Elena Rybakina is set for a Wimbledon second-round match with Caty McNally on day four, and the draw comes with a familiar split: former champion against a player who handled her first-round task with control. Rybakina has the stronger resume, but recent grass-court form and a serve that has looked unreliable leave this one less straightforward than the name on paper suggests.
Rybakina and McNally at Wimbledon
Wimbledon has 16 second-round matches on the slate for day four, and this one sits near the top of the appeal because it pairs a former champion with an opponent who already showed she can settle into the surface. McNally played some solid tennis in the first round, and that should give her a cleaner base than a player simply arriving cold into a second-round assignment.
Jim said, "Caty McNally played some solid tennis in the first round but this will surely be a challenge too far for the American, even if Elena Rybakina has not been at her best so far in recent weeks." That frames the match the way most of the preview panels did: Rybakina remains the pick, but only after acknowledging that her level has not been as sharp as her status suggests.
Rybakina's Serve Under Watch
Myles was even more direct about the issue. "Former Wimbledon Champion Rybakina comes into the grass in poor form and her serve – a big key to her success – looks unreliable." He added that McNally was the only player to take a set off Swiatek in her run to the title last year, a reminder that she has already shown she can stretch a top seed when rallies get tight.
Jordan pointed to the same practical problem from a different angle. "Rybakina can expect to be well-tested by McNally, who has a good game for grass." He said both women are adept at keeping the points short, while McNally possesses more variety. That gives the match a simple shape: if Rybakina serves cleanly and lands first strikes, she should control it; if the serve drifts, McNally has enough tools to make the second-round test longer.
Boisson Result Adds Pressure
The warning sign from day two was a 6-1 set Rybakina dropped to Lois Boisson. That result is the clearest recent evidence behind the concern about her current level, because it shows how quickly the margin can narrow when her serve and timing are off. It is also why the preview still leans on quality rather than certainty.
Jordan still landed on Rybakina to move through, saying her quality should still see her through. That is the practical read for bettors and match watchers alike: McNally has already done enough in the first round to earn a real look, but Rybakina's power can take the racket out of an opponent's hands when it is landing on time. The question is whether that version shows up at the All England Club.
