Wimbledon diary: Bear Grylls takes in the tennis on a day of Turkish delight
The 23-year-old defeated Wang Xinyu 7-5 7-5 to continue through the tournament in what is her first experience of Wimbledon.
She fell to her knees after the winning the final point, and the trailblazing achievement caught the attention of Turkey's minister of youth and sports, Osman Askin Bak, who said via X: 'Congratulations Zeynep, we are proud of you!'.
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Actress Celia Imrie, star of Bridget Jones's Diary, Calendar Girls and, aptly, the 2004 film Wimbledon, was in attendance in the Royal Box.
She was joined by Feargal Sharkey, environmentalist and former lead singer of The Undertones, and Dragons' Den business woman Deborah Meaden.
England's Rugby World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward was also present, and so too was former Conservative Party leader William Hague, adventurer Bear Grylls and Lindsey Burrow – wife of the late rugby league player Rob.
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Quote of the day
'I'd say, if I had to sum it up, it felt the tennis balls were back in my pocket very quickly and never stayed in there a long time.' – Dan Evans encapsulates what it is like to play tennis against Novak Djokovic.
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Tweet of the day
Anyone order some WimbleDogs content? 🥹 #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/c1ydbkXRuZ
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2025
Friday's match of the day
There is likely to be a real sense of anticipation in SW19 on Friday as attendees await the final match on Centre Court – Emma Raducanu versus Aryna Sabalenka.
The latter is the world number one and a favourite to go all the way having reached the final of the last three grand slams before making light work of her opening two matches.
British number one Raducanu has also enjoyed a straightforward start to the tournament, looking in fine form when beating 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova in the second round and sparking plenty of excitement about her chances of a deep run.
They are both among the most high-profile female players and, with one of them on home turf, a Centre Court ticket for their third-round meeting will be a coveted thing indeed.
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BBC News
24 minutes ago
- BBC News
Can Raducanu bridge gap to world's best Sabalenka?
Let's not get carried away just Wednesday, Emma Raducanu produced one of her best performances "in a long time" to beat 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova and move into the Wimbledon third backing up that victory to reach the last 16 will probably require an even better display from the British number one on in her way is Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one and overwhelming favourite for the women's singles has made sound progress to climb back into the world's top 40 this season, but the evidence has shown there is still a clear gulf between the 22-year-old and the leading of her Grand Slam appearances this season were ended in ruthless fashion by five-time major champion Iga Swiatek - Raducanu winning only one game at the Australian Open and three at the French Open in a pair of demoralising Gauff, who went on to win the Roland Garros title, also proved too much of a step up in class for Raducanu on the Rome challenge for Raducanu is discovering how she can test the very best."I think I need more weapons. I think I need to be able to hit the ball with better quality more often," Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, told BBC Sport before facing Sabalenka."I think I need to serve better. I think I need to hit better on the move. There are a lot of things I need to do better."Beating a top player like Marketa, who has won this tournament, was obviously a really positive thing for me and a really good marker."But I need to bridge the gap to the very, very top." Playing passively could spell danger With her powerful serve and lights-out baseline game, Sabalenka has become the dominant player on the WTA Tour over the past 18 blistering nature of her shots translates to any surface and is why she has reached at least the quarter-finals in each of the past 10 Grand Slams she has Wimbledon, where Sabalenka has reached the semi-finals on her most recent two appearances, the faster courts suit her first-strike means she uses her serve and return of serve to quickly get on top of her opponents in the statistical insight tool calculates 39% of Sabalenka's shots are attacking, compared to an average of 24% in the women's draw."The last few years she's just been so consistent and solid," said Raducanu, who made the fourth round at the All England Club in 2021 and 2024."I just have to try to control my side as best as possible and, I guess, be smart."But, at the same time, I need to take my chances if I have any because I can't play passive against her."She can take the racquet out of your hand and just dominate if you give her that chance." But patience is also required After being outclassed by Swiatek and Gauff on hard and clay courts, Raducanu feels the Wimbledon grass represents her best chance of pushing teaming up with coach Mark Petchey earlier this year, Raducanu has also looked to use her serve and forehand more statistical analysis also shows she is more attacking than average in the women's draw - with 27% of her shots classed that way by she knows she cannot be "overly aggressive" and needs to use craft return also needs to be on point against one of the best servers in the game. The sliced backhand will be an important tool to take the pace out of Sabalenka's athleticism can also help Raducanu be more of a counter-puncher against the Belarusian and potentially draw mistakes."Raducanu's defence against Vondrousova was outstanding, albeit Vondrousova doesn't attack as much or with the same firepower as Sabalenka," said TennisViz's Phil Newbury."The slice could be key here. Sabalenka's 'steal score' - which calculates how often a player has won the point when they are defending during it - was just below the draw average in her second round."It suggests if Raducanu can force her way into Sabalenka's defence, there could be positive rewards for her." Home comforts could help Raducanu feels she has a better chance of beating one of the leading players at Wimbledon than at the other well as being comfortable on the grass, feeling "at home" is helping her play with more a tight-knit and trusted group around her is a key factor in the progress she has made this is a trusted ally who used to coach her as a teenager, while long-time confidante Jane O'Donoghue continues to provide support while on a career break from her finance has also been able to hang out with friends at Wimbledon and was seen taking selfies with them on the All England Club balcony after beating Vondrousova."I had the same sort of routine last year. I just really cherish these moments because we know how hard it is week to week playing on the tour," she said."When we're here in this sort of environment feeling at home, it's so special."
