There were mixed fortunes for former Wimbledon finalists on the first day of the 2023 qualifying competition. 2010 runner-up Vera Zvonareva triumphed over No.26 seed Laura Pigossi in a 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-2 barnburner, but 2014 finalist Eugenie Bouchard fell 6-4, 7-5 to No.13 seed Greet Minnen.
Zvonareva, 38, is making her latest comeback after a foot injury sidelined her between March 2022 and February 2023. She was winless in five tournaments before hitting the grass season, where she qualified for Berlin last week. Brazil’s Pigossi served for victory twice in the second set, but the indefatigable Zvonareva held firm to eventually win in 2 hours and 46 minutes, the longest match of the first qualifying round.
With Netflix cameras in tow, Mirra Andreeva preparing for first season on grass
Former World No.69 Minnen has cut her ranking from No.225 at the start of January to her current No.121. The Belgian continued her rejuvenated form with a 1-hour, 36-minute defeat of Bouchard that extended her 2023 record to 39-12.
Hsieh, Cepelova at home on grass again
Previous Wimbledon history proved to be a better indicator of success than recent form for a few others, too. Hsieh Su-Wei, who upset Simona Halep en route to the 2019 fourth round, had only played one singles tournament since 2021. But the 37-year-old was at her magical best against Sachia Vickery, coming up with all sorts of delicate touch shots to rout the American 6-1, 6-4 in 56 minutes.
Last week, former No.50 Jana Cepelova also returned to the game for the first time since October 2020. The Slovak, whose Wimbledon wins include upsets of Halep and Garbiñe Muguruza, gave birth to daughter Nela in November 2021. Cepelova had fallen in the first round of the Gaiba 125 a week ago, but hit her stride with a 7-5, 7-6(8) upset of No.6 seed Olga Danilovic, saving four set points in the second-set tiebreak. The result was Cepelova’s first win at any level since September 2020, and her first defeat of a Top 100 player since the 2019 US Open.
Former Wimbledon quarterfinalist CoCo Vandeweghe also advanced 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 over South Korea’s No.20 seed Jang Su-Jeong; while 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin eased to a 6-3, 6-2 win over former No.63 Irina Falconi Hartman.
Shnaider, Naef win on Wimbledon debuts
As well as the Andreeva sisters Erika and Mirra, a number of up-and-coming teenage talents were able to get to grips with grass in their first appearances at Wimbledon…