Jasmine Paolini Upset by Rakhimova at Wimbledon

In one of the biggest upsets of Wimbledon 2025, Kamilla Rakhimova defeated Jasmine Paolini, last year’s runner-up and current fourth seed, in a dramatic 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 second-round battle. The match lasted 2 hours and 18 minutes on Court Three, with Rakhimova breaking early in the third set and holding firm despite late resistance.

“I just pretend I’m playing a normal girl, not No. 4 in the world,” Rakhimova said with a smile after her first career win over a top-10 player.

Seeds Continue to Fall in Women’s Draw

Paolini’s exit adds to a growing list of early casualties among top seeds:

Coco Gauff (2), Jessica Pegula (3), and Zheng Qinwen (5) were all eliminated in the first round.
Only Aryna Sabalenka (1) remains from the top five, after her second-round win over Marie Bouzkova.

This marks the second time in the Open Era that only one top-five seed has reached the round of 32 at Wimbledon.

Paolini Reflects on Missed Opportunities

Paolini admitted to struggling with focus and fatigue:

“I need to stay there mentally much better… My attention was going up and down all the time,” she said post-match.

Despite winning the Roland Garros doubles title last month, Paolini has now failed to reach the quarter-finals in her last four Grand Slam singles appearances.

What’s Next for Rakhimova

Rakhimova, ranked No. 62, will face Linda Noskova (30) in the third round. With 16 seeds already eliminated, the women’s draw is wide open, offering a golden opportunity for lower-ranked players to make deep runs.