No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, top seeds stroll into second round at Wimbledon

Field Level Media|published: Mon 29th June, 16:48 2026

(File photo) Aryna Sabalenka pictured in 2025 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka dominated Teodora Kostovic and led a parade of the top-ranked women's singles players into the second round at Wimbledon on Monday.

Sabalenka strolled on Centre Court for a 6-2 6-3 triumph in her first Grand Slam action since she followed a loss at the French Open by declaring she was ready to "quit tennis."

"I have to say for the first match I felt pretty good. I'll rate myself, let's say 8 out of 10," Sabalenka said after the 65-minute opener Monday.

Sabalenka said she trained with American Jessica Pegula in the lead-up to Wimbledon, even joking about her flat performance in the third set of her loss to Pegula at the Berlin Open.

"She really humiliated me," Sabalenka joked.

Before a rematch can be reality, Pegula, the No. 4 seed, will need more performances like her own Monday win over Czech Darja Vidmanova 7-5, 6-3. Pegula advances to play Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain in the second round.

No. 5 seed and French Open champion Mirra Andreeva of Russia defeated Magda Linette of Poland 7-5, 6-4, and Coco Gauff, the No. 7 seed, defeated Germany's Tamara Korpatsch 6-2, 6-1. Gauff won for the 27th time this year and notched her first victory at Wimbledon since 2024. Gauff required only 54 minutes to wrap up the opening-round win.

Japan's Naomi Osaka appeared to be moving without limitations, erasing concerns about a foot injury that forced her to retire during last week's Bad Homburg Open final.

She advanced by taking down France's Isa Jacquemot 6-1, 7-5. She took the court pre-match in a custom kimono-style gown created by Tokyo-based designer Hana Yagi.

--Field Level Media