Wimbledon 2025: Players to Watch and Dark Horses
Wimbledon is one of the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. Held every summer at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, it’s famous for its lush grass courts, strict all-white dress code, and a history stretching back to 1877. Unlike other Grand Slams, Wimbledon is played on grass—a fast surface that rewards quick reflexes, smart tactics, and strong volleys. The two-week event features men’s and women’s singles and doubles, mixed doubles, and wheelchair competitions.
If you’re new to tennis, Wimbledon offers a wonderful introduction to the sport’s mix of tradition, skill, and drama.
As the tournament unfolds, all eyes turn to the players who are making headlines on the grass. From seasoned champions to emerging stars, this year’s draw is packed with talent ready to battle it out for one of tennis’s most coveted titles. Here are some of the names to watch closely over the coming days.
Key Contenders: The Top Players
Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) continues to captivate fans with his explosive game, blending raw power with remarkable court awareness. He opened his title defence with a thrilling five-set victory over veteran Fabio Fognini in one of the standout first-round matches of the tournament. Alcaraz showed notable resilience and composure to overcome the challenge, reminding everyone why he remains a strong favourite for the men’s title this year.
Novak Djokovic (Serbia), a seven-time Wimbledon champion, remains a major force in the draw and could potentially face Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals. He kicked off his latest pursuit of an outright-record 25th major with a four-set win over Alexandre Muller — 6–1, 6–7(7), 6–2, 6–2 — on Centre Court. Djokovic appeared to struggle early in the third set due to a stomach issue. After a medical timeout, he rediscovered his form, winning 10 of the final 12 games with clinical precision and surgical movement on grass .
Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) has firmly cemented herself among the elite. Ranked World No. 1, she combines a booming serve with aggressive baseline play and has already reached two Wimbledon semi-finals (2021 and 2023). In her 2025 opener, Sabalenka overcame scorching conditions on Court One—resorting to ice packs between games—as she powered past Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine 6–1, 7–5. Her composed and commanding start suggests she’s ready to chase her first title at the All England Club.
Iga Świątek (Poland), the reigning women’s champion, remains a top contender at Wimbledon 2025. Though her game was originally clay-focused, she has made impressive strides on grass in recent years. She began her title defence with a composed 7–5, 6–1 victory over Polina Kudermetova in the first round, showcasing her sharp baseline precision and trademark mental intensity—both of which will be key as she aims to repeat her success at SW19.
Ons Jabeur (Tunisia), a finalist at Wimbledon in both 2022 and 2023, has long been admired for her imaginative shot-making and deft touch on grass. Her comfort on the surface and strategic use of the court once made her a strong candidate for another deep run. However, this year’s campaign was cut short when she retired from her opening-round match against Viktoriya Tomova due to heat-related illness. The Tunisian, who has battled injuries and asthma, was forced to stop early in the second set, marking a disappointing end to what had once promised to be another exciting grass-court run.
Taylor Fritz (USA) has quietly become a major threat on grass. Coming off a title win in Stuttgart and boasting one of the most effective serves on the ATP Tour, he has also reached back-to-back Wimbledon quarter-finals. In a resumed second-round match, Fritz overcame a powerful challenge from France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard—who fired a record 153 mph serve—demonstrating calm under pressure and solid grass-court instincts. With his form peaking at the right time, Fritz could go further than ever before this year.
Jack Draper (Great Britain)is enjoying a breakout moment. Ranked a career-high World No. 4, he recently won Queen’s Club and entered Wimbledon as the top-seeded Brit—a status not seen since Andy Murray’s prime. His powerful game, confidence on grass, and home-crowd support make him one of the most compelling names in this year’s draw. Draper sprinted into the second round when Argentina's Sebastián Báez retired injured in the third set, trailing 6–2, 6–2, 2–1 after just 74 minutes on Court One. Now set to face Marin Čilić, Draper could truly emerge as Britain’s next tennis star.
