Semeņistaja Loses in Three Sets in Wimbledon Main Draw Debut
Latvia's second-ranked tennis player Darja Semeņistaja, who entered the Wimbledon main draw as a lucky loser, lost in the first round to Croatia's Antonia Ružić 3-6, 6-3, 3-6. In the second round, Ružić will face Latvia's top player Aļona Ostapenko.
Darja Semeņistaja made her Wimbledon main draw debut with a three-set loss to Croatia's Antonia Ružić, 3-6, 6-3, 3-6. The Latvian second seed entered the main draw as a 'lucky loser' after losing in the final round of qualifying on June 25, but later being included in the draw.
Semeņistaja started strong by breaking Ružić's serve for a 2-1 lead after a double fault, but then lost four consecutive games. Despite a break opportunity in the final game of the first set, she lost it 3-6. In the second set, Semeņistaja fought back – after dropping her serve in the fifth game, she leveled at 3-3 and then broke Ružić to lead 5-3, closing the set on her own serve 6-3.
The third set saw Semeņistaja miss several break points, including two consecutive opportunities. Ružić built a 3-0 and 5-2 lead. Semeņistaja saved two match points in a row but ultimately lost the set 3-6 after Ružić hit an ace and won the final two points.
This was the second career meeting between the two players, now tied at 1-1. Semeņistaja's record against top-100 opponents stands at 5-25. For reaching the first round, she earned £80,000 (approximately €92,750), one of the largest prize checks of her career.
In the second round, Ružić will face Latvia's top-ranked player Aļona Ostapenko, who defeated Britain's Harriet Dart earlier today.
