Day one of Wimbledon 2025 saw unexpected drama as Daniil Medvedev crashed out in the opening round and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz narrowly escaped an early upset. Once a steady Grand Slam performer during the transitional era after the Big Three’s dominance, Medvedev’s slide continued after his surprise four-set loss to France’s Benjamin Bonzi.
Ranked world No.9, Medvedev looked completely out of rhythm against the 64th-ranked Bonzi, who secured a 7-6(2) 3-6 7-6(3) 6-2 victory. It marks Medvedev’s third straight Slam match loss and the first time in his career he has suffered back-to-back first-round exits in Grand Slam tournaments. Despite a previous track record of deep Wimbledon runs, including semi-final finishes in 2023 and 2024, Medvedev couldn’t find his footing on grass this time.
The Russian has now failed to win a match at the last two Slams and hasn’t claimed an ATP title since May 2023. His serve abandoned him on the day — producing 12 double faults and allowing Bonzi to dictate points by exploiting Medvedev’s trademark deep court positioning, which proved ineffective on grass.
Bonzi, who has never advanced past the second round at Wimbledon, described the shock win as a perfect first-round opportunity, admitting that surprises are more likely early in tournaments. The 29-year-old Medvedev now faces increasing questions about his form as he risks repeating his 2017 Slam record when he failed to progress beyond the second round at any major.
Elsewhere on Centre Court, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz needed every ounce of grit to fend off 38-year-old Fabio Fognini in an intense five-set thriller. The defending champion overcame a determined Fognini 7-5 6-7(5) 7-5 2-6 6-1 to keep his bid for a third straight Wimbledon title alive. Fognini, playing his final Wimbledon, pushed Alcaraz to the limit with flashes of vintage brilliance but ultimately could not match the Spaniard’s physical endurance in the deciding set.
The sweltering opening day at SW19 did not spare other big names either. Eighth seed Holger Rune fell in five sets, and two-time finalist Ons Jabeur had to retire mid-match. Stefanos Tsitsipas, another player once touted to take over the post-Big Three mantle, was forced to retire with a back injury while trailing against French qualifier Valentin Royer. Tsitsipas admitted he was “left with no answers” as physical issues continue to plague his career.
Medvedev’s exit only adds to his worrying slump, which has overshadowed glimpses of a revival like his run to the final in Halle a week ago where he beat world No.3 Alexander Zverev. Despite that spark, the Russian leaves Wimbledon searching for solutions as his once-consistent presence at the business end of Slams fades further into uncertainty.
With one Grand Slam left this season, Medvedev will have to regroup quickly to avoid one of his most disappointing seasons since he first broke through on tour. For Alcaraz, meanwhile, the focus shifts to building momentum after narrowly escaping an early exit and proving once again why he remains the man to beat on grass.
