LONDON — Top-seeded players returned to the grass courts at the All England Club on Wednesday for second-round matches at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, the only Grand Slam contested on grass.

World number one Jannik Sinner and women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka advanced through their opening rounds when the tournament opened Monday, June 29. By midweek, the draw began to thin as second-round fixtures separated genuine contenders from early casualties on the notoriously slick lawns.

Wimbledon organisers scheduled marquee matches on Centre Court and No. 1 Court, where seeded players faced rising challengers. The grass surface, faster and lower-bouncing than hard or clay courts, has historically produced upsets.

The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club confirmed full crowds across the grounds, with Wimbledon competing for attention alongside the FIFA World Cup knockout rounds unfolding across North America. Defending champions and former winners remained under scrutiny as they sought to build momentum toward the second week.

The tournament runs through the men's and women's finals in mid-July. Players and coaches stressed the importance of avoiding the kind of upset that grass courts frequently invite.