Saturday’s action at Wimbledon proved fatal for the big names in the women’s draw, with defeats for Elena Rybakina—who once again misses out on the world No. 1 spot—Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova. That section of the bracket is now wide open.
It was not a good day to step onto the grass with the “favorite” tag on Saturday in the women’s tournament. Three top-10 players were on the schedule—nothing but names that matter at Wimbledon: Elena Rybakina, champion here in 2022; Iga Swiatek, the defending champion; and 2025 finalist Amanda Anisimova, in order of elimination. Three disappointments—and three radiant faces on the other side, including the beaming Alexandra Eala, who had just one Grand Slam win before this tournament and now finds herself in the second week for the first time.
Enough to fall backward at match point. And to have her voice crack as she put words, on the spot, to what that 7-6 [9], 6-2 victory meant for her and her country, the Philippines. At that moment, Swiatek had already left Centre Court. A storm inside her head, we thought, given how much the Polish defending champion had shown her frustration as she walked off at the end of a first set she had two chances to close out in the tie-break—only to commit two unforced errors.
The memory of Roland-Garros, where the former world No. 1 had collapsed under pressure, resurfaced. But she dismissed any comparison—and therefore any link—between those two losses. “I don’t think it’s the same kind of defeat as in Paris,” she said. “In Paris, it was clearly linked to the fact that I didn’t handle the pressure well. Today, it was more a question of tennis. I could have played better, but she also played very well and she played better in the key moments.”
Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024), has been chasing her first Wimbledon title. Her run at the All England Club has never been as dominant as on clay, but she reached the final in 2025. After winning Roland-Garros in 2024, she struggled with the pressure of being the world No. 1 and the defending champion in Paris earlier this year, where she lost in the quarterfinals. That defeat, she admitted, was a mental blow. Here at Wimbledon, however, she insisted the loss was purely tennis-related. “I don’t think it’s the same kind of defeat as in Paris. In Paris, it was clearly linked to the fact that I didn’t handle the pressure well. Today, it was more a question of tennis. I could have played better, but she also played very well and she played better in the key moments.”
Swiatek’s conqueror, Alexandra Eala, had never won a Grand Slam match before this tournament. The 19-year-old from the Philippines has burst onto the scene with a fearless brand of tennis. Her victory over Swiatek was the biggest win of her career, and she showed composure beyond her years in the tie-break. For Swiatek, it was a missed opportunity to solidify her position atop the WTA rankings. She remains No. 1 by a narrow margin, but the loss opens the door for others like Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina—though Rybakina herself is now out.
As usual, Elena Rybakina showed no emotion as she shook hands with her conqueror, Belgium’s Elise Mertens (7-6 [4], 6-1). The world No. 2 has been asking herself quite a few questions in recent weeks. After such a commanding start to the season (she brought home a second Grand Slam title from Melbourne) and looking ready to shake up the WTA hierarchy at the top, she is simply struggling to win. As it coincides with the moment she had a chance to eye Aryna Sabalenka’s throne, it’s hard not to connect the dots.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, has always been a threat on grass. Her powerful serve and flat groundstrokes are feared by opponents. But since winning the Australian Open in 2025, she has not reached another final. She lost in the quarterfinals of Indian Wells, the semifinals of Miami, and then early in both Madrid and Rome. At Roland-Garros, she exited in the third round. The pattern raised concerns about her consistency. At Wimbledon, she again fell short, unable to impose her game on Mertens, a crafty player who neutralized Rybakina’s power with precise angles and drop shots.
Rybakina had insisted before the tournament she was not obsessed with chasing the No. 1 ranking. And yesterday, she was more concerned with her inability to develop her game than with this latest missed chance. “Since I started playing worse these past few weeks, honestly, I don’t know what’s going on. I still think I’ve worked well, because I had quite a bit of time to train since I was losing early in tournaments. It’s clear I have to change something, because it’s not working.” The return to hard courts, where she has historically done best, may give her the reset she needs.
