Top seed tumbles at Wimbledon

Ivanovic eliminated in straight sets in third round

Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic reacts during her loss in the third round at Wimbledon. Ivanovic fell to Zheng Jie, 6-1, 6-4, on Friday at Wimbledon, England.

? Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic was knocked out in the third round of Wimbledon on Friday by 133rd-ranked Zheng Jie of China, extending a spate of stunning upsets at the All England Club.

Ivanovic, who took over the No. 1 ranking after winning the French Open earlier this month, slumped to a 6-1, 6-4 loss to the wild-card entry and doubles specialist.

Ivanovic, who saved two match points before overcoming Nathalie Dechy in three sets Wednesday, had no answer for Zheng.

“It’s a surprise for me,” said the 24-year-old Zheng, who won the Wimbledon doubles title in 2006. “Thanks to Wimbledon, (which) gave me a wild card. I just tried my best and had to keep going, going.”

It was the earliest exit by a women’s top-seeded player at Wimbledon since Martina Hingis lost in the first round to Jelena Dokic in 2001.

Also Friday, the last remaining American in the men’s draw, Bobby Reynolds, lost to Spain’s Feliciano Lopez, 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

Ivanovic went out a day after 2004 champion and third-seeded Maria Sharapova was ousted by 154th-ranked Alla Kudryavtseva and two-time men’s runner-up Andy Roddick was bounced by Janko Tipsarevic. A day earlier, Australian Open champion and No. 3-ranked Novak Djokovic fell to Marat Safin.

Ivanovic committed 17 unforced errors, converted one of seven break-point chances and lost serve four times. She could lose the No. 1 ranking depending on how far No. 2 Jelena Jankovic and No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova advance.

The match ended with Zheng’s serve hitting the service line and Ivanovic shanking her forehand return into the Court 1 stands.

Roger Federer continued his march toward a sixth straight Wimbledon title by beating Marc Gicquel in straight sets.

Two-time women’s champion Serena Williams dispatched 2006 winner Amelie Mauresmo, 7-6 (5), 6-1, extending her supremacy over the Frenchwoman to a career record of 10-2.