Elena Rybakina, a former Wimbledon champion and the world number two, is knocked out in the third round at Wimbledon after losing to Elise Mertens. The match ends with Mertens winning 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 on Court One. Rybakina enters the encounter seeking to build on her Australian Open title in January and to win Wimbledon for a second time, having previously won the tournament in 2022. Despite past success against Mertens—reports note she had won seven of their eight previous meetings—Rybakina cannot advance past the third round. Multiple outlets also highlight that the loss follows an earlier disappointing Wimbledon season for Rybakina, after she was eliminated in the second round at the French Open, where she lost to Yuliia Starodubtseva. Mertens, seeded 25th, produces the upset to move on. The defeat ends Rybakina’s run at this year’s Championships at the stage.