Caroline Wozniacki attacked by flies in Wimbledon crashout
Caroline Wozniacki has made another early exit from Wimbledon.
The Australian Open champion lost 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 to Ekaterina Makarova of Russia in a second-round match after being bothered by a swarm of flying insects in the second set.
Wozniacki was heard complaining to the umpire about the swarm and went to her bag to apply insect repellant.
“Can you do something? I’m here to play tennis and not eating bugs,” Wozniacki reportedly told the umpire.
Wozniacki asked for the match to be suspended to no avail.
“As we experienced at the Championships last year, the natural seasonal appearance occurs once a year when ants embark on what is often referred to as a ‘nuptial flight,’ which should otherwise be thought of as a mating ritual,” a Wimbledon spokesperson said.
“It happens roughly on the same day across the country, with some regions following a day or two afterwards.”
Wozniacki has never been past the round of 16 at Wimbledon, and this is the fourth time in seven years she has lost in the first or second round.
The second-seeded Dane saved four match points at 5-3 in the final set before breaking back to level the match. But she was broken again in the last game.
Organizers used bug spray after Wozniacki complained to the chair umpire about the insects.
She is the fifth of the top eight women seeds to lose before the third round.
— With AP