Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one and top seed at Wimbledon 2026, expressed her desire to get "completely drunk" after suffering a stunning second-round defeat to Swiss qualifier Jil Teichmann on Wednesday. The Belarusian, who was widely expected to challenge for the title, lost 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on Court 1, marking her earliest exit at the All England Club since 2021.
Sabalenka's Frustration Boils Over
Speaking after the match, Sabalenka did not hide her disappointment. "I just want to get completely drunk tonight and forget this match," she said in her post-match press conference. "I had no rhythm, no feel for the ball. She played amazing, but I was terrible. It's one of those days where nothing works." According to tournament statistics, Sabalenka committed 42 unforced errors, compared to Teichmann's 18, and won only 55% of her first-serve points.
The defeat is a major blow for Sabalenka, who had won the Australian Open earlier this year and was on a 12-match winning streak on grass. She had also reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2024. The loss means she will drop significant ranking points, though she remains world number one.
Teichmann's Career-Best Win
Jil Teichmann, ranked 98th in the world, produced the best performance of her career to knock out the top seed. "I can't believe it. I came here just hoping to win a match, and now I've beaten the world number one," Teichmann said. "I stayed calm and focused on my game plan. I knew she could be erratic, so I just kept the ball deep and waited for my chances." The Swiss qualifier will next face 23rd seed Madison Keys in the third round.
Teichmann's victory was her first against a top-10 player since 2023, and it ended Sabalenka's run of 18 consecutive Grand Slam match wins. The match lasted 2 hours and 11 minutes, with Teichmann breaking Sabalenka's serve four times.
Impact on the Women's Draw
Sabalenka's exit opens up the top half of the draw, with second seed Iga Swiatek now the heavy favorite to reach the final. Swiatek, who has won four Grand Slams, is chasing her first Wimbledon title. Other contenders include defending champion Elena Rybakina and world number three Coco Gauff. Sabalenka's departure also means that for the first time since 2022, the top seed will not reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
The Belarusian's shock loss adds to a growing list of early exits by top seeds at this year's tournament. Earlier in the week, men's world number one Carlos Alcaraz lost in the first round to qualifier Matteo Arnaldi. Sabalenka, however, refused to blame the conditions or scheduling. "It's just tennis. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I'll be back stronger," she said.
