Regular viewers of tennis in recent times have often remarked that it is foolish to try and predict what will happen in the women’s draw at a Grand Slam tournament. Yesterday, one of the favorites to win Wimbledon – Petra Kvitova – lost to World No.95 Madison Brengle. And today it was the turn of many people’s pick for the title, Karolina Pliskova, to depart SW19 as she lost 6-3 5-7 2-6 to World No.87 Magdalena Rybarikova.

The Czech walked onto Centre Court full of hope shortly before 4 pm and she was still feeling good about her chances 43 minutes later when she wrapped up the first set 6-3. Then Rybarikova started to impose her apparent game plan, to get Pliskova moving as much as possible, and consequently, the second set was much closer. However, it still looked like the World No.3 would win it when she was 6-5 and 30-15 up. But that all changed two points later after the Czech missed a volley and a smash to gift her Slovakian opponent break point.

Rybarikova was unable to take it as Pliskova forced her into an error on her backhand. But another unforced error from the Czech gave the Slovakian another chance, and this time she took it by drilling the ball to Pliskova’s forehand side to gain the crucial error and the second set 7-5. Suddenly it looked like a different match as Rybarikova dictated play in the deciding set, hitting 12 winners and taking all three break point chances as she won it 6-2. It is undoubtedly the biggest win of her career, although she did once beat an even higher-ranked player when she defeated then-World No.2 Simona Halep in New Haven in 2014.

Reflecting on the match, Pliskova said, “I think it was very tough with her game. I had to (try and) play all the points well as she didn't give me many free points. (The loss) was more about me this time, but I think on grass she has a really tricky game. That's why I played one bad game overall in the second set. Otherwise, I don't think I did something wrong. She just played a little bit better today. I know I can play better, and even worse. It was just a tough match.”

When coupled with Kvitova’s shock exit, this result leaves viewers and pundits alike scratching their heads as they try to figure who is going to win the Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles title now. World No.1 Angelique Kerber toughed it out today to beat Flipkens 7-5 7-5 so her chances have obviously improved, as have World No.2 Simona Halep’s. But the bookmakers are favoring Johanna Konta, and players like Garbine Muguruza, Elina Svitolina, Dominika Cibulkova, Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki. and Jelena Ostapenko should not be counted out either.

However, Muguruza was in no mood to declare any kind of belief that she can win the title after her comfortable 6-2 6-4 victory over Yanina Wickmayer. She said, “I'm not thinking that far, honestly. To say in second round if I'm thinking to win a tournament, it's too soon, for sure. That's my experience.
Right now I'm going to train hard for the next match and just be doing that until hopefully, I get to the final rounds, and then that comes to your head.”

One player who could be considered a dark horse for the tournament at this stage is 2012 finalist Agnieszka Radwanska. The Pole produced a gutsy display to save two match points and eventually beat American No.8 Christina McHale 5-7 7-6 6-3 in a match lasting almost three hours. Afterward, she said, “The whole match was so tight. It could have gone either way. And from the first point to the last point of the tiebreak, everything was just so tight. After it, I felt a little bit more confident. I played more aggressively in the third set, as well. That was a tiny bit easier.”

Radwanska expressed sympathy for McHale being forced to play a third set after she had almost won the match at the end of the second. She said, “it's not fun mentally to play another set after you almost win the match in two sets. It's really tough to still have that motivation and fight. I guess it was a little bit easier for me that I was almost at home, and that was another chance for me.”

Like Muguruza, the Pole is not looking too far ahead in the tournament. She said, “I'm so happy (to still be here). I'm so glad that I played another great match. I think those two matches (I had) were not an easy draw. Now (I’ve got to the part of) the draw with the seeded players, so of course it’s not going to get any easier. But I think that's the minimum that you want to do. Now we'll see what's going to happen.”