Elena Rybakina Overpowers Mertens to Reach Wimbledon Fourth Round

Elena Rybakina stormed past Elise Mertens 6‑4, 6‑3 on 6 July 2026 at Wimbledon’s Court 1, securing a place in the fourth round and keeping her title defence alive.

Rybakina opened the first set with a series of powerful first serves, earning three aces in the opening ten games. Mertens fought back, breaking at 3‑3, but the Kazakh quickly answered with a backhand winner to level the set. At 5‑4, Rybakina saved a break point and then held serve to close the set, capitalising on two double faults from the Belgian.

The former champion fired 12 aces and hit 78% first‑serve points, while Mertens managed 5 aces and a 62% first‑serve conversion. Rybakina’s break‑point conversion stood at 2‑2, compared with Mertens’ 1‑3. Unforced errors favored Rybakina by a margin of 14 to 20, reflecting her aggressive baseline play.

The victory maintains Rybakina’s 7‑1 head‑to‑head edge over Mertens and marks her third straight win at Wimbledon after a straight‑sets triumph over Caty McNally in round two. A deep run could see her overtake world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka if she reaches the final, a scenario that would elevate her ranking and reinforce her reputation as a grass‑court threat.

Rybakina now awaits the winner of the quarter‑final between second seed Aryna Sabalenka and a surprise qualifier slated for 8 July. A win would set up a high‑stakes semi‑final that could decide the championship. Fans will be watching closely as she looks to add a second Wimbledon crown to her résumé.

Spectators on Court 1 cheered loudly after each of Rybakina’s break points, and the atmosphere surged when she sealed the second set with a forehand winner down the line at 6‑3. The energy underscored the significance of a potential repeat champion at the All England Club.

Mertens displayed resilience, especially when she broke back at 4‑4 in the first set, but a couple of double faults in the closing games cost her momentum. Rybakina, meanwhile, showed a few uncharacteristic errors in the second set, hinting at areas to tighten before the quarters.

The match, broadcast worldwide, added another chapter to Rybakina’s Wimbledon story, confirming she remains a formidable contender on grass.