Wimbledon 2025: Djokovic battles through but Gauff and Zverev crash out – as it happened
And breathe.It’s been a relentless, action-packed day here at Wimbledon, with big names crashing out and British hopefuls wowing the crowds.We’ll do it all again tomorrow, when thankfully it won’t be as hot.Thanks for joining me.Goodnight!Coco Gauff crashes out in loss to Dayana YastremskaJack Pinnington Jones leads historic British chargeJack Draper eases past Báez to set up Cilic clashIce in short supply as SW19 temperatures reach 34CPutintseva raises concern over ‘dangerous’ spectatorKrejcikova fights back to prolong her title defenceMpetshi Perricard breaks serve record … but losesZverev, Pegula, Zheng all make first-round exitsHere’s Barney Ronay on Jack Draper’s emergence as Britain’s new hope at Wimbledon.
Here’s Novak Djokovic: “It’s great to finish before the curfew, I want to thank everyone for staying this late.It was an amazing atmosphere, I hope you enjoyed it.I never take stepping out on this court for granted.I always enjoy it, maybe not in the second set!“I went from feeling at my absolute best, to my absolute worst for 45 minutes,” he adds.“Maybe a stomach bug, I’m not sure, but I took some ‘doctor’s miracle pills’ and got some more energy.
I knew something was off with the stomach, but I never thought about quitting,Credit to Alex for the battle,“I think I served very well today and saved break points in the fourth set,Lots of positives to take into the next round,Do I think I can win? I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I had a chance,” he concludes, to huge applause.
“It’s just the beginning, many great players in the draw, and a Brit [Dan Evans] next, that’s going to be a tough one.This was a battle few expected when Djokovic breezed through the first set, but he had to overcome a gritty opponent and apparent medical issues before finally finding that extra gear.With the curfew 30 minutes away, he blazes through his final service game.That’s 20 first-round wins out of 20 here; next up, he’ll face Dan Evans.Fourth set: Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-6, 2-4 Djokovic Can Muller get another game on the board? He’s deserved more than four games over these last two sets – but might not get them, Djokovic winning a slice rally on his way to 30-0 up.
This time, there’s no fightback – and Djokovic will serve for the match after three hours and 15 minutes.Fourth set: Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-6, 2-4 Djokovic No real sniff of a chance for Muller here, Djokovic winning a punchy final rally and holding to 15.Those stomach problems seem a distant memory.Fourth set: Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-6, 2-3 Djokovic Muller has saved some of his best shots for this fourth set, another muscular winner down the line edging him ahead.He misjudges a Djokovic return, though, letting it bounce in.
Break point – saved with a delicate drop shot into play as Djokovic slips.Deuce, and Muller holds when his opponent goes wide.That break and hold is good news for the Djokovic children, now looking a bit tired and fidgety up in the players’ box.Their dad has won eight of nine games since the medical timeout, and could finish things very soon.Fourth set: Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-5, 1-3 Djokovic Muller lashes a return winner on second serve at 30-0 down, though, and Djokovic gets his footwork wrong on the next point.
A clubbed return earns break point, but two straight aces turn things around – only for Muller to pummel another clean winner down the line.He’s refusing to go away, but Djokovic is able to find the first serves he needs to cement his lead.Fourth set: Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-6, 1-2 Djokovic A backhand volley winner from Djokovic, followed up by two unforced errors – and now Muller is in deep trouble.Three break points, but the Frenchman saves the lot.Has Djokovic ever passed up so many break opportunities in one match? He gets another with a powerful return – his 25th of the match – and this time, Muller nets, his resistance maybe finally at an end.
Fourth set: Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-6, 1-1 Djokovic Muller has his first break point, a fierce return catching Djokovic off guard – but it’s rescued by an ace out wide that catches the line.He earns another at deuce but misses his chance, netting a forehand.Another decent chance at a winner goes begging, a cross-court shot flying wide, and Djokovic holds on.Fourth set: Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-6, 1-0 Djokovic Muller has to hold here to stop Djokovic running away with it.He starts off well, an overhead smash taking him to 30-0, but a couple of cheap errors let his opponent in.
Muller wins the next rally, and holds as Djokovic nets a backhand.Muller has taken this match close to the three-hour mark, and even won a set, without ever earning a break point.Djokovic has had 21, converting just five.Djokovic wins the third set 6-2, leads Muller 2-1: Djokovic races through his next service game, and he’s one set away.We’ve got about 70 minutes until the 11pm (BST) curfew – plenty of time for him to wrap this up, barring another Muller fightback.
Here’s more on Jack Pinnington Jones’ big win earlier, part of a historic run of form for British players here.Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-5 Djokovic Muller sees off another break point, but Djokovic converts the next, hitting the ball on the rise and finding the baseline.He’ll serve for the third set, and is slowly, painfully getting the job done.Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-4 Djokovic A comfortable (in the circumstances) hold for Djokovic after Muller calls for the trainer to assess a tight hamstring.Muller 1-6, 7-6, 2-3 Djokovic He could scarcely look less comfortable on the baseline, but Djokovic edges a rally to earn a first break point in this set.
Muller saves it with a lovely, deft slice volley at the net.Another break point chance, second serve … and this time, a double fault ends Muller’s near-two-hour resistance.Djokovic is still puffing out his cheeks and mopping his brow, but his first serve stays rock solid and he holds to 15.Two sets all, one set all, 90 minutes until curfew.Medical timeout: “I asked for the doctor,” Djokovic complains, only to find the doctor is right next to him.
