Wimbledon is in full swing, and the opening week has treated fans in London - and across the globe - to some magnificent displays of tennis. Carlos Alcaraz delivered one of the most electric first-round performances in recent memory alongside a retiring Fabio Fognini (aged 37), while Jannik Sinner cruised past Nardi, Vukic, and Martínez with clinical precision. Yet perhaps the most striking storyline so far has been the unprecedented exodus of top seeds ahead of the Round of 16 - an upheaval unlike anything seen in recent Wimbledon history. The cull has been felt across both draws, with a remarkable number of top-20 players making early exits. On the women’s side, stars such as Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Jasmine Paolini, and Madison Keys have all bowed out, leaving the tournament’s latter stages unusually open.
Which begs the question: with so many heavyweights gone, who should we be watching as the Women’s Round of 16 gets underway this Sunday and Monday? Here’s our shortlist of four players to keep your eyes on.
The Belarusian enters the second week of Wimbledon as the frontrunner in the women’s draw - and rightfully so. Currently holding the world No. 1 ranking, her Centre Court victory over Emma Raducanu was a show of brilliance, ruthlessness and clinical precision. She beat the British player on Friday (7–6, 6–4) with a wonderful tiebreak performance in the first set. Still, Sabalenka arrives with a tough 2025 regarding finals and pressure control.
She’s coming off her ‘worst final’ ever, with a surprising loss to Coco Gauff at Roland Garros a few weeks ago. Earlier this year, she also fell to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final - defeats that have sparked questions about her ability to manage the pressure of Grand Slam showdowns, especially on partisan courts. Yet on grass, her game looks sharper than ever. Her trademark power, relentless baseline hitting, and the cunning drop shots she unleashed against Raducanu suggest a player wanting to get past the mark of a Wimbledon semifinal - she has never reached the tournament’s final. If the ‘Tigress’ continues focusing and adapting herself to surpass such defining instances, this could finally be the year she roars her way to the title she’s always dreamed of.
Iga beat earlier today Dannielle Collins (world’s No. 54) 6-2, 6-3 with a strong, focused display - delighting us yet again with one of the draw’s most impressive serve technique. The ex No.1 in the world has had a strong start to the tournament, beating Polina Kudermetova (No. 64) with ease and a comeback against lucky loser Caty McNally (No. 208), yet has never reached a Wimbledon semi-final. We look forward to her serenity during round of 16, where she will be playing Clara Tauson (No.23) who recently beat No.11, Elena Rybakina. If she progresses onwards, a possible encounter with Sabalenka would only be for the final, on July 12th.
The 21-year-old Argentine sensation has been one of Wimbledon’s most unexpected revelations this year. Entering as a lucky loser, she advanced to the Round of 16 after a solid win over Cristina Bucsa (7–5, 1–6, 6–1) and a remarkable second-round comeback against British star Katie Boulter on No. 1 Court. Next, she faces the experienced Laura Siegemund (No. 104), the German who stunned Madison Keys (No. 8) earlier in the draw. It promises to be a fierce contest, but if the young Argentine can replicate her fearless performance against Boulter, she could well earn a shot at Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.
At just 18 years old, Mirra already holds the world No. 7 ranking - remarkably, one spot above Iga Swiatek. The Russian-born, Cannes-based prodigy is on a record-breaking trajectory. In 2024, she reached the Roland-Garros semi-finals at only 17, claimed a silver medal in women’s doubles at the Paris Olympics, and made headlines at Indian Wells 2025 as the second-youngest player ever to defeat both the world No. 1 and past No. 2 in a single tournament - beating Swiatek in the semis and Sabalenka in the final. She now faces Emma Navarro in the Round of 16, and if her flawless tennis continues, a semi-final opportunity feels well within reach.
For Live Scores and the full Order of Play of the Round of 16 on Sunday 6th and Monday 7th July, please click here.