Amanda Anisimova didn’t really feel like thinking about the near future. Last year’s surprise in London, she had backed it up soon after with a final at the US Open. But something has been off lately. “I feel like I’m doing everything I can and working hard, and for my level to still be where it is, it’s hard to accept and process,” she lamented after her loss to Madison Keys (6-3, 2-6, 6-3). “It’s almost like I’m playing a $125,000 event and not Wimbledon.”
Anisimova, at just 23, already has a rich career. She burst onto the scene as a teenager, reaching the semifinals of the French Open in 2019. Then she stepped away from tennis for several months in 2023 to focus on her mental health. When she returned, she quickly reestablished herself, culminating in a run to the Wimbledon final in 2025 and a US Open final later that year. But the pressure of expectations has weighed on her. She has been struggling to find her rhythm in 2026, with early exits in multiple tournaments. Against Keys, she showed flashes of brilliance, winning the second set, but couldn’t maintain the level. “I’m doing everything I can and working hard, and for my level to still be where it is, it’s hard to accept and process. It’s almost like I’m playing a $125,000 event and not Wimbledon.” The harsh assessment from the former finalist reflects a loss of confidence that will need a deep reset.
The upsets have dramatically reshaped the draw. In the section that included Rybakina, Swiatek, and Anisimova, six players can now believe in reaching a first Grand Slam final. Among them are Elise Mertens, who has been a consistent top-20 player for years, and Alexandra Eala, who is now the story of the tournament. Also in that quarter is Madison Keys, a former US Open champion and a perennial threat on any surface. Keys has been playing some of her best tennis in 2026, with a title in Eastbourne just before Wimbledon. She has the firepower to go all the way.
Jasmine Paolini, an Italian who has made great strides in the past year, is also lurking. She reached her first major final at Roland-Garros in 2025 and has the variety to trouble players on grass. With the top seeds out, the path to the final is wide open. Another notable name is Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion who is still in the draw. She will face a big fourth-round test against Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1. Sabalenka is the favorite on paper, but with the pattern of upsets, nothing is guaranteed.
The women’s game has seen increasing parity in recent years. While the ‘Big Three’ of Swiatek, Sabalenka, and Rybakina have dominated the majors, a growing group of players have proven they can beat them on any given day. Players like Eala, Mertens, and Keys have the belief and the game to seize opportunities when they arise. This tournament is a testament to the depth of the WTA. Furthermore, the mental aspect of tennis remains a critical factor. Swiatek has spoken openly about her struggles with pressure, while Rybakina’s recent dip in form shows that even the best can lose their edge. The grass season is short and punishing, requiring players to adapt quickly.
For Eala, the win over Swiatek will be a career-defining moment. She has already earned a place in the Philippine tennis history books. The challenge now is to back it up and navigate the rest of the tournament. For Mertens, who has been in the top 10 for years but never reached a major final, this could be her best chance. She plays a smart, all-court game that is well-suited to grass. She will face Madison Keys in the fourth round, a match that could be a classic.
On the other side of the draw, Aryna Sabalenka remains the title favorite after the exits of her biggest rivals. She has been dominant all year, winning the Australian Open and reaching the final of the French Open. Her power game is perfect for grass, but she has been inconsistent at Wimbledon in the past, with a best result of a semifinal in 2023. She will need to be wary of Naomi Osaka, who is back to her best after a difficult period. Osaka’s serve and forehand are dangerous, and she has a strong record on grass, having won the title here in 2021.
The other quarter features players like Ons Jabeur, a three-time Wimbledon finalist, and Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion. Both have the ability to win the title, but they will have to overcome their own demons. Jabeur has lost three finals at Wimbledon and will be desperate to finally lift the trophy. Gauff is still searching for her first grass-court major, but she reached the semifinals here last year.
In the midst of all this, the story of the weekend is the fall of the favorites. It is a reminder that in tennis, no result is guaranteed. The women’s draw at Wimbledon is now wide open, and the next week promises drama and surprises. Who will rise to the occasion? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the tournament has become much more unpredictable.
Source:MSN News