Qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew caused a major upset at Wimbledon 2026 by defeating 20th seed Maja Chwalinska after a remarkable comeback. Sawangkaew saved a match point and completed the turnaround in two hours and 41 minutes, securing her first Grand Slam main draw victory and her first win against a Top 30 opponent.
Chwalinska, a Roland Garros finalist, appeared set for an easy win with a 6-2, 5-2 lead and a match point. However, an injury to her right leg while serving for the match changed the course of the game.
Despite initially seeming minor, Chwalinska’s injury required a medical timeout, allowing Sawangkaew to capitalize on the situation. Sawangkaew fought back, leveling the score at 5-5 and eventually winning the second set as Chwalinska’s movement was hampered.
Chwalinska struggled in the deciding set due to her injured right leg, allowing Sawangkaew to dominate and win the final six games of the match, securing a significant victory in her career. Sawangkaew, ranked 164th in the world, had already shown her resilience in the qualifying rounds, overcoming challenges to reach the main draw.
This win marked the end of an eight-year drought for Thai women’s tennis at Wimbledon, with Sawangkaew becoming the first Thai player to win a women’s singles match at the tournament since 2018. She is one of two Thai women in this year’s main draw, matching the country’s Open Era record.
