Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina faced a surprising early exit from the Wimbledon 2025 after losing to Denmark's Clara Tauson in straight sets. The match, which stretched over four hours due to repeated rain interruptions, ended with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 victory for Tauson.

Rybakina Falls to Tauson in Rain-Hit Battle

Rybakina, seeded 11th and winner of the 2022 Wimbledon title, struggled to find her rhythm against Tauson on Court 2. The match was paused at 4-4 in the first set because of rain, and after a two-hour break, both players returned for a tightly fought contest.

In the tie-break, Rybakina had two set points but failed to convert. Tauson, showing composure under pressure, took the opening set 8-6 in the breaker.

Second Set Sealed the Upset

Riding on the momentum, Tauson broke Rybakina’s serve early in the second set. However, the rain interrupted play again with Tauson leading 4-2. This delay was shorter—just about 15 minutes—and when they resumed, Tauson wasted no time. She secured another break and finished the match with a solid hold.

Tauson's Breakthrough on Grass

This win marks a significant achievement for Tauson, who had never won a match on grass before this season. She had already defeated former British No. 1 Heather Watson in the first round and now adds a Grand Slam champion to her list of scalps.

After the match, Tauson said, “Thanks to the crowd, it [was] amazing to play here today even though it was a little rainy. Before this grass season had started I had never won a match on grass, so I am super proud.”

Facing Swiatek Next

Tauson’s next challenge will be against eighth seed Iga Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam winner who is currently enjoying a strong run at Wimbledon.

Major Seeds Exit Early

Rybakina’s loss is part of a larger trend at this year’s Championships, where more than half of the seeded players in both the men's and women's draws have already been eliminated, turning the tournament into a stage of upsets and rising stars.