Muguruza Beaten at Wimbledon, Williams Advances
Published on July 1 2016 6:18 am
Last Updated on July 1 2016 7:11 am
By ESPN
Venus Williams doesn't mind playing on the smaller stage, as long a level field for both men and women is maintained.
The five-time Wimbledon champion contested her second-round match Thursday on Court 18, a modest venue that holds around 800 people.
Williams, the No. 8 seed, defeated Maria Sakkari 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, and afterward was asked whether she felt animosity toward the All England Club schedule-makers for designating her match for the smaller court.
"I'm not so much into disrespect," Williams said. "I'm willing to play anywhere, anytime. Of course, I was happy to be on the schedule. I think if all players have to play outside, all players should have to play outside. There shouldn't be exceptions or any inequality to it.
"For me, no problems playing anywhere. Anyone should play anywhere."
Persistent pockets of rain have created serious congestion issues. On Tuesday and Wednesday, only 53 of 127 matches were completed, and all 16 second-round women's matches on the schedule were canceled.
Garbine Muguruza's first major tournament as a reigning Grand Slam champion didn't last long.
Less than a month after winning the French Open, the second-seeded Spaniard was beaten in the second round of Wimbledon on Thursday by a Slovakian qualifier ranked No. 124.
In the biggest upset of the tournament so far, Jana Cepelova beat a listless Muguruza 6-3, 6-2 on Court 1 in less than an hour to reach the third round at the All England Club.
Muguruza was not as sharp Thursday as she was in this tournament last year, when she lost to Serena Williams in the final, or as she was in beating Williams in the final at Roland Garros this month for her first major championship.
"My energy was missing a little today,'' Muguruza said. "From yesterday I felt a little bit tired. During the match and after the match, I'm like, 'Tough day today, empty today.'''
She sprayed ugly shots all over the court Thursday and finished with 22 unforced errors compared to just nine winners. Cepelova had a first-serve percentage of just more than 40 percent but still outplayed Muguruza with 14 winners and 12 errors.
