Key events
Temperatures are rising at Wimbledon, this is perhaps the hottest part of the day, it is now around 32°C on court. Lots of players are using ‘ice towels’ on their changeovers, effectively ice packs wrapped in damp towels, to cool down.
If the heat continues to increase, players can apply to the umpire for 10-minute breaks between sets, although it appears we have not quite reached that threshold … yet.
Fognini and Alcaraz hold their serve, so the Italian must again serve to stay in the set and force a tie break. Who thought that Alcaraz would be facing this sort of resistance on day one?!
David Beckham watches on from the Royal Box, sandwiched between his mum Sandra and Sir Gareth Southgate. The former England captain is sporting a bandage on his right arm and has a lovely linen suit on, the tailoring is considerably better than 24 hours ago, when he sported this navy number in Atlanta, as his side Inter Miami took on PSG (a former side of Beckham’s at the Club World Cup). It’s believed that GoldenBalls recently had surgery on his wrist – an injury that apparently dates back to something he sustained in an England match 22 years ago.
One of the points of the tournament so far as Fognini breaks straight back! He shows incredible touch at the net, and Alcaraz shows incredible grit to fetch the Italian’s volleys, before a lob from the Spaniard sets up a remarkable Fognini smash from the back of the court. Somehow, Alcaraz chases down the powerful shot, but Fognini expertly moves to the net one final time to slice volley a winner. Fognini raises two arms into the air at the point, and Centre Court erupts. This is utterly enthralling tennis between two players 16 years and 129 rankings apart. It’s back on serve on in the third set, Fognini 4-5 down but with the ball in his hand.
Perhaps distracted by the angst of losing that last game, Fognini finds himself 15-40 down on his serve. But a brilliant second serve forces an error from Alcaraz, and then a beautiful forehand-volley combo gets the Italian back to deuce. But Fognini’s second double fault of the game proves to be significant, and Alcaraz capitalises to get the break. The defending champions will serve for the third set and a 2-1 set lead. It’s 5-3 to the Spaniard.
Fognini actually had three break points in that last game. Even though the Italian is playing extremely well – he hasn’t won a tour match this season – one would suggest that he has to take some of those chances against arguably the best player in the world on grass. Alcaraz, has been far from his best but as all great champions do, finds a way to win the big points.
You have to hand it to the 37-year-old Fabio Fognini. The handsome Italian is really competing with Carlos Alcaraz on Centre Court, and the scores are level: one set apiece and 3-3 in the third set. Alcaraz has become known for his drop shots and touch at the net, but Fognini is more than matched his younger opponent, a deft touch saving game point and a naughty slice forcing a break point! Fognini has a chance to go 4-3 up in the third set … but Alcaraz finds a powerful backhand to save break point, and after a 135mph serve to the body and an ace, holds to go 4-3 up. The healthy contingent of Alcaraz fans on Centre Court, dressed in red and yellow, cheer wildly.
Hello, everyone. What have I missed? I see that Madison Keys, this year’s Australian Open champion, is a set down to unseeded Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse. The America is a break up in the second set so looking like that is heading for a deciding third set, unless Ruse can complete a big shock.
From Ruse to Rune in the men’s draw, as No 8 seed Holger Rune is being taken to five sets by Nicolás Jarry, who has come from two sets down to force a decider. Momentum certainly looks to be with the 6ft7in (!) Chilean, who you might remember reached the final of the Italian Open last year, losing to Alexander Zverev.
Right, that’s my stint done for now. Michael Butler is back in the chair, with a fair amount in the balance. Back later.
We are told that Joao Fonseca, like Arthur Fery, is the son of a hedge-funder. His father Roberto is CEO and co-founder of IP Capital Partners, the first independent hedge fund in Brazil.
Royal Box news via PA Media: “Sir Gareth Southgate, David Beckham and Princess Beatrice were among the well-known faces in the Royal Box on Monday as Wimbledon got under way.
They watched defending champion Carlos Alcaraz take on Italy’s Fabio Fognini on Centre Court, joined by Sarah, Duchess of York, and Princess Beatrice’s husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
“The front row also featured Beckham’s mother Sandra and All England Club chair Deborah Jevans. The Royal Box hosts invited guests each day of the Championships, typically including members of the royal family, sporting stars and high-profile figures from public life.”
Beckham is yet to be knighted, let us recall.
Further plucky Brit news: on Court 1, Jacob Fearnley, also schooled in the US, is taking on Joao Fonseca. He lost the first set 6-4, the second set is not going well, too many double faults against the slick Brazilian. It’s served out at 6-1 by Fonseca. Two sets down now, the Queen’s quarter-finalist.
Another mention for a British wildcard, and another win. Arthur Fery causes a big upset knocks out 20th seed Alexei Popyrin in four sets: 4-6 1-6 6-4 4-6. Fery was schooled in Wimbledon, attended Stanford University and his dad, Loic, a hedge-funder, is president of Lorient in Ligue 1, a club he co-owns with the owner of AFC Bournemouth, Bill Foley.
