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Updated 13s ago
The 2025 Wimbledon Championships are up and running, with two-time defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz safely through after a five-set marathon against Fabio Fognini.
The defending champion avoided an upset on a day when several men’s seeds were shocked — including Daniil Medvedev (9), Holger Rune (9), and Stefanos Tsitsipas (24).
But U.S. 12th seed Frances Tiafoe is through, dispatching Elmer Møller in straight sets.
It has been more secure for the Women’s seeds, with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka among those to win today. Brit Emma Raducanu is currently in action on No. 1 Court against Mimi Xu, on what has been a hot first day with temperatures reaching 90F (32C).
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Wimbledon play interrupted after spectator receives medical assistance on Centre Court
Jasmine Paolini 2-6, 2-1 Anastasija Sevastova*
There could be an upset brewing on No. 2 Court.
Jasmine Paolini, last year’s beaten finalist, has lost the opening set of her first round match against Anastasija Sevastova.
The second set is on serve but Paolini has a lot of work to do against her veteran Latvian opponent, who has never been beyond the third round at Wimbledon but did reach the semi-final stage at Flushing Meadows back in 2018.
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Emma Raducanu 6-3, 2-1* Mimi Xu
On No.1 Court there’s a battle of the British home hopefuls.
Former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu took the first set against 17-year-old Mimi Xu and was an early break of serve up in the second — only for the teenager to immediately hit back.
Raducanu, 22, is attempting to reach the second round of The Championships for the fourth time in her career.
Carlos Alcaraz, speaking on Centre Court after his win, hailed his opponent's performance.
💬 He said: “First of all, to be honest, I don't know why it's his last Wimbledon. His level is so high, he can play four more years! It was such a great match.
“He's a great player, his whole career, once again you guys saw it today. A little bit sad it's his last Wimbledon, but happy to share the court with him and we are going to enjoy it.
“Playing the first match at Centre Court is never easy, I've been practicing pretty well but Wimbledon is different. I just tried to play my best, but I can be better. I have to improve in the next round.”
When discussing his next opponent, Brit Oliver Tarvet, 21, he added: “It's not going to be personal! I saw his name when he qualified for the first time, he's playing in college right now.
“He plays great tennis on grass so I will have to be focused on that and put my best tennis into the match. Obviously let's keep enjoying being at Wimbledon.”
Fognini throws his trainers into the crowd to cheers.
He gave the two-time defending champion and one of the tournament favorites a hell of a match.
Really impressive from the unseeded veteran.
Very sporting from Carlos Alcaraz.
He gives Fognini a long hug at the net to salute the Italian, who at 38 years old is playing in his final Wimbledon match.
What a match to go out, eh?
Alcaraz just stands and applauds as Centre Court rises to its collective feet to give Fognini a deserved ovation.
Carlos Alcaraz 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 Fabio Fognini
Fabio Fognini nets and Carlos Alcaraz is through!
They sportingly embrace at the net.
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Carlos Alcaraz 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 5-1* Fabio Fognini
Booming serve, 15-0. A filthy drop shot, Fognini doesn't even run for it. Not sure he could have made the fourth bounce, such was the spin and trajectory of that knifing slice. 30-0.
Fognini then sends a ripping forehand return down the line, gorgeous stroke, and he does a slight bow for the Centre Court crowd, smiling slightly. Fognini rushes to the net, forcing Alcaraz into the cross-court forehand, netted for 30-all.
Fognini return long and that's match point Alcaraz…
Carlos Alcaraz 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, *5-1 Fabio Fognini
Alcaraz nets, 15-0, lovely deft backhand volley from Fognini, Alcaraz gets there but his Hail Mary down the line past the net post misses.
Fognini rubs his eyes repeatedly, perhaps a bit of sweat in them, maybe just contemplating how quickly this set, and this match, has got away from him.
He swats a forehand wide, then it's 30-30. A clean winner for 40-30 and another for the hold.
Fognini looks shattered though. The end is nigh, I reckon.
…as he walks to his mark.
Can he pull off an incredible comeback in the decider?
Carlos Alcaraz 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 5-0* Fabio Fognini
Big ace for 15-0, another for 30-0. Ruthless. And another! 40-0!
Alcaraz finally finds his serve. That is a joke, massive serve Fognini does well to even get a racket on, but it's net.
Hold to love and suddenly Alcaraz is a game from the second round.
Carlos Alcaraz 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, *4-0 Fabio Fognini
Fognini races into a 40-0 lead with a big serve and a shanked Alcaraz backhand. But that's one point back, and another as a Fognini shot is called long. He doesn't like it, but the replay shows it's well out.
Fognini sort of slips and can only net, deuce. He overshoots again and it's advantage and break point to Alcaraz, four points in a row… deuce again as Fognini disguises a forehand, wrong-footing the back-pedalling Spaniard.
Fognini tries a deft drop shot but nets, then it comes off the wrong part of his racket and it sails well wide. Fognini frustrated. He's 4-0 down!
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Paramedics have just taken the fan off for further treatment.
Play is getting back underway shortly.
It is nearly 90°F/32°C on Centre Court, and the area where the fan was taken ill was bathed in direct sunshine, no shade to protect from the sun.
A spectator has been taken ill on Centre Court so play is temporarily suspended.
Alcaraz was one of the first to notice and rushed over with water.
Concerning scenes.
Fabio Fognini and Carlos Alcaraz are taking some time to slow the breathing and ward off some of the fatigue from the previous four hours or so of tennis.
They're chatting with umpire Keothavong about when the match might restart. After that chat, Fognini trots off.
The spectator is still being seen to, with several Wimbledon-branded umbrellas being held over them.
We wish them a swift recovery, of course.
Here's how Fognini reacted to that net cord which lost him the point.
Despair.
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The umpire James Keothavong has just announced the game has been temporarily suspended due to an incident with a spectator, for health and safety reasons.
Carlos Alcaraz realised something was wrong and took a water bottle to the fan, which drew applause from Centre Court.
A member of security staff is currently holding an umbrella over the spectator and they are being fanned.
Fabio Fognini must be wondering what more he can do.
He's played really well in this final set, put pressure on Alcaraz's serve twice, to no avail, and was really unlucky with that net cord.
In his own service game, he played pretty well and was broken.
This is for sure: he needs to start winning games soon.
Carlos Alcaraz 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 3-0* Fabio Fognini
Great stuff from Fognini, clean backhand and then to 0-30. Lots of shouts of encouragement for Fognini.
The crowd seems split: loads of cheers for Alcaraz as he whipped them up after that break, but SW19 loves an underdog too.
15-30, then 15-40 as Fognini rips a backhand down the line! Two break points… One saved with an absolutely incredible drop shot from Alcaraz. The Italian chased it down but was brought to his knees as it stopped on a dime and spun backwards. And another saved!
He takes advantage with an ace! Fognini nets, and Alcaraz holds. He just turns up in the pressure moments.
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Drop shots in tennis go from eccentric to essential, with some help from Carlos Alcaraz
