Aryna Sabalenka would seemingly have high-end success on grass courts, especially at Wimbledon, but that hasn't turned out to be the case. She's reached the semifinals three times, but no further. 2026 could be different.
After dispatching the overwhelmed Teodora Kostovic in the first round, she expected to have a tougher match against the feisty McCartney Kessler in round two. The match didn't begin that way, however.
Sabalenka's ball-striking was simply far too much for the American, who was pressed into trying to hit high-risk shots at angles or attempt to match Sabalenka's powerful stroke for powerful stroke, but failed miserably to do so.
Aryna Sabalenka holds off McCartney Kessler in the second round of Wimbledon 2026
A better approach would have been to try to play a softer strategy and not provide fuel for the Belarusian's massive firepower. A second-set reset would be needed after getting thrashed 1-6 in the opening set.
Maybe there was a slight sliver of hope at the end of the first set, though. Sabalenka had mostly held easily, but Kessler began to win points off the top seed's serve in the final game before eventually losing it. The American would need to turn that possible hope into early success in set two.
Kessler had her chances after holding to open the set. She forced Sabalenka to deuce, but two huge serves won the game for the Belarusian. Still, the narrative of the match teetered on the brink of change. This was compounded by Kessler holding at love in the third game.
The American then stunningly got a break of Sabalenka and got to within one game of winning the set, evening the match. Instead, the WTA No. 1 got the break back and forced a tie-break. Kessler was playing much better, and while Sabalenka had slightly dipped in form, her second-best was still matching Kessler's top form.
And yet, McCartney Kessler would still not go away, making Sabalenka play one extra shot with seemingly every point. It was an honorable display of tennis. She continued to play well, but in a tense tie-break that was 9-all, Sabalenka's bombastic groundstrokes proved to be too much, and the Belarusian took the tie-break 11-9 to win the set and match.
Aryna Sabalenka will next face a tough opponent in the third round. She will take on the often volatile Jelena Ostapenko. Sabalenka will be the favorite heading into the match, though.
