Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina prepares to serve Belgium’s Elise Mertens during their women’s singles third round tennis match on the sixth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 4, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE
Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina suffered a shock third-round exit in a 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 defeat against Elise Mertens on Saturday.
Rybakina was hoping to follow her Australian Open triumph in January by winning Wimbledon for the second time.
But the world number two was unable to emulate her 2022 victory at the All England Club as Belgian 25th seed Mertens produced a major upset on Court One.
Rybakina, 27, also endured a disappointing early departure from the recent French Open, losing to Yuliia Starodubtseva in the second round.
