Carlos Alcaraz Sets up Clash with Unknown Brit at Wimbledon 2025
Wimbledon
June 30, 2025
Carlos Alcaraz did it the hard way in his nervy opener – but thrilled a sweltering Centre Court in the process.
The defending champion traded spectacular shots and surprising mistakes with Italian veteran Fabio Fognini. The lucky spectators lapped it all up in the hot English sunshine.
Carlos Alcaraz now plays a little-known Brit called Ollie Tarvet in the next round – a dream encounter for the underdog at his home Grand Slam.
Carlitos may still be here when the final match of Wimbledon 2025 is played.
But he will have to do better than this to go all the way – not that the crowd minded his early imperfections.
Alcaraz treated them to four hours and thirty-seven minutes of delightful entertainment. He eventually came through 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.
For all that final-set dominance, the Spaniard’s serve looked far too vulnerable for most of the match. It will surely become more consistent as we move through Wimbledon fortnight.
Elsewhere there were British wins for Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartel – who knocked out a former Grand Slam champion in Jelena Ostapenko.
Arthur Fery shocked the seeded Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. And Tarvet also put his name up in lights by beating Leandro Riedi in straight sets.
Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu might be the most relieved of all the superstars after Day One though.
They came through against underdogs who had nothing to lose. Emma and Carlos survived with their reputations intact.
Raducanu beat fellow Brit Mimi Xu 6-3, 6-3. But the plucky teenager will be proud of the way she fought – and the score line didn’t tell the full story of Mimi’s competitive contribution.
Cameron Norrie edged through in four sets against the resilient Roberto Bautista Agut – and now faces American superstar Frances Tiafoe.
We knew there would be at least one big shock – and that came early through defeat for ninth seed Daniil Medvedev, downed by Benjamin Bonzi.
The Russian had reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon the previous two years. Just goes to show you never can tell!