Alexander Zverev hits a return during the men's singles third round match between Alexander Zverev of Germany and Marcos Giron of the United States at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, on July 4, 2026. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)
LONDON, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Second seed Alexander Zverev reached the fourth round at Wimbledon for the fourth time on Saturday with a straight-sets victory over Marcos Giron, while defending women's champion Iga Swiatek and former champion Elena Rybakina suffered shock exits.
Zverev defeated American Giron 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-4 in two hours and 34 minutes, firing 17 aces and winning 77 percent of his first-serve points to continue his strong run at the All England Club.
"He is somebody who plays fantastic on grass, and he shows it every time he steps out on the surface," Zverev said of Giron. "I knew that I had to be a hundred percent ready from the first point onwards and I am very happy to be through in straight sets."
The German, who improved to 5-0 against Giron, became only the third German male player in the open era to reach the Wimbledon last 16 at least four times, after Boris Becker and Michael Stich. He will next face 13th seed Jiri Lehecka, who beat Spain's Jaume Munar 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Sixth seed Taylor Fritz also advanced, recovering from a set down to defeat Italy's Lorenzo Sonego 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
"I'm feeling good about my game," Fritz said. "Getting through the first week to the second is always the first goal and the first step when you're looking to go deep at majors. So, I am happy to get through."
The women's draw, however, was rocked by a series of upsets.
Defending champion and third seed Swiatek lost 7-6 (9), 6-2 to highly rated Filipina Alexandra Eala on Center Court, while 2022 champion and second seed Elena Rybakina fell 7-6 (4), 6-1 to Belgium's Elise Mertens.
Eala threw herself to the ground and covered her face with her hands after saving four break points before converting her third match point in a dramatic final game.
Rybakina's defeat ensured that Aryna Sabalenka would retain the world number one ranking regardless of how far the Belarusian progresses at Wimbledon.
Last year's runner-up Amanda Anisimova also exited the tournament on Saturday, losing 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 to former Australian Open champion Madison Keys.
Swiatek's defeat also means no woman has successfully defended the Wimbledon singles title since Serena Williams in 2016.
In the women's doubles, the Chinese duo of Xu Yifan and Jiang Xinyu advanced to the round of 16 after defeating 11th seeds Lyudmyla Kichenok and Desirae Krawczyk 6-4, 7-5.
Meanwhile, 10th-seeded Chinese player Guo Hanyu teamed up with France's Kristina Mladenovic to cruise past Ekaterina Alexandrova and Maya Joint 6-2, 6-3, securing their spots in the last 16.
Serena Williams withdrew from the doubles' tournament due to a knee injury. The 44-year-old was injured during her first-round singles defeat by Maya Joint earlier this week. ■
Alexander Zverev hits a return during the men's singles third round match between Alexander Zverev of Germany and Marcos Giron of the United States at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, on July 4, 2026. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)
Alexander Zverev hits a return during the men's singles third round match between Alexander Zverev of Germany and Marcos Giron of the United States at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, on July 4, 2026. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)
Alexander Bublik hits a return during the men's singles third round match between Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan and Frances Tiafoe of the United States at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, July 4, 2026. (Photo by Dinendra Haria/Xinhua)
Grigor Dimitrov hits a return during the men's singles third round match between Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Matteo Berrettini of Italy at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, July 4, 2026. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)
Grigor Dimitrov celebrates during the men's singles third round match between Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Matteo Berrettini of Italy at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, July 4, 2026. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)
Alexander Bublik hits a return during the men's singles third round match between Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan and Frances Tiafoe of the United States at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, July 4, 2026. (Photo by Dinendra Haria/Xinhua)
Matteo Berrettini reacts during the men's singles third round match between Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Matteo Berrettini of Italy at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, July 4, 2026. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)
Alexandra Eala reacts during the women's singles third round match between Alexandra Eala of the Philippines and Iga Swiatek of Poland at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, on July 4, 2026. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)
Elise Mertens reacts after the women's singles third round match between Elise Mertens of Belgium and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, on July 4, 2026. (Photo by Dinendra Haria/Xinhua)
Elise Mertens reacts after the women's singles third round match between Elise Mertens of Belgium and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, on July 4, 2026. (Photo by Dinendra Haria/Xinhua)
Elise Mertens hits a return during the women's singles third round match between Elise Mertens of Belgium and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, on July 4, 2026. (Photo by Dinendra Haria/Xinhua)
Alexandra Eala reacts during the women's singles third round match between Alexandra Eala of the Philippines and Iga Swiatek of Poland at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, on July 4, 2026. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)
