By Dmitry Baranovsky
Seven of the worlds’ top tennis players have been knocked out in the first round of Wimbledon, with Victoria Azarenko of Belarus among them. Spain’s Rafael Nadal has never been comfortable on grass and is joined by such stars as Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Janković, Anna Ivanova Lleyton Hewitt and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in being knocked out.
Ms. Azarenko beat Portugal’s Maria Joгo Kцhler (6:1, 6:2) despite injuring her right knee. However, the world #2 decided to drop out rather than risk further damage to her knee, conceding the next match to Italian Flavia Pennetta. Not only does Victoria lose her chance to win the tournament, for which she was considered a favourite, but will lose her second seed ranking to Russian Maria Sharapova.
No other Belarusian tennis players are continuing to the second round of Wimbledon this year, since Olga Govortsova lost to Romanian Simona Halep in three sets in the first round.
We could see better luck in the doubles, with Max Mirnyi partnered by Romanian Horia Tecau. The pair have beaten Austrian-German Philipp Oswald and Dominik Meffert in the first round and Max’s experience should stand him in good stead.