South Wales Argus
34 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Win Fortnum's hamper, Wimbledon prizes and John Lewis voucher
Three exclusive competitions are now open, offering rewards for foodies, tennis fans and those in need of a summer shopping spree. Luxury hamper from Fortnum & Mason The top prize in the luxury competition is a Marylebone Hamper from Fortnum & Mason, packed with gourmet treats and classic British favourites. It includes Piccadilly Piccalilli, Smoked Cheese Straws, Green Tomato Chutney and a tempting collection of sweet snacks such as Chocolossus Biscuits, Shortbread, White Chocolate Florentines and more. There's also breakfast fare including marmalade, honey, and preserves, along with a smart tea caddy containing three classic blends and a matching strainer. Coffee lovers can enjoy Fortnum's Piccadilly Blend Ground Coffee, while a bottle of Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne N.V. adds a celebratory flourish. Wimbledon collector's edition up for grabs Tennis lovers could get their hands on The Pinnacle of Sport – Deluxe Edition, a limited-edition book celebrating Wimbledon. Only 400 copies have been produced, each one presented in an elegant box with a signed art print from former British No.1 Tim Henman. The 252-page book is packed with photographs capturing the drama and tradition of The Championships. Five runners-up will each receive a 700ml Wimbledon water bottle featuring a bold tennis ball design. £250 John Lewis voucher in shopping prize A third competition offers one lucky subscriber a £250 John Lewis eGift Voucher – perfect for refreshing the home, updating a wardrobe or picking up something special. Known for its high standards and stylish selection, John Lewis remains one of the UK's most trusted shops. How to enter All competitions are open exclusively to subscribers. To be in with a chance, visit the competitions page and submit your entry.
Telegraph
42 minutes ago
- Telegraph
The Wimbledon players wearing £10,000 necklaces on court
In 1978, the term ' tennis bracelet ' was coined after American player Chris Evert was forced to stop play during the US Open after losing the string of diamonds worn around her wrist. And on Tuesday we might have witnessed the invention of the 'tennis earring', after fellow American, Coco Gauff, lost one of her silver Missoma hoops during a match against Dayana Yastremska. In fact, it wasn't a good day for jewellery and tennis in general (depending on how you look at it) with fellow player Jodie Burrage also accidentally smashing her bracelet and having to stop to pick up the pieces. 'Coco Gauff wearing our tennis hoops on centre court was honestly surreal,' shares Missoma's founder, Marisa Hordern. 'We never could have predicted we'd have our own 'Chris Evert moment' with a new tennis icon, and we don't think we'll get over it for a long time! Even if she did lose her jewellery – from her incredible power play – no publicity is bad publicity, and it was an ace moment for us.' And while Wimbledon has strict rules that dictate that all players must wear all-white, there are no specific requirements for jewellery, meaning that technically anything goes. Not that brand sponsors will feel the same, necessarily, with certain protocols inevitable surrounding what players can and cannot wear while representing a brand – whether it's down to what they want to promote, or protecting the pieces, with the threat of damage from sweat or sunscreen. 'At Boodles, we don't have any specific rules about what a player can or can't wear,' shares Honour Wainwright, Director of Marketing at Boodles. 'Comfort is the most important thing to us, so we'd want to make sure that whatever they wear doesn't get in the way of their play. We wouldn't recommend any large stones – purely because they'd be impractical on court (aside from potentially dazzling the opposition, ha!) but a simple tennis bracelet, a pair of earrings or a pendant can add a touch of sparkle without interfering with performance. That said, we create jewellery that's made to be worn – it's robust, durable, and designed with real life in mind.' The carats on court Coco Gauff Ever since she stormed onto the tennis scene as a 15-year-old Wimbledon wildcard in 2019, Coco Gauff has become known for her bold fashion choices. Clearly not someone who wants to sacrifice her style on the court, she often wears pieces that are considered more fashion-forward than your classic tennis bracelet. Missoma Tennis classic hoop earrings Case in point, the instantly recognisable Vivienne Westwood orb choker that she wore layered over another necklace at the Australian Open in 2014. Her most impressive flex? The Olympic rings necklace she's often spotted wearing while playing – it was a gift from Paris 2024 teammate Desirae Krawczyk. Grigor Dimitrov Bulgarian player Dimitrov has become known for his more-is-more approach to accessorising, and in particular, his bracelet stack, which includes a Cartier Juste Un Clou bangle and a cross given to him by his mother. Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra bracelet in red and black According to an interview with New York Magazine, Dimitrov always wears a Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra bracelet underneath his sweatbands while he plays, as something of a lucky talisman, after it prevented him from injury when he fell while running with his trainer in Paris. 'We were rushing to cross the street, and I took a sharp left turn on some wet concrete, and I slipped – my whole body was in the air – and crashed on the ground, and one of these charms absorbed the impact on my wrist,' he told the publication. 'I still got a scar, but I didn't need stitches – the doctors said that if I got stitches, I couldn't play. I won a couple matches at the tournament after that.' Emma Raducanu When Emma Raducanu went from unknown Wimbledon wild card to winner of the US Open in just a few months back in 2021, the brand deals – understandably – came flooding in. One of her most famous is with the jeweller Tiffany & Co, whose campaigns she has starred in and whose pieces she wears on and off the court. Tiffany Victoria earrings, T1 ring and T1 bangle Some of her go-to pieces include the diamond and pearl drop studs she debuted during her US Open win, the Victoria pendant and the diamond-encrusted white gold T bangle. During the 2022 Wimbledon championship, she was estimated to have worn £30,000 worth of jewellery from the brand. Aryna Sabalenka Current world number one, Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka is almost never seen without her rather glamorous lucky charm – a Cartier Panthère necklace – a nod to her 'tiger' nickname and the fact that she was born in the Year of the Tiger (she also has a tiger tattoo on her left forearm). Cartier Panthère necklace One of the jewellery house's signature pieces, it features an 18ct panther pendant made from yellow-gold, diamond, tsavorite garnet and black lacquer. She also owns another of the brand's Panthère necklaces, a Valentine's Day gift from her late partner Konstantin Koltsov, who tragically died in 2024. Alexander Zverev With his long blonde locks and impressive 6ft 6in height, German player Alexander Zverev was always going to be a hit with the ladies, but the way he often ends up putting his chain necklaces in his mouth during play has set social media alight. His go-to stack of three includes one with his star sign on, Aries, but according to an interview with American Vogue in 2016, he won't reveal their origins. Katie Boulter Another rising star of UK tennis, Katie Boulter was announced as one of British fine jewellery house Pragnell's Rare Jewels ambassadors in 2023. Pragnell's Rock Chic diamond hoops While some players might opt for more delicate or discreet pieces, Boulter is not afraid to go heavy on the bling, including the £10,340 Havana Mirama necklace in 18ct yellow gold, or the £7,260 Rock Chic diamond hoops. Jessica Pegula 31-year-old American player Jessica Pegula has been a brand ambassador for Californian jewellery house Gorjana since 2023. Gorjana Lab grown diamond eternity huggies For the first day of Wimbledon on Monday, she shared a picture of her strawberry charm necklace from the brand on Instagram, showing her tongue-in-cheek approach to fashion. With multiple piercings, she's also fond of an ear stack, and is frequently seen layering delicate necklaces during games. Speaking to American Vogue last year, she also revealed that she wears gifts from supporters on the court too: 'I get a lot of beaded and braided bracelets. I love wearing pieces that are made by my fans.' Emma Navarro 24-year-old American player, Emma Navarro, was announced as Canadian jewellery brand Mejuri's latest brand ambassador just in time for this year's Wimbledon. Mejuri Turquoise huggies and chain stud Speaking about the partnership, she said: 'I've always had a deep love for jewellery and put a lot of emphasis into my everyday stack. Mejuri is such an incredible brand with beautiful pieces, and I truly admire what they're creating.' In her opening game against Czech player Petra Kvitova, she chose to layer two chain necklaces from the brand, as well as multiple bracelets on both wrists and an impressive earring stack.
