Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka paid the price for her mistakes, losing in three sets to 19th-seeded Emma Navarro.
The 26-year-old, playing at Wimbledon for the first time in five years, was defeated 6-4 6-1 in the second round.
The defeat means Osaka has still not progressed beyond the third round at Wimbledon after four attempts.
Osaka, who entered as a wildcard last year after the birth of her first child, missed the 2022 tournament due to injury. She took a break from the sport in 2021 due to mental health issues.
On Monday she played a thrilling match against world number 53 Diane Parry of France, but lost her position on Centre Court to American Navarro, who made only five unforced errors, compared to Osaka’s 16.
Four miscues in the seventh game caused a break at love and Osaka were denied a direct breakback chance when Navarro successfully closed out a seemingly winning goal from the Japanese.
The second set opened with Osaka hitting a forehand over the line when she had an open court, and a weak drop volley into the net with her opponent stranded, after which Navarro immediately broke out.
Two further serves from Navarro saw the match end after just 59 minutes, with Russian Diana Shnaider having to settle the score.
“I didn’t have full confidence in myself. I didn’t feel like I was playing that well,” Osaka said.
I think those doubts started to creep into my game a little bit. The second set was obviously not that great.”
Gauff ‘passionate’ but tennis ‘not so serious’
Earlier, Coco Gauff defeated Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni to advance to the third round of Wimbledon.
The second-seeded team entertained the crowd on Court One with some great shots and won 6-2 6-1 in 66 minutes.
Gauff will face British qualifier Sonay Kartal, who later on Wednesday secured the biggest win of her career with a victory over France’s Clara Burel.
A second convincing win this week marks progress for American Gauff at SW19 after a surprise first-round exit last year.
“Overall, I just learned a lot about life. I guess that’s what you do as you get older,” the 20-year-old said.
“I realized that yes, I am passionate about what I do, but it’s not that serious. Sometimes the world can make you feel like there’s so much pressure, so many expectations.
“At the end of the day it’s a game, a sport and I feel privileged to be able to play here.”
The 19-year-old Todoni began Wednesday’s match with a convincing victory – and her first win at a Grand Slam – over fellow qualifier Olga Danilovic of Serbia.
But she had a stronger opponent: US Open winner Gauff, who is among the favorites to last at Wimbledon.
After losing serve early in the match, Todoni was unable to capitalize on any opportunities to break back.
From that point on, it was a tough task for Todoni, who struggled to cope with Gauff’s powerful strokes and won only three points with her opponent’s serve.
American Danielle Collins, seeded 11th, returned to win 6-3 7-6 (7-4) over Denmark’s Clara Tauson after their match was stopped on Tuesday night due to fading light and a slippery surface.
Elina Svitolina, the 21st seed from Ukraine, defeated Poland’s Magda Linette in a hard-fought 7-5 6-7 (9-11) 6-3 victory.
Canada’s Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 US Open winner who has been plagued by injuries since then, defeated 26th-seeded Czech Linda Noskova 6-3 7-6 (7-5).
Andreescu will play against Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, who defeated Greet Minnen 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.
Sloane Stephens, who won the US Open two years before Andreescu, lost 6-1 6-1 to Diana Shnaider.