John Tumbridge gets in touch: “In 1979 I met up with an English line judge at the French Open, friend of a friend sort of thing, he was also a tennis journalist, and used to write reviews of the match he had just adjudged, for Big papers as well, won’t someone think of the journalists here?”
Fognini takes a set off Alcaraz!
Hello! In all that excitement on Court 18, we have a situation on Centre. Fognini has set point in the tie-break, a lead of 6-2. The first two are lost. Alcaraz is serving, and then it’s 6-5 with a backhand volley at the net. The Italian applauds…and then, a chance goes begging to level for Alcaraz who makes a mistake and flips the ball out. It’s 1-1 on sets.
Norrie beats Agut 6-3 3-6 6-4 7-6
Norrie takes a 4-3 lead, and has the serve. Make that 5-3 with some serve and volleying. More of the same and he has three match points. Court 18 roars him on as Agut smashed the ball out. Some Henman-style fist pumpage and that’s a heartening win.
More news via PA Media: Former world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas is also out after retiring from his match against Valentin Royer. The Greek, seeded 24th, had treatment on his back in the second set and called it a day while trailing 6-3 6-2, handing Frenchman Royer, the world number 113, a first tour-level win.
Medvedev crashes out in angry fashion
Via PA Media’s Andy Sims
Furious ninth seed Daniil Medvedev smashed up his rackets after suffering a shock first-round defeat at Wimbledon to French journeyman Benjamin Bonzi.
The Russian, who reached the semi-finals last year, tumbled out 7-6 (2) 3-6 7-6 (3) 6-2 in just over three hours. He angrily battered his rackets into his chair and his bag at the end while Bonzi celebrated the biggest win of his career.
Bonzi, ranked 64 in the world, has never been beyond the third round of a grand slam.
The 29-year-old said: “Daniil is a great player. I knew it was a tough match but sometimes it’s good to play a tough match in the first round, anything can happen. He would get more confidence after some wins. Today it’s 50-50. You have nothing to lose. It was a good time to play my A game. I knew I could do something big today, and today was my day.”
Norrie and Agut are in that fourth-set tie-break. “Super Cam Norrie,” sing the Cam fans. Norrie edges into a 3-2 lead.
I’ve received an email from the British Berry Growers, on the subject of strawberries.
Some info for you, useful perhaps, in a near-record spring, according to the Met Office.
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Warm days, cool nights this spring are delivering sweet, shapely British strawberries this season, according to industry body representing 95 percent of all British-grown berries sold in the UK
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Heightened bee activity during spring has resulted in excellent pollination, an essential factor in producing the classic strawberry shape that consumers love
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The flavour profile of the 2025 yield of strawberries leans towards the sweeter end of the scale, owing to unusually high sunshine levels this spring.
Richard Morris gets in touch: “Gosh, imagine swinging a seat in the Royal Box on Centre Court and ending up sitting behind Richard Osman. You’d definitely be putting in a request for several extra velvet cushions….”
Hello! Make it 6-3 3-6 6-4 5-5 as Norrie has just broken back, and victory glimmers into hazy sight. Can he hold serve? At 40-30, he has that chance. And takes it with a well-constructed point.
Fognini has broken back…hold off the curse writing off. He’s 40-15 up….but then it’s back to deuce. Alcaraz shows off that recovery expertise. His opponent is now cursing himself but then the Spaniard plays the kind of shot you might see in your local park. Then is a little slow in the next point. Then there’s some Wimbledon waggery in the crowd. No crowd easier to please on the comedy circuit. But Fognini holds.
Alcaraz has a break on Fognini in the second set. The champion’s curse seems unlikely to trouble him, though the Italian has played very well. Norrie, by the way, serves to mean his opponent must hold serve to win the set.
Cam Norrie is sticking his racket back together. It’s hot, and the ump is allowing added time between breaks. Agut serves to go 5-3 up, Norrie having held. But he’s struggling with Agut’s serve. 5-3 comes up with an ace. A five-setter appears almost certain.
Let’s stick with Norrie for the moment in the fourth set. He’s been broken in the fourth set by Agut. Uh oh, at 3-2. Agut’s serve, with its slapping sound, is held, for 4-2.
Others in the Royal Box today – Sue Barker, natch, and Richard Osman, not bad for a lad from Haywards Heath. Tan chinos are in, apparently.
Cam Norrie, these days not quite the greatest living Englishman, has a tough draw, facing Roberto Bautista Agut, but he’s in with a chance. It’s 6-3 3-6 6-4 2-1 and he’s just held his serve.
You may have heard about M&S’s new limited edition Strawberry & Creme dessert sandwich, which has gone viral on social media. But getting hold of one of the Japanese-inspired concoctions in the nearest store to the All England Club this morning proved easier said than done.
When the Guardian arrived at M&S in Southfields at 9.05am there were only six left on the shelves, with the company appearing not to anticipate that with over 40,000 people arriving for the first day of Wimbledon there might be significant demand for what it calls “the ultimate strawberries and creme experience”.
“We had over 300 of them at 8am this morning and that’s all that’s left,” said a stacker with Ash on his name tag. By the time the Guardian had bought one of the sandwiches, which are filled “with sweetened fat soft cheese and creme fraiche on brioche style bread” they were all gone.
