Wimbledon 2025 Day 1: Thrilling Start Amid Record-Breaking Heat at SW19

London, June 30, 2025 – The 138th edition of the Wimbledon Championships kicked off on Monday, June 30, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, delivering a spectacular opening day filled with world-class tennis, intense heat, and historic changes. With defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Barbora Krejcikova headlining the action, Day 1 set the stage for two weeks of high-stakes competition on the sport’s most iconic grass courts. Here’s everything you need to know about the opening day of Wimbledon 2025.

Key Matches and Highlights

Centre Court: Alcaraz Begins Title Defense

Two-time defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz opened proceedings on Centre Court against Italy’s Fabio Fognini at 1:30 p.m. BST (6:00 p.m. IST). The Spaniard, fresh off his French Open triumph and a commanding title at Queen’s Club, is chasing a third consecutive Wimbledon crown—a feat achieved by only Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic in the Open Era. Alcaraz, the No. 2 seed, enters with supreme confidence, aiming to cement his status as the king of grass.

Following Alcaraz, Centre Court featured a blockbuster clash between Britain’s Katie Boulter and No. 9 seed Paula Badosa. This match was a highlight for home fans, with Boulter looking to upset the Spaniard, who has been managing chronic back issues. The day concluded with No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev facing Arthur Rinderknech, a match expected to showcase Zverev’s powerful grass-court game.

No. 1 Court: Sabalenka Leads the Charge

Women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka began her quest for a maiden Wimbledon title against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine at 1:00 p.m. BST (5:30 p.m. IST) on No. 1 Court. Sabalenka, a dominant force on tour, faced a familiar opponent in Branstine, whom she has met in two prior tournaments. The Belarusian’s aggressive style is expected to shine on the fast grass surface.

Other notable matches on No. 1 Court included an all-British showdown between Emma Raducanu and Mingge Xu, a tough test for the 2021 U.S. Open champion as she continues her comeback.

Other Courts: Star-Studded Action

• Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, kicked off his campaign against Benjamin Bonzi, while Jelena Ostapenko faced Sonay Kartal on Court No. 3.
• Donna Vekic, the No. 25 seed, made an early statement, becoming the first player to win a set at Wimbledon 2025, leading 4-0 against Australia’s Kimberly Birrell on Court 15 within just 20 minutes. Vekic’s strong grass-court pedigree, including a semifinal run in 2024, makes her a player to watch.
• Elina Svitolina, the No. 14 seed, secured the first win of The Championships, defeating Anna Bondar 6-3, 6-1.
• Coco Gauff, the French Open champion, took on Dayana Yastremska, while No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula faced Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
• Jasmine Paolini, the 2024 Wimbledon runner-up, played Anastasija Sevastova on Court 2 at 6:20 p.m. IST, and Naomi Osaka battled Talia Gibson in a highly anticipated return to SW19.
• Holger Rune, the No. 8 seed, faced Nicolas Jarry, and Madison Keys, the 2025 Australian Open champion, took on Elena-Gabriela Ruse, a dangerous grass-court player despite her first-round struggles at Wimbledon in the past.

Record-Breaking Heat and Cooling Measures

Wimbledon 2025 Day 1 was the hottest opening day in the tournament’s 147-year history, with temperatures soaring between 32°C and 36°C, potentially matching or exceeding the all-time record of 35.7°C set on July 1, 2015. Organizers activated the tournament’s heat rule, allowing 10-minute breaks between sets (second and third for women, third and fourth for men) when the heat-stress index exceeds 30.1°C (86°F). Players used ice towels, cooling vests, and electrolyte drinks, while misting zones were set up for spectators. The extreme heat raised concerns about climate change’s impact on traditional sporting events, with Tuesday, July 1, expected to remain in the mid-30s before cooling to 25°C by Wednesday.

Fans were warned that the queue for non-ticket holders was at capacity, with wait times stretching several hours, prompting officials to advise against travel to the venue without tickets.

Technological Milestone: Electronic Line-Calling

For the first time in its history, Wimbledon 2025 replaced human line judges with Live Electronic Line-Calling, aligning with the Australian Open and U.S. Open. This change ensures flawless adjudication but has sparked debate among traditionalists mourning the absence of line judges in navy blazers. The French Open remains the only Grand Slam still using human line judges.

Prize Money and Tradition

The 2025 Championships feature a record prize pool of £53.55 million, with singles champions earning £3 million each, an 11% increase from 2024. Finalists will take home £1.52 million, semi-finalists £775,000, and first-round participants £66,000. The tournament retains its signature all-white dress code and lush grass courts, blending tradition with modern innovation.

Players to Watch

• Carlos Alcaraz: Aiming for a third straight Wimbledon title, Alcaraz’s adaptability and recent grass-court success make him the favorite.
• Aryna Sabalenka: The women’s No. 1 seed is a strong contender for her first Wimbledon title, with her powerful game suited to grass.
• Jannik Sinner: The world No. 1 and Australian Open champion is a dark horse, despite never reaching a Wimbledon final.
• Barbora Krejcikova: The defending women’s champion faces doubts due to inconsistent form but remains a threat.
• Taylor Fritz: With four grass-court titles and recent Wimbledon quarterfinal runs, Fritz’s serve and flat strokes make him a sleeper pick.
• Emma Raducanu: The British star’s all-British clash with Xu is a key storyline for home fans.

Upset Alerts

Day 1 features several matches with upset potential:

• Paula Badosa vs. Katie Boulter: Badosa’s back issues could give Boulter an edge.
• Madison Keys vs. Elena-Gabriela Ruse: Ruse’s big-hitting style poses a threat on grass.
• Emma Raducanu vs. Mingge Xu: Xu could challenge Raducanu in their all-British battle.

Viewing Information for India

Indian fans can watch Wimbledon 2025 live on Star Sports or stream on JioHotstar. Centre Court matches begin at 6:00 p.m. IST, No. 1 Court at 5:30 p.m. IST, and outer courts at 3:30 p.m. IST.

Looking Ahead

With 14 British players in action and a wide-open women’s field, Day 1 set the tone for an unpredictable tournament. The Championships run through July 13, with the women’s final on July 12 and the men’s final at 4:00 p.m. BST on July 13. Stay tuned for daily updates as Wimbledon 2025 unfolds with drama, tradition, and world-class tennis.

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