Wimbledon 2026 begins on Monday, and the women's singles draw is once again stacked with star power, form questions, and rising challengers all chasing the same prize.
Aryna Sabalenka fell 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to Elena Rybakina on Saturday, the Russia-born Kazakh turning the tables on the Belarusian who beat her for the 2023 title.
Sabalenka primed for Rybakina rematch with eyes on third Australian Open crown
World number one Aryna Sabalenka brushed aside Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3 in the Brisbane International final on Sunday to retain the title without losing a set ahead of her bid to reclaim the Australian Open title this month.
Tennis legend Serena Williams is set to make her highly anticipated return to Wimbledon, facing Australia's Maya Joint in the first round.
Aryna Sabalenka handed 18-year-old American Iva Jovic a comprehensive 6-3, 6-0 defeat in the quarter-finals at a sweltering Melbourne Park on Tuesday to remain on course for a third Australian Open title in four years.
The four-times Grand Slam champion, who is eyeing her third Australian Open trophy when the tournament begins on January 18 at Melbourne Park, was pushed harder in the next set but edged ahead again at 5-4 to wrap up the win on serve.
Aryna Sabalenka swept to her fourth successive Australian Open final with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.
Serena Williams' unexpected return to Wimbledon after a four-year absence is set to be the dominant storyline of the women's singles draw. Despite her age and time away from competitive singles, her presence adds significant intrigue to a tournament already featuring top contenders like Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and rising star Mirra Andreeva. Her comeback has generated immense buzz, with experts debating her potential impact on the wide-open field.
The opening Grand Slam of the year begins at Melbourne Park on Sunday.
'Doesn't matter what the head-to-head looks like. It's always a new match, always a new battle.'
World number one Aryna Sabalenka enters the Australian Open in her familiar role as the hot favourite but unlike in the past two years the powerful Belarusian arrives without a title to defend or the momentum of a winning run in Melbourne.
The Canadian Open has voiced its disappointment over the withdrawals of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, highlighting a 'broader issue' of top players missing ATP 1000 events due to demanding schedules, prompting calls for adjustments to protect tournament integrity.
Kyrgios beats Sabalenka in 'Battle of the Sexes' showdown
Sunday's showdown between four-times Grand Slam champion Sabalenka and former world number 13 Kyrgios is seen by many as entertainment, but critics believe it risks undermining women's tennis by trivialising decades of progress toward equality.
Aryna Sabalenka will aim to take a huge stride towards a third Australian Open title in four years when the Belarusian top seed clashes with Ukraine's Elina Svitolina on Thursday in a semi-final simmering with geopolitical tension.
Czech Republic's Linda Noskova beat compatriot Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in the Wimbledon final on Saturday to win her maiden Grand Slam title.
IMAGES from all the action on Day 8 of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Sunday.
Second seed Elena Rybakina was defeated by Elise Mertens in the third round of Wimbledon, ending her bid for a second Grand Slam title this year and the world number one ranking. Mertens dominated after winning the first set tiebreak, securing a 7-6(4) 6-1 victory.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka began her 2026 campaign with a thumping victory at the Brisbane International on Tuesday while her "Battle of the Sexes" opponent Nick Kyrgios fell short on his return to singles action after nearly a year out.
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka fended off a serious challenge from Anastasia Potapova to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has been named WTA Player of the Year for the second consecutive season after spending the entire year at the top of the rankings.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the matches played at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.
Coco Gauff fought back from a set down to reach the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time after beating friend and former doubles partner Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in an all-American Centre Court clash on Tuesday.
Wimbledon begins June 29 with Serena Williams returning after four years, Novak Djokovic chasing a 25th Slam, and a reshaped field after Carlos Alcaraz's injury.
Elena Rybakina beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) in the WTA Finals title clash on Saturday to claim her first trophy in the season-ending championships.
Qualifier Arthur Fery delivered a stunning Australian Open win by beating 20th seed Flavio Cobolli on Sunday.
Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios defended their controversial "Battle of the Sexes" match and said they failed to understand why an exhibition aimed at showcasing tennis drew so much negativity from the tennis community.
Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk and Czech teenager Linda Noskova powered into their first Wimbledon semifinals on Wednesday, with both players producing dominant straight-set victories in sweltering conditions at the All England Club.
Czech Republic's Linda Noskova defeated American Jessica Pegula 6-4 4-6 6-3 to win her first grasscourt title at the Berlin Open, marking her second WTA singles title and setting her up to break into the top 10.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka said it would be unfair for women to face "biological men" in professional tennis.
Jannik Sinner received a favourable French Open draw while Novak Djokovic faces a challenging path. Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka are set for a possible semi-final clash at Roland Garros.
Top tennis players have agreed to resume media duties at Wimbledon after constructive talks with organisers, despite core issues regarding prize money and player welfare remaining unresolved. Players had initially cut short pre-tournament media duties to protest for a larger share of Grand Slam revenue and greater say in decision-making.
Top trio eye Grand Slam glory with Sabalenka targeting third Australian Open crown
Coco Gauff is showing strong form ahead of the French Open, presenting her with a significant opportunity to secure another Grand Slam title.
Top tennis players, including Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff, are threatening to boycott the French Open due to dissatisfaction with the current prize money distribution, claiming a lack of respect and a decreasing share of tournament revenue.
The claycourts of Roland Garros were transformed into a complex geopolitical chessboard on Tuesday as they produced a French Open semi-final lineup featuring a number of emotionally charged matches in the shadow of Russia's war in Ukraine.
Aryna Sabalenka is the first woman to win back to back US Open singles titles since Serena Williams in 2014.
Iga Swiatek's French Open campaign ended in a stunning defeat to Marta Kostyuk, adding to the series of upsets at Roland Garros.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in a gladiatorial battle between big-hitters on Friday to book a WTA Finals title showdown with Elena Rybakina.
