Elena Rybakina became the highest seed to fall at Wimbledon so far in a straight-set defeat by Elise Mertens.
Second seed Rybakina, who won the All England ******* le in 2022, was beaten 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 in the third round by her Belgian opponent.
It is the second successive year that Kazakhstan's Rybakina - who was crowned Australian Open champion in January - has failed to reach the second week at Wimbledon.
Her defeat on Court One also means Aryna Sabalenka will remain as the women's world number one, regardless of how deep into the tournament the Belarusian goes.
For Mertens, a fourth-round meeting with Marie Bouzkova awaits after the Czech 21st seed came from behind to defeat Liudmila Samsonova in three sets.
Second seed Rybakina, who won the All England ******* le in 2022, was beaten 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 in the third round by her Belgian opponent.
It is the second successive year that Kazakhstan's Rybakina - who was crowned Australian Open champion in January - has failed to reach the second week at Wimbledon.
Her defeat on Court One also means Aryna Sabalenka will remain as the women's world number one, regardless of how deep into the tournament the Belarusian goes.
For Mertens, a fourth-round meeting with Marie Bouzkova awaits after the Czech 21st seed came from behind to defeat Liudmila Samsonova in three sets.
27 days ago
