A diverse field of 25 potential champions characterizes the Wimbledon women's draw, as highlighted by Greece's Maria Sakkari, who secured her place in the second round on Monday as the first seeded player to do so. Sakkari, ranked ninth, swiftly defeated American qualifier McCartney Kessler 6-3, 6-1 in just over an hour, marking the start of her campaign to leave a lasting impression at the tournament. The 28-year-old from Athens has yet to advance past the third round at Wimbledon but feels this year presents a chance to surpass her previous performances.
"It certainly enhances my confidence. The more I participate in this tournament, the more comfortable I feel," Sakkari shared with the press following her quick win on Court 12. Her recent performances in Grand Slam events have been lackluster, and she suffered an early exit in the first round of the French Open as the sixth seed. "It's always beneficial to secure that first-round victory. I'm pleased I was able to overcome my struggles from the French Open," she reflected.
With third seed Aryna Sabalenka withdrawing due to a shoulder injury and no clear favorite on grass, Sakkari noted that many players might feel they have a shot at victory, similar to last year's champion, Marketa Vondrousova. "From my perspective, it's an open field. Any player could win. Entering the tournament, we could list about 20 to 25 players who have a chance to win," Sakkari observed. "The depth in women's tennis is excellent right now, and everyone is performing well."
There have been seven unique winners in the past seven Wimbledons, and Sakkari believes the Wimbledon grass, which now plays more like a medium-fast hardcourt, poses no significant challenge to the emerging generation of players. "Grass plays differently from clay and hard courts. However, there isn't a top player who can't perform on grass," she stated. Sakkari was joined in the second round by Russia's 14th seed Daria Kasatkina, who easily defeated Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-0, reinforcing predictions that the Eastbourne champion could make a significant impact during Wimbledon. Additionally, Ukraine's 18th seed Marta Kostyuk advanced by defeating Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova 6-3, 6-2.
