Aryna Sabalenka joked that she loves it given that she would rank first if the chaos at Wimbledon stopped.
She was also one of five top seeded women still in the bracket after last year’s runner-up, fourth-placed Jasmine Paolini, with the second Coco Gough, number 3 Jessica Pegra and number 5 Qinwen Zheng out.
Sabalenka claimed a 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over Marie Bzkova after dropping three opening sets for his second match on Wednesday and scoring two points.
In all, by the end of 25 years, there were 23 women, women and 10 men, 10 record seed players left, making them the most equal in the last 25 years of Grand Slam events. Five more women joined in on Wednesday as they lost: Paolini, No. 12 Diana Schneider, No. 21 Beatrice Haddadmare, No. 22 Donabekic, No. 29Leylah Fernandez.
“Of course you know the big picture,” Sabalenka said, and hopefully there’s no more confusion in this tournament if you know what I mean. ”
During the open era, there was only one major. Among them was the top five seeded woman who reached the third round of the 2018 Wimbledon.
Sabalenka is a three-time Grand Slam champion, and all of these titles will appear on the hard court at the Australian Open or the US Open. She was also runner-up at the Gouf at the Clay Court French Open last month, but she wasn’t past the All-England Club Grass semi-finals.
A year ago, Sabalenka was forced to escape Wimbledon due to an injured shoulder.
On Wednesday, the record-breaking heat of the first two days caused rain. This led to a drop in temperatures that dropped from over 90 degrees Fahrenheit to below 68 F.
On the centre court, Boozkova, who was 48th, advanced 6-5 in the first set with the match’s first service break thanks to a double fall by Sabalenka. Bouzkova joined the set and was two points apart in that game, 30-15.
However, on a last such occasion, Sabalenka screamed along with the winner of the forehand volley, followed by the winner of the downline backhand with another scream.
It was a tough moment,” Sabalenka said. I’m so happy… everything clicked together and I was able to break her. I felt a little better. ”
It sent them to the tiebreaker, from which everything from everything, Sabalenka scored the next three points and finished the set with a strong forehand return winner from a 67 mph section serve. In the second set, the only break arrived at Sabalenka’s 3-2 lead. That was basically that.
Sabalenka put together a 41-17 edge on the winner, with only 18 forced errors in a match that lasted more than an hour and a half.
Sabalenka rolled out 32 consecutive victories during the first week of the majors, dating back to 2022 US Open before 16 rounds. She won 64 out of the 67 sets she played in those games.
She also made more than three rounds in each of the 18 previous majors she played. The only woman with longer active streaks is Iga Swiatek, who has done so in every major since its inception in 2020.
In other women’s singles results on Wednesday, Naomi Osaka made her first Wimbledon third round since 2018, beating Katerina Sr. Kova 6-3, 6-2.
A four-time major champion, Osaka has never been to the second week of her non-hard court major in her career. Her victory on Wednesday coincided with her daughter, Shy’s second birthday.
“I definitely thought about Shy’s birthday today while we were playing the game. I was really trying to concentrate,” Osaka said. “I woke up this morning and lay in bed with her. I traveled with her so I was really grateful to be living the life I live. She’s so young, but she’s already been to so many different places. It’s a truly blessing for me.”
Also, Wednesday, the 12th seeded American Anisimobae Liminatazarazua 6-4, 6-3
Anisimova did not play at Wimbledon in 2023 and lost in the third round of qualifying in 2024.
Solanasierra, who entered the main draw after Greetminen retreated before the tournament, defeated British Katie Boulter in three sets, becoming the fourth female lucky loser to reach the third round at Wimbledon after the opening era began.
Sierra is the first Argentine woman to win the third round since Gisela Dulko in 2009. 101st, Sierra’s third enemy, Cristina Bucsa, ranked 102nd.
Earlier that day, British Sonay Kartal defeated Bulgarian Victoria Tomova 6-2, 6-2 to reach the third round.
“Today was a good day in the office,” Kartal said.
ESPN research, Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