Rising Stars: The Future Faces of Tennis
Italy’s Jannik Sinner continues his steady rise with solid performances on all surfaces, including Wimbledon. Despite a tough first-round match, his calm temperament and consistent groundstrokes remain well-suited to grass, and he’s looking to build momentum as the tournament progresses.
In the women’s draw, American Coco Gauff remains a firm fan favourite. Known for her speed, athleticism, and fearless mindset, Gauff has already pulled off some surprise wins at SW19 this year, showing she thrives under pressure on grass courts.
Canadian Leylah Fernandez has brought her trademark fighting spirit and unpredictable shot selection, which unsettled opponents early on. Her clever use of pace and angles has made her a tricky competitor, although she recently exited the tournament after a hard-fought match.
The 20-year-old Alexandra “Alex” Eala (Philippines) made history as the first Filipina in the Open Era to contest Wimbledon’s main draw. After impressing in her Centre Court debut by taking the first set from defending champion Barbora Krejčíková, Eala eventually bowed out but has undoubtedly shown the talent and composure to challenge top players in future slams.
Rounding out this group is Mirra Andreeva (Russia), who, at just 17, has been a revelation this season. Having claimed two WTA 1000 titles earlier in the year and climbed into the top 10, Andreeva’s powerful and resilient all-court game has translated well to grass. She remains a serious threat as Wimbledon reaches its critical stages.
Dark Horses: The Surprise Challengers
American Tommy Paul has quietly built a reputation for his big serve and consistent baseline play. Though he faced a tough early exit this year, his steady improvement keeps him a player to watch in future tournaments.
Russia’s Daria Kasatkina continues to impress with her tactical variety and clever changes of tempo. Her skill in disrupting powerful hitters remains especially effective on grass, although she was recently ousted in a competitive match, showing how tight the field is.
Denmark’s Holger Rune remains one of the boldest young talents. His aggressive, all-court game and rising confidence led to a surprising run into the later rounds this year, proving his potential to shake up the draw.
Veteran Italian Fabio Fognini added flair and unpredictability to the early rounds. At 38, he gave defending champion Carlos Alcaraz a thrilling five-set challenge in the first round—likely marking his final Wimbledon appearance. Fognini’s emotional intensity and creative shot-making still make him dangerous whenever he’s able to play freely.
American Frances Tiafoe showed promise after a strong start, winning his opening match in straight sets—his first grass-court win this season. Despite some inconsistency, Tiafoe’s athleticism and big-match temperament continue to make him a potential threat if he can maintain focus in the tournament’s critical stages.
Current Tournament Highlights
A few surprise moments have caught fans’ attention: Bernard Tomic made headlines with a stunning win at a grass-court warm-up event, marking his first ATP tour-level victory in four years—a remarkable comeback story. On the flip side, French Open semi-finalist Loïs Boisson faced an early exit, losing in the Wimbledon qualifiers, highlighting how challenging grass courts can be even for players coming off strong clay seasons.
One of the biggest talking points remains the absence of Rafael Nadal. The two-time Wimbledon champion has opted out to prioritise preparation for the Paris Olympics and clay-court tournaments that are less taxing on his body. Nadal’s withdrawal leaves the men’s field wide open, providing a golden chance for younger players to make their mark on tennis’s most prestigious stage.
Adding to the tournament’s intrigue, several veterans have displayed flashes of brilliance despite tough draws. Italian Fabio Fognini pushed Alcaraz to the limit in a thrilling five-setter in the first round, while Croatian Marin Čilić, Frenchman Gaël Monfils, Romanian Simona Halep, and German Angelique Kerber have all demonstrated that experience and resilience remain formidable assets on grass. Their presence adds valuable depth to the competition and underscores Wimbledon’s unique ability to reward skill, strategy, and mental toughness.
What to Expect in the Coming Days
As Wimbledon 2025 unfolds in its early rounds, fans can look forward to intense matches, emerging storylines, and the unique drama that only grass-court tennis can deliver. Whether you’re a seasoned tennis fan or a casual viewer, the tournament’s charm and unpredictability promise plenty of excitement and memorable moments in the days ahead.
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