The verdict? Not bad. Although I’ve had sweeter treats. However it will be interesting to see what the tax authorities think too. Under HMRC rules, most cold food, including sandwiches, is zero rated for VAT, but many sweet treats are counted as luxuries, and are subject to a 20% levy.
Gregory Phillips gets in touch: “Something felt off, and I couldn’t put my finger on it until you just reminded me about the absence of the line judges. Not only toes the court look empty, but I’m surprised to fine I also miss their shouts and shrieks, like a supply teacher trying to assert authority. This feels like a minor tournament without them, and it’ll take some getting used to.”
Fabio Fognini seemed to have a winner, only for the electronic liner call it out.
Most importantly, the culling of 300 line judges means fewer part-time opportunities for trained officials and it will affect the pathway of aspiring chair umpires. Many chair umpires started off as line officials.
And then Alcaraz breaks the Italian and serves out the set. The second continues rather like the first. Both serving well.
The No 1 seed, Aryna Sabalenka has beaten Carson Branstine 6-1 7-5. Nice and easy despite some plucky play from the Canadian.
The court looks resplendent, by the way, though a little empty without the line judges. They’ll be missed, though it was a job unforgiving on the old back. It continues to be back on serve. Alcaraz is not finding this at all easy and now must serve to stay in the first set, it’s 5-4.
Sir David Beckham is there as Alcaraz rides out the latest Fognini storm, and holds serve. Back on serve at 3-3.
Good afternoon from a sweltering London. The first lunchtime of the tournament is in session and there’s been a run on strawberries and cream, washed down with aperol spritz, and the odd glass of shampoo. Water much needed to. Phew, what a scorcher as they used to say on Fleet Street.
I’m going to go and grab a bite, so will hand this over to John Brewin for the next couple of hours. Enjoy!
Back on Centre Court, Fognini has made a great start against Alcaraz! The Italian has held both of his serves and has a break point on Alcaraz’s second serve … but the Spaniard sends down a 110mph serve to the body, and the defending champion survives, closing out the game. The players are all square in the first set, 2-2.
Britain’s Cam Norrie has just lost the second set to Roberto Bautista Agut, so the pair are now all square at one set apiece.
Having won the first set against Mattia Bellucci, another British male in Oliver Crawford is now staring down the barrel of defeat. The 26-year-old trails 7-6 (2), 3-6, 4-6, 3-4. Bellucci is a break up in the fourth set, serving for 5-3 and closing on victory.
A little quirk in the rules over the player’s use of towels. On the general tour, ballboys and ballgirls can help players wipe their brow by bringing them towels between points. But in grand slams, including Wimbledon of course, players must fetch their own towels between points.
It has been confirmed that Britain’s Sonay Kartal, who earlier shocked Ostapenko, will face Viktoriya Tomova in the second round. The Bulgarian progressed after her opponent, former finalist Ons Jabeur, retired hurt.
Elsewhere, No 9 seed Daniil Medvedev is in trouble, 2-1 in sets down to unseeded Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who has won two tie-breaks and now is just one set away from the second round.
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka is in no mood to hang around. She is already one set to the good against Canadian Carson Branstine, winning 6-1. The Belarusian is keen to put her French Open final disappointment behind her.
Andy Murray told Sean Ingle last week that he has no plans to watch Wimbledon as a fan …
… but the BBC commentary team have just told us that the Scot played golf with Alcaraz yesterday. Perhaps Murray is here, although the Brit’s primary residence is just a short drive from Wimbledon, in Surrey.
Heeeeeeeere comes Carlos Alcaraz. The first match on Centre Court this year will be between the Spaniard and Fabio Fognini, the Italian veteran who is a former top 10 player.
Alcaraz is the defending champion and aiming for his third straight title. His last defeat at SW19 was – listen to this – three years ago, in the fourth round to Jannik Sinner. But this is still a dangerous first-round meeting for Alcaraz, who lost the first set to Fognini when they last met in 2023 (Alcaraz won in three sets).
The winner of this match, remember, will play Oliver Tarvet in the second round.
A reminder of the rules of prize money for US college athletes. As mentioned in Tumaini Carayol’s piece on Sunday, Tarvet spends most of his time playing tennis in college for the University of San Diego, something that has had a direct effect on the prize money he can claim.
Players that qualify for the first round normally bag £66,000 but college rules in the US mean that under NCAA rules, players are restricted in how much they can claim from professional tournaments. On Friday, Tarvet explained players are allowed $10,000 (£7,290) in profit every year, as well as any expenses incurred during the events. Tarvet would normally make a £99,000 just for making the second round. Ouch.
Oliver Tarvet speaks!
A lot of emotions! All the hard work I have put it has clearly paid off. To have a chance to maybe play Carlos [Alcaraz] on Wednesday is phenomenal. I’m so thankful to the crowd, to the University of San Diego, my coaches. I’m so overjoyed.
I’m not here for the money. I’m just here for the crowd and the experience and to stamp my mark on the ATP circuit.
