The match was seemingly going to be easy. Elena Rybakina knew how to win at Wimbledon after winning the event in 2022, and her serve on grass courts was too much for most players. Her first -round opponent, Lois Boisson, had never even made the main draw of the major until 2026.
After a first-set victory of 6-4, Rybakina knew that Boisson wasn't going to fade away easily, however, and this was further proven by the Frenchwoman stunning the Kazakhstani 6-1 in the second set. Many high-seeded players had already been challenged at Wimbledon 2026, and Rybakina was now the newest.
After playing efficient tennis in set one, she stumbled to four winners but 13 unforced errors in the second set. Surely, the dip in form would only be temporary, though the battle was suddenly real.
Elena Rybakina got into a battle she didn't see coming against Lois Boisson at Wimbledon
The third set stayed even through seven games, but Rybakina appeared to play with an uptick in form late. This was buoyed by Boisson suddenly being a bit limpy with either cramps or a leg injury. After an easy hold of serve, the two-seed jumped out to a 0-40 lead on Boisson's next game. Boisson was able to fight back to 30-40, but Rybakina's power was too much, and she got the break.
All that was left was the Kazakhstani serving out the match. She was able to do so with the ease she thought the entire match might be. Perhaps a struggle in the opening round with only help Rybakina in her hopes of winning the major for a second time.
Elena Rybakina will next face the winner of the Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Catherine McNally match in the second round. The path to the final will not be easy, but an in-form Rybakina will be difficult for any player to defeat on the grass courts of Wimbledon. Lois Boisson learned that difficult lesson on Tuesday in the first round.
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