Tiafoe safely through
Day one at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships saw late controversy as Taylor Fritz's match was suspended due to the SW19 curfew, with Alexander Zverev (3) vs. Arthur Rinderknech also paused.
American Fritz (5) fought back from two sets down to level vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard but play was called off, denying fans who stayed late a final-set decider, with Zverev one set all with Rinderknech.
Earlier, two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz progressed in five sets against Fabio Fognini, 38, on a day when several seeds were shocked, including Rune (8), Medvedev (9), Cerúndolo (16), and Tsitsipas (24).
In the women's singles, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was among those to win on a scorching first day with temperatures reaching 90F (32C). Watch: BBC (UK), ESPN (U.S.); Get involved: live@theathletic.com
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Taylor Fritz frustrated as Wimbledon comeback is interrupted by curfew
FINAL: Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 Møller
Job done in just one hour, 45 minutes for Frances Tiafoe on Court 12.
The U.S. star and 12th seed is safely into the second round, after dispatching Danish Wimbledon debutant, Elmer Møller in straight sets.
That first Grand Slam win will have to wait I'm afraid, Elmer.
Not only are people queueing to get into Wimbledon today, but there's a long queue for the water taps in Wimbledon Park too.
An American woman just walked away after filling up her bottle and said 'the British are so civilised.'
The queue for water is a break from the heat with the huge Leyland Cypress trees acting as some wonderful shade for those overheating.
Tarvet 6-4, 6-4, *2-3 Riedi
It's getting even better for the British qualifier and world No. 733 Oliver Tarvet, who added the second set to his stunning first against Leandro Reidi.
Court 4 is being served a real treat here. Caoimhe O'Neill
Live scenes from the queue in Wimbledon Park. You have to be a tennis ultra fan to want to queue up in these horrendously hot conditions.
My watch says 28C (82F) but I can tell you it feels a lot hotter and the only shade people can find is under umbrellas, which are usually used around these parts to keep people dry.
There is a lot of sun cream being applied and people seem relatively calm, even though they are all currently baking in the Wimbledon sunshine.
There's also no guarantee these tennis fans will make it in today — especially those at the back — and still they brave the conditions for a chance to see the world's tennis stars. That's support.
Also making progress today is Cristina Bucşa, who beat Anca Todoni 6-4, 6-4 on Court 7.
Meanwhile, both Frances Tiafoe and Learner Tien are now two sets to the good in their first-round matches — against Elmer Møller and Nishesh Basavareddy respectively.
Two out of three U.S. players progressing there is obviously as good as it will get, so fingers crossed for Frances…
Hard not to feel sympathy for Ons Jabeur, the two-time former finalist who has just had to retire hurt against Viktoriya Tomova trailing 7-6, 2-0.
Jabeur has been such a fan favourite here, and it felt for a while as though she was destined to be a Wimbledon champion.
But injuries have really taken their toll since the second of those final defeats, a devastating loss to Markéta Vondroušová in 2023, when she was the heavy favourite.
Now aged 30 and ranked No. 59 it's hard to imagine she will scale those heights again.
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Ons Jabeur retires from first-round Wimbledon match against Viktoriya Tomova Getty Images
FINAL: Vekić 6-0, 6-4 Birrell
Not that Donna Vekić was far behind. Court 15 saw 16 games and 80 minutes of action as the No. 22 seed from Croatia proved far too strong for Australia's Kimberly Birrell.
The opening bagel was at least followed by a more competitive second set.
FINAL: Svitolina 6-3, 6-1 Bondar
Elina Svitolina wins the race! She grabs the first singles win of these Wimbledon championships (ignoring qualifying, of course).
It's a straightforward win for the Ukrainian 14th seed on Court 18 against Hungary's Anna Bondar.
Møller 3-6, *2-4 Tiafoe
Things are ticking over like a dream for Frances Tiafoe, with the American dominating the first set on Court 12 — and now also a break up in the second set.
The 12th seed is only serving at 52 percent on his first serve but he is winning 84 percent of those points.
Elmer Møller's Wimbledon debut has been hard work so far, as he might have expected. Getty Images
Bonzi 7-6(2), *0-1 Medvedev
Worries for the ninth seed on No. 2 Court, as Daniil Medvedev loses the opening set tiebreak to Benjamin Bonzi.
The Frenchman deserved it too, with Medvedev pretty erratic in places so far.
The Russian has at least held his opening game of the second set. Getty Images
Elsewhere for the Brits, what a story this would be if qualifier and world No. 733 Oliver Tarvet can convert his set and a break lead over Leandro Reidi, and reach the second round.
Tarvet, the first British male qualifier since 2017, leads Reidi 6-4, 3-1 on Court 4. Getty Images
Sonay Kartal is one set from causing a mighty upset on No. 3 Court.
She was 5-2 and 5-4 down to No. 20 seed Jelena Ostapenko, who held three set points — but the Brit has come storming back to take the first set 7-5.
Ostapenko, who twisted her ankle in a warm-up event but recovered in time to make the main draw, is as animated as ever.
She'll need to find her devastating power and accurate, flat hitting to recover in this one.
The media center at Wimbledon also affords a fine view over to Court 14, where it has been a difficult start for Ons Jabeur in that match against Viktoriya Tomova.
After the flurry of early breaks, Jabeur won a 22-point game to break Tomova's serve again — but she was in tears come the end of it, and had a trainer check her vital signs before going off court for medical treatment.
It was then all breaks thereafter as the temperature continues to climb. She was locked in another long service game but managed to hold. Getty Images
Ons Jabeur has been involved in three major finals, losing all three. Two of those came here at Wimbledon, in 2022 and 2023.
The Tunisian's form has not been at that level for some time now, but she is first on Court 14 this year — up against Bulgaria's Viktoriya Tomova.
This one is currently on serve, with Jabeur about to serve at 4-5 to stay in the first set.
I say on serve. There have only been three service games that have been held in this one so far. So, six breaks in nine games. Getty Images
The other high seed in early action this morning is Elina Svitolina, with the Ukrainian 14th seed on Court 18 against Hungary's Anna Bondar.
And it's all going swimmingly so far for Svitolina, who was a semifinalist and quarterfinalist here in the last two years.
She has already won the first set 6-3, and has broken Bondar in the opening game of the second.
Maybe this will be our first singles result. The race is on… Getty Images
We've got a good bit of U.S. interest right from the start at Wimbledon here.
In fact, on Court 6 it is an all-American affair with world No. 62 Learner Tien playing the neatly ranked world No. 100, Nishesh Basavareddy.
And it's Basavareddy who has the early break of serve to lead 4-2 in the opening set.
More high profile is the sight of Frances Tiafoe getting underway on Court 12, with the 12th seed facing Elmer Møller.
The Dane made his Grand Slam debut at the French Open last month, and is now trying to win his first match at a major.
But it's Tiafoe who leads with an early break, 3-1 up as he serves in the fifth game of the first set. Getty Images
Where will we get our first win of the 2025 Wimbledon singles? My money right now is on Court 15.
That is where Donna Vekić is playing Australia's Kimberly Birrell, and the Croatian is already 4-0 up and serving to make it five in the first set, after just 20 minutes.
Good start from the 25th seed. Getty Images
Given how hot it is set to be at SW19 today, I'm already curious to know how long these wigs are going to survive.
I mean, I assume they're wigs…
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