London [UK], July 1: Iga Swiatek fought back tears after surviving a scare to begin her Wimbledon title defence with a thrilling three-set victory over American world number 79 Taylor Townsend.
The Polish third seed cruised through the opening set on Centre Court in just over half an hour.
But she then lost the next four games en route to dropping the second set, before edging a 21-minute service game at the start of the decider to pave the way for a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 success in just over two hours.
Swiatek was visibly emotional after setting up a second-round meeting with 2021 runner-up Karolina Pliskova, having made 36 unforced errors during a patchy performance.
"I'm happy I could get through a match like that because I got quite tense in the second set and I was able to come back to my game," she said in her on-court interview.
Steffi Graf (1994) and Marketa Vondrousova (2024) remain the only two reigning champions to suffer first-round exits in the women's singles.
Amanda Anisimova's bid to banish memories of the worst Wimbledon final defeat in more than a century started in comfortable fashion.
The American's maiden grand slam final quickly descended into a nightmare last year when she was thrashed 6-0, 6-0 by Swiatek inside an hour.
Having become only the third woman to lose a major final without winning a game, and the first at Wimbledon since 1911, her return started with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over North Macedonian qualifier Lina Gjorcheska on Court Two.
The sixth seed will face compatriot Sofia Kenin in the second round after she defeated Croatian Petra Marcinko 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.
Eastbourne champion Madison Keys will take on British wild card Katie Swan following a 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-3 comeback win over fellow American Kayla Day.
Jasmine Paolini - the 2024 runner-up - overcame a dismal start to prevent a shock against American world number 195 Robin Montgomery, prevailing 0-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Clara Tauson's quest to emulate last year's career-best run was ended by a 6-3, 6-3 loss to two-time grand slam semi-finalist Maria Sakkari. World number two Rybakina won 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 against France's Lois Boisson, while eighth seed Elina Svitolina - a two-time semi-finalist - crashed out, losing 7-5, 6-2 to fellow Ukrainian Daria Snigur.
Source: Qatar Tribune
