Marketa Vondrousova Suffers Historic Loss at Wimbledon, Becoming First Defending Champion to Drop in First Round Since Steffi Graf in 1994

Vondrousova, who won her first Grand Slam at the All England Club last year, was defeated by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain in the first round, ending her hopes of a repeat and making her the first player in 30 years to lose in the opening round of Wimbledon after winning the tournament the year before.

Marketa Vondrousova's reign as Wimbledon champion came to an abrupt end on Tuesday, as she became the first defending champion to lose in the first round since Steffi Graf in 1994. The 25-year-old Czech star, who won her maiden Grand Slam title at the All England Club last year, was defeated by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain in a 6-4, 6-2 upset.

Vondrousova, who was seeded sixth, admitted after the match that she entered this year's tournament feeling a sense of pressure. "I feel like everybody just expects you to win maybe, so that's tough too," she said. "But I was happy to be back on the Centre Court. It just didn't go as planned today."

Marketa Vondrousova Suffers Historic Loss at Wimbledon, Becoming First Defending Champion to Drop in First Round Since Steffi Graf in 1994

Bouzas Maneiro, who is competing in just her third-ever Grand Slam tournament, ended Vondrousova's plans of a repeat after winning their first-round matchup in straight sets. It was Bouzas Maneiro's first win at a tour-level grass tournament and also her first win over a top 10 ranked player.

While last year's win put Vondrousova's name in the history books, this year's loss did the same. She is the first player in 30 years to lose in the first round of Wimbledon after winning the tournament the year before. The only other player to do that was Graf, who lost in the first round in 1994 after winning the title in 1993.

Marketa Vondrousova Suffers Historic Loss at Wimbledon, Becoming First Defending Champion to Drop in First Round Since Steffi Graf in 1994

"It's tough to go out defending the title," Vondrousova said after the match, appearing to hold back tears. "I was really nervous from the morning and everything and [Bouzas Maneiro] was also playing good tennis. That's kind of tough, you don't have many chances to win free points."

Vondrousova's defeat marks a surprising end to her Wimbledon title defense. She had reached the semifinals or better in her last three Grand Slam appearances, including a runner-up finish at the Australian Open in January. However, she struggled to find her form at Wimbledon this year, winning just one match in the lead-up to the tournament.

Marketa Vondrousova Suffers Historic Loss at Wimbledon, Becoming First Defending Champion to Drop in First Round Since Steffi Graf in 1994

Bouzas Maneiro, meanwhile, is enjoying a breakout Wimbledon debut. The 22-year-old Spaniard has reached the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career and has shown impressive form on grass. She will face Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia in the second round.

Vondrousova's defeat serves as a reminder that even the most successful players can experience setbacks. However, she has shown resilience in the past and will undoubtedly be determined to bounce back from this disappointment. As for Bouzas Maneiro, her victory over Vondrousova is a major scalp and will give her confidence as she looks to make a deep run at Wimbledon.