Two major shocks hit the 133rd edition of the Championships on the opening day which saw two of the possible title contenders ousted in dramatic fashion within minutes of each other. And their losses are a blow to the NextGen challenge as both were expected to provide the strongest challenge to break the stranglehold of the Big Three.
The pressure was a little bit on him, but he won the first set and then I started to play. I had nothing to lose anymore Jiri Vesely
The Greek seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, tipped by many pundits as a potential Wimbledon champion, was sent crashing out at the first hurdle losing 6-4 3-6 6-4 6-7(8) 6-3 to the world number 89 Thomas Fabbiano of Italy who next faces 40-year-old Ivo Karlovic.
Tsitsipas had reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January and the last-16 at Roland Garros as well as the fourth round at Wimbledon last year,.
He was joined the sixth seed Alexander Zverev who was unable to get past a very determined Jiri Vesely the world No,124 who this year had to come through the qualifying competition. The Czech progressed into the second round 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5.
“Overall, I think I played an unbelievable match without many mistakes,” said Vesely. “I was playing really well, serving good and trying to go to the net. The pressure was a little bit on him, but he won the first set and then I started to play. I had nothing to lose anymore.
“After the second set the pressure came back on him. I tried to force it and all of a sudden I was two sets to one up. I think I have done really well today.”
Excellent news .I am very delighted to see Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev out of Wimbledon from the first round.
Shocking!