Ekaterina Makarova scored a massive 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 upset over defending champion Caroline Wozniacki on Wednesday thanks to a plethora of flying insects at Wimbledon.
It was also Makarova's second victory over Wozniacki whom she has beaten in the US Open last year. Makarova has made a living of pulling off massive victories in grand slams beating Angelique Kerber, Serena Williams, Petra Kvitova, Agnieszka Radwanska, and Simona Halep.
Thrilling Contest
After dropping the opening set, the 27-year-old Wozniacki was determined to swing the game all in her favor as she instilled her dominance in the second. The game went on a temporary stoppage after Wozniacki complained to the officials that flying insects had been bugging her throughout the set.
"They're in my mouth and in my hair and everywhere, we need to do something. Is there a spray? I want to be here to focus on tennis, not eating bugs," a frustrated Wozniacki said.
Makarova looked poised to bounce back from her second set debacle as she raced off into a 5-1 lead but the second-seed Wozniacki came roaring back to tie the count at 5-all. However, it proved to be the final say of Wozniacki as the 35th ranked Russian scored the next match point to advance into the next round.
With the triumphant win, Makarova, who was once considered a top-10 player, has set up a date with Lucie Safarova in the Round of 32. Makarova is the defending Wimbledon doubles champion after she grabbed the 2016 title together with partner Elina Vesnina.
It was also the first time in history that five of the top eight seeds have been eliminated in a women's tournament before the third round. Wozniacki joined fourth-seed Sloane Stephens, fifth-seed Elina Svitolina, sixth-seed Caroline Garcia, and the eighth-seed Kvitova who suffered early exits in the competition. Additionally, Wozniacki also came into the tournament as one of the favorites after winning the Australian Open earlier this year.
With the elimination of the five seeded players, only top-seed Halep, third-seed Garbine Muguruza, and seventh-seed Karolina Pliskova remain in the competition out of the magic eight. On the other hand, the 10th seed Keys beat Luksika KumKhum of Thailand 6-4, 6-3 to move into the next round. Keys who finished runner-up in last year's US Open will be battling Russian Evgeniya Rodina in the next phase.
Meanwhile, five-time champion Venus Williams turned back the hands of time as she overcame an opening set meltdown to defeat Alexandra Dulghero 4-6, 6-0, 6-1. The 38-year-old Williams will go up against Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands in her next game.
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