Iga Swiatek’s draw looked brutal before the first ball was struck.
After one round, it already looks even wilder.
Swiatek survived Taylor Townsend 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 in a tricky opener that had exactly the kind of grass-court danger everyone feared. But around her, the quarter started to shake.
- Elina Svitolina, the No. 8 seed, was knocked out by fellow Ukrainian Daria Snigur.
- Donna Vekic lost to qualifier Ashlyn Krueger.
- Jasmine Paolini had to recover from a 0-6 opening set.
- And Serena Williams’ comeback ended immediately against Maya Joint.
This was not a quiet first round.
It was a draw doing what it promised to do: misbehave early.
Swiatek Gets Through Townsend Test
Swiatek’s opener was never going to be a simple rhythm match.
Townsend is left-handed, comfortable at the net, and happy to break the usual baseline pattern. For a player still trying to sharpen her grass-court control, that is an awkward first-round draw.
Swiatek started sharply, taking the first set 6-1. Then the match changed. Townsend hit back 6-2 in the second set, forcing the No. 3 seed into an immediate Wimbledon examination.
Swiatek answered in the third.
The 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 win keeps her alive, but it also confirmed why this section looked so rough from the start. She did not get a soft landing. She got a player with a style that can make grass-court tennis uncomfortable very quickly.
For Swiatek, the most important part is simple: she is still in the draw. In this quarter, that already counts for plenty.
Svitolina Falls in All-Ukrainian Opener
The biggest early shock near the top of the section came from Svitolina.
The No. 8 seed lost 7-5, 6-2 to Daria Snigur in an all-Ukrainian first round, removing one of the projected quarter-final names before the draw had even settled.
Snigur is never a comfortable opponent when her flat hitting and unusual rhythm begin to work. Against Svitolina, she did more than stay close. She took the first set and then ran away with the second.
That result opens the top of the quarter immediately.
Leolia Jeanjean, a qualifier, also moved through, beating Veronika Erjavec 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(10-6). Mariam Bolkvadze, another qualifier, beat Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. The top pocket of this quarter suddenly looks nothing like the seedings suggested.
Krueger Knocks Out Vekic as Qualifiers Keep Punching
Ashlyn Krueger produced one of the strongest qualifier wins of the day.
The American beat No. 31 seed Donna Vekic 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4, turning around a match that could easily have slipped away after the opening set.
That win continues a theme from the early Wimbledon results: qualifiers are not simply happy to be here. They are winning main-draw matches, knocking out seeds and reshaping sections.
Krueger joins Jeanjean and Bolkvadze as qualifiers who changed this quarter immediately. In a section already heavy with danger, their wins make the route for the surviving seeds even less predictable.
Navarro and Kostyuk Add Weight to the Top Half
Emma Navarro came through one of the best first-round matches in the section, beating Paula Badosa 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
That was a valuable win. Badosa was one of the most dangerous unseeded names in the quarter, and Navarro had to recover after dropping the first set. The No. 23 seed now moves forward with one of the more difficult openers already behind her.
Marta Kostyuk had a much cleaner day.
The No. 12 seed beat Nadia Podoroska 6-1, 6-2, giving herself the kind of start that often helps a dangerous player settle into a Slam draw. With Svitolina gone, Kostyuk now becomes an even bigger Ukrainian storyline in this quarter.
Anna Blinkova also advanced, beating Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-1, while Oksana Selekhmeteva moved past Sinja Kraus 6-1, 7-5.
The top half has already lost Svitolina and Vekic, but it has gained a lot of live danger.
Paolini Escapes After a 0-6 Start
Jasmine Paolini’s Wimbledon almost turned ugly in a hurry.
The No. 13 seed lost the first set 0-6 to qualifier Robin Montgomery, then had to claw her way back to win 0-6, 6-4, 7-5.
That is a survival result, not a comfort result.
Montgomery had the power and rhythm early, and for a while it looked like another qualifier was about to remove a seed. Paolini steadied, worked her way into the match and found enough late control to avoid a damaging exit.
The scoreline still leaves a warning.
Paolini is through, but she spent serious energy before reaching the second round. In a quarter already filled with awkward names, that kind of opener can leave a mark.
Sakkari, Eala and Pliskova Move Through Cleanly
Maria Sakkari produced one of the most impressive results of the section, beating No. 24 seed Clara Tauson 6-3, 6-3.
That was a significant win because Tauson’s power can be dangerous on grass. Sakkari handled it quickly and now becomes one of the more interesting unseeded threats in Swiatek’s half.
Alexandra Eala was even more efficient. The No. 29 seed beat Renata Zarazua 6-1, 6-2, continuing her strong grass-court rise and giving herself a clean start.
Karolina Pliskova also advanced, beating Tereza Valentova 6-3, 6-4 in an all-Czech opener. Her serve and grass experience remain dangerous, especially in a section where Swiatek already has enough to think about.
Kamilla Rakhimova added another three-set win, beating Anhelina Kalinina 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. Viktorija Golubic also moved through, beating qualifier Iryna Shymanovich 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.
Serena’s Comeback Ends Against Joint
The most watched match of the section belonged to Serena Williams and Maya Joint.
Williams returned to Wimbledon singles as a wildcard, but Joint stopped the comeback with a 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 win. It was an enormous result for the 20-year-old Australian, who entered the match on a painful run of 11 consecutive first-round losses.
Serena fought back to take the second-set tie-break, which briefly gave the match the feeling of another Williams rescue act. Joint refused to fold. She regrouped in the third set and finished the biggest win of her career.
That result removes the loudest name from Swiatek’s section, but it does not make the quarter calm. Joint now carries a completely different kind of momentum into round two.
Swiatek’s Draw Is Still Heavy
Even with Svitolina out, Swiatek’s quarter remains loaded.
Pliskova is still there. Eala is still there. Sakkari is still there. Paolini survived. Kostyuk looked sharp. Navarro won a heavyweight opener. Qualifiers such as Krueger, Jeanjean and Bolkvadze already proved they can damage the draw.
For Swiatek, the first round did two things at once.
It got her through. It also confirmed that this was never going to be a gentle Wimbledon route.
The No. 3 seed has survived the first trap.
The next ones are already waiting.