Elena Rybakina, the Kazakhstani tennis star, suffered a shock exit at Wimbledon 2026 after losing to Belgium's Elise Mertens in the third round. The match ended 7-6 (4), 6-1 in favor of Mertens.
What happened?
The defeat marked a significant upset in the women's singles draw, with Rybakina becoming the highest-seeded player eliminated from the tournament. This loss ensures that world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will retain the top ranking after the tournament.
Why it matters for Elena Rybakina
Rybakina's early exit from Wimbledon 2026 is a disappointment for the former champion, who had high hopes of performing well in the tournament. Her loss to Mertens will be a setback for her rankings and her bid to regain the top spot.
What comes next?
Elena Rybakina will now focus on her next tournament, looking to bounce back from this defeat and regain her form. Meanwhile, Elise Mertens will face Czech player Marie Bouzkova in the fourth round.
The match between Alexandra Eala and Iga Swiatek was another major upset, with Eala winning 7-6 (9), 6-2. This victory made Eala the first player from the Philippines to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles tournament.
Eala's remarkable performance came despite growing up without dedicated grass courts. She recalled practicing on a surface that doubled as a basketball court, making her Wimbledon success even more inspiring.
Iga Swiatek acknowledged Eala's composure in crucial moments after suffering an early exit. The defending champion admitted Eala played with greater courage during key points, especially in the opening-set tie-break.
Madison Keys staged an impressive comeback to defeat sixth seed Amanda Anisimova 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in an all-American contest. Keys progressed to the fourth round and will next face Linda Noskova.
In the men's draw, Taylor Fritz became the lone American to reach the fourth round after defeating Lorenzo Sonego in four sets. He will next face Alexander Bublik.
Alexander Zverev also progressed comfortably with a straight-set victory over Marcos Giron and will meet Jiri Lehecka in the next round. Grigor Dimitrov survived a five-set thriller against Matteo Berrettini, while Flavio Cobolli recovered from losing the opening set to defeat Karen Khachanov in another marathon match.
On 2026, Elena Rybakina's shock exit from Wimbledon will be remembered as one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. Her fans will be eagerly waiting for her next move, hoping she will bounce back stronger than ever.
The women's singles draw has been reshaped after the dramatic day, with new contenders emerging and old favorites falling. The tournament is heating up, and fans can expect more exciting matches in the coming days.
Elena Rybakina's loss to Elise Mertens will be a tough pill to swallow, but she will look to learn from her mistakes and come back stronger. Her fans will be rooting for her, hoping she will regain her form and make a strong comeback in her next tournament.