Nightmare start for Argentine tennis at Wimbledon, ten players eliminated

It was a nightmare start for Argentine tennis at Wimbledon, with ten of the 11 players who featured in the first round at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) eliminated on the first two days of competition at the seasons third Grand Slam. The lone bright spot came from Solana Sierra, who on Monday began her bid to match or improve on last years run to the fourth round with a hard-fought victory. The Mar del Plata native, currently No. 56 in the Womens Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, defeated Hungarys Anna Bondr (76) 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 after a hard-fought contest. “It’s a difficult surface,” Sierra said after the match, noting that Argentinas scarcity of grass courts means players only begin to “get a feeling” for their game once the grass season starts. Even so, she is delighted to be back in London. “Wimbledon is the best Grand Slam, in my opinion,” she said. “It’s very special and unlike any other because of its history.” Sierra will face seventh seed Coco Gauff of the United States in the second round on Wednesday. Nightmare Tuesday While Monday at least saw Sierras win, the second day of action at the AELTC proved an ordeal for Argentine players. The biggest upset was the defeat of top-ranked Argentine Francisco Cerndolo. The world No. 21 reached Wimbledon fresh off the first grass title in his career at the Queen’s ATP tournament, but was unable to replicate his form.  He fell 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 to Spains Jaume Munar on Tuesday, and is yet to reach the second round at Wimbledon since he did it for the first time in 2023. Toms Etcheverry, another of the Argentine players on a good season, found no answers to Italys Lorenzo Sonego (69), falling 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6. For his part, Romn Burruchaga (65) fell to World No.6 Alex de Minaur from Australia by 7-6, 6-1, 6-0. The last Argentine to take to court, Mariano Navone (38), fell 1-6, 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 to Italys Flavio Cobolli (10) on Wednesday, after the match was suspended on Tuesday afternoon due to lack of natural light. In the womens draw, Roland Garros 2020 semifinalist Nadia Podoroska fell 6-1, 6-2 to Ukraines Marta Kostiuk (13). Podoroska, currently the World No. 594, had managed to enter the main draw using a protected ranking, a provision that allows players returning from long injuries or other setbacks to enter tournament main draws using their previous, pre-absence ranking. Harsh Monday Monday wasnt much better for Argentines in the mens draw.  Juan Manuel Cerndolo (42), who arrived in London fresh from his landmark victory over then-world No. 1 Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros.  The younger Cerndolo brother fell in straight sets to Spains Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (23), 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(4), in two hours and 16 minutes. Former Argentine No. 1 Sebastin Bez (57) came closer to progressing. After dropping the opening two sets to Germanys Jan-Lennard Struff (74), he mounted an impressive comeback to force a decider before eventually falling 6-1, 7-6(5), 4-6, 2-6, 7-5 after three hours. Camilo Ugo Carabelli (59) looked on course for victory after taking the opening two sets against Spains Daniel Mrida (84), but slipped during the third set and was forced to retire early in the fourth with a physical problem. Mrida advanced with a 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 3-0 (ret.) victory. Thiago Tirante (55) fell to Hungarys Fbin Marozsn (53) by 7-5, 6-3, 6-4, while veteran Marco Trungelliti (94) was also unable to advance, losing to American Martin Damm (106) 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 7-6(2), 7-6(3) after nearly four hours on court. Cover image: Wimbledon