Caty McNally vs Elena Rybakina Preview & Tips – Rybakina backed to take her place in the third round at Wimbledon

Elena Rybakina was pushed far closer than many thought she would be by Lois Boisson as she needed all of her experience to secure a 2-1 win.

The pair have met twice before, with both winning one match apiece.

Caty McNally channelled her solid run to the quarter-finals at Eastbourne into the opening round at Wimbledon as she beat Elena Gabriela Ruse 7-5 6-3.

This triumph was her sixth across her last nine in a good run for McNally. The major worry will be her inability to go beyond the second round at any Slam event of late. In 2025, McNally was eliminated in the second round at Wimbledon and the US Open, while a first round exit at the Australian Open was how she began her year.

Continuing this trend, McNally was eliminated in the second round at the Australian Open and French Open in 2026, and I predict another exit in round two for McNally.

Elena Rybakina was given a real workout by Lois Boisson in the first round of Wimbledon as she went from winning the first set 6-4 to taking a 6-1 hammering in the second.

While Rybakina did rally to win the deciding set 6-3, this was a wakeup call for a player that failed to make it beyond the fourth round of any of the four Grand Slams in 2025. While she does boast the Australian Open trophy this year, she was humbled at the French Open as she was knocked out in the second round. There is a real feast or famine feeling to Rybakina’s runs at Grand Slams in 2026.

33 victories in 43 matches in 2026 is a strong return, but two wins in four grass court matches shows Rybakina is far from unbeatable. While I back Rybakina to move into the third round, I do not predict that she will go through unscathed as she wins 2-1 once again.