Fourth seed Elena Rybakina showcased why she’s a new title contender with a commanding performance against Anna Kalinskaya, who retired injured from the match.
Rybakina, the 2022 champion, was leading 6-3, 3-0 when Kalinskaya, overwhelmed by a wrist injury, left the last-16 match in tears. The Russian 17th seed had earlier taken a medical timeout during the first set.
Rybakina, born in Russia and representing Kazakhstan, is the top remaining seed in the women’s draw and is set to play against Svitolina next.
At 25, Rybakina is the sole past Wimbledon champion in the current women’s draw, her position bolstered by the recent exits of notable players like Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff.
Despite losing her serve in the match’s opening game and falling behind 3-1, Rybakina rallied to win five straight games, including two breaks to love, securing the first set.
She continued her momentum into the second set, breaking early, holding off a break point, and breaking again to establish a decisive lead.
Kalinskaya, also 25, visibly hampered since mid-first set, chose to retire to avoid aggravating her injury.
Ostapenko ends Putintseva’s eight-match winning streak
On Court One, Latvia’s 13th seed Jelena Ostapenko defeated unseeded Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-2, 6-3 with a strong display.
Ostapenko, a former French Open winner, overpowered Putintseva, the player who ousted Swiatek, with her aggressive baseline play.
This victory secures 27-year-old Ostapenko a spot in her third Wimbledon quarter-final, where she will face either American 11th seed Danielle Collins or Czech 31st seed Barbora Krejcikova.
