Being a top seed has proved to be something of a health hazard at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
By the end of Tuesday night, not a single first seed had made it past the third round of the singles, men's doubles or ladies' doubles, with Serena Williams the latest to fall in an increasingly unpredictable Olympic competition, losing 6-4, 6-3 to Ukraine's Elina Svitolina.
In the second round, Serena had dug deep to battle past Frenchwoman and long-time nemesis Alize Cornet, who hadn't lost to the world No.1 in two years.
After eventually ending up on the wrong side of a 7-6(5), 6-2 scoreline, Cornet remarked that she had "given everything", but that Serena had just been too good.
But the Wimbledon champion had actually racked up 36 errors in that match, and then recorded an even higher tally against a contrastingly consistent Svitolina, hitting 37 errors as her pursuit of a record fifth gold medal evaporated in the Brazilian night-time heat.
Seemingly hampered by a shoulder injury, Serena was glad of at least making it to Rio, but her time in Brazil has not been a joyous one, suffering two painful defeats in both the singles and the doubles. Tokyo 2020 suddenly seems a long way away for the 34-year-old, and this wasn't the Olympic farewell that her career has warranted.
Her departure, though, opens up the draw for the rest of the field. Petra Kvitova, Angelique Kerber and Madison Keys all look well poised to capitalise, while Johanna Konta will also feel quietly confident after a recording an extremely impressive, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 win against Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Lets give them something to talk about!!! Vamos por esa medalla!!!! #EquipoPUR #Tenis #JuegosOlimpicos pic.twitter.com/YGbggnMAn7
— Monica Puig (@MonicaAce93) August 9, 2016
But it is Monica Puig who could well provide the story of the Olympic tennis in Rio. The 34th ranked Puerto Rican produced a remarkable performance to dispatch Garbine Muguruza 6-1, 6-1, and is now just three matches away from claiming her country's first ever Olympic gold medal.
In the men's singles, Andy Murray remains a model of consistency, comfortably downing Juan Monaco to reach the third round. Murray has already dealt with the pressure of unexpectedly becoming the top remaining seed in a major competition this summer, and is well placed to become the first man to win consecutive Olympic golds in the men's singles.
Meanwhile, if Rafael Nadal is still suffering from the wrist injury that ruled him out of Wimbledon and the majority of the French Open, he's not showing it. The Spaniard reached a vintage level to cruise past Andreas Seppi, delighting the gathered crowds with a 6-3, 6-3 win. Nadal is unbeaten in Olympic singles matches - he withdrew from London 2012 with injury - and it will take some performance to snap that streak.
Elsewhere, there was heartbreak for the Brazilian pairing of Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares, whose dreams of an Olympic gold on home soil were ended by Romania's Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau.
