On a relentlessly odd day at Wimbledon, the women's singles again proved they had a disarming, anarchic unpredictability. The first week saw defeats for Li Na and both Venus and Serena Williams; on Tuesday on Centre Court Maria Sharapova, the favourite elect, joined them in making a premature departure. The 27-year-old Russian, seeded No5, lost a gruelling three-set war to Angelique Kerber from Germany 7-6, 4-6, 6-4.
The fact that something very similar happened last year at Wimbledon only fractionally lessens the incredulity at another surprise result. Once more the women's champion may well be a player whom no one suspected – and only serious tennis fans had even heard of – just a week ago.
The Guardian