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Friday, July 3, 2026

W.5- Project Runway













=DAY 5 NOTES=
...nothing of *great* surprise happened at SW19 on Friday, but some of the expected results took "the scenic route" to get to their expected destination.

First, the pre-game parade...



In this case, #14 Naomi Osaka's endless fashion runways in the majors have been tolerable this year because they've not been *all* that she's done.

She just posted her maiden Round of 16 result on the clay in Paris, and today reached the same stage with a 6-1/6-3, top-form win over Dasha Kasatkina, producing her best career SW19 result.



Osaka had been the *only* of the 29 woman who've been ranked the WTA #1 in singles to have never reached the 4th Round at Wimbledon. Now, after reaching her maiden RG Round of 16 just last month, she's finished off the back-half of her Career Round of 16 Slam in a matter of weeks after getting the first half eight years, completing her four-part set in her 34th career MD appearance at a major.



At 7-1 on the grass this season, her most wins on the surface in a single year, Osaka just a week ago reached her first career grass court final. Clearly, the work is paying off, and Osaka's consistency of result has been the best it's been in quite a long time, as she's also reached an additional three 4th Rounds in 1000 events. But she's yet to *finish* what she's started. Her Bad Homburg final loss (via ret. vs. Muchova) was her fourth straight in a tour-level event since she won AO21. She's 0-4 vs. Top 10 opponents this season, as well. 0-5 since defeating Coco Gauff in the U.S. Open 4th Round last summer.

She'll next face off with the current #1, Aryna Sabalenka, who took care of Alona Ostapenko today 6-4/6-4, reaching the second week at a major in her *fifteenth* consecutive slam appearance (as well as 18 of 19, and 19 of 21).



Sabalenka leads the head-to-head series vs. Osaka by a 3-1 tally, but this will be their first meeting on grass. Sabalenka is already 3-0 this season, defeating Osaka in Round of 16 matches in Indian Wells and Madrid, as well as at Roland Garros.

Sabalenka's history says she's the favorite in the match, but if Osaka turns the tables, well, she might be on her way to morphing into *the* favorite, period.

...the Bannerettes have been a consistent collective force at this Wimbledon, leading the number of woman participating in every round so far. There'll be an all-U.S. 3rd Round match-up on July 4th between Amanda Anisimova and Madison Keys on Saturday, and today's results assured that they'll be another in two days in the Round of 16.

#4 Jessie Pegula held up her end of the deal today, putting up her best performance so far at the fortnight with a 6-1/6-3 win over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Court 2 a year after her '25 Wimbledon experience ended on the very same court at the hands of Elisabetta Cocciaretto.



The second week run is an important one for Pegula, who fell in the 2nd and 1st Round the last two years after reaching her career-best Wimbledon QF in 2023. She fell in the Roland Garros 1st Round just a few weeks ago, as well, in her worst slam result *other* than last year's Wimbledon since her one-and-done at RG in 2020 (which, at the time, was her sixth 1st Rd. exit in her first eight slam MD appearances).

With a grass court final in each of the last three seasons -- '24 Berlin W, '25 Bad Homburg W, '26 Berlin RU -- Pegula remains the only player who still has a chance to win tour titles on hard court, clay and grass in consecutive seasons. She was the only woman to do it last year, and is in need of a crown on the lawns two weekends from now if she's going to do it again.

Pegula's next opponent with will be #16 Iva Jovic, still the "other" teenager in the Top 20. But at this Wimbledon the 18-year old is also the *only* one still alive in the singles draw.

Jovic, coming off what was an average clay campaign, took care of #18 Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3/3-6/6-4 today to improve to 6-1 this grass season. She reached the Queen's Club semis a few weeks ago, notching wins over Amanda Anisimova and Alex Eala.

Jovic reached her maiden major QF in Melbourne in January to become the youngest U.S. woman to reach that stage at the AO since Venus Williams in 1998.



...meanwhile, the Crusher section of the draw (i.e. three Czechs out of four women competing for a QF berth) played out as expected, with an all-Czech match-up now on deck for the Round of 16. Still, it took a little bit of late work by both winners to get there without an unnecessary trip into a 3rd set.



Against her increasingly dangerous countrywoman Nikola Bartunkova, Barbora Krejcikova nearly squandered a 5-2 2nd set lead, failing to convert three MP from 40/15 up in game 8, then dropped serve again when serving for the match at 5-4. But Krejcikova broke back to get *another* chance, this time getting the job done on MP #5 to win 6-3/7-5.

