Wimbledon defending champion Marketa Vondrousova falls in first round

Twelve months after becoming the first unseeded woman to be Wimbledon singles champion Marketa Vondrousova has made history again, but not to her liking.

The Czech has become the first defending women’s champion to be beaten in the opening round this century, and only the second since the Open era began in 1968.

Vondrousova, who was seeded sixth this year, was beaten 6-4 6-2 by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

The 21-year-old Spaniard is 83rd in the world, a career-high ranking.

On the same Centre Court on which she lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish last July she never looked comfortable.

It may be she is still feeling the effects of a fall during last month’s Berlin warm-up tournament, when she injured her hip.

The last champion beaten at the first hurdle was Steffi Graf, who lost to Lori McNeil in 1994.

Earlier Vondrousova’s predecessor as champion, Elena Rybakina, cruised past Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3 6-1.

There was also an easy win for fifth seed Jessica Pegula, who beat fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-2 6-0.