Daria Saville exits Wimbledon after protests interrupt first round match

An on-court protest at Wimbledon left Daria Saville shocked and unable to recover as the Australian presence was thinned.

A Just Stop Oil demonstrator throws orange confetti on court 18. Picture: Glyn Kirk / AFP

Daria Saville couldn’t believe her bad luck and conceded she struggled to regain her focus after protesters interrupted her opening round at Wimbledon that ended in defeat to local Katie Boulter.

The loss ensured there would be no female Australian presence in the second round at Wimbledon with a trio of Australian men, including Alex de Minaur, yet to complete their own opening round games after bad light ended a day also impacted by rain delays.

Saville was leading 4-2 in a first-set tie-break when an elderly Just Stop Oil protester burst onto court as the players were going to the changeover and threw confetti on the court.

Australia's Daria Saville helps a ball boy to pick up orange confetti thrown on court 18 by a Just Stop Oil demonstrator. Picture: Glyn Kirk / AFP

After helping clean up the mess, with the protester being dragged away by security, Saville lost nine straight points, and the tie-break, then the second set in a 7-6, 6-2 loss.

“It was upsetting. I was like, ‘Oh, my God, why on my court out of all of them?’ and I’m the worst with being able to refocus,” Saville said.

“I‘ve always struggled with concentration, so it’s probably the toughest circumstances I have had to deal with.”

On centre court for the first time, fellow Aussie Jordan Thompson had the crowd on his side but that wasn’t enough to overcome Novak Djokovic, who took out a straight sets victory.

Thompson fired 21 aces past the seven-time champion that was enough to earn high praise from Djokovic.

“Congratulations to him for a great performance,” Djokovic said of the 29-year-old Australian.

“He was a bit unlucky in the second set, he had some chances, but he played a great match.”

Novak Djokovic was too good for Jordan Thompson. Picture: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Despite the exits of Saville and Thompson, the Australian presence at Wimbledon remains alive with de Minaur, Jason Kubler and Chris O’Connell all leading their respective matches when bad light ended play.

Adding to his workload, de Minaur confirmed he would join his girlfriend Boulter in the mixed doubles after the pair received a wildcard.