Defending champion Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina exit Wimbledon as Williams sisters withdraw

LONDON – What a day of drama it was in the Wimbledon women’s draw on July 4, when defending champion Iga Swiatek and second seed Elena Rybakina were sent packing in the third round at the All England Club.

Swiatek’s title defence went up in smoke as the Polish third seed was knocked out after losing 7-6 (11-9), 6-2 to rising Filipina Alexandra Eala, while Rybakina’s hopes of a second Grand Slam title in 2026 and taking over as world No. 1 ended as she faded to a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 defeat by Belgian Elise Mertens.

After battling past Taylor Townsend and sealing an assured win over Karolina Pliskova in her last two rounds, Swiatek came up against an inspired Eala in their Centre Court showdown and fell short under the blazing afternoon sun.

Following a shock defeat by Eala in Miami in 2025, Swiatek gained revenge when they met again on the clay of Madrid but the Pole found herself in trouble after losing a high-octane opening set in which both players gave the other no quarter.

Swiatek smiled at the end of the set but was soon shouting at her entourage in the stands, before slamming her racket on a chair, while fan favourite Eala soaked up roaring applause from a thoroughly entertained crowd.

Left-hander Eala, whose powerful baseline shot-making rattled Swiatek early in the clash, ramped up the pressure at the start of the next set and earned a double break to go 3-0 up, before her opponent began to show signs of life again.

Swiatek retrieved a break but dropped serve again, as Eala staved off the late comeback attempt and delivered the knockout blow in the form of a forehand winner to set up an intriguing fourth-round clash with 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini.

There was more drama later in the day, with Serena Williams announcing on social media that she had pulled out of the Wimbledon doubles with her sister Venus after failing to recover from a knee injury.

The Williams sisters were due to play in the first round on July 4, but Serena announced just hours before the match that her knee had not healed enough to play.

“I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles,” the 44-year-old said on Instagram, prematurely ending a highly anticipated return to professional tennis.

There was relief, though, for world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka – who is hoping to win Wimbledon for the first time, as she aced a tricky test against former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko, easing to a 6-4, 6-4 victory on Centre Court.

The four-time Grand Slam champion, who has reached 14 successive Major quarter-finals, has lost in the semi-finals on each of her past three visits to Wimbledon.

She faces a blockbuster last-16 showdown with Japan’s Naomi Osaka in a rematch of their clash at the same stage of this year’s French Open.

The Belarusian, who won their Roland Garros battle in straight sets, said: “Another aggressive player. Another very powerful match. I’m ready to fight and do whatever it takes to get through.”

Osaka ended her long wait to reach the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time with a 6-1, 6-3 win against Australian Daria Kasatkina.

The Japanese, who has caused a stir at Wimbledon with her eye-catching outfits, said: “I’m really happy. In my career I’d never won on this court. I’m just glad to have made a really good memory here.”

American fourth seed Jessica Pegula thrashed Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-1, 6-3. Coco Gauff, a two-time Major winner, survived a scare to beat fellow American Claire Liu in three sets.

In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic’s bid to become the oldest man to lift a Grand Slam trophy in the Open era is gathering steam, as the seven-time Wimbledon winner advanced to the fourth round, while defending champion Jannik Sinner powered past Jenson Brooksby.

On July 3, the Serb beat French 25th-seed Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4) for his 105th match win at the All England Club to equal Roger Federer’s all-time record in men’s singles.

“To be able to make history of this sport is a huge honour and privilege, especially here,” the 39-year-old said.

“It’s always been a dream tournament for me here. I propose a match-up between Roger and me for 106, let’s stop it here and call Roger to come!”

Djokovic is only the fourth man in the Open era to make the last 16 at Wimbledon aged 39 or older after Federer, Pancho Gonzales and Ken Rosewall.

He arrived at Wimbledon targeting a record 25th Grand Slam singles crown, which would break a tie with Margaret Court and draw him level with Federer’s record eight titles at the All England Club.

He meets Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin, who beat Brazilian Joao Fonseca in straight sets, for a place in his 66th Slam quarter-final and 17th at Wimbledon.

Meanwhile, Sinner delivered an imperious display against world No. 81 Brooksby to win 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

The 24-year-old is into the last 16 for the fifth time, equalling Nicola Pietrangeli’s record for most Wimbledon men’s singles fourth-round appearances by an Italian.

In the last 16, he will face Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki – a surprise third-round winner against Spanish rising star Rafael Jodar.

Sinner ended Carlos Alcaraz’s two-year reign as Wimbledon champion with a brilliant final victory over the Spaniard last year.

The four-time Grand Slam champion had been some way from those lofty heights in his opening two matches this week, but he was more convincing against Brooksby.

Daniil Medvedev, seeded eighth, was shocked by world No. 74 Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets. AFP