<Tr> <Td> ← 2017 </Td> <Td> Wimbledon Championships </Td> <Td> 2019 → </Td> </Tr> <P> Garbiñe Muguruza was the defending champion, but she was defeated in the second round by Alison Van Uytvanck . Muguruza's defeat marked the earliest exit of the defending champion at Wimbledon since Steffi Graf's first round defeat in 1994 . </P> <P> Angelique Kerber won her third Grand Slam singles title, defeating Serena Williams in the rematch of the 2016 final, 6--3, 6--3 . Kerber became the first German since Graf in 1996 to lift the trophy . </P> <P> Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki and Sloane Stephens were in contention for the WTA No. 1 singles ranking at the start of the tournament . Halep retained the No. 1 ranking after Wozniacki and Stephens lost in the second and first rounds, respectively . </P>

Who won the women's final at wimbledon this year