Jessica Bouzas Maneiro stuns Marketa Vondrousova to record unwanted first in 30 years at Wimbledon

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro stuns Marketa Vondrousova to record unwanted first in 30 years at Wimbledon

Wimbledon 2023 winner Marketa Vondrousova has crashed out of the tournament in the first round to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

It means Vondrousova has landed the unwanted record of being the first defending champion to lose at Wimbledon at the first hurdle in 30 years.

3 Maneiro has knocked out the defending champion of Wimbledon in the first round Credit: Getty

As for Maneiro, this is by far the 21-year-old's best moment in her career having beaten the Wimbledon 2023 winner 6-4, 6-2 on a drizzly day at SW19.

Vondrousova stunned the All England Club last year when she became the first unseeded player to win the women's title.

But the Czechian could not replicate her success last summer and her defence ends after the first round.

And in the process, the 25-year-old has made history for the wrong reasons by becoming the first defending women's Wimbledon champion since Steffi Graf to lose in the first round.

Graf became the first to do so in 1994 when Lori McNeil beat her 7-5, 7-6.

Vondrousova might comfort herself with the fact that the German tennis legend went on to bounce back from this defeat to win seven Grand Slams, including two Wimbledon crowns in 1995 and 1996.

Maneiro, meanwhile, could not quite believe her victory, which and she's likely to next feature on Thursday.

The Spaniard said: "Now I’m really happy. This is one of the most important moments of my life, in my career here on this court, this is amazing.

3 Vondrousova has made history at Wimbledon for two years straight - for right and wrong reasons Credit: Getty

3 Maneiro claimed a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Vondrousova Credit: Getty

"The atmosphere here, the tournament is the most beautiful tournament I ever played in my life so thank you so much to everyone who came here today to watch.

"I’m surprised with myself, honestly.

"At the beginning, I was a little bit nervous but then since the first game the atmosphere was so nice and I was comfortable here, like I was at home – I don’t know why because it was my first time (on Centre Court).

"I was just thinking about enjoying the moment and try to play Marketa.

"She’s one of the best players in the world. She won last year here.

"I had no pressure, enjoy the moment, enjoy the tournament and just trying to be free-playing and I did it."

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