‘Gareth!' – Oliver Tarvet qualifies for Wimbledon and lets slip college in-joke
The 21-year-old achieved the biggest moment by far of his fledgling tennis career on Thursday by becoming the only British player to come through qualifying for Wimbledon.
Tarvet is studying at the University of San Diego and he left all but a few onlookers baffled by shouting out 'Gareth' at moments during his final-round victory over Belgian player Alexander Blockx on Thursday.
What a moment 💪
World No.719 Oliver Tarvet qualifies for the main draw at #Wimbledon 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/8gJ6fHnpYX
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 26, 2025
While Tarvet, who at world number 719 is only the 33rd highest ranked man in Britain, did not want to explain too much, it appears the reference is to former Wales and Real Madrid footballer Gareth Bale.
'College is obviously a little more energetic than maybe the pro tour,' said Tarvet.
'And it's just who I am. It's what gives me success, being a little more energetic, a little bit more fiery than most players.
'I find it pretty funny out there. My team-mates were laughing and they were blowing up our group chat because I was saying it in Wimbledon last round of qualifications.
'(People are) going to have to wonder, I'm sorry. My team-mates were already annoyed at me for how much information I gave out. It's just the inside joke to keep guys accountable of their decision-making, that's all I'm going to say.'
Tarvet was not a standout junior but following the likes of Cameron Norrie and Jacob Fearnley onto the US college circuit has allowed him to flourish.
Of the 13 British men in the singles draw, seven have taken the college route into the professional game and Tarvet said: 'I owe pretty much everything to the University of San Diego.
'They're so knowledgeable, such great people. I feel like I have improved not only as a tennis player but also as a person, they've taught me a lot of values that I didn't value going into college.
'It's just been really great over there and I've enjoyed every second. That's why it's something really important for me. A lot of people have asked me, 'Oh, you're gonna go pro now', and unless something drastic happens, I really want to go back there because it's where I'm happiest.'
The downside for Tarvet is that continued participation in college tournaments is contingent on him staying largely amateur, meaning he can only claim 10,000 dollars (approximately £7,300) of a guaranteed £66,000 in prize money, plus expenses.
The rules have been the subject of legal cases, and Tarvet said: 'There's been complaints about it but I don't want to speak too much about it, I don't want to overstep anything.
'In my opinion, I've worked hard to get this money and I don't really feel like it's undeserved, the money that I've got. So I think it would be good to see a change in the rules.'
Should Tarvet beat fellow qualifier Leandro Riedi and elevate the prize money to £99,000, he would more than likely get a crack at two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
'Obviously it's cool but I'm not going think too much about it,' said Tarvet. 'Everyone at this level is just really, really good. And if I'm not focused on Monday and I don't put in a good performance, I'm sorry, I'm just not going to win.
'It would be a lot of fun (facing Alcaraz) but, at the same time, I'm keeping that in the far side of my brain.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Lions player ratings as Henry Pollock pure X factor but Irish duo need to up games
Lions player ratings as Henry Pollock pure X factor but Irish duo need to up games The British & Irish Lions are up and running. British & Irish Lions players react following their rugby match win against the Western Force in Perth (Image: AP Photo/Trevor Collens ) The British & Irish Lions got their tour of Australia off to a winning start with a comprehensive 54-7 victory over the Western Force in Perth. It was by no means perfect and they did endure a ropey first half but Andy Farrell's side seemed to click after the break as they crossed for eight tries in total. There were a number of impressive individual performances, while one or two others were below par and will need to up their game to make the Test side. Here are your player ratings. 15. Elliot Daly 7 A few eyebrows were raised when Daly was named in Farrell's original squad but this was an assured performance from the Englishman. His positional play was first class, while his kicking out of hand put the Force under pressure. Article continues below Daly does the less fashionable things well as he hit some good angles and some neat passing unlocked the Force defence. Grabbed himself a brace of tries. 