Kostyuk, Navarro advance with similar paths to Wimbledon third round

Marta Kostyuk has faced Emma Navarro four times on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz, with the American winning each meeting.

When they meet for the fifth time on Saturday -- and the third time on grass -- Kostyuk will be aiming for her first victory over Navarro.

Playing her first grass-court event of the season, Kostyuk recovered to beat Anna Blinkova 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3 in 2 hours, 33 minutes. The victory matched her best Wimbledon result after reaching the third round in 2022 and 2023. It also was her 18th win in her last 19 matches.

Navarro, who reached the final in Nottingham, rallied past Oksana Selekhmeteva 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to reach the third round at the All England Club for the third consecutive year. The American has won 14 of her last 18 matches and reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2024 and the fourth round last year.

Three of Navarro's four wins over Kostyuk have come in straight sets, including both of their previous meetings on grass, in Berlin and Bad Homburg last year.

Bouzkova sets up Samsonova showdown in third round

Earlier in the day, No. 21 seed Marie Bouzkova recovered from an early break down in the opening set to defeat Italian qualifier Tyra Caterina Grant 7-5, 6-3. The Czech advanced to the third round at Wimbledon for the third time. Her best Grand Slam result came at the All England Club in 2022, when she reached the quarterfinals.

Bouzkova improved to 7-2 on grass this season and will next face Liudmila Samsonova. Last year's Wimbledon quarterfinalist upset No. 15 seed Diana Shnaider 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to reach the third round.

Samsonova holds a 3-2 lead in the head-to-head series, although Bouzkova won their only previous meeting on grass.