High temperatures and high drama were the order of the day at the All England Club as Wimbledon 2025 served up one of the most eventful opening rounds in recent memory. From surprise exits of top seeds to medical scares and late-night thrillers, the second day of the tournament unfolded like a blockbuster script, complete with local heroes and emotional twists.
Zverev stunned, Djokovic battles bug
World No. 3 Alexander Zverev was the biggest casualty of the day, stunned by France’s Arthur Rinderknech in a five-set epic stretched across two days. After exchanging tiebreaks early on, Rinderknech surged ahead in the third set, only to see Zverev rally in the fourth. But the Frenchman held his nerve in the decider, pulling off the biggest win of his career and sending shockwaves through the men’s draw.
Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic also had his hands full—not just with opponent Alexandre Muller, but with a stomach bug that required two medical timeouts. Despite looking visibly unwell, the Serbian legend battled through to win 6-1, 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-2, crediting his recovery to timely medical assistance.
Pegula bites the dust
In the women’s draw, third seed Jessica Pegula fell to Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto in straight sets, failing to replicate her quarter-final run from last year. Struggling with serve consistency and rhythm, Pegula couldn’t find a foothold against a spirited and aggressive opponent.
British star Jack Draper brought joy to the home crowd, powering through the first two sets against Argentina’s Sebastian Baez before his opponent retired in the third. Draper looked composed and clinical, reinforcing his status as a strong home contender.
Elsewhere, Queen’s Club champion Alexander Bublik was knocked out in five sets by Jaume Munar, and Gael Monfils edged fellow Frenchman Ugo Humbert in another five-set thriller. On the women’s side, fifth seed Qinwen Zheng exited after a hard-fought battle against Katerina Siniakova.
With the draw already thrown wide open, Wimbledon 2025 is shaping up to be a fortnight full of surprises.