14. Mack Hansen 7 The Connacht man did not have the best of first halves and was outplayed by Force wing Dylan Pietsch but he was much better after the break. Hansen hit some good lines in the second half while a nice offload to James Lowe ended up with Tomos Williams scoring in the early stages of the second half. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. He also put in a couple of key defensive interventions and his performance will have pleased Farrell. 13. Garry Ringrose 6 Defended well and brought with his line speed cutting off the Force attack on a couple of occasions during the first half. Ringrose was quietly effective, claiming a try during the second half but will need to up his game if he is to cement a spot in the Test side. 12. Sione Tuipulotu 7 Like many players Tuipulotu was quiet during the first half but came to life after the break. The Scotland star finished the game as the top carrier with 16, while he hit some good angles to rip through the Force defence. It's going to be tight between Tuipulotu and Bundee Aki for the number 12 shirt against the Wallabies. 11. James Lowe 8 The left-wing put in a strong performance on his Lions debut. He may not have got himself on the scoreboard but he played an influential role in five of the tries. A sumptuous offload put Dan Sheehan over, while he made a number of line breaks and his passing under pressure was top class. Lowe was used infield regularly and was effective as a playmaker. 10. Finn Russell 8 This was an assured display from the Lions playmaker who outlined why he is the frontrunner to wear the number 10 shirt against the Wallabies. Russell's range of passing unlocked the Force defence throughout the second half while his decision to take a penalty quickly set up Daly's try. He also kicked 10 points from the kicking tee and controlled the game well. 9. Tomos Williams 8 The Wales scrum-half put in a fine individual performance but it was ruined by an injury in the act of scoring a try. Williams was a constant threat with ball in hand and his support lines resulted in two tries for the Gloucester number nine. The 30-year-old's service was also slick while he got the balance right between when to kick, run and pass. Farrell will be hoping his injury is not too serious because he was excellent in Perth. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free 8. Henry Pollock 8 This kid is pure X-factor and has the ability to rip open the tightest of defences. Unlocked the Force defence with a stunning break before offloading to Williams for their second try. Pollock also regathered his own kick to set up the Lions' sixth try to hammer home his point of difference. There are still a few too many errors in his game but with Pollock on the field Farrell knows there will be at least three or four standout moments which can turn a game in their favour. Blotted his copybook with a yellow card. 7. Josh van der Flier 7 The experienced Irishman put in a huge defensive shift with 22 tackles made as he helped keep the Force to just the one try in what was a ferocious onslaught by the hosts during the opening quarter. His counter rucking is an underrated part of the game while he also carried well. But there were no turnovers for the Leinster star with referee Ben O'Keeffe not awarding a single jackal penalty over the course of the 80 minutes. 6. Tadhg Beirne 5 Not his greatest game. The experienced forward wasn't at his dynamic best and conceded too many penalties in the first half. Beirne was effective at the lineout but there were no trademark carries or turnovers from the Ireland star. He can play much better than this and needs to up his game over the next few weeks. 5. Scott Cummings 5 The Scotsman got through a lot of work in making five carries and 12 tackles while he also denied the Force a try at the stroke of half-time by holding the hosts up over the line. This was a tidy performance but he did not set the world on fire either. The Force pack were on top for most of the first half before they tired and the Lions gained the upper hand after the break. Cummings didn't do enough to threaten the Test side. 4. Joe McCarthy (Star man) 9 Outstanding! The Irish lock made some key interventions while the Lions were under pressure in the first half. A tremendous rip at the maul probably saved a try, while he achieved two further turnovers. McCarthy made 15 powerful carries and caused havoc with his counter rucking while he also put in 17 tackles. Claimed a well-deserved try for good measure and has put down a strong claim to partner Maro Itoje at lock for the Tests. 