Doha-based Hercog slumps to third-round defeat in Wimbledon

London: Doha-based Polona Hercog boasts an impressively-tattooed right arm with a skull as the centre piece, but even that dramatic image was not enough to save her at Wimbledon on Saturday.

The 26-year-old Slovenian, who moved to Doha two years ago to base herself at the Smash Academy in Qatar, slumped to a 6-4, 6-0 defeat against two-time Grand Slam-winner Svetlana Kuznetsova.

But if her game did not make any impression, her ink work certainly had fans transfixed.

Hercog has tattoos covering her entire right arm and the forearm of the left.

“There’re roses and half a woman’s face, a wing and also a skull,” she said. “I chose the skull because I like the image. Sometimes I think it’s part of me, but some people think it makes me look scary.”

Her rivals may be happy to learn that Hercog, who was as high as 35 in the world in 2011 before a succession of injuries pushed her down to her current 265, is not planning to add to her personal art collection.

“Some of the other girls say they could never do it. Others say they really like them, others ask me if it hurts. Of course, it does. I think one arm is plenty for now,” she added.

Hercog came through qualifying to reach the third round at Wimbledon, having seen her career suffer a series of blows since retiring in the first round of the US Open last year.

She has suffered a stress fracture of the shoulder, a left knee injury and a right wrist injury.

Before Wimbledon, she had played just four events all season — all on clay — starting with a loss in qualifying at Roland Garros.