And in women’s doubles, Misako Doi and Eri Hozumi stunned No. 2 seeds Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic 6-0 0-6 6-4 to send the fancied French pair out early.
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Serena Williams, of the United States, yells after winning a point at the net during the second set of her match against Daria Gavrilova, of Australia, at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016.
The world number 46 defeated Lucie Hradecka in the first round, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the second round and Kristina Mladenovic in the third round, but she suffered a disappoint defeat to Carla Suarez Navarro despite winning the first set 6-0. Flipkens soon tied up the score.
Finally, the two players swung it out in a tense third set tiebreak. Peng Shuai was less lucky however, threatening a comeback against Heather Watson but then losing to the Brit 6-4 6-7 6-3.
She fell to the ground in disbelief. Flipkens missed the London 2012 Games due to a blood clot in her thigh.
There was little equivalent drama in the men’s singles.
It was a good day all round for Japan, as Nishikori’s teammates Taro Daniel and Yuichi Sugita were surprise winners later on against Americans Jack Sock, the No. 14 seed, and Brian Baker respectively. But Sloane Stephens received a similar fate by Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-3 in battle of Olympic debutantes. I was pushing her and I was close to breaking her a couple of times, so I am happy mentally.
But Sloane Stephens – another US up-and-comer – lost by the same score to Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, who’s experiencing something of a comeback following injury.
Phelps hits the water in the 200 meter butterfly and is expected to swim the 100 meter fly, 200 meter individual medley, and as many as three relays. But nearly all the favorites were in danger of early round exits at some point today, with medal favorite Aga Radwanska of Poland also losing in the first round.
Fourth seeded Radwanska was also a high-profile casualty, slumping to a 6-4, 7-5 loss against China’s world number 63 Zheng Saisai.
It reportedly took Radwanska 55 hours of travel to make it to Rio, following a repeatedly delayed flight out of Canada.
“It (the first set) was really tight and the (windy) conditions were really tough”, Williams said “We played some wonderful points in the first set. Knowing Venus, she will be out there, no matter how badly she’s feeling”.
Tomorrow’s schedule is chock-full of tennis superstars, including (on the men’s side) World No. 1 Novak Djokovic (SRB), World No. 2 Andy Murray (GBR) and World No. 3 Rafael Nadal (ESP).
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With United States Secretary of State John Kerry and gymnastics gold medal favourite Simone Biles looking on, seven-times grand slam victor Venus won the first set but became frustrated as the match wore on, losing 4-6, 6-3 and 7-6 (5) to the world number 62.
