Aryna Sabalenka fights back to defeat Varvara Gracheva after slow start

Australian Open champion drops set in second roundPetra Kvitova beats Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-2

There has been a lot of talk lately about a big three in the women’s game but when it comes to this year’s Wimbledon, there remain doubts. The world No 1, Iga Swiatek, who was due to play her third-round match here on Friday, has looked strong but both Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka have shown vulnerability.

Rybakina, the defending champion, dropped a set in her opening match against Shelby Rogers and struggled for much of the second set against Alizé Cornet in round two. Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, cruised through her opener but then dropped a set in her second-round battle with Varvara Gracheva, a Russian who switched her nationality to French last week.

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