Elise Mertens Reaches Wimbledon Quarterfinals After Rybakina Upset

Elise Mertens reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time after defeating second seed Elena Rybakina in the third round and Marie Bouzkova in the fourth round, ESPN reported. Mertens, 30, from Belgium, beat Rybakina 7-6(4), 6-1. She then defeated Bouzkova 6-4, 6-4.

Her previous best singles result at the All England Club was the fourth round in 2019, 2022 and 2025. Mertens won the Wimbledon doubles title in 2021 and 2025. She defeated Laura Siegemund and Maria Timofeeva earlier in the tournament.

Mertens will next face Noskova. Several other seeded players exited before the quarterfinals. Iga Swiatek lost in the third round to Alexandra Eala. Serena Williams, a six-time Wimbledon singles champion, lost in the first round as a wild card after a four-year absence.

Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 champion, received a four-year suspension in June 2026 for refusing a drug test. Barbora Krejcikova, the 2024 champion, lost in the fourth round. Aryna Sabalenka, Amanda Anisimova and French Open champion Mirra Andreeva also departed before the quarterfinals.