Defending champion Iga Swiatek reached the Wimbledon third round with a straight-sets win over Karolina Pliskova, while Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur also progressed with convincing victories.

Wimbledon 2026: Swiatek powers into Round 3; Fritz, De Minaur maintain perfect starts

Defending Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek survived a stern first-round challenge from Taylor Townsend, winning in three sets to reach the second round and set up a clash with Karolina Pliskova

Iga Swiatek survives first-round scare against Taylor Townsend to begin Wimbledon title defence

Wimbledon has not seen the same women's singles winner since Serena Williams won back-to-back in 2015 and 2016. Sabalenka, meanwhile, has never reached the final with her best being semis in 2021, 2023, and 2025.

Wimbledon 2026 | Ex-India player Vijay Amritraj picks Sabalenka to win women's singles

The heat has altered the behavior of the clay surface and the pace of play by making surface drier and faster than usual. Long rallies and extended matches have become even more taxing.

French Open 2026 | How soaring temperature is making ball move faster at Roland Garros

The news was confirmed by the defending Wimbledon singles champion Iga Swiatek on Thursday (April 2) as she announced high-profile Francisco Roig as her trainer ahead of the clay court season, which starts this week. 

Iga Swiatek announces former Rafael Nadal coach Francisco Roig as new trainer ahead of clay court season

The former world no. 1, who held the position for 125 weeks, won her first grand slam at French Open in 2020 at age 19. She then won at Roland Garros three consecutive years in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In addtion to that, Swiatek has also won US Open (2022) and Wimbledon (2025) as well.

'Tennis feels complicated': Iga Swaitek feels pressure of own success after Miami Open exit

Sabalenka is not happy with the comments of Dubai Open tournament director Salah Tahlak, who had said: "I think there should be a harsher punishment on the players, not just fines, they should be docked ranking points." Tahlak's comments after Sabalenka had withdrawn from the tournament.

'Tournaments not protecting us': Sabalenka not going to Dubai Open in future after director's 'ridiculous' comments

Swiatek's outburst came a day after Coco Gauff also hit out at Australian Open broadcasters for capturing her moment of smashing the racquet post loss. Earlier in the tournament, Swiatek was stopped from entering the Melbourne Park without proper ID and the moment instantly became a meme.

AO 2026 | 'Observed even when pooping': Swiatek asks 'are we animals' and chimes in on privacy debate

Rybakina bounced back from early serving woes to beat Swiatek in the straight sets (7-5, 6-1). 

Iga Swiatek follows Gauff on her way out of Australian Open in another QF shocker

Novak Djokovic, a 10-time winner of the Australian Open, made light work of his Dutch counterpart as he sealed his place in the fourth round. 

Australian Open: Djokovic scripts history with 400 Grand Slam wins; Sinner, Swiatek in R4

During her Slam opener in Melbourne, Swiatek was pushed to the limits at the legendary Rod Laver Arena before prevailing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 more than two hours later.

Australian Open 2026: Iga Swiatek survives exit scare to punch second-round ticket

Iga Swiatek says everything is fine after back-to-back losses at the United Cup, admitting soreness but staying confident of recovery as she fine-tunes her game ahead of Australian Open 2026.

'Everything is fine': Swiatek sends calm message before Australian Open 2026

World number one Aryna Sabalenka and Australian Nick Kyrgios faced off in a highly publicised and controversial exhibition match in Dubai a week ago.

Iga Swiatek says women's tennis does not need 'Battle of the Sexes'

Sinner said that he lost a bit of concentration during the second set but quickly recovered to steamroll past the 68th-ranked Atmane in the deciding set.

China Open: Sinner survives scare as Iga Swiatek launches title bid

Polish player Iga Swiatek acknowledges wanting 'Rafa's sweaty towels as kid' in wake of US Open incident which involved a CEO snatching a hat from a young boy.

US Open CEO hat stealing incident: Swiatek admits wanting 'Rafa's sweaty towels as kid'

US Open 2025: Japanese Naomi Osaka beat home-favorite Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in an anti-climatic R16 match at Arthur Ashe stadium in New York on Labour Day. This is Osaka's best performance in a major since winning 2021 Australian Open.

