"So scary. It's good that she has that self belief. It's a good thing to have" - Aryna Sabalenka laughs off prior big talk from first round opponent Kostovic
WTATuesday, 30 June 2026 at 10:02
Aryna Sabalenka was able to breeze through her opening tie at Wimbledon against 19-year-old Teodora Kostovic. While the Serbian talked a big game beforehand, Sabalenka brushed it off with a smirk following a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 triumph.
The world number one was the overwhelming favourite heading onto Centre Court as she looked to commence her Wimbledon campaign with a bang. It is the only Grand Slam that she has not reached the final of as he still searches for a maiden major title away from hardcourt.
Kostovic was hoping to have other ideas and spring a hugely surprising trap. A confident young tennis player, she came through qualifying while dropping just one set. It was set to be a first ever Grand Slam appearance, and it was on Centre Court against the highest ranked player in the world.
A daunting task for most, she shrugged this pressure off with a huge amount of confidence as she looked set to give the four-time Grand Slam champion something to think about. "Let's see if she can deal with my power," she stated beforehand. "Of course I can beat her. I can beat anyone when I'm in the zone."
It is fair to say that did not age well. Sabalenka saw the funny side of that in her press conference "I think she said that she wants to see if I can handle her power." This was followed by Sabalenka laughing, unable to keep it in a she reacted to those comments. "So scary. It's good that she has that self belief. It's a good thing to have."
sabalenka is actually hilarious😭😭 pic.twitter.com/6w7o43wrEr
— ًᵗᵒ (@tosports13) June 29, 2026
A positive start in quest for Grand Slam number five
Sabalenka was stunned last year in the semi-finals against Amanda Anisimova. In fact, her last three appearances have all ended at the last-four. She had not been knocked out in the first round of a major tournament since the Australian Open in 2020, and this streak continued.
Kostovic was in real trouble from the off, going down a double break. It seemed that Sabalenka was comfortably dealing with her power. She missed a chance to win the set 6-1 but then saw it out on serve instead.
After the first three games of the second set went on serve, Sabalenka again raced clear. From 2-1 down, she secured a double break enroute to a 5-2 lead. Kostovic broke the serve as Sabalenka looked to get the job done, but she still had a mountain to climb. Sabalenka broke instantly back with her second match point and advances.
McCartney Kessler is her next opponent. The pair played against each other back in the 2025 Indian Wells in which Sabalenka won enroute to the final. This could be a good omen if she can find a way past the American in similar fashion to Kostovic.
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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