Tennis - Co-favorite Sabalenka struggles in the third round

LONDON (AP) – Belarus’ co-favorite Aryna Sabalenka entered the third round of the Wimbledon tennis tournament with a hard-fought success.

The 23-year-old, seeded second, won the first set 4:6, 6:3, 6:3 against British outsider Katie Boulter in London.

Ukraine’s Gelina Svitolina, seeded number three, also had a problem in her opening match, which was a day late. Svitolina also won 6:3, 2:6, 6:3 against Belgium’s Alisson van Uytvanck.

Former US Open winner Bianca Andreescu of Canada lost her first round match against French Alize Cornet with a 2:6, 1:6. Andreescu was at number five in the Grand Slam tournament played on grass. Then, in the second round, former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin, ranked number four, lost 2:6, 4:6 in a US duel against Madison Brengle.

Also no longer are two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic and long-time world number one Serena Williams. The American injured himself in his opening match on Tuesday. Japan’s world number two Naomi Osaka and injured Simona Halep canceled their starts. The Romanian won the last Wimbledon edition so far in 2019.