Untimely slip helps ruin Chwalinska's Wimbledon bid

French Open runner-up Maja Chwalinska suffered a cruel exit in the first round at Wimbledon after slipping while on match point.

The 24-year-old from Poland enjoyed a dream run to the Roland Garros final earlier this month, but her Wimbledon appearance turned into a nightmare.

Chwalinska, whose exploits in Paris saw her given a wild card at the Championships and seeded 20, led Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-2 5-2, 30-40 when she lost her footing on the baseline.

She got straight back up but had clearly injured her right ankle and grimaced in pain when she tried to run.

Chwalinska called for a medical time-out and had the ankle strapped, but her movement was seriously hindered.

Sawangkaew duly won the second set without dropping another game, and although Chwalinska managed some resistance in the third she was eventually beaten 2-6 7-5 6-2.

"I’m definitely very disappointed," said Chwalinska. "I was one point from winning a match. But I’ll get through it. I didn’t want to retire in Wimbledon."

World number one Aryna Sabalenka made light work of her opener against Serbian teenager Teodora Kostovic on Centre Court.

Having said she felt like quitting tennis following her shock French Open quarter-final exit early this month, the four-time grand slam champion's quest for a maiden Wimbledon title began with a 6-2 6-3 success over the 19-year-old in just over an hour.

Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka caught the eye before and during a straight-sets victory over France’s Elsa Jacquemot.

The 14th seed entered Court Three in an all-white kimono-style ceremonial dress decorated with embroidered cranes and cherry blossom ahead of a 6-1 7-5 victory.

World number four Jessica Pegula avoided a repeat of first-round exits at last year’s Wimbledon and this year’s French Open by beating Darja Vidmanova 7-5 6-3.

"I definitely wanted to redeem myself a bit," said the American. "(A) little extra nerves or pressure today, as well, just with that in mind but then also motivation at the same time."

Latvian lucky loser Darja Semenistaja was unable to take advantage of Emma Raducanu’s injury withdrawal as she lost 6-3 3-6 6-3 to Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic.

Canadian Bianca Andreescu – the 2019 US Open champion – was beaten 7-6 (3) 7-6 (6) by 37-year-old Chinese player Zhang Shuai.

Two-time major winner Coco Gauff, who has never been beyond the fourth round at the All England Club, eased past Germany's Tamara Korpatsch 6-2 6-1.

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