Wimbledon day 4 dawns after day of casualties

Federer, Sharapova, Tsonga, Azarenka, Hewitt, Cilic, Isner, Darcis, Stepanek, Shvedova...

The list of casualties yesterday at Wimbledon was extraordinary.

Seven players withdrew because of injury, either before or during their games. Some of these were the result of slips on the grass leading to questions about the playing surface that the tournament has moved quickly to dispel.

Aside from the injuries, two major upsets occurred. In a huge shock, seven-time champion and third seed Roger Federer lost to world number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 7-6 (7-5).

In a second surprise, the women's number two seed Maria Sharapova, who fell three times and required treatment, was defeated 6-3 6-4 by Michelle Larcher de Brito from Portugal, the world number 131.

Andy Murray now has an easier run to the final, at least on paper with Nadal, Federer and Tsonga - who were all in the Scot's half of the draw - all out. The British number one and US Open champion beat Yen-Hsun Lu from Taiwan 6-3 6-3 7-5 in a commanding display on No. 1 Court.

Day 4

Today sees the two number one seeds, Novak Djokovic and Serena WIlliams play their second round ties. Djokovic meets the unseeded Bobby Reynolds on Centre Court. Williams will face Caroline Garcia of France on No. 1 Court.

The number four seeds David Ferrer of Spain and Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska also play.

Britain's only other remaining hope, Laura Robson will play Mariana Duque-Marino of Colombia, the last match up on Court No. 2.