Mumbai: For eight consecutive years, Wimbledon has crowned a first-time women's singles champion. This year, the stage is set for another surprise winner, as the top players have struggled to find their footing on the grass court.
Defending champion Iga Swiatek, world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, and world No.2 Elena Rybakina have all suffered early exits in grass-court tournaments, leaving the door open for a new champion.
Swiatek, who won the title last year, has been knocked out in the first round of the Bad Homburg Open, while Sabalenka has been plagued by meltdowns, including a 6-0 third-set drubbing in the semi-finals of the Berlin tournament.
Rybakina, meanwhile, has lost to Katie Boulter in the Queen's quarter-finals and Alexandra Eala in the Berlin Round of 16.
But it's not all doom and gloom for the top players. Serena Williams, the 44-year-old legend, is back playing singles after four years and could potentially face Swiatek in the later rounds.
With so many upsets already on the cards, Wimbledon 2026 is shaping up to be a thrilling tournament that could see a new champion emerge.