Krejcikova, the '24 champ, is now 18-4 in her Wimbledon career, and looking (once again) like a player that *no one* will relish facing if she can find her way deep into week two.

Krejcikova will now face off with yet another Czech, as #10 Karolina Muchova added a resurgent SW19 -- her first since 2021 -- to her Peak (?) Muchova campaign, eliminating qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew in straights.

Of course, Sawangkaew has been a very tough out at this Wimbledon. In qualifying, she played a trio of three-setters, ralling from 3-1 down in the 3rd in her second win, then saving three MP in the final round. In the 1st Round, she recovered from being MP down at 6-2/5-2 vs. Maja Chwalinska when the RG finalist fell and injured her ankle and everything changed.

After Muchova won the 1st set, Sawangkaew led 5-3 in the 2nd, and served to force a 3rd at 5-4. But the Czech got the break, eventually forcing a TB that she dominated, winning 6-2/7-6(1)



Muchova reached the QF in her first two appearances at Wimbledon, but had exited in the 1st Round the last four years.

...#11 Belinda Bencic hasn't had a *bad* '26 season, but the '25 SW19 semifinalist is still in search of her signature moment of the season.

The Swiss got off to a great a start back in January, starring in the totally-made-up-event that is the United Cup, going a combined 9-1 (WS/WD/MX), posting two Top 10 singles wins, and being named MVP even though Switzerland lost in the final vs. Poland. After finishing 2025 at #11, she spent time in the Top 10 in the opening months of this year.

But Bencic came into Wimbledon having played in no grass tuneup event following her RG Round of 16, without a singles final or SF appearance in 2026, and with two of her three Top 10 wins having occurred in Week 1 (and the third in Miami, in March).

Against #19 Anna Kalinskaya, Bencic consistently put herself in good position. She had a double-break edge in the 1st, but gave it back as the Hordette knotted the score at 4-4. But Bencic's eleventh hour break/hold combo gave her a one set lead. In the 3rd, she twice relinquished break advantages, but got things to a MTB, where she maintained an early lead (4-1, 7-4) before finally converting on her second MP, winning 6-4/4-6/7-6(10-6).



While Bencic was the first woman to advance to the Round of 16 on Friday, her next opponent was the last.

#7 Coco Gauff seemed as if she was going to have a short work day against qualifier Claire Liu. After winning the 1st set 6-3, she denied Liu on four BP to hold for 4-3, then got the break to lead 5-3 and serve for the match. Liu got the break, but Gauff had three MP chances on return in the next game. Liu held on, then went on to win a 7-3 TB to force a 3rd.

But Gauff rarely goes out without a big fight, even after blowing an opportunity to get off the court early. She got a quick break to open the set, and never faced a BP on her own serve the rest of the way. She served out the 6-3/6-7(5)/6-2 win to reach her fourth Round of 16 at All-England Club (w/ runs in 2019, '21 and '24).










*WOMEN'S SINGLES ROUND OF 16*
#1 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR vs. #14 Naomi Osaka/JPN
#10 Karolina Muchova/CZE vs. Barbora Krejcikova/CZE
#4 Jessie Pegula/USA vs. #16 Iva Jovic/USA
#11 Belinda Bencic/SUI vs. #7 Coco Gauff/USA
x vs. x
x vs. x
x vs. x
x vs. x










...IT'S SMART FOR VENUS' OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY TO NOT BE TIED *SOLELY* TO THE WHIMS OF HER SISTER... ON DAY 5:



Williams/Krawietz lost, though, so... now it's all on Serena.


...FIRST, THEY CAME FOR THE MIXED DOUBLES. THEN THEY CAME FOR THE... ON DAY 5:




...UMMM... ON DAY 5:

How is it a "dream run" when she's gotten exactly this far three times before?





...QUITE A LOT OF THE SHINE HAS WORN OFF THIS TEAM IN '26, but there's still time... ON DAY 5:



2026 STATS: 0 titles. 1 final. 12-7 record. 2-3 since losing in the Miami final

2026 MAJORS: AO- 2nd Round, RG- DNP (Paolini injured), WI- DNP


...OVERINDULGING IN 3, 2, 1... ON DAY 5:
























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*WTA #1 PLAYERS (29) - BEST WIMBLEDON RESULT*
=W (15)=
Barty, Davenport, Evert, Goolagong, Graf, Halep, Hingis, Kerber, Mauresmo, Muguruza, Navratilova, Sharapova, Swiatek, S.Williams, V.Williams
=RU (4)=
Seles, Sanchez Vicario, Henin, Pliskova
=SF (7)=
Austin, Capriati, Clijsters, Ivanovic, Sabalenka, Safina, Azarenka
=QF (0)=
-
=4r (3)=
Jankovic, Wozniacki, Osaka

