On a scorching summer day at Wimbledon, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka made a triumphant return to the grass courts, while Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur saw her campaign end prematurely due to health issues. Meanwhile, Serbia’s Olga Danilovic marked a milestone with her first-ever win at the All England Club.
Sabalenka battles past Branstine on her Wimbledon comeback
After missing last year’s tournament with a shoulder injury, Aryna Sabalenka made a strong statement in her opening round, defeating Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine 6-1 7-5. The Belarusian looked dominant early, racing through the first set with powerful groundstrokes and assertive court positioning.
Branstine, currently ranked 194th and known for balancing tennis with a modeling career, showed her fighting spirit in the second set. Armed with a heavy serve, the 24-year-old managed to challenge Sabalenka and even forced her to dig deep in the latter stages. But with temperatures hitting 30°C, Sabalenka broke through at 5-5 in the second set and quickly closed out the match.
Heartbreak for Jabeur as health struggles force retirement
Earlier in the day, two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur was forced to retire during her opening-round match against Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova. Despite showing flashes of her trademark creativity in the first set, which she narrowly lost in a tiebreak, Jabeur visibly struggled with the heat and physical discomfort.
The Tunisian, now ranked 59th after a difficult season plagued by injuries, took a long medical timeout during the first set and appeared distressed during changeovers—covering her face with a towel, hydrating, and wrapping herself in ice. After falling behind 2-0 in the second set, she ultimately withdrew from the match.
Jabeur plans to take time off, focusing on recovery and spending time with family before resuming her season.
Danilovic earns her first Wimbledon match win
Serbia’s Olga Danilovic recorded her first career win at Wimbledon, overcoming China’s Zhang Shuai 6-2 6-4 in just under 90 minutes. The 24-year-old left-hander, currently ranked No. 37 in the world, showed composure and control throughout the match, converting three break points to seal the straight-set victory. She now moves on to face American sixth seed Madison Keys in the second round.
As the Wimbledon action heats up—literally and figuratively—Sabalenka’s title hopes remain alive, Jabeur faces another setback in a turbulent year, and Danilovic finds herself writing a new chapter in her career on tennis’s grandest stage.
