Last year’s runner-up Jasmine Paolini became the latest top-10 seed to make an early exit at Wimbledon, but world number one Aryna Sabalenka put this year’s record number of upsets out of her mind in a hard-fought victory.
Italian fourth seed Paolini’s 4-6 6-4 6-4 second-round defeat by Kamilla Rakhimova came after eight top-10 seeds across the men’s and women’s singles draws went out across the opening two days – the most at a Grand Slam in the Open era.
But Sabalenka avoided that same fate with a gritty 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win over Czech world number 48 Marie Bouzkova.
It means the only top-five seed remaining in the women’s draw at the All England Club after day three of the Championships is top seed Sabalenka.
The Belarusian is aiming to add a maiden Wimbledon title to her three Grand Slam triumphs at the US and Australian Opens.
After her win, the top seed told the Centre Court crowd: “I hope it is no upsets any more in this tournament, if you know what I mean!”
Sabalenka, 27, has reached the final of both majors this year, but lost to Madison Keys at the Australian Open and Coco Gauff at the French Open.
