Another big seed was sent tumbling out of Wimbledon as former champion Elena Rybakina suffered a straight-set defeat by Clara Tauson in a match that took more than four hours to complete because of rain delays.
Eleventh seed Rybakina, who won the Championships in 2022, was beaten 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 by Denmark’s Tauson, who knocked out former British number one Heather Watson in the opening round.
Rain initially caused this match on the exposed court two to be suspended at 4-4, but once play resumed two hours later it was a tight contest as neither player could be separated, before Tauson saved two set points and then took the opener in the tie-break.
The Dane continued her momentum by breaking Rybakina’s first service game in the second set, before the players went off the court as rain fell once more with Tauson leading 4-2.
But this delay was only around 15 minutes and Tauson returned to the court to seal another break and close out the win.
Tauson, who had never won on grass before this year, will next face either eighth seed Swiatek or Danielle Collins.
“Thanks to the crowd it amazing to play here today even though it was a little rainy,” said Tauson.
“Before this grass season had started I had never won a match on grass, so I am super proud.”
More than half of the seeded players at Wimbledon in the men’s and women’s draw have been knocked out.