By Lauren Lynch
Photo Credit: GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images, BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images
(June 27, 2011)Pop goes the weasel at Wimbledon! Seeds are falling like the rain- Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams take the tumble shortly after Serena Williams was knocked out.
Five-time champion Venus Williams fell to Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 6-2, 6-3, for the second time in a row at Wimbledon but this time it was in the seed-deadly round of 16. In fact she lost with the same score of last year's quarterfinal and this gives Pironkova a 3-1 lead in their head-to-head record.
The 32nd seed upset the 23rd seed beginning in the first set, when Pironkova broke Williams at 4-2 and then finished it of with another break.
The American's serve seemed to be in jeopardy as she gave the Bulgarian a break by double faulting in the final set at 3-1.
Venus did come back for a short while with some aggression, two breaks of serve, and a 121 miles per hour serve, but her efforts could not out last Pironkova's edge and experience in taking out the former champion.
Pironkova had less unforced errors but half the winners at 10 to 20. Her strengths were her first serve, winning 77 percent, and her return game.
This will be the first time in five years that there will not be a Williams winning the title at the All England Club.
Meanwhile, the World No. 1 will not take the grass courts major as her first slam win.
Wozniacki was upset by 24th seed Dominika Cibulkova, despite a strong first set, 1-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5 in almost three hours on court two.
The Dane broke twice in the first set, winning 80 percent of her net approaches. She hadn't lost a set yet in the tournament, but then the next two rounds came with several breaks.
Taking a look at the statistics of the match, below. It is interesting to see how Wozniacki's looks more favorable despite her loss.
|
Wozniacki (DEN) |
Cibulkova (SVK) |
|
|
|
|
|
1st Serve % |
77 of 111 = 69 % |
68 of 110 = 62 % |
|
Aces |
10 |
1 |
|
Double Faults |
5 |
10 |
|
Unforced Errors |
16 |
31 |
|
Winning % on 1st Serve |
51 of 77 = 66 % |
50 of 68 = 74 % |
|
Winning % on 2nd Serve |
18 of 34 = 53 % |
15 of 42 = 36 % |
|
Winners |
33 |
44 |
|
Receiving Points Won |
45 of 110 = 41 % |
42 of 111 = 38 % |
|
Break Point Conversions |
4 of 10 = 40 % |
3 of 10 = 30 % |
|
Net Approaches |
14 of 20 = 70 % |
10 of 13 = 77 % |
|
Fastest Serve Speed |
111 MPH |
105 MPH |
|
Average 1st Serve Speed |
103 MPH |
98 MPH |
|
Average 2nd Serve Speed |
85 MPH |
81 MPH |
|
Cibulkova's strengths were in her net game, winning 10 of 13 approaches to the net and 74 percent of her first serve.
Cibulkova defeated Julia Goerges, Wozniacki's nemisis in 2011, before taking out the top seed.
Keep checking Tennis Now for breaking news, match results and analysis as play continues at Wimbledon.