A true sporting thriller unfolded on the courts of the legendary All England Club in London. Ukrainian tennis player Dayana Yastremska demonstrated incredible will to win, starting her campaign in the main draw of Wimbledon 2026. In a dramatic first-round match, the 26-year-old from Odesa managed to snatch victory from Japanese tennis player Aoi Ito, saving four match points in the deciding set.
An exhausting battle for survival
For Dayana Yastremska, this is her fifth appearance in the main draw of Wimbledon. Her personal best at Grand Slam tournaments is the fourth round, achieved back in 2019. This time, her opponent was Aoi Ito (WTA 228), whom the Ukrainian had never faced on court before. The match, which lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes, turned into a test of endurance.
The opening set began with a clear advantage for the Japanese player, who took a 1-3 lead. However, Yastremska quickly got her act together, winning three games in a row to push the set to a tie-break. In the deciding tie-break, the Ukrainian simply dismantled her opponent, taking the set 7-1.
The deciding set: from catastrophe to triumph
In the second set, the initiative shifted. Leading 3-2, Yastremska allowed Ito to seize control of the match. The Japanese player won three games in a row and closed out the set 6-4 on the second attempt, pushing the match into a decisive third set.
The third set became a true test of nerves. With the score at 4-5 in favor of Ito, the Ukrainian was a step away from defeat. Dayana showed phenomenal resilience: first, she heroically saved two match points on her serve in the ninth game, and in the next game on her own serve, she saved two more match points. Psychologically breaking her opponent, Yastremska finished off the match to snatch the ultimate victory.
The Ukrainian contingent and the results of the first day
Dayana Yastremska became the first Ukrainian representative to advance to the round of 32 at the prestigious grass-court tournament. In the next round, she is set to face the winner of the Jessica Buzas Maneiro (Spain) vs. Anastasia Potapova (Austria) match. Notably, it was against the Spanish player Maneiro that Yastremska lost her courts in London last season.
Meanwhile, another Ukrainian, Oleksandra Oleinikova, suffered a crushing defeat to American McCartney Kessler, who set a unique historical Wimbledon record in this match.
The first day of the tournament in London was memorable not only for Ukrainian successes but also for the historic match of world number one Jannik Sinner. The Italian snatched victory in a five-set thriller, continuing to play even after a painful fall and broken, bloodied sneakers.
A large contingent of Ukrainian tennis players is expected on the courts as early as Tuesday, June 30, when five athletes from Ukraine will enter the fray simultaneously.