US Open 2025: Osaka, Sinner, Swiatek roll into quarter-finals

World number one Sinner will face Alexander Bublik next after the mercurial Kazakh put out US 14th seed Tommy Paul in a late-night thriller, winning in five sets.

US Open 2025: Sinner, Swiatek advance as Gauff sets up Osaka showdown

Iga Swiatek -- who on Monday had battled through a two-hour tussle with Jasmine Paolini to win the Cincinnati Open -- looked full of energy as she and Ruud powered into Wednesday's semi-finals.

Iga Swiatek, Casper Ruud romp into US Open mixed doubles semis; Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic out

Iga Swiatek climbed to within 500 points of current WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka, with the lead at the top of the table likely to be in play at the US Open when it begins on Sunday.

Cincinnati Open: Iga Swiatek beats Jasmine Paolini to clinch WTA title

Iga Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, recovered an early break in the opening set and powered away to beat 2022 All England winner Rybakina -- who had swept past world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.

Cincinnati Open: Iga Swiatek swamps Elena Rybakina in semis, to face Jasmine Paolini in final

Swiatek, playing her first tournament since winning her sixth Grand Slam title at the All England Club last month, looked out of sorts from the start on a breezy centre court.

Tennis: Swiatek crashes out of WTA Canadian Open, Japan’s Osaka races through

Anastasija Sevastova, a former world No. 11 now ranked 386th, snapped fourth-ranked Jessica Pegula's 11-match WTA Canada win streak, the longest since Serena Williams reeled off 14 consecutive wins in 2011, 2013 and 2014.

Anastasija Sevastova topples Jessica Pegula to book date with Naomi Osaka; Iga Swiatek advances in Montreal

Spectators were on their feet, trying to will Bouchard to another victory on the heels of her first-round triumph on Monday -- her first WTA win since 2023.

Wimbledon champion Swiatek cruises, Osaka battles and Bouchard says goodbye in Montreal

The campaign group's barristers told the High Court earlier this month that the decision to approve the plans was "irrational" and should be quashed, as Wimbledon Park was covered by restrictions on how it could be used.

Wimbledon expansion plans get go ahead from High Court

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Wimbledon 2026: Swiatek powers into Round 3; Fritz, De Minaur maintain perfect starts

Iga survives first-round scare against Townsend to begin Wimbledon title defence

Wimbledon 2026 | Ex-India player Amritraj picks Sabalenka to win women's singles

French Open | How high temperature is making ball move faster at Roland Garros

Iga Swiatek announces Francisco Roig as coach ahead of clay court season

'Tennis feels complicated': Swaitek on pressure of success post Miami Open exit

Sabalenka not going to Dubai Open in future after director's 'ridiculous' remark

AO 2026 | Swiatek asks 'are we animals' and chimes in on privacy debate

Swiatek follows Gauff on her way out of Australian Open in another QF shocker

Australian Open: Djokovic scripts history with 400 Grand Slam wins

Australian Open 2026: Swiatek survives exit scare to punch second-round ticket

'Everything is fine': Swiatek sends calm message before Australian Open 2026

Iga Swiatek says women's tennis does not need 'Battle of the Sexes'

China Open: Sinner survives scare as Iga Swiatek launches title bid

US Open CEO hat stealing: Swiatek admits wanting 'Rafa's sweaty towels as kid'

US Open 2025: Osaka, Sinner, Swiatek roll into quarter-finals

US Open 2025: Sinner, Swiatek advance as Gauff sets up Osaka showdown

Iga Swiatek, Casper Ruud romp into US Open mixed doubles semis

Cincinnati Open: Iga Swiatek beats Jasmine Paolini to clinch WTA title

Cincinnati Open: Iga Swiatek swamps Rybakina in semis, to face Paolini in final

Tennis: Swiatek crashes out of WTA Canadian Open, Japan’s Osaka races through

Anastasija Sevastova topples Jessica Pegula to book date with Naomi Osaka

Wimbledon champion Swiatek cruises, Bouchard says goodbye in Montreal

Wimbledon expansion plans get go ahead from High Court