Elena Rybakina profits from Iga Swiatek’s Wimbledon Achilles heel as big seeds tumble

Against the backdrop of the Murray-Raducanu mixed doubles furore that has gripped British tennis over the past week, there has been another bubbling subplot at this year’s Wimbledon: blockbuster names in the women’s draw falling like dominoes.

Of all the slams, Wimbledon has been an outlier when it comes to producing female champions. While Novak Djovokic has monopolised the men’s championship – winning four of the last seven titles – there have been seven different women’s winners in the same timespan.

This year could see the crowning of another given the paucity of top-10 players left in the women’s draw. Elena Rybakina, the fourth seed who on Monday advanced to the quarter-finals after her opponent Anna Kalinskaya retired with a wrist injury, and Jasmine Paolini, seeded seventh, are the last ones standing.

Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka set the tone when the pair withdrew on the opening day of competition, with both citing shoulder injuries. As a two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2021 and 2023 and having reached at least the last four at all of the majors this past year, third seed Sabalenka was tipped for a deep run at the tournament. But many of her esteemed colleagues have fallen down the crater-like hole she left in the women’s draw.

The following day, Marketa Vondrousova, the defending champion, was stunned by world No 83 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, a player who had never won on grass. Naomi Osaka then came unstuck against Emma Navarro, although her departure was steeped in mitigation. Osaka has never done terribly well on grass and is in the throes of her comeback season after becoming a mother this time last year.

By the end of the weekend, three more heavyweights had also fallen. Grass continued to be Iga Swiatek’s nemesis as the Pole was dumped out, accompanied by a chorus of boos from an impatient crowd who made their feelings known when she took her time with a bathroom break. Coco Gauff fell to the impressive Navarro while Ons Jabeur was ousted by Elina Svitolina.

Unflappable Rybakina now heavy favourite

For a fleeting moment on Monday, it looked like another major name would be packing their bags early when Rybakina – the highest ranked women’s player and the only one left in the field who has won the Wimbledon title two years ago – found herself a break down in the opening set to Kalinskaya.

Up until three years ago this day was called Manic Monday because of a scheduling hangover with no action on what was previously termed “Middle Sunday”. Even though there were no Brits in the singles draws left to schedule, the Centre Court crowd were nevertheless engaged in what was initially a fiery duel between the Moscow-born competitors. Men’s top seed Jannik Sinner, who is in a relationship with Kalinskaya and cheered her on – Jannik Monday, anyone? – cut a dejected figure when his girlfriend was forced to retire 53 minutes in after struggling with a wrist injury. She traipsing off the court in tears.

Despite her strong start, Rybakina had an unflappable aura about her as she clawed her way back into the contest, rattling off five games and then another four as Kalinskaya relinquished.

It was a flat end to what had promised to be an enthralling battle judging by the opening exchanges, but by safely advancing Rybakina at least bucked a trend and, having only ever lost two matches at Wimbledon, the Kazakh will be a heavy favourite to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish come Saturday. She has struggled with illness in recent months, but if she can go the distance, she has the makings to become tennis’ new queen of grass.