Former champions Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova have both been knocked out of the ongoing Wimbledon Open after respective first round defeats on Tuesday.

Russian star Sharapova threw away a set and 5-2 lead in the second set against compatriot and qualifier Vitalia Diatchenko to lose 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to the world number 132.

It was one-time winner Sharapova’s first opening round exit at SW19.

Eighth seed and two-time champion Kvitova was beaten 6-4 4-6 6-0 by world number 50 Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus in her first round clash.

The Czech star has now failed to reach the quarterfinals in five of the last six Grand Slams she has featured in since returning to action after recovering from the severe cuts she suffered to her playing hand during an attack in 2016.

Reacting to her shock defeat, Kvitova said: “I’m sad. I wanted to win very badly, maybe too much. The nerves were there again. I just tried to kind of fight with myself.”

“I was the biggest opponent I could have. I didn’t really have a clear mind. I was thinking a little bit too much.

“Probably at Wimbledon it’s a little bit more than the other Grand Slams because obviously I know I can play well.

“But it is how it is. I think the worst pressure is in the first rounds, second rounds, and third rounds. After that it’s fine.” She concluded.

Sixth seeded Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia has also been eliminated after a 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 defeat by Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in their first round clash.

World number one Simona Halep is, however, through to the second round alongside last year’s winner Garbine Muguruza.

The Romanian top seed saw off Kurumi Nara of Japan in straight sets 6-2 6-3 in what was an easy win, while Muguruza started the defence of her title on a good note with a 6-2 7-5 success over British wildcard Naomi Broady.