Day 6 at Wimbledon 2026 has redrawn the women's draw. Two former champions eliminated, a doubles withdrawal, and a new star shining bright: the All England Club delivered no shortage of drama.
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The headline result was the defeat of defending champion Iga Swiatek at the hands of Alexandra Eala, 7-6(5), 6-2. The Pole, seeded third, found no answers to the twenty-year-old Filipino's relentless aggression. 23 winners to 11 unforced errors for Eala, against 27 unforced errors for Swiatek: the numbers speak for themselves. It marks the second consecutive year the 2025 champion has stumbled before the fourth round on London's grass.
The other surprise came from Elise Mertens. The thirty-year-old Belgian knocked out 2022 champion Elena Rybakina to reach the fourth round. Mertens, a natural net player, perfectly exploited the fast conditions on Court 1 to neutralise the Kazakh's raw power. Her volley remains one of the most reliable on tour, and she proved it once more.
Coco Gauff, the fifth seed, secured her place in the fourth round where she will meet Belinda Bencic. The American, 2023 US Open finalist still searching for consistency on grass, faces an opponent who has returned to the highest level after motherhood. A clash of styles that promises fine entertainment on Sunday.
Madison Keys also booked her last-sixteen spot by defeating Amanda Anisimova, confirming her upward trajectory on grass this season.
Away from singles, Serena Williams and Venus Williams announced their withdrawal from the women's doubles. Serena, who posted a picture of her knee injury on social media, explained that the pain made it impossible to continue competing. A blow for fans hoping to see the sisters grace London's lawns together one final time.
The women's draw loses two former champions in a single day. Swiatek (2025) and Rybakina (2022) leave a clear path for top seed Aryna Sabalenka, now the logical favourite. The Belarusian faces Naomi Osaka on Sunday in what promises to be the standout fourth-round encounter.
