Wimbledon WTA Day Four Round-Up | Iga Swiatek delivers statement win to set Eala clash, Rybakina flawless progression as Anisimova survives scare
WTAThursday, 02 July 2026 at 21:50
The second-round action at Wimbledon continued to thin out the women's draw, with most of the leading contenders avoiding major scares and securing their places in the third round. Defending champion Iga Swiatek, former winner Elena Rybakina and Australian Open champion Madison Keys all progressed in straight sets, while Alexandra Eala, Marta Kostyuk and Amanda Anisimova had to work considerably harder to keep their campaigns alive.
Thursday also produced several matches filled with momentum swings. Eala recovered from a set down before storming through the finish to earn a blockbuster meeting with Swiatek, Anisimova survived an all-American thriller against Sofia Kenin, and Jasmine Paolini once again showcased her resilience by overturning a second-set deficit.
Keys overcomes late resistance to reach Anisimova showdown
Madison Keys def. Katie Swan 6-1, 6-4
Madison Keys had few problems booking her place in the third round, defeating world No. 196 Katie Swan in straight sets despite a competitive scoreline. The American was forced to save several break points early on but proved far more clinical than her opponent, taking her own opportunities to pull away on the scoreboard even as many games remained closely contested.
The second set became far more chaotic, turning into a battle of momentum with five consecutive service breaks after the score reached 2-2. Neither player could establish control during that stretch before Keys finally steadied behind her serve, holding at the first opportunity to halt the sequence and close out the victory.
The Australian Open champion once again relied on her experience during the key moments, avoiding any real danger despite the fluctuations in the second set. Keys advances to the third round, where she will face fellow American Amanda Anisimova in one of the standout matches of the next round.
Swiatek dismantles Pliskova to set up Eala blockbuster
Iga Swiatek def. Karolína Plíšková 6-1, 6-3
A meeting between two former world No. 1s and accomplished grass-court players looked capable of producing one of the toughest second-round matches, but Iga Swiatek never allowed Karolína Plíšková to impose herself. The former Wimbledon finalist arrived in good form after a strong grass swing, yet the Czech was consistently neutralised by the Pole's exceptional returning throughout the contest.
Swiatek dominated from the return position, breaking serve six times while allowing Plíšková to hold just two of her eight service games. One of the greatest servers of her generation never found her rhythm, with the defending champion constantly applying pressure from the first ball. Swiatek also landed 77% of her first serves and won 70% of those points, although five double faults were one of the few blemishes in an otherwise commanding performance.
It was another convincing display from the defending champion, who comfortably negotiated one of the more dangerous early-round opponents in the draw. Swiatek now moves into a fascinating third-round clash against 29th seed Alexandra Eala, with their head-to-head currently tied at 1-1.
Eala earns revenge to set up dream meeting with Swiatek
Alexandra Eala def. Maya Joint 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
Alexandra Eala gained revenge on Maya Joint to continue her breakthrough Wimbledon campaign, overturning an early deficit against the Australian, who had entered the match full of confidence after her opening-round victory over Serena Williams. The result also avenged last year's Eastbourne final, where Eala had held championship points before Joint completed the comeback.
Joint capitalised on an early break to take the opening set, but from that point onward the Filipina completely took control of proceedings. Eala dominated the baseline exchanges, dramatically cutting down her errors while repeatedly exposing Joint's second serve, eventually winning 12 of the final 13 games of the match.
The 20-year-old finished with five breaks of serve compared to just two for Joint, completing one of the most impressive comebacks of the second round. Eala now faces the biggest test of her career as she prepares to meet defending champion Iga Swiatek in the third round.
Kostyuk rallies after first-set setback
Marta Kostyuk def. Anna Blinkova 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3
Marta Kostyuk survived a demanding contest against Anna Blinkova, recovering after narrowly losing the opening-set tiebreak despite displaying remarkable resilience late in the set. The Ukrainian saved multiple set points while serving before eventually falling just short in the breaker after more than an hour of tightly contested tennis.
From the second set onward, however, Kostyuk took far greater control of the match. She maintained her concentration through several difficult service games, repeatedly saving break points before steadily increasing the pressure on return as Blinkova's level began to fade.
The deciding set belonged almost entirely to the Ukrainian. Kostyuk won three consecutive breaks of serve to open up a commanding lead before finally converting her sixth match point to seal victory. She now advances to face 23rd seed Emma Navarro in the third round.
Anisimova survives Kenin scare to keep Wimbledon hopes alive
Amanda Anisimova def. Sofia Kenin 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(3)
Amanda Anisimova was pushed to the limit by fellow American Sofia Kenin, who came close to producing one of the biggest upsets of the round. After Anisimova dominated the opening set, Kenin gradually raised her level and repeatedly placed last year's Wimbledon finalist under pressure throughout the remainder of the contest.
The decisive set swung back and forth, with Kenin earning an early break before Anisimova fought her way back to force a deciding tiebreak. The sixth seed produced her best tennis when it mattered most, quickly opening a comfortable advantage in the 10-point breaker and never allowing Kenin back into contention.
It was another demonstration of Anisimova's composure under pressure as she escaped a dangerous challenge to remain in the tournament. She now moves on to an all-American third-round clash against Madison Keys.
Rybakina cruises into third round with dominant serving display
Elena Rybakina def. Caty McNally 6-1, 6-2
Elena Rybakina delivered one of the cleanest performances of the day, conceding just three games as she comfortably dispatched Caty McNally to reach the third round. The 2022 Wimbledon champion immediately established herself behind her serve, consistently shortening points and preventing the American from creating any sustained pressure.
The Kazakh won 81% of points behind her first serve compared to just 46% for McNally, while claiming 69% of all service points throughout the match. Equally impressive was her work on return, where she converted four breaks of serve and completed the afternoon without dropping her own delivery once.
Rybakina once again looked every bit a title contender with another efficient display on grass. She advances to the third round, where she will take on 25th seed Elise Mertens in one of the marquee matches of the round.
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Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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