WIMBLEDON: Alcaraz starts with a win, Medvedev suffers shock exit

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz started his title defense at 2025 Wimbledon with a win over Fabio Fognini.
Alcaraz claimed a 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 win in the men’s singles opening round at the Centre Court.
The Spaniard is unbeaten at Wimbledon since 2023, having won the last two editions. He has a win percentage of over 90 at Wimbledon.
In 2023, Alcaraz scripted history by winning Wimbledon.
The Spaniard outlasted Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller. Notably, the Serb was unbeaten at the grass-court Slam since 2016.
Alcaraz became the second player to defeat Djokovic in a Wimbledon final, joining Andy Murray.
He also became the first player outside of the Big 4 with the Wimbledon ttile since 2002.
Medvedev suffers shock first-round Wimbledon exit
Two-time semi-finalist Daniil Medvedev suffered a shock first-round exit at Wimbledon, reports BBC Sports
The Russian world number nine lost 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 to the 64th-ranked Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi and took his frustration out on his racquet after the conclusion of the match.
It is the first time that Medvedev, who made the last four in the past two years, has failed to reach the second round in seven Wimbledon appearances.
It was a first ever victory over a top-10 ranked opponent for Bonzi, 29, who has matched his best Wimbledon result by reaching the second round.
“This is special for me today. It is my first top-10 win at a slam and it is always special at this tournament. I love this place,” said Bonzi.
“Daniil is a great player. I knew it was a tough match but sometimes it is better to play those players in the first round, when anything can happen.”
Sabalenka powers past Branstine in their opening match
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka overcame Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine on a sweltering Court One to get her quest for a first Wimbledon title up and running with a 6-1, 7-5 win on Monday, reports Sportstar
With the thermometer soaring above 30 degrees Celsius, the Belarusian turned up the heat early to win the opening five games.
But Branstine, who juggles her time between the tennis courts and working as a model, earned loud applause when she got on the scoreboard, and although Sabalenka eased to the first set, the second was an intense duel of fierce baseline rallies.
Sabalenka, seeded one at Wimbledon for the first time, usually overpowers her opponents with the sheer force of her game, but Branstine had firepower of her own.
The Canadian powered down several big aces as she stayed ahead in the second set, but Sabalenka sensed her chance at 5-5 and broke serve by forcing her opponent to net a forehand.
Sabalenka wrapped up the win with a solid hold.
Kartal gets British women off to winning start at Wimbledon
Sonay Kartal became the first player through from the 14-strong British contingent in action on day one at Wimbledon with victory over 20th seed Jelena Ostapenko, reports BBC Sports.
On a sweltering day at SW19, Kartal toppled the former French Open champion 7-5 2-6 6-2 to book her place in the second round.
Kartal, 23, is one of 10 British women in action at the All England Club – the most since 1992.
She had to come from behind to win the opening set on a lively court three.
But a dominant deciding set secured her progression to round two for the second time in her career, following a breakout tournament at last year’s Wimbledon where she reached the third round.
“That was by far one of the toughest matches I’ve played,” she said after the win, her third over a top-20 player this year.
“I would say that I struggle against the big hitters. I’ve made a conscious effort this year to play the bigger matches and put myself under the most pressure out on court.
“I knew that I wouldn’t get the results straightaway but that it would eventually pay off, and that’s what happened today.”
Wimbledon: Ons Jabeur retires in first round amid scorching heat
Two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur’s 2024 campaign came to a heartbreaking early end on Monday, as the Tunisian star was forced to retire in her first-round match against Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova due to health concerns amid sweltering conditions at the All England Club.
Jabeur, who reached the Wimbledon final in both 2022 and 2023, appeared visibly distressed during her time on Court 14, struggling in the oppressive heat as temperatures soared to 92°F (33.3°C). The former World No. 2 dropped a tight first set in a tiebreak and was trailing 2-0 in the second when she called time on the match. She had taken a lengthy medical timeout in the opening set and was seen in tears before eventually making the difficult decision to withdraw.
The 30-year-old, who suffers from asthma and had already experienced breathing difficulties earlier this year at the Australian Open, admitted the situation had caught her off guard. “I wasn’t expecting not to feel good,” she said post-match.
“I have been practising pretty well the last few days, but I guess these things happen. I’m pretty sad—it really doesn’t help with my confidence. I’ve been pushing myself even through a tough season, and this is a setback.”
British qualifier Tarvet into Wimbledon second round
British qualifier Oliver Tarvet enjoyed a dream Wimbledon debut as he saw off Switzerland’s Leandro Riedi 6-4 6-4 6-4 to reach the second round, reports BBC Sports.
Tarvet, 21, is ranked 733rd in the world and came through three rounds of qualifying to secure his place in the main draw – the first British man to achieve that since 2017.
His victory means he could next face world number two and defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Tarvet told BBC Sport: “There’s a lot of emotions, just really overjoyed. All the hard work I put in the last few years has clearly paid off.
“It’s my first tour-level event, to come out here, come through qualifying, win a first-round match, have a chance to play maybe Carlos on Wednesday, it’s just a dream come true.”
Tarvet’s underdog story ensured there was plenty of interest in his match on court four as spectators crowded around the edges for the match against fellow qualifier Riedi, who is ranked 506th in the world but was 117th as recently as August last year.
There was little to separate the two in a tight opening few games but Tarvet got the crucial break in the ninth before holding on his serve to take the first set.
Tarvet’s momentum continued as he broke Riedi early in the second, with his Swiss opponent growing increasingly frustrated as he struggled to find a way through the Briton’s serve on his way to losing the second set.
Then, after more than two hours of tennis played in temperatures over 30C, Riedi sent a shot long at 30-40 down on his serve to hand Tarvet the decisive break in third set.
He then closed out the match with the crowd on their feet as he sealed a superb victory and a place in round two.