Italian Jasmine Paolini reaches Wimbledon quarter-finals as Belgian Elise Mertens shocks second seed

Jasmine Paolini storms into Wimbledon’s last 16 as Elise Mertens shocks second seed Elena Rybakina

Jasmine Paolini crushed Maria Sakkari 6-1, 6-2 on Saturday to become the first Italian woman in eight years to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals, while Belgian Elise Mertens produced the tournament’s biggest upset by eliminating second seed Elena Rybakina 7-6(4), 6-1 in the third round.

Paolini, the 17th seed, needed just 45 minutes to dispatch the Greek world No 20, breaking Sakkari twice in the first set and twice more in the second to seal her place in the last 16. “I started really well,” Paolini said after the win. “I felt very comfortable on the grass and I was able to dictate the points.”

The victory lifts Paolini to world No 33 and sets up a blockbuster clash with either Marie Bouzková or Elise Mertens in the next round. Mertens, ranked 30th, had beaten Rybakina seven times previously but the Kazakh, the 2022 Wimbledon champion and 2026 Australian Open winner, had not dropped a set before facing the Belgian. “I have no words, actually,” Mertens told reporters. “I’m very happy I won that first set and kept the momentum going. [Rybakina] is an incredible player, she’s won Wimbledon in the past so a really tough opponent.”

Rybakina’s defeat means Aryna Sabalenka will retain the WTA world No 1 ranking regardless of her own progress, as the Belarusian entered the tournament just 947 points clear of the Kazakh. The upset is the second successive year Rybakina has failed to reach the second week at SW19 after her 2022 title. “This is definitely one of the biggest wins of my career, especially here at Wimbledon,” Mertens added. “I’ve had some success here before.”

In the men’s draw, Alexander Zverev began his campaign with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over American qualifier Zachary Svajda, while Italian Flavio Cobolli recovered from a 6-0, 0-1 deficit to force a tie-break in the second set against Karen Khachanov before eventually falling 6-0, 7-6(4), 6-3. Cobolli left the court twice for medical time-outs and finished with only nine points won in the opening set. “I tried to stay calm,” Cobolli said. “The conditions were difficult and I had to manage my body.”

Britain’s Arthur Fery, ranked 127th, also progressed with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 win over France’s Valentin Royer, while Czech Marie Bouzková came from a set down to defeat Liudmila Samsonova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Bouzková will face Mertens in the fourth round after the Belgian’s shock win.

Princess Kate, the Princess of Wales, returned to Wimbledon on Saturday, mingling with fans on the famous queue before watching Fery’s match from the royal box. The appearance marks her first public engagement since her return to official duties following treatment for cancer.

With the quarter-finals now set, the women’s draw features four seeds—Paolini, Bouzková, Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff—while the men’s side still includes defending champion Novak Djokovic and top seed Jannik Sinner. The tournament resumes on Monday with the fourth round in full swing.