Overview

• World No. 109 Ella Seidel retired her first-round match against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro after twisting her ankle stepping into an uncovered back-ditch gap on Court 1, handing Maneiro a place in the second round.
• The injury cost Seidel the opportunity to compete in the second round and forfeited the £33,000 prize money awarded for reaching that stage.
• Fans and social media commentators have urged Seidel to pursue legal action against the All England Club over court maintenance failures, though no lawsuit has been formally filed.
• Tournament organizers are responsible for covering drainage ditches with back screens, a standard safety measure that failed to extend fully to the ground in Seidel’s match.
• The incident revived memories of Serena Williams’ 2016 on-court threat to sue Wimbledon over slippery conditions, a claim she later withdrew.