Eleanor Crooks

Jack Draper’s latest comeback ended in an emotional first-round defeat by Terence Atmane in Montreal, with the British player visibly distressed and apparently still affected by recurring bone bruising. His ranking has fallen to 143 after repeated injury absences, raising doubts over his participation in the US Open and his scheduled mixed-doubles partnership with Jessica Pegula. Draper has received a wild card for Cincinnati, while a further Grand Slam withdrawal would be his fourth in a row. Jacob Fearnley provided a positive result for Britain by reaching the second round.

Jannik Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev in four sets to retain his Wimbledon title, securing his fifth major victory and 100th grand slam match win. Zverev impressed with aggressive play and claimed the first set, but Sinner took control in the later stages despite tense, closely contested play. Shifts in momentum, a crucial third-set break and strong returning in the fourth set allowed Sinner to prevail. The match featured high-quality rallies, challenging conditions and strong serving from both players, solidifying Sinner’s dominance at major tournaments.

Arthur Fery reached the Wimbledon semi-finals with a dominant straight‑sets win over ninth seed Flavio Cobolli, marking his first victory over a top‑10 player and placing him among a small group of British men to reach the last four in the Open era. His aggressive play and composure on Centre Court propelled him past the Italian, setting up a semifinal against second seed Alexander Zverev. The win continues Fery’s unexpected run, drawing comparisons to recent breakthrough performances in major tennis tournaments.

Arthur Fery overturned another deficit to defeat Grigor Dimitrov in five sets at Wimbledon, becoming the first British wild card to reach a grand slam quarter-final in the open era. Despite trailing twice in the fourth set, Fery recovered to force a deciding set and prevailed in a tense tie-break. The victory sets up a quarter-final meeting with ninth seed Flavio Cobolli and secures Fery a place among a select group of British men to reach the Wimbledon last eight.

Naomi Osaka defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 7-6 to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals, handing Sabalenka her earliest Grand Slam exit in four years. Osaka’s dominant serving and composed play contrasted with Sabalenka’s tension and errors, breaking the Belarusian’s long tie-break winning streak. The result strengthens Osaka’s status as a title contender and extends Sabalenka’s unsettled run following her French Open collapse.

Serena Williams’ participation in Wimbledon doubles with Venus is uncertain after she sustained a knee injury during her singles loss to Australian Maya Joint. Williams skipped her post‑match press conference due to the issue, with her agent confirming she is working to be ready for the upcoming doubles match. Her return to competition drew strong crowd support, and players including Naomi Osaka praised her performance and legacy.

Serena Williams returned to Wimbledon singles nearly four years after stepping away from tennis, receiving an enthusiastic Centre Court welcome but losing in three sets to Australia’s Maya Joint. Despite saving multiple match points and briefly leading in the final set, Williams’ movement could not keep pace with her shot‑making as Joint produced a composed performance. Williams expressed joy at returning, while Joint described the experience as surreal. The match highlighted Williams’ ability to remain competitive at 44 and her plans to continue in doubles with sister Venus.

British players lost all 10 completed matches on Wimbledon’s opening day, marking the nation’s worst performance since records began in 2000. Additional defeats are likely as remaining first‑round matches continue. Difficult draws contributed to the wipeout, with Cameron Norrie’s five‑set loss to Michael Zheng the most notable disappointment. Younger and lower‑ranked British players also fell despite some competitive performances, including Harriet Dart and qualifier Oliver Tarvet. Injuries to Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu added to the bleak start for the home contingent.

Naomi Osaka showcased a Japanese-inspired kimono-style outfit for her Wimbledon walk-on, created with designer Hana Yagi and incorporating motifs such as cranes, cherry blossoms and a kanzashi ornament. She later revealed a Nike dress influenced by kirigami. Osaka described the look as a tribute to her Japanese and Haitian heritage and a continuation of her fashion-focused grand slam entrances. She noted that Wimbledon’s all-white tradition allows designers to highlight texture and fabric. The outfit follows previous themed designs at the Australian and French opens.