This 2025 edition of Wimbledon has been the year of upsets so far, with a record 36 seeded players across both singles draws already out before the third round.
On the women’s side, following Thursday’s play, four of the top five seeds have bowed out of the tournament in the first two rounds at the All England Club.
Coco Gauff lost to Dayana Yastremska in the first round, while Jessica Pegula bowed out to Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Jasmine Paolini and Qinwen Zheng have also suffered early exits, meaning Aryna Sabalenka is the only top-five seed remaining at Wimbledon.
Still in the tournament is former world number one Iga Swiatek, who, after her second-round victory over Caty McNally, responded to critics claiming there is a lack of consistency on the WTA Tour.
Iga Swiatek responds to inconsistency claims on the WTA Tour
In her post-match press conference, Swiatek was asked: “Do you find that the game has become a lot more competitive outside of the top 5 on both the men’s and the women’s side, looking at all the seeds that have fallen out of the tournament?”
The five-time major champion responded: “I have no idea what’s gonna happen in the future.
“And also, I remember you guys asking me questions why there’s no consistency on the WTA. I don’t feel that.
“Me Aryna, and Coco have been winning a lot. Sometimes we lose early, because the schedule is pretty crazy.
“You can’t win everything. I feel like on the grass, there are many upsets every year. It’s a surface we shouldn’t really.. I don’t know.
“It doesn’t really matter what happens here when we go to the hard court season, I would say.”
The different women’s singles Wimbledon champions since 2016
Since Serena Williams won back-to-back Wimbledon titles in 2016, there has been a different champion each year in the women’s singles tournament in SW19.
Williams came close to winning consecutive titles again in 2018 and 2019, but lost in the final both years to Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep, respectively.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Garbine Muguruza |
| 2018 | Angelique Kerber |
| 2019 | Simona Halep |
| 2021 | Ashleigh Barty |
| 2022 | Elena Rybakina |
| 2023 | Marketa Vondrousova |
| 2024 | Barbora Krejcikova |
Ons Jabeur also made two straight finals at Wimbledon in 2022 and 2023, but couldn’t get over the line in her championship matches against Elena Rybakina and Marketa Vondrousova.
Barbora Krejcikova, the 2024 champion, is still in this year’s tournament and could finally snap the streak of unsuccessful title defences.
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