Aryna Sabalenka delivered a commanding performance to beat qualifier Teodora Kostovic 6-2, 6-1 in the first round of Wimbledon 2026 on Tuesday. The Belarusian, seeded second, took just 58 minutes to dispatch her Serbian opponent on Centre Court.
Dominant Display from Sabalenka
Sabalenka, a former Australian Open champion, fired 12 aces and won 82% of her first-serve points. She broke Kostovic four times and never faced a break point herself. The world number three raced to a 4-0 lead in the first set before closing it out in 25 minutes.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with Sabalenka breaking early and cruising to victory. Kostovic, ranked 187th, struggled to handle the pace and depth of Sabalenka's groundstrokes.
Kostovic's Gutsy Effort
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Kostovic showed flashes of resilience, saving two match points before Sabalenka sealed the win with a forehand winner. The 22-year-old qualifier was making her Wimbledon main draw debut after coming through three qualifying rounds.
"She played really well today. I tried my best but she was too strong," Kostovic said after the match. "It's a dream to play on Centre Court, and I will learn from this experience."
Sabalenka's Wimbledon Ambitions
Sabalenka, who reached the semifinals here in 2023 and 2024, is aiming to add a Wimbledon title to her resume. She has won two Australian Opens and one US Open but has yet to conquer the grass courts of SW19.
"I love playing on grass. It suits my game," Sabalenka said. "I'm feeling good and ready for the next round." She will face either Jule Niemeier or Harriet Dart in the second round.
