Wimbledon 2025 reached its halfway point with a gripping first week that featured marquee performances from top seeds, emotional exits, and surprise breakthroughs, all against the backdrop of an intense London heatwave.
Defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz shrugged off early nerves to maintain his unbeaten record at SW19 this season. After a gruelling five-setter against Fabio Fognini in the opening round, the Spaniard found rhythm and confidence with commanding wins in the next rounds, including a four-set triumph over Andrey Rublev to enter the quarterfinals.
Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic, recovering from illness in his opener, has steadily built form. His third-round demolition of Dan Evans and a milestone 100th match win at Wimbledon against Miomir Kecmanović reaffirmed his status as a strong contender.
On the women’s side, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka powered through the first week without dropping a set. Former champion Coco Gauff, however, was handed an early exit by Dayana Yastremska in one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
Emma Raducanu, after a stunning second-round victory over 2023 champion Markéta Vondroušová, couldn’t extend her dream run, falling to Sabalenka in the third round. Meanwhile, Britain’s Jack Draper, seeded fourth and touted as a title contender, was ousted by veteran Marin Čilić in a four-set encounter that stunned the home crowd.
The draw has also seen the rise of young talents. Italy’s Flavio Cobolli reached his first Wimbledon quarterfinal with a thrilling win over Čilić, while Amanda Anisimova impressed with a clinical takedown of Linda Nosková.
Wimbledon’s debut of electronic line-calling saw hiccups during the week, prompting complaints from players and stirring debate about the replacement of human line judges.
As the Championships enter their second week, the field remains packed with compelling storylines. Will the favourites continue their march, or will more upsets define the road to the final?
