British wildcard Katie Swan crashes out on third day of star-studded Wimbledon
Campaigners hailed an 'historic day' at Wimbledon today with more women's matches on show courts as men - but one of Britain's challengers crashed out three days into the tournament.
Nineteen-year-old Katie Swan - who is ranked 204th in the world - was beaten 6-0, 6-3 by 29th-seeded Mihaela Buzarnescu of Romania after she was given a wild-card entry to the tennis tournament.
David Beckham's son Romeo, TV presenter Melanie Sykes, Michael and Carole Middleton and celebrity chefs Michel Roux Jr and Marcus Wareing were among the famous faces in the crowd at the All England club in SW19.
Mrs Middleton was seen chatting to Spanish footballer Gerard Pique while Lady Gabriella Windsor and Lord Frederick Windsor were in the royal box.
But the attending celebrities and players were plagued by flying ants, which have infested parts of the club in the hot weather.
Caroline Wozniacki complained about the bugs getting in her mouth, ears and hair to the umpire during her match with Ekaterina Makarova, saying: 'You want to focus on playing tennis and not eating bugs.'
At Wimbledon today, British hope Katie Swan's run was emphatically ended by 29th seed Mihaela Buzarnescu
Nineteen-year-old Swan won a main-draw match for the first time at the All England Club on Monday but found Romanian Buzarnescu just too good
Swan did not manage to win a game until the start of the second set and her hopes of a comeback were ended when Buzarnescu wrapped up a 6-0 6-3 victory
She later tweeted: 'Tough one today but overall a great experience. First main draw slam win, first top 50 win & into the top 200 for the first time. Pumped to get back out there for doubles later with @KatieBoulter1 come show us some support !!'
Players were bothered by flying ants invading the pitches, with Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki complaining about the issue
Wozniacki was seen shaking her head on court as flies got in her mouth, ears and hair, before complaining to the umpire
A number of famous were in the royal box 1. The Duke of Kent 2. Philip Brook 3. Gill Brook 4. Prince Michael of Kent 5. Princess Michael of Kent 6. Lady Gabriella Windsor 7. Lord Frederick Windsor 8. Will Poulter 9. Matt Dawson 10. Carolin Hauskeller 11. Tom Watson 12. Michael Middleton 13. Carole Middleton 14. Gerard Pique 15. Michel Roux Jr
The Australian Open champion complained to the chair umpire about the bugs that invaded No. 1 Court after she lost the first set 6-4 against Ekaterina Makarova of Russia. After shaking her head repeatedly on court to get the flying insects out of her hair, the Dane asked for bug spray to be used.
That seemed to do the trick - at least when it came to improving her own game. Wozniacki won the second set 6-1 to level the match.
Crowds witnessed an historic day at the championship as, for the first time in 25 years, there were more women's matches scheduled on the club's six main courts than men.
Eleven women's matches were played on the six main court, compared to 10 men's games. There were four women's games on the two most famous courts, compared to two men's.
Ms Buzarnescu of Romania was the first player to book a place in the third round of the women's singles tournament.
She was joined in the third round minutes later by 10th-seeded Madison Keys of the United States, who dispatched Luksika Kumkhum of Thailand 6-4, 6-3.
Buzarnescu is making her first appearance at the grass-court Grand Slam, having risen from 213th in the rankings a year ago to No. 28.
Ms Swan later tweeted: 'Tough one today but overall a great experience. First main draw slam win, first top 50 win & into the top 200 for the first time. Pumped to get back out there for doubles later with @KatieBoulter1 come show us some support !'
The Duchess of Cambridge's parents Carole and Michael Middleton attended the tennis tournament in south-west London
Mrs Middleton was seen chatting to Spanish footballer Gerard Pique, who is the boyfriend of singer Shakira
TV presenter Melanie Sykes was also at the tournament wearing an elegant purple and white dress
David and Victoria Beckham's son Romeo was also seen among the tennis fans at the event this afternoon
Lady Gabriella Windsor and Lord Frederick Windsor, the children of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, were in the Royal Box
Made in Chelsea star Oliver Proudlock, who runs his own fashion business, was seen in centre court with a glamorous friend
Despite the famous faces in the royal box during the first games of the day, it was almost empty when Serena Williams played
Complaints over Sue Barker being 'sidelined' Tennis fans have complained that long-time Wimbledon presenter Sue Barker is being side-lined over news she is to share hosting coverage of the tournament with Clare Balding. However BBC bosses have reassured viewers that Barker, 62, will remain the 'lead anchor' and the cut in air-time was merely to help the presenter with the demands of the job. But fans complained Balding a regular host on BBC, Channel 4 and BT Sport fronting football, horse racing and athletics is used to often for sports coverage. One viewer posted: 'Clare Balding in place of Sue Barker ? Really no! Can BBC Sport fix it?' Another added: 'Why is Clare Balding doing Wimbledon commentary? Does she have to do all sport?' A source said it was a 'joint decision to share the load' and followed conversations before the tournament.
Michel Roux Jr and his wife arrived in good spirits before making their way to the members' area.
Fellow Michelin-starred chef - Marcus Wareing - said he was excited for a day of tennis.
He added: 'Last time we watched Federer, and we really, really enjoyed that - to see him play was fantastic and it will be nice to watch him again.'
Wareing said he had been up watching England's clash with Colombia in the World Cup and that it was a 'great feeling' to have won.
Elsehere in the tournament, Venus Williams overcame a scare to book her place in the third round.
The 2017 runner-up came from a set down to beat Alexandra Dulgheru 4-6 6-0 6-1.
She was sloppy in losing the opening set but got her act together, dropping just one game on her way to the three-set success.
Karolina Pliskova won a Wimbledon battle between former world number ones against Victoria Azarenka.
The Czech seventh seed triumphed 6-3 6-3 in the Centre Court opener and kept alive her hopes of a maiden grand slam title.
Azarenka, who is ranked 87th in the world, is only just getting back to tour action after a custody dispute involving her son. She was competitive throughout the second-round clash, but Pliskova won out in the big moments.
Former England rugby player Matt Dawson (centre) was among the stars in the Royal Box in Centre Court
Crowds were treated to tennis from a number of the games best-known players, including Swiss star Roger Federer
Victoria Azarenka lost a battle between former world number ones when she was knocked out by Karolina Pliskova
The area known as 'Murray Mound' or 'Henman Hill' was packed as crowds enjoyed the 25C (77F) temperatures
There was a visible security presence at the tournament, with teams of armed police patrolling the All England Tennis Club