Day 1 of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, at the All-England Lawn Tennis Club, was marked by record-breaking heat (31.4°C), a flurry of upsets, and intense battles under the new Hawk-Eye Live electronic line-calling system. 32 men’s singles first-round matches were scheduled, with British players having a mixed bag and several top seeds facing unexpected challenges. Here is a recap of the day.
Wimbledon Day 1 Men’s Recap
Who Looked Good
Benjamin Bonzi delivered the biggest upset of the day, defeating ninth seed and two-time Wimbledon semifinalist Daniil Medvedev 7-6(7-2) 3-6 7-6(7-3) 6-2. The 29-year-old Frenchman showcased exceptional serving, winning 78% of his first serve points and 29/42 second-serve points. Bonzi did an exceptional job of coming to the net to counter Medvedev’s deep position. He won 30/44 net points and broke Medvedev three times. His aggressive play and ability to maintain composure in tiebreaks marked this as his first career win over a top-10 opponent and matched his best Wimbledon result (second round).
Jenson Brooksby dispatched recently crowned Mallorca champion Tallon Griekspoor 6-2 7-5 6-3. The American played a solid match, showcasing precision and consistency to outclass Griekspoor. Brooksby hit 30 winners and just 12 unforced errors in three sets, which is commendable. His recent performances and this standout win suggest he is back to playing his best tennis.
Oliver Tarvet showed a lot of poise in his Wimbledon debut as he defeated Leandro Riedi, 6-4 6-4 6-4. Tarvet served exceptionally, winning 91% of his first serve points and gave no chance to his opponent to get back in the match at any moment. The Brit played much better than his rank.
Joao Fonseca defeated Britain’s Jacob Fearnley in the first round of Wimbledon with a straight-sets victory, 6-4 6-1 7-6(7-5). Making his Wimbledon main-draw debut, Fonseca showcased his powerful serve and trademark forehand to overpower the world No. 51 Fearnley. Despite early nerves from both players, Fonseca capitalised on Fearnley’s 10 double faults, particularly in crucial moments, to secure the first two sets comfortably. The third set was closer, with Fonseca saving a set point at 5-6, 30-40, before winning the tiebreak 7-5. This win made Fonseca the youngest player to reach the second round of Wimbledon since Carlos Alcaraz in 2021.
Karen Khachanov has been playing some excellent tennis this grass season, and continued that by defeating Mackenzie McDonald 7-5 6-4 6-4 in the first round. Khachanov’s powerful serve and baseline game proved to be too much for the American, who didn’t play a bad match at all. The match, lasting around two hours, saw Khachanov capitalise on McDonald’s weaker second serve and maintain control in crucial moments.
Who Looked Bad
Daniil Medvedev suffered a shocking first-round exit to Benjamin Bonzi. The two-time Wimbledon semifinalist struggled with consistency, hitting 12 double faults and faltering from the back of the court. Despite a great performance from Bonzi, a player of Medvedev’s stature is expected to raise his level, but Medvedev couldn’t do it. This loss marks a back-to-back first-round exit in Grand Slams for the Russian, the first time since 2017.
#8 seed Holger Rune squandered a two-set lead to lose to Nicolas Jarry, 6-4 6-4 5-7 3-6 4-6, in a five-set upset. Rune was the highest-ranked player to lose on Day 1. Rune started brilliantly to take a two-set lead, but his first serve percentage dipped below 60% in the third set, and Jarry took full advantage of it. He played an atrocious fourth set, hitting eight unforced errors and just two winners. The fifth set was the same story as his first serve percentage dipped even further, and errors continued. This loss highlighted Rune’s inconsistency in high-stakes matches.
Tallon Griekspoor has had the best season of his career so far, and having won a title just days ago, he looked a dangerous player heading into Wimbledon. However, he was completely outplayed by Jenson Brooksby in the first round. The Dutchman couldn’t match Brooksby’s consistency and was frustrated throughout the match. Making just 53% of first serves and hitting 10 double faults didn’t help either. All in all, it was a match he would want to forget quickly.
Francisco Cerundolo lost his way after winning the first set and never recovered from it. He lost to Portugal’s Nuno Borges, 6-4, 3-6 6-7(5-7) 0-6. Grass is not the best surface for the Argentine, but getting bagelled on this surface is not a true indicator of his talent.
Match of the Day
Playing in his final Wimbledon, Fabio Fognini made sure to showcase some of his best tennis in years and pushed the defending champion, Carlos Alcaraz, to the limit. This five-set thriller lasted over four and a half hours under immense heat, with the final scoreline reading: Alcaraz defeated Fognini, 7-5 6-7 7-5 2-6 6-1. It was not the highest quality of match as both players made a lot of unforced errors, but there were countless moments of brilliance and great rallies which encapsulated the fans.
Alcaraz struggled with his serve, which has been deadly in recent weeks. Fognini showed all his flair and rushed Alcaraz with his forehand and net plays. The Italian got broken multiple times from an advantageous position in this match; otherwise, this could have been an upset. The Spaniard regained control in the decider, breaking early and cruising to victory after a 15-minute pause due to a spectator’s heat-related collapse. This win extended Alcaraz’s win streak to 19 and marked his 18th consecutive first-round Grand Slam victory.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
