WIMBLEDON, England — Sloane Stephens is out of Wimbledon after a 6-1 6-3 defeat to Donna Vekic.
The fourth-seeded Stephens produced an error-strewn display on No. 1 Court as she exited in the opening round for a second consecutive year.
Having backed up her 2017 United States Open triumph by reaching the French Open final last month, Stephens was considered a contender for the title at the All England Club. Her run in Paris helped her achieve a career-high ranking of No. 4.
The 55th-ranked Vekic, 22, moves into the second round for the third time in her career, recording her first win over a top-five player.