disgrace to the great province of Munster.
@Phil Mc Donald: were all very proud of Jim in the great province of Munster.. he’s getting the keys to the tractor after his otb fame.. up the banner, Gwan Munster and Gwan Jim Demps ya ligind
@Jim Demps: 465 international caps and 11lions caps in this squad. All the academy lads are playing AIL since the start of the season and Ian Costello was coaching the Wasps last season, that has to account for something. Wasps are struggling with injuries. My money is on Munster.
One players misfortune is a another opportunity. Sometimes a team that is forced into changes comes out the better for it. Take Campbell and Bulter, they will probably be the starting full back and out half for the Irish u20 team this year. Wren was excellent with the u20’s 2 years ago and would probably have played a bit more for Munster only for injuries.
Can’t wait for this game. Feels like Munster have nothing to lose and will have to come out and play a bit which would be great. I love the premiership but it just doesn’t seem to be at the same level as a few years ago so be great to see what the young lads can do.
This pandemic is literally the best thing to happen to Munster in years! Forced to finally blood talented academy players over the last season or so has given Munster and Ireland some amazing prospects that in the previous 10 seasons or so, would have stagnated until 23 or so and now be pottering around in the RFU Championship. Now this crazy situation will fast track another batch! The good work Malone did in the academy is now coming to fruition. Pity he wasn’t “yes man” enough for Nucifora and van Graan. Still though, the bones of a proper squad appearing for the next 5-6 years.
@SomeGuy: in fairness to Munster, they have been blooding youngsters over the past few seasons, Coombes x 2, Crowley, Healy, Nash, Wycherley, Knox, Casey etc
Just can’t see this going well. Think we will be doing well to keep with them for 60 minutes but once our inexperienced bench comes on I fear the worst. I hope I’m wrong.
Can’t wait. Box kicks, no passing, no awareness of space. SUAF
Does anyone know if the players who are presently isolating in South Africa have to isolate for another 10 days when they get back to Ireland
@Kevin Ryan: Yes they do.
Great to see the AIL being used so much
Anyone know which players were left behind in S.A?