London, July 1: In an exciting match at Wimbledon 2026, world number one Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus defeated American player McCartney Kessler with a score of 6-1, 7-6(9) to advance to the third round. Sabalenka made a remarkable comeback after trailing 5-2 in the second set, saving four set points in the process.
Next, Sabalenka will face former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who dominated Croatia’s Antonia Ružič in just 66 minutes, winning 6-2, 6-0.
The Latvian player, who struggled with 13 double faults in her first-round victory against Harriet Dart, showcased her skills in the next match with 34 winners and only 10 unforced errors.
On the other hand, Sabalenka expressed relief at securing a straight-sets victory. After losing the first set, Kessler displayed fearless and aggressive play, attempting to turn the match in her favor. The American player, who won the Nottingham grass-court title last year, frequently approached the net and won 11 out of 15 net points in the second set. She was aiming for her first win against a top-10 player and against the current world number one.
Serving for the set at 5-3, Kessler had two set points, but Sabalenka responded with her usual aggressive style, keeping herself in the match. An exhilarating tiebreak ensued, where neither player could establish a two-point lead after the third point.
Kessler had two more set points at 7-6 and 8-7, but Sabalenka saved them with a service winner and a brilliant forehand volley, respectively. Although Kessler saved two match points, the Belarusian player ultimately clinched the victory with her 32nd winner of the afternoon.
The third round promises to be an exciting matchup. In their head-to-head record, Sabalenka leads 3-1; however, Ostapenko secured a stunning victory in their last encounter at the 2025 Stuttgart final, winning 6-4, 6-1. This will be their first meeting on grass, where Ostapenko has two titles, while Sabalenka is still searching for her first on this surface.
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