Wimbledon 2026’s women’s singles tournament, beginning Monday, features a deep field of contenders with varied form and fitness heading into the grass-court Grand Slam.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland enters the tournament ranked third in the world. The 25-year-old has not reached a final on the WTA circuit since September 2025, her longest drought since winning her first major in 2020. Injuries, particularly a recurring foot issue, and an illness in April have contributed to her recent struggles. Swiatek’s performance at the French Open last month, where she exited in the round of 16 to Marta Kostyuk, showed signs of nerves and uncharacteristic errors. Nonetheless, Swiatek remains optimistic about technical adjustments she has made this year, including changes to her footwork and service motion with coach Francisco Roig, believing these will pay dividends in time.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, 28, is another leading contender despite an uneven stretch following a strong start to the year. Sabalenka, who has held the top ranking since October 2024, has made the Wimbledon semifinals in each of her last three attempts but has yet to reach a final there. She has battled a performance slump since winning consecutive titles at Indian Wells and Miami in March—known as the “Sunshine Double.” Notably, she became the first world No. 1 in recent years to lose two deciding sets by a 6-0 scoreline, at the French Open and Berlin Open, raising questions about her form on grass—a surface on which she has never captured a singles title. Nevertheless, Sabalenka’s resilience and capacity to overcome adversity are well documented, making her a formidable threat.

Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, ranked second in the world, started the year strongly by clinching the Australian Open, marking her second Grand Slam title after Wimbledon 2022. However, the 27-year-old has encountered setbacks in recent months. She was eliminated in the second round of the French Open and exited early at grass-court tournaments, including the Queen’s Club and Berlin Opens. Additionally, Rybakina withdrew from the Bad Homburg Open last week due to a hip injury, adding uncertainty to her readiness for Wimbledon. She will rely on rest and recovery to regain form on her favored surface.

American Coco Gauff, ranked seventh, is still seeking to find consistency with her serve after extensive work with biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan beginning in 2025. Despite efforts to reduce double faults, Gauff has led the WTA in that statistic again in 2026, highlighting ongoing difficulties under pressure. The 22-year-old’s defense of her French Open title ended prematurely in the third round against Anastasia Potapova, and she has yet to capture a title this season. A recent round-of-16 loss in Berlin indicates that Gauff faces a challenging path if she hopes to secure her first Wimbledon singles championship.

Emerging as one of the most promising players this year is Russia’s Mirra Andreeva, ranked fifth. The 19-year-old captured her first Grand Slam at the French Open this month, adding to her three WTA titles in 2026. Known for her composure and competitive spirit, Andreeva reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon last year, signaling her potential on grass. Her breakthrough victory in Paris and steady progress throughout the season position her as a significant contender in the tournament.

As the women’s singles draw opens at Wimbledon, these leading players bring contrasting narratives of triumph, struggle, and recovery, setting the stage for a compelling championship battle.