LONDON, JUL 1 (IANS/AP): World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka overcame a stern challenge from American McCartney Kessler to reach the third round of Wimbledon 2026, winning 6-1, 7-6(9) in a tense encounter on Wednesday. Sabalenka, who looked dominant in the opening set, had to dig deep in the second after trailing 5-2 and saving four set points before clinching victory in a thrilling tiebreak.
Sabalenka’s aggressive play proved decisive in the crucial moments. She struck 32 winners, including a service winner and a forehand volley to save set points, before finally closing out the contest. Her composure in tiebreaks continues to stand out — she improved her 2026 record to 9-2 and extended her Open Era streak to 21 consecutive Grand Slam tiebreak wins. Reflecting on the battle, Sabalenka praised her opponent: “She really tested me today… she played super aggressively. It felt like whatever decisions she made, they worked for her.”
Kessler, ranked outside the Top 100, impressed with fearless attacking play. Known for her grass-court success after winning Nottingham last year, she charged the net effectively, winning 11 of 15 net points in the second set. Serving for the set at 5-3, she came close to forcing a decider but was denied by Sabalenka’s resilience. Despite the loss, Kessler showcased her potential, nearly earning her first win against a reigning World No. 1.
Meanwhile, former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko delivered one of the day’s most dominant performances, crushing Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic 6-2, 6-0 in just 66 minutes. Ostapenko struck 34 winners against only 10 unforced errors, a sharp contrast to her error-filled first-round match against Harriet Dart, where she committed 13 double faults.
Shelton stunned with 1st-round loss to Finnish qualifier
Ben Shelton wasted a match point in the fifth-set tiebreaker against qualifier Otto Virtanen at Wimbledon in what the fourth-seeded American called “one of the toughest losses of my career.”
Shelton was eliminated 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (8), 6-2, 7-6 (9) on Tuesday, losing in the first round at the grass-court Grand Slam for the first time in his young career.
The 23-year-old Shelton led 8-5 in the deciding 10-point tiebreaker against his 140th-ranked opponent and had match point at 9-8 but made an unforced error and then lost the next two points.
The left-handed American said he “wasn’t getting many free points.”
The 25-year-old Virtanen came through the qualifying tournament and earned the biggest win of his career in eliminating Shelton, who is ranked No. 5.
Joint holds nerve to derail Serena’s comeback
Maya Joint played and won the biggest match of her young career to end the Wimbledon singles comeback of the legend Serena Williams in a Centre Court thriller.
Joint, who had never won at Wimbledon before and had entered The Championships on a run of 11 Tour-level defeats dating back to January, registered 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 win over the seven-time champion. She will next faces Alexandra Eala.
Serena saved a first match point in the second-set tie-break and then led by a break in the decider. She defied time with an accomplished display but could not tame Joint’s spirit. The 20-year-old Aussie stood up to Serena’s power and broke her legendary serve five times before ultimately outlasting her. She also sent down 10 aces.
At 44, Serena was the second-oldest woman to play in the Wimbledon women’s singles in the Open era after 47-year-old Martina Navratilova in 2004.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena had last played a singles match 1,397 days ago at the 2022 US Open against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic. After a shock loss to Joints, she will remain at the All England Club and play the doubles here with her sister Venus.
Naomi Osaka storms into 3rd round
Naomi Osaka advanced to the third round of Wimbledon 2026 with a dominant 6-3, 6-2 victory over Anastasia Gasanova on Court 2. The four-time Grand Slam champion controlled proceedings from start to finish, striking eight aces and winning 76% of points behind her first serve. Gasanova, ranked No. 225, failed to create a single break-point opportunity, managing just 11 return points throughout the match. Osaka converted three of six break points to seal the win, following up her opening-round success against Elsa Jacquemot.
Her performance highlighted growing confidence on grass, especially after reaching the Bad Homburg final last week. Despite withdrawing from that match as a precaution, Osaka has shown no signs of discomfort at Wimbledon.
Away from the court, Osaka’s attire again drew attention. She incorporated a flowing white obi — a traditional sash worn with kimonos — into her all-white outfit. The accessory carries cultural significance in Japan, symbolizing discipline in martial arts and evoking samurai traditions of composure and identity.
Zverev drops set in tough win over Blockx
French Open champion Alexander Zverev battled past Belgian debutant Alexander Blockx in a tense four-set clash on Centre Court. The second seed won 6-4, 6-7(8), 7-6(5), 7-6(0) in a serve-dominated contest featuring 37 aces and only three breaks. Zverev, who ended Germany’s long Slam drought at Roland Garros earlier this month, extended his winning streak at majors to eight.
Though Blockx pushed him hard, Zverev proved clutch in decisive moments, outlasting his opponent in baseline rallies. The German now leads Blockx 3-0 in their head-to-head, having also beaten him in Madrid and Rome this season. Zverev will next face Valentin Royer, who defeated British wild card Harry Wendelken. A deep run could see Zverev rise to No. 2 in the ATP rankings.
Mensik wins another five-setter
Czech rising star Jakub Mensik continued his reputation for marathon matches, defeating Britain’s Toby Samuel 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(10-7) in a four-hour, 21-minute battle on No. 3 Court. The 15th seed sealed victory by winning five of the last six points in the match tie-break.
Mensik has now won four five-set matches in 2026, including epic encounters at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, where he reached his first Grand Slam semifinal. Despite enduring grueling physical battles earlier this year, he showcased resilience once again on grass.