Wimbledon 2025 First Round: Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner Shines, Zverev Upset
Wimbledon 2025 kicked off with exciting matches, and the first round brought some big moments. Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic fought hard to win against France’s Alexandre Muller, while world number one Jannik Sinner had an easy victory. However, third seed Alexander Zverev faced a shocking defeat.
Novak Djokovic’s Hard-Fought Win Over Muller
Novak Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, started his Wimbledon 2025 journey with a tough match against Alexandre Muller. The match lasted 3 hours and 19 minutes, ending with Djokovic winning 6-1, 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-2. However, it wasn’t an easy victory. Djokovic revealed he struggled with a stomach bug during the game. “I went from feeling my best for a set and a half to my worst for about 45 minutes,” he said, as quoted by the tournament’s official website. After taking some doctor’s pills, his energy returned, and he won 10 of the final 12 games to secure the victory.
Moreover, Djokovic’s strong serving helped him stay in control, even when Muller fought back in the second set. Muller pushed Djokovic to a tie-break in the second set, winning it 7-9. But Djokovic bounced back in the third and fourth sets, showing his experience and strength. Next, he will face Britain’s Dan Evans in the second round of Wimbledon 2025. This win keeps Djokovic’s dream of an eighth Wimbledon title alive.
Wimbledon, I missed you. 🍓 pic.twitter.com/Gv6HiRySue
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) July 2, 2025
Jannik Sinner’s Easy Victory Over Nardi
Meanwhile, world number one Jannik Sinner had a much smoother start at Wimbledon 2025. He faced fellow Italian Luca Nardi and won 6-4, 6-3, 6-0 in just 1 hour and 48 minutes. Sinner’s game was strong from the start. He didn’t face a single break point and converted five out of 13 break point chances. His speed and powerful hitting made it tough for Nardi to keep up, especially in the third set, which lasted only about 20 minutes.
Furthermore, Sinner’s win sets him up for a second-round match against Aleksandar Vukic, who beat Tseng Chun-Hsin 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5). Unlike defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who had a tough five-set match against Fabio Fognini, Sinner’s quick victory shows he’s in top form for Wimbledon 2025. His performance makes him a strong contender in the tournament.
Alexander Zverev’s Shocking Defeat to Rinderknech
In a surprising upset, third seed Alexander Zverev lost to France’s Arthur Rinderknech in a five-set thriller. The match, which lasted 4 hours and 44 minutes, ended with Rinderknech winning 7-6(3), 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4. This was Rinderknech’s first-ever win against a top-five player. Zverev, who had a strong grass-court season with a 6-2 record, including a final in Stuttgart and a semifinal in Halle, couldn’t keep up with Rinderknech’s energy.
Additionally, the match started on Monday but was paused due to Wimbledon’s 11:00 PM curfew. When it resumed on Tuesday, Rinderknech took control, hitting 79 winners, including a powerful backhand to seal the victory. This loss is a big blow to Zverev, who was expected to go far in Wimbledon 2025.
Overall, the first round of Wimbledon 2025 showed both expected wins and shocking upsets. Djokovic’s ability to push through a stomach bug proved his determination, while Sinner’s quick win showed his strength. On the other hand, Zverev’s defeat to Rinderknech was a reminder that anything can happen in tennis.
