Chwalinska slips on match point, loses Wimbledon first round after injury
French Open runner-up Maja Chwalinska was leading heavily before a slip and ankle injury led to a dramatic defeat at Wimbledon.
Maja Chwalinska, who reached the French Open final as a qualifier last month, saw her Wimbledon campaign end in painful fashion on Monday. The Polish player slipped while chasing a forehand on match point and ultimately lost her first-round match against Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Chwalinska dominated the opening set and led 6-2, 5-2, holding a match point on Sawangkaew's serve. But as she ran to retrieve a forehand, she slipped on the grass and fell awkwardly, immediately clutching her right ankle. After a medical timeout and heavy strapping, she returned but lost the next five games as Sawangkaew forced a decider.
What happened
- Chwalinska was up 6-2, 5-2 and had match point before the slip.
- She fell awkwardly, hurting her right ankle and later appeared to have a lower back issue.
- After a medical timeout with an ice towel and ankle strapping, she lost five straight games.
- Sawangkaew won the second set 7-5 and dominated the third set 6-2.
- The pair shared a warm hug at the net, and Polish fans cheered Chwalinska as she left the court.
Chwalinska, 24, said she chose not to retire: "It's Wimbledon. I don't want to retire in Wimbledon. I think I would have many regrets if I would retire, so I just wanted to continue." Her movement worsened in the final set, and an official had to carry her kit bag to protect her back.
Elsewhere at Wimbledon, fourth seed Jessica Pegula broke her first-round jinx by beating Czech qualifier Darja Vidmanova 7-5, 6-3. Pegula, who lost in the first round last year, will next face Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo.