Wimbledon 2013: Talking points from Day 3

Black Wednesday

Wednesday saw a giant-killing spree at Wimbledon with the likes of Federer, Tsonga, Sharapova, Azarenka knocked out early

In my 13 years of watching tennis, I have never seen a crazier day in my life. In the singles alone, seven players withdrew with injuries, two extra women lost because injuries sustained in the match and a further six ‘healthy’ seeds across the draws were knocked out. Names like Federer, Tsonga, Cilic, Isner and Benneteau in the men’s and Sharapova, Azarenka, Jankovic, Ivanovic, Wozniacki, Cirstea and Safarova in the women’s are now trying to book much earlier flights home than anticipated.

It was the most injury hit second round day in the Championship’s long history and it was simply a surreal experience checking Twitter as one after the other, reports came through of more and more players withdrawing or being knocked out. It wasn’t just the luckless nine but names like Federer, Jankovic and Ivanovic were simply bettered on the day by players who capitalised on a bad day at the office for the giants, making their first impression on a hopefully glittering career or just playing out of their skin. All of these highly unlikely scenarios came together to create an surreal atmosphere more reminiscent of the Twilight Zone than the third day of the most prestigious Grand Slam in the world.