Roundup: Elena Rybakina rockets past Maria Sakkari in Wimbledon blitz

The 11th-seeded Kazakhstani showcased her grass-court prowess, dismantling the Greek player with precision and power on Court One.

The match began with Sakkari handing Rybakina an early gift, serving three consecutive double faults to drop the opening game. Rybakina seized the opportunity, holding her serve with ease to claim the first set in just over 30 minutes.

Despite a brief hiccup when she dropped her serve early in the second set, Rybakina responded with a swift break back and surged to a 3-1 lead, dominating rallies with her trademark forehand and relentless baseline play.

Sakkari, once ranked world number three, struggled to find answers. A final backhand error sealed her fate, allowing Rybakina to close out the match in under an hour.

"It's very unexpected to see so many seeded players lose," Rybakina said after the match, reflecting on the tournament's early upsets. "But grass is very special, and I feel at home here."

Rybakina's performance was underscored by her serving efficiency, dropping just two points on her first serve (19/21), a statistic hailed as one of her career-best at a Grand Slam.

Her ability to back up her game without relying solely on her serve was a promising sign, as noted by fans on X: "Not Elena's best serving day, but she still won comfortably... a great sign."

The 26-year-old, who reached the semifinals in 2024, remains a formidable contender. Experts have pegged her as a co-favorite with +550 odds, citing her grass-court dominance and mental resilience. "Rybakina, one of the few former champions in the draw, will be dangerous," ESPN noted.

She now faces either Denmark's Clara Tauson or Russia's Anna Kalinskaya in the third round, with a potential blockbuster against Iga Swiatek looming later.

Other women's second-round action saw seventh seed Mirra Andreeva outclass Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 7-6(4), while Emma Navarro, the 10th seed, cruised past Veronika Kudermetova 6-1, 6-2. Danielle Collins and Ekaterina Alexandrova also advanced with straight-set wins, setting the stage for an exciting third round.

Rybakina's mission to reclaim the Wimbledon crown continues, and her clinical display against Sakkari signals she's ready to capitalize on the open draw. "It means a lot to be back," she said, her focus firmly on adding a second Venus Rosewater Dish to her collection.

Other Women's Second-Round Results:

Mirra Andreeva (RUS x7) bt Lucia Bronzetti (ITA) 6-1, 7-6 (7/4)

Hailey Baptiste (USA) bt Victoria Mboko (CAN) 7-6 (8/6), 6-3

Emma Navarro (USA x10) bt Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) 6-1, 6-2

Zeynep Sonmez (TUR) bt Wang Xinyu (CHN) 7-5, 7-5

Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS x18) bt Suzan Lamens (NED) 6-4, 6-0

Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) bt Katie Volynets (USA) 6-0, 6-4

Danielle Collins (USA) bt Veronika Erjavec (SLO) 6-4, 6-1

Elena Rybakina (KAZ x11) bt Maria Sakkari (GRE) 6-3, 6-1