Upsets Hit Wimbledon on Day 1: Chwalinksa, Rublev, Ruud Exit

By Erik Gudris | Monday, June 29, 2026
Photo credit: Tim Clayton/Getty

The famed grass lawns of the All-England Club can prove unpredictable, especially on Day One of Wimbledon. That certainly proved the case as several seeded players found themselves heading home after Monday.

The biggest upset of the day may have been No. 20 seed and recent Roland-Garros finalist Maja Chwalinska of Poland. 

Chwalinksa, after her surprise run from qualifying to the finals in Paris a few weeks ago, was granted a wildcard into Wimbledon since her ranking was too low prior to the Wimbledon player list cut-off. Many thought Chwalinksa, with her unorthodox game, might do well on the grass.

That certainly looked to be the case in her opening round match against Thai qualifier and current World No. 164 Mananchaya Sawangkaew. 

Chwalinksa was in command of the match from the start and soon raced out to a 6-2, 5-2 lead. Yet on match point in the second set, everything changed.

While running on the baseline, Chwalinska slipped and appeared to roll her ankle. After receiving medical treatment, she resumed play. But Chawlinska was never the same afterward.

Sawangkaew eventually reeled off five straight games to take the second set 7-5. Chwalinska left the court, likely for more treatment, but it was clear as the third set started that her movement was greatly hindered.

Sawangkaew, who herself saved multiple match points in qualifying earlier, took advantage of the opportunity and soon secured the upset 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory for her first ever main draw win at a major.

Rublev, Ruud, Norrie All Upset in Round One

A trio of men’s seeded players also found themselves exiting Wimbledon on the first day.

No. 12 seed Andrey Rublev found himself in a close contest with fellow Russian Roman Safiullin. 

The match came down to a final set match tiebreak that Safilullin won by the slimmest of margins to take the match 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(14-12).

Former Wimbledon semifinalist Hubert Hurkacz eased his way past No. 11 seed Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(7). Though it is a big upset by ranking, the result is not that much of a surprise as the Norwegian star has never gone past the second round at the event.

American Michael Zheng earned one of the biggest wins of his career after he took out No. 26 seed and former semifinalist Cameron Norrie 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-7(2),6-3, 7-6(10-4).

It was a rough day for Brits everywhere. Their two most marketable players, Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu, pulled out of the draw, and the British players that were in action went a combined 0-9 on the day.