Taking full advantage of her second chance, lucky loser Solana Sierra of Argentina has played her way into the second week of Wimbledon.
Wimbledon: Scores | Order of play | Draws
On Friday, World No. 101 Solana Sierra edged Spain’s Cristina Bucsa, ranked one spot below her at No. 102, 7-5, 1-6, 6-1 to reach the Wimbledon fourth round.
This is the first time in the Open Era (since 1968) that a lucky loser has made the Wimbledon Round of 16 in women’s singles.
Read more: From lucky loser to Wimbledon standout, get to know Solana Sierra
The rising 21-year-old Sierra became the seventh lucky loser in the Open Era to reach the women’s singles Round of 16 at a Grand Slam — and the third in the past three years, as this number continues to climb.
Between 1980 and 1993, four lucky losers made the Round of 16 at Grand Slam events in women’s singles. The first was Hana Strachonova at 1980 Roland Garros (in a 64-player draw).
After that, Dana Gilbert (1982 Roland Garros — in a 96-player draw), Nicole Muns-Jagerman (1988 Roland Garros) and María José Gaidano (1993 US Open) joined the list. (Gaidano, like Sierra, hails from Argentina.)
After 1993, it was a three-decade gap before it happened again. At last, lucky loser Elina Avanesyan reached the Round of 16 at 2023 Roland Garros.
This year marks the first time it has happened twice. In January, lucky loser Eva Lys reached the Australian Open Round of 16, and now Sierra has done the same at Wimbledon.
Sierra will try to become the first lucky loser to make a Grand Slam quarterfinal in women’s singles. The previous players listed are a combined 0-6 in their Round of 16 matches.
Meanwhile, Sierra is also flying the flag for Argentina. She is the first woman from her country to reach the Wimbledon Round of 16 in over 20 years — since former Top 10 player Paola Suarez in 2004.
Sierra is also the first Argentine woman to reach the Round of 16 at any Grand Slam event since Nadia Podoroska made the 2020 Roland Garros semifinals as a qualifier.