*"CAREER SLAM" FEATS IN 2020s*
2020 US - Alize Cornet, FRA (57th slam MD)
2021 AO - Donna Vekic, CRO (29th)
2021 US - Iga Swiatek, POL (11th)
2022 AO - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (8th)
2022 AO - Kaia Kanepi, EST (53rd)
2022 US - Caroline Garcia, FRA (42nd)
2022 US - Coco Gauff, USA (13th)
2022 US - Ons Jabeur, TUN (22nd)
2022 US - Zhang Shuai, CHN (41st)
2023 RG - Karolina Muchova, CZE (17th)
2023 RG - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (21st)
2023 WI - Jessie Pegula, USA (19th)
2023 WI - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (21st)
2023 US - Alona Ostapenko, LAT (31st)
2024 WI - Danielle Collins, USA (27th)
2024 US - Paula Badosa, ESP (19th)
2024 US - Jasmine Paolini, ITA (20th)
2025 AO - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (36th)
2025 AO - Emma Navarro, USA (9th)
2025 US - Amanda Anisimova, USA (23rd)
2025 US - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (25th)
2026 AO - Yulia Putintseva, KAZ (48th)
2026 RG - Belinda Bencic, SUI (38th)
2026 WI - Naomi Osaka, JPN (34th)






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TOP QUALIFIER: Robin Montgomery/USA
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #1 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR (two straight sets wins; extends slam TB win streak to 21)
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): x
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): x
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1 - Anastasia Gasanova/RUS def. Varvara Lepchenko/USA 2-6/6-1/7-6(12-10) - Lepchenko led 5-3 in the 3rd, twice served for the match, led 5-1 in MTB and at 9-6 held four MP over a 5-point stretch. Gasanova wins 12-10.
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - Maya Joint/AUS def. Serena Williams/USA 6-3/6-7(6)/6-3 - 20-year old Aussie, 1-13 in her last 14 matches, defeats returning 44-year old Williams in her first singles match since 2022
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): x
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): x
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #11 Belinda Bencic/SUI (def. Stojsavljevic/GBR)
FIRST SEED OUT: #20 Maja Chwalinska/POL (1st Rd. - hurt ankle/foot on MP up 6-2/5-2 vs. Sawangkaew/THA)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Anastasia Gasanova/RUS (2nd MD), Tyra Grant/ITA (1st MD), Mananchaya Sawangkaew/THA (2nd MD), Lanlada Tararudee/THA (2nd MD)
UPSET QUEENS: Czech Republic
REVELATION LADIES: Southeast Asians
NATION OF POOR SOULS: GBR (1-7 1st Rd., after 0/7 through qualfiying; Kartal DNP, Raducanu w/d and started 0-7 in MD play)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: in 3r: Krueger/USA, Liu/USA(L), Sawangkaew/THA(L)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Katie Swan/GBR (2nd Rd.)
PROTECTED RANKING WINS: Karolina Pliskova/CZE, Sara Sorribes Tormo/ESP (both 2nd Rd.)
LUCKY LOSERS: Darja Semenistaja/LAT(L)
LAST BRIT STANDING: Katie Swan/GBR (2nd Rd.)
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: xx
IT "?": x
COMEBACK PLAYER: x
CRASH & BURN: x
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON: Nominees: Sawangkaew (1r- trailed #20 Chwalinska 6-2/5-2 and MP down when #20 seed hurt ankle/foot; first career slam MD win; in Q: three 3-setters, 3-1 down in 3rd vs. Stoiana Q2, 3 MP vs.Dodin Q3); Navarro (1r- trailed Badosa 5-2 in 3rd); Krueger (1r- trailed Vekic set and 5-3, twice served for match); Gauff (2r- Sierra at 5-4 in 3rd, 7-4 in MTB); Sakkari (2r- Rakhimova served at 5-4 in the 3rd); Anisimova (2r- Kenin led 3-1 in the 3rd, with 2 BP for 4-1)
DOUBLES STAR: x
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominee: S.Williams returns at age 44 (WD w/ Venus, combined age of 90)
LAWN COURT ROLLER: x
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREE: Nominee: Chwalinska (devastating loss in 1st Rd. after having MP at 6-2/5-2 before fall injuries ankle)








All for Day 5. More tomorrow.
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