3. Tadhg Furlong 5 This was not his greatest game. It will probably go under the radar due to the margin of victory but the Lions scrum struggled and Wallabies loosehead Tom Robertson had Furlong under huge pressure. The experienced Ireland tighthead was also not as prominent as usual around the park. He needs to up his game. 2. Dan Sheehan 6 The Lions captain put in a solid performance with 12 tackles and five carries. Sheehan also scored the opening try with and put in a big shift around the park even if he did not set the world alight. On the whole the lineout was a lot better than it was against Argentina in Dublin which is credit to Sheehan. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. 1. Pierre Schoeman 5 The Scotland prop was industrious if not spectacular with 10 tackles and four carries. But he was under severe pressure at a couple of scrums and another referee would have penalised the Lions. Needs to do better if he is to have a chance of overtaking Ellis Genge and Andrew Porter for the Tests. Replacements 16. Ronan Kelleher 6 Only got 14 minutes on the field but got a few powerful carries, while the lineout functioned well. 17. Andrew Porter 6 Solid upon entering the fray with a couple of decent carries and scrummaged well. 18. Will Stuart 6 The Gallagher Premiership winner was solid and will fancy his chances of putting pressure on Tadhg Furlong for the Test team. 19. Ollie Chessum 7 The England star looked very prominent after coming onto the field and ensured the lineout ran smoothly. 20. Jack Conan 6 A couple of powerful carries but also fumbled the ball forward once when the Lions had momentum. 21. Alex Mitchell 7 Looked sharp after replacing Williams and finished a try superbly at the death. 22. Huw Jones 6 The Scotland centre looked dangerous will ball in hand and will surely get a start against the Queensland Reds in midweek. Article continues below 23. Marcus Smith 7 Did well after replacing Russell with his vision and passing helping to add a few extra tries. Also contributed four points from the kicking tee.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Wimbledon 2025 order of play: Day 1 schedule with Raducanu and Alcaraz in action
The 2025 Championships at Wimbledon are upon us as the All England Club opens its doors to the tennis world once again. Carlos Alcaraz is eyeing a third consecutive title in SW19, and is also looking to become the second player to win Roland Garros, Queen's and Wimbledon in the same year. World No 1 Jannik Sinner and British No 1 Jack Draper are the other favourites in the men's draw. World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka is the favourite for the women's title, with 2022 champion Elena Rybakina and French Open winner Coco Gauff also leading contenders. Czech player Barbora Krejcikova is the defending champion. Emma Raducanu, who missed out on a seeding, leads the British contingent in the women's draw, having overtaken Katie Boulter as British No 1 recently. See below for the order of play for day 1 at Wimbledon Day 1 - Order of Play, Monday 30 June CENTRE COURT - SHOW COURT - 13:30 START Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) [2] Paula Badosa (ESP) [9] vs Katie Boulter (GBR) Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) vs Alexander Zverev (GER) [3] No.1 COURT - SHOW COURT - 13:00 START Aryna Sabalenka [1] vs Carson Branstine (CAN) Jacob Fearnley (GBR) vs Joao Fonseca (BRA) Emma Raducanu (GBR) vs Mingge Xu (GBR) No.2 COURT - SHOW COURT - 11:00 START 1 Benjamin Bonzi (FRA) vs Daniil Medvedev [9] Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROU) vs Madison Keys (USA) [6] Jasmine Paolini (ITA) [4] vs Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) Taylor Fritz (USA) [5] vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA) No.3 COURT - SHOW COURT - 11:00 START 1 Sonay Kartal (GBR) vs Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) [20] Holger Rune (DEN) [8] vs Nicolas Jarry (CHI) Matteo Berrettini (ITA) [32] vs Kamil Majchrzak (POL) Katerina Siniakova (CZE) vs Qinwen Zheng (CHN) [5] COURT 12 - SHOW COURT - 11:00 START Elmer Moller (DEN) vs Frances Tiafoe (USA) [12] Valentin Royer (FRA) vs Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [24] Leylah Fernandez (CAN) [29] vs Hannah Klugman (GBR) Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) vs McCartney Kessler (USA) [32] COURT 18 - SHOW COURT - 11:00 START Anna Bondar (HUN) vs Elina Svitolina (UKR) [14] Cameron Norrie (GBR) vs Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) Mackenzie McDonald (USA) vs Karen Khachanov [17] Naomi Osaka (JPN) vs Talia Gibson (AUS) Court 4 - 11:00 START Oliver Tarvet (GBR) vs Leandro Riedi (SUI) Greet Minnen (BEL) vs Olivia Gadecki (AUS) Ethan Quinn (USA) vs Henry Searle (GBR) Court 5 - 11:00 START Adrian Mannarino (FRA) vs Christopher O'Connell (AUS) Luciano Darderi (ITA) vs Roman Safiullin Lulu Sun (NZL) vs Marie Bouzkova (CZE) Court 6 - 11:00 START Learner Tien (USA) vs Nishesh Basavareddy (USA) Varvara Gracheva (FRA) vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich Ann Li (USA) vs Viktorija Golubic (SUI) Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) vs Botic van de Zandschulp (NED) Court 7 - 11:00 START Anca Todoni (ROU) vs Cristina Bucsa (ESP) Zizou Bergs (BEL) vs Lloyd Harris (RSA) Kamilla Rakhimova vs Aoi Ito (JPN) Shintaro Mochizuki (JPN) vs Giulio Zeppieri (ITA) Court 8 - 11:00 START Eva Lys (GER) vs Yue Yuan (CHN) Peyton Stearns (USA) vs Laura Siegemund (GER) Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) vs Filip Misolic (AUT) Gabriel Diallo (CAN) vs Daniel Altmaier (GER) Court 9 - 11:00 START Vit Kopriva (CZE) vs Jordan Thompson (AUS) Olga Danilovic (SRB) vs Shuai Zhang (CHN) Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) vs Renata Zarazua (MEX) Brandon Holt (USA) vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) [26] Court 10 - 11:00 START Diane Parry (FRA) vs Petra Martic (CRO) Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) [21] vs Rebecca Sramkova (SVK) Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) vs Chris Rodesch (LUX) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) Court 14 - 11:00 START Viktoriya Tomova (BUL) vs Ons Jabeur (TUN) Bernarda Pera (USA) vs Linda Noskova (CZE) [30] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) [25] vs James Duckworth (AUS) Jenson Brooksby (USA) vs Tallon Griekspoor (NED) [31] Court 15 - 11:00 START Kimberly Birrell (AUS) vs Donna Vekic (CRO) [22] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) [20] vs Arthur Fery (GBR) Billy Harris (GBR) vs Dusan Lajovic (SRB) Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) vs Amanda Anisimova (USA) [13] Court 16 - 11:00 START Mattia Bellucci (ITA) vs Oliver Crawford (GBR) Diana Shnaider [12] vs Moyuka Uchijima (JPN) Andrey Rublev [14] vs Laslo Djere (SRB) Elise Mertens (BEL) [24] vs Linda Fruhvirtova (CZE) Court 17 - 11:00 START Jiri Lehecka (CZE) [23] vs Hugo Dellien (BOL) Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) [16] vs Nuno Borges (POR) Harriet Dart (GBR) vs Dalma Galfi (HUN) Ashlyn Krueger (USA) [31] vs Mika Stojsavljevic (GBR) How to watch Wimbledon on TV Wimbledon will be shown live on the BBC in the UK, with full coverage of the tournament available to watch on BBC One, BBC Two and across BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. TNT Sports will air a daily 90-minute highlights show and will also have live coverage of both singles finals. If you're travelling abroad and want to watch Wimbledon, then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get the best VPN deals on the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider.
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Emma Raducanu to face young British wild card Mimi Xu in Wimbledon opener
Xu, 17, is one of three home teenage debutantes in the women's draw, and she will get a first shot at British number one Raducanu. The former US Open champion reached the fourth round last year but faces an uphill battle to do so again, with top seed Aryna Sabalenka and former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova both in her section. Not long until the gates open 🕒#Wimbledon — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2025 It was a tough draw for the British players overall, with Katie Boulter – unseeded this year – taking on top-10 star Paula Badosa, while British number three Sonay Kartal faces 20th seed Jelena Ostapenko. Sixteen-year-olds Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic also drew seeds, with the former facing former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez and Stojsavljevic meeting Ashlyn Krueger. The bottom quarter could throw up some big-hitting contests in the second week with Iga Swiatek potentially facing a fourth-round clash against former champion Elena Rybakina and a quarter-final with second seed Coco Gauff having dropped to eighth in the rankings. Defending champion Barbora Krejcikova, meanwhile, will take on exciting Filipino teenager Alexandra Eala in the opening round, provided the Czech recovers from a leg injury in time.
