Aryna Sabalenka beats McCartney Kessler to set third round battle against Jelena Ostapenko at Wimbledon 2026

Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, had to show all her fighting qualities to get past McCartney Kessler in the second round at Wimbledon 2026. The Belarusian came from 5-2 down in the second set and saved four set points before eventually winning 6-1, 7-6(9). She will now face Jelena Ostapenko in the third round after the Latvian produced a dominant performance to beat Antonia Ruzic.

Dramatic second set sees Aryna Sabalenka save four set points

Aryna Sabalenka made a strong start to the match and wrapped up the first set 6-1 without too many problems. Her powerful groundstrokes and effective serving helped her break McCartney Kessler’s serve at key moments. However, the second set turned into a real contest as Kessler found her rhythm and started playing with more freedom.

The American broke serve twice to lead 5-2 and had four set points to her name. At this stage, many players might have crumbled, but Sabalenka stayed calm and focused. She saved every set point with some excellent returning and aggressive play of her own. Once she got back to 5-5, the momentum shifted, and she dominated the tiebreak to win it 9-7.

Interestingly, the scoreline was almost identical to their previous meeting in the second round of the 2025 Indian Wells tournament, where Sabalenka also needed a tiebreak to win in straight sets.

Aryna Sabalenka credits McCartney Kessler for testing her to the limit

Aryna Sabalenka was relieved to escape from what she described as a true battle in straight sets. In her on-court interview after the match, she was full of praise for her opponent’s effort.

"Incredible level in the second set from her," she said in her on-court interview. “She really tested me today, and I'm really happy to pass the test ... She really stepped in, she played super aggressive. It felt like whatever decisions she would make, it would work for her.”

Sabalenka’s ability to win tight moments continues to be one of her biggest strengths. She has now won nine of her ten tiebreaks in 2026 and boasts a 22-3 record from the previous year. Her 21st straight Grand Slam tiebreak victory also extended her Open Era record, underlining why she is so difficult to beat when matches get close.

Jelena Ostapenko returns to form with remarkable win over Antonia Ruzic

On the other side of the draw, Jelena Ostapenko looked in excellent touch as she dispatched Antonia Ruzic 6-2, 6-0 in only 66 minutes. The former French Open champion hit an impressive 34 winners and made just 10 unforced errors. This performance was a big improvement from her first-round match against Harriet Dart, where she struggled with 13 double faults over three sets.

Antonia Ostapenko put those early issues behind her and played with real confidence and precision. Her aggressive baseline game was too much for Ruzic to handle, and she will head into her match against Sabalenka full of belief.

Aryna Sabalenka and Jelena Ostapenko set for exciting third-round battle

The third-round clash between Aryna Sabalenka and Jelena Ostapenko promises to be a fascinating contest. Sabalenka brings raw power and consistency to the court, while Ostapenko relies on her flat hitting and ability to dictate play. Both players have experience of winning big titles and know how to perform under the unique pressures of a Grand Slam.

After her scare against Kessler, Sabalenka will be determined to play with more control in the next match. Ostapenko will see this as a great opportunity to test herself and potentially cause an upset.