Wimbledon 2026 second round: Elena Rybakina vs Caty McNally – how to watch live for free

Elena Rybakina, the second seed from Kazakhstan and 2022 Wimbledon champion, faces American Caty McNally in a second-round clash on Thursday, 2 July at the All England Club. Rybakina is hunting her second Wimbledon crown and a potential path to World No. 1, while McNally – ranked 50th – arrives off a straight-sets first-round win over Gabriela Ruse and is riding a 6-3 grass-court record this season.

Rybakina cruised through her opener but has struggled to find top form on grass in 2026, notably losing to wildcard Alexandra Eala in Berlin. McNally, meanwhile, delivered a commanding 6-3, 6-0 dismantling of Emiliana Arango at Eastbourne and won her Wimbledon opener in two sets, showcasing sharp slicing and an 83% first-serve win rate.

The head-to-head stands locked at 1-1, but neither meeting came on grass. McNally upset Rybakina at the 2021 Charleston Open on clay, while Rybakina leveled the series with a three-set comeback at the 2025 China Open on hard courts. On the lawns of SW19, neither player has a proven edge – making this a genuine test of Rybakina's grass pedigree against McNally's confidence and recent form.

Broadcast schedule

• Date: Thursday, 2 July 2026
• Match start time: 4:20 PM BST / 6:20 PM EEST / 11:20 AM ET / 8:20 AM PT / 1:20 AM AEST (3 July)
• Court: Court 1
• Broadcast:
  • United Kingdom: BBC One / BBC iPlayer (free)
  • United States: ESPN (paid)
  • Australia: Stan Sport (paid)
  • Europe: Eurosport / discovery+ (paid)

How to watch Rybakina vs McNally for free with a VPN

1. Download and install a VPN – we recommend NordVPN
2. Connect to a server in the United Kingdom
3. Go to bbc.co.uk/iplayer and create a free BBC account (email address only – no postcode or payment needed)
4. Search for Wimbledon and find the live stream
5. Start streaming the match live – BBC iPlayer shows up to 18 courts simultaneously

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Why you need a VPN

Wimbledon streaming rights are sold country by country, which means most official free streams are geo-blocked outside their home region. In the UK, BBC iPlayer streams every Wimbledon match free with no subscription required, but it only works if you have a UK IP address. In the US, ESPN requires a paid cable or streaming subscription with no free alternative available, while in Australia, Stan Sport is also a paid service with no free broadcaster carrying Wimbledon.

A VPN changes your virtual location by routing your connection through a server in another country. When you connect to a UK server, BBC iPlayer recognizes you as being in the UK and unlocks the free stream from anywhere in the world. Without a VPN, attempting to access BBC iPlayer from outside the UK results in a "content not available in your region" error message that blocks the stream entirely.

Best VPNs for streaming Wimbledon

1. NordVPN – best overall. Fast NordLynx protocol, servers across 224 locations, and independently audited. Reliable BBC iPlayer unblocking with ~83% speed retention in our tests. From $3.49/month.
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Rybakina vs McNally: match preview

Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan, seed 2, WTA rank 2) is the 2022 Wimbledon champion and 2026 Australian Open winner, making her a two-time Grand Slam titleholder with a proven grass-court pedigree. She reached the Wimbledon final in 2023 and remains one of the most naturally suited grass players in the field. However, her 2026 grass season has been uneven – she lost to wildcard Alexandra Eala in the Berlin Open quarterfinals and has yet to capture a grass title this year. On grass, Rybakina's flat, powerful groundstrokes and heavy serve are devastating, but she can be vulnerable to variety and precision when her rhythm is disrupted.

Caty McNally (United States, rank 50) is a former junior prodigy who has rebuilt her singles career after focusing on doubles. She arrives at Wimbledon with momentum: a 6-0 demolition of Emiliana Arango at Eastbourne, a straight-sets first-round win over Gabriela Ruse, and a 6-3 grass-court record in 2026. McNally's slicing backhand, net play, and ability to change pace make her a dangerous floater on grass. Her 83% first-serve win rate in the first round suggests she's serving with confidence, and she has shown she can trouble top players when her variety clicks.

Head-to-head on grass: The two have never met on grass. Their overall record is tied 1-1. McNally won their first meeting on clay at the 2021 Charleston Open, while Rybakina fought back to win 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 at the 2025 China Open on hard courts. Neither surface offers a reliable predictor for grass.

Matchup edge: Rybakina's power and grass pedigree give her the clear favorite status, but McNally's variety and current form make this more competitive than the rankings suggest. If McNally can disrupt Rybakina's rhythm with slices and net approaches, she has a path to an upset. Rybakina, however, has the firepower to overpower McNally if she finds her range – and on grass, her serve becomes a weapon McNally will struggle to neutralize consistently.

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