Wimebledon 2026: Sabalenka, Osaka storm through openers in straight sets

Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka reeled off straight-set wins as they eased into the second round at Wimbledon.

Men's top seed Jannik Sinner laboured in a five-set win on Monday (June 29), but there were no such concerns for the WTA equivalent.

Sabalenka prevailed 6-2 6-3 over Teodora Kostovic, sealing her victory with a crisp forehand winner with the first match point on offer.

The world number one forced 11 break points, taking five of those opportunities, though Kostovic got her moment when she got the better of Sabalenka's serve midway through the second set.

Joining Sabalenka in marching into the next round is four-time grand slam champion Osaka.

The Japanese star beat world number 80 Jacquemot Elsa 6-1 7-5 in 80 minutes.

McCartney Kessler, meanwhile, became the first unseeded player to win a main draw match in Wimbledon with a 6-0 6-0 scoreline since Mary Pierce in 2003, as the American dispatched Oliynykova Oleksandra.

Super Sabalenka starts strong

Playing in her first match since her Berlin Open semi-final defeat to Jessica Pegula, where she became the first world number one to be bageled in a deciding set at multiple and consecutive WTA-level events, Sabalenka looked back to her best here.

Sabalenka's victory saw her claim her 30th straight-set win at WTA level in 2026, more than any other player, while she also extended her unbeaten run against qualifiers at grand slam events to 12-0, all of which have come without dropping a single set.

Kessler is Sabalenka's opponent in the second round, in what will be their second-ever meeting, after a straight-sets triumph for the Belarusian at Indian Wells in 2025.

Osaka also looked comfortable in her victory over Elsa. She has never reached the fourth round at the All England Club, with her best result coming in 2017, 2018 and last year, when she was eliminated in the third round.

Wimbledon is also the only major event Osaka has failed to claim more than 10 wins, with this her eighth. This was also her 75th victory in a women's singles grand slam main draw in the Open Era, with only Ai Sugiyama (84) managing more among female Japanese players.