What a disappointment!

Fernando Murciego | 1 Jul 2026 | 09.34

Here are the biggest disappointments of Wimbledon who did not make it past the first round. Source: Getty

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Tennis is moving in a direction where the ranking matters less and less, a reality that has been confirmed once again at this Wimbledon 2026. After the first round, let's dive into the classic list of disappointments that the tournament has brought us.

The first round of Wimbledon has left a trail of surprises and unexpected eliminations. Players expected to advance to the second week of competition have bid an early farewell, marking some of the major disappointments of the All England Club. Today, before the action returns to the courts, let's review eight names that arrived in London with a strong reputation but ended up leaving the event through the back door.

These are the biggest disappointments of Wimbledon 2026

CAMERON NORRIE

He dreamt of delivering a great performance in front of his home crowd, even daring to label himself as the surprise player of the draw. However, the Brit stumbled once again on the stage where he most hoped to prove himself. Uncomfortable throughout the match, he never found his rhythm from the baseline against a surprising Michael Zheng, eventually bowing out prematurely. His elimination marks another tough blow for a player who is still struggling to rediscover his best form.

ANDREY RUBLEV

He missed yet another important opportunity at a Grand Slam, a list that already has quite a few entries. The Russian, unable to control his usual emotional ups and downs, made too many errors at crucial moments against his compatriot Roman Safiullin, which led to his defeat by a more solid opponent. His early exit raises doubts once again about his ability to make the definitive leap in major events, a step forward that is becoming increasingly harder to envision.

BEN SHELTON

Arriving as one of the names expected to liven up the tournament with his explosive serve and aggressiveness, based on what he had shown on the grass circuit, he was met by an inspired Otto Virtanen who dismantled him in five sets. The American fought until the fifth set but failed to impose his game consistently. An unexpected defeat, the harshest in his career, halting the progress he had been showing on grass. For me, the biggest disappointment by far in the entire article.

FRAN CERÚNDOLO

He landed in London after a very consistent season and with the confidence to have his best Wimbledon. Winning at Queen's and with Nico Massú by his side, the stage seemed set or so it seemed. However, the Argentine never felt comfortable on the court, made uncharacteristic mistakes, and departed much sooner than expected. Yes, Jaume Munar played a tremendous match from start to finish, but we all knew who the favorite was here. A significant setback for one of the players who arrived with the highest expectations.

ELINA SVITOLINA

She started as one of the main contenders to reach the second week, partly because she had done so in the past, but was taken by surprise by her compatriot Daria Snigur's high level. The Ukrainian couldn't find solutions during the match and experienced one of the most unexpected exits in the women's draw, leaving that part of the tournament wide open and, worse yet, blaming her stumble on the schedule afterwards. The first top 10 player to pack her bags in the women's draw.

DONNA VEKIC

The Croatian couldn't leverage her grass experience, despite typically shining in this part of the season. Donna struggled with her serve from the outset, providing too many chances to her opponent, Ashlyn Krueger, who capitalized on each opportunity. Her opening-round defeat is another significant loss among the players aiming for a deep run at Wimbledon, although at 30 years old, we couldn't expect something monumental.

SERENA WILLIAMS

Her return in the individual arena captured all the attention at the All England Club. Rightly so, it couldn't have been otherwise, but when you return to the circuit at 44, you must ensure that the groundwork is well done. The American showed glimpses of the competitiveness that made her a legend, but the pace of competition and physical demands made the difference against Maya Joint, who wasn't at her best either. Her adventure ended in the first round, prematurely concluding one of the most anticipated stories of the tournament. It wasn't expected for her to win, but at least a couple of matches were anticipated. As for not holding a press conference later, better not to comment.

KATIE BOULTER

Time passes, and the definitive breakthrough of the British player still hasn't arrived, an event that may never happen. She carried a significant portion of British tennis hopes, and the outcome was particularly painful. Defeated by the young Tyra Grant, the local number one failed to handle the pressure of the debut and became another of the favorites eliminated. A very tough blow for the local fans from day one, although they experienced multiple disappointments to add to the memory afterwards.

And for you, who has been the biggest disappointment on the list? Which name would you add to the article?

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¡Qué decepción!

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