Wimbledon 2025: Carlos Alcaraz survives five-set scare, Daniil Medvedev crashes out; Aryna Sabalenka cruises | Tennis News

Carlos Alcaraz was pressured into deep waters on Day 1 of Wimbledon 2025, battling previous veteran Fabio Fognini in an epic five-setter to start his title defence. The two-time defending champion regarded removed from his fluent greatest however nonetheless managed a 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 win after four-and-a-half hours of momentum swings on Centre Court. The 22-year-old Spaniard, recent off his Roland-Garros triumph, dedicated 62 unforced errors and confronted 21 break factors in a match that examined his endurance and focus. “Vamos!” Alcaraz roared after breaking Fognini early within the remaining set — a set during which he lastly regained management, sealing his nineteenth straight win in model. Aryna Sabalenka, in the meantime, made a assured begin within the ladies’s draw. The prime seed brushed apart Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine 6-1, 7-5. Sabalenka, who’s searching for her first Wimbledon title after ending runner-up at each the Australian and French Opens this 12 months, credited current apply classes with Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner for serving to her “understand and adjust better” to robust pictures on grass. The Belarusian faces both Lulu Sun or Marie Bouzkova within the second spherical.
In the largest upset of the day, ninth seed Daniil Medvedev was despatched packing by France’s Benjamin Bonzi in 4 units. The 2023 semifinalist and former US Open champion is now out within the first spherical of back-to-back Slams, following an analogous early exit at Roland-Garros. Despite his struggles, Medvedev dismissed issues, saying he’s “not that worried… yet.” Elsewhere, Stefanos Tsitsipas retired harm throughout his first-round match towards French qualifier Valentin Royer, citing a again situation. The Greek star had received simply 43% of his first serves and struggled with motion earlier than calling time early within the second set.