Canadian Denis Shapovalov, the quantity 27 seed at Wimbledon, was knocked out by Argentina’s Mariano Navone within the first spherical.
He was damaged six occasions by his opponent as he suffered his earliest exit on the match since 2019.
“The balls are the worst, the grass tour has was a joke,” he stated after his defeat.
“This is not grass anymore, the courtroom is slower than a clay one. It isn’t even grass.”
Two-time champion Petra Kvitova stated issues had modified over time.
“I am unsure if it is solely grass,” she stated after her closing look on the All England Membership led to a defeat by tenth seed Emma Navarro.
“Perhaps it is the balls, as properly. Total it is getting slower.”
Eight top-10 seeded gamers have exited within the first spherical – the best tally at a single Grand Slam occasion within the Open period.
Amongst these to be knocked out was American third seed Jessica Pegula, who stated the courts at Wimbledon “felt completely different” however added: “That is grass – they’re all form of completely different. It is a residing floor, they are not going to play the identical.”
Poland’s former world primary Iga Swiatek, who beat Russian Polina Kudermetova 7-5 6-1 in her first-round match, feels the Wimbledon courts are taking part in slower however expects issues to alter within the coming days.
“It [Wimbledon] was slower, and form of extra slippery with the motion,” she stated.
“But in addition with the warmth and the whole lot the ball bounced in a different way than the way it will within the coming days, so I am not likely specializing in that.
“With the change of the climate we must alter daily to the completely different circumstances.”
