01 July,2015 08:31 AM IST | | AFP
Eugenie Bouchard was knocked out in the first round at Wimbledon as one of the biggest stars of the Grand Slam 12 months ago became the first big casualty of this year's tournament
Eugenie Bouchard can't hide her disappointment
London: Eugenie Bouchard was knocked out in the first round at Wimbledon as one of the biggest stars of the Grand Slam 12 months ago became the first big casualty of this year's tournament.
Eugenie Bouchard can't hide her disappointment. Pics/AFP
Canadian Bouchard (seeded 12th here) marched through to the 2014 final, where Petra Kvitova denied her the title, but has endured a terrible season on tour and the Wimbledon exit adds to her troubles.
Yesterday, she lost 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to qualifier Duan Ying-Ying of China (World No 117) on Court Three, sealing her own fate by cracking a forehand into the net.
Bouchard, now 21, who showed extraordinary self-belief last season, was expected to push on this year and challenge Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova for Grand Slams, and the top ranking, but has gone backwards instead, tumbling out of the top 10.
China's Ying-Ying Duan celebrates after her win over Canada's Eugenie Bouchard in Round One at Wimbledon
A run of nine defeats in 10 matches before arriving in England told a sorry story.
No 3 Halep stunned
Meanwhile, in another high profile casualty, No 3 Romanian Simona Halep was knocked 7-5, 4-6, 3-6 by Slovakia's Jana Cepelova.