A medical timeout is then called, with Djokovic being given plenty of fluids before playing on.Djokovic is also looking in some discomfort during breaks, holding his stomach and trying to take deeper breaths.Then at 15-0, he prevails in an exhibition rally, pinging net cords and putting the pressure back on his opponent.Muller sees it off, holding as Djokovic nets a gettable backhand – and is now chatting to the physio.Whatever else has happened today – and there’s been plenty – Djokovic going home would surely trump the lot, particularly after he breezed through the first set.
Now, he’s having to work harder than his opponent on serve, digging it out from deuce to level the third set with Muller at 1-1.On Coco Gauff: her opponent was a difficult first-round draw, and played close to her best – but that was still a dispiriting defeat for a player who has just won at Roland Garros, and was seen by many as the pre-tournament favourite.Her serve in particular went completely awry; maybe the late change of court played a part.Whatever the reason, she joins Jessica Pegula and Qinwen Zheng in going home today – that’s three of the top five seeds out in the first round.Gael Monfils is through, beating Ugo Humbert in a five-set marathon on Court 12.
In another five-setter, Marton Fucsovics has prevailed over Alex Kovacevic,All of which means that the last match in play is the one on Centre Court,Yastremska starts by saying this court holds a lot of emotions for her; she played a junior final here before,“I was really on fire today,” she adds, pointing to flames painted on her nails,“She [Gauff] is a great player, we are good friends,” she adds, thanking the crowd for their support and her team for their “support and tough love”.
The Ukrainian, who lost the Nottingham final to McCartney Kessler, says “maybe now me and the grass can be friends.It’s a pleasure being here.” And off she goes, having announced herself as a potential major player in this tournament.A looping return catches the baseline and Gauff can’t retrieve it.It’s all over! In just under 80 minutes, Dayana Yastremska has sent one of the tournament favourites tumbling out.
Yastremska powers through her next service game, and Gauff will serve to stay in the match.She starts in worrying fashion, a ninth double fault of the match, and despite a brief fightback, Yastremska has a match point at 30-40 …The roof is now closing on Centre Court as the number of active matches keeps dwindling.Gael Monfils is a break up on Ugo Humbert in the fifth set, while Marton Fucsovics is serving for the match against Aleksandar Kovacevic.The 29th seed, Brandon Nakashima, is 2-1 in sets up on China’s Bu Yunchaeokete, but that one has been suspended due to the light.And in the women’s draw, France’s Elsa Jacquemot has defeated the seeded Magda Linette in three sets!Gauff really unravelling now, slipping on the surface and looking totally despondent as her first serve deserts her – and Yastremska, who has played brilliantly, goes a double break up in the second set.
Muller levels at one set all! Alexandre Muller has been under constant pressure in this set, but he hung on for so long, he ended up winning it.And in some style, a ripping cross-court backhand that only Djokovic could get back into play – but Muller races in to put away the winner regardless.Woof!Gauff is struggling with her serve, but holds on as Yastremska moves 2-1 up in the second set.Meanwhile, Muller has seen off two set points – and now has one of his own after a big serve and clinical volley.Djokovic edges 4-2 up at the change of ends, then gets the better of the next rally to move three points clear.
Muller just won’t go away, though, rattling off three points in a row to tie it up – but looping a forehand wide to hand Djokovic a set point on serve.Yastremska spent the break between sets stretching in front of her chair, but there are no ill effects as she immediately breaks Gauff again, the American offering up a badly judged drop shot that plops into the net.Muller is serving to force a tie break; at risk of forgoing impartiality, I’d like to see him get there.He’s taken to the challenge in front of him, which is an insanely hard tennis match, and he holds to 15.A breaker it is, Muller having seen off 11 break points in that set.
Yastremska wins the first set 7-6 (3)! The Ukrainian gets it done on the Gauff serve, putting away a close-range volley and managing to avoid crossing the net.The No 2 seed is in real trouble now – can she turn it around?Yastremska gets the first mini-break to lead 3-1, but Gauff hits back with a precise return to get back on serve – only to slip 4-2 down at the changeover.The Ukrainian gets 5-2 up on serve, the set in her palm again, only for Gauff to pull a point back with a daring lob on the run.Serving to stay in the set, Muller fights off two more break points – Djokovic now a rare 0/11 in this set.Got to admire the hustle from Muller, but he then nets at game point.
No matter, an increasingly irritable Djokovic goes long, and we’re still on serve.Gauff and Yastremska go to a first-set tie-break, while elsewhere, Victoria Azarenka is out, beaten 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 in a topsy-turvy encounter with Anastasia Zakharova.Etcheverry had looked in total control of the third set at 5-2 up – but Pinnington Jones reels off five games in a row, and advances in straight sets! The world No 281, making his grand slam debut, has his first grand slam win.Muller keeps battling, but Djokovic earns another break point as Muller is forced into a tweener that flies wide.The Frenchman again fights back, an ace saving a fifth break point this set and a sixth chance also going begging for Djokovic.
Seventh time lucky? No, Djokovic nets and this game rolls past the eight-minute mark.Muller finally holds, and it’s 4-4 in the second.Yastremska gets to set point against Gauff but double-faults, handing her opponent new impetus.A cross-court winner brings up a break point, and another double means we’re back on serve.Ouch – that could be hard for Yastremska to get over.
On No 1 Court, Yastremska backs up the break with another clean winner down the line, and Gauff will serve to save the first set.Muller wriggles out of his service game, and Djokovic promptly holds to love, edging 4-3 up in the second set.Yastremska breaks Gauff to lead 4-2 in the first set, floating a lovely winner down the line to do so.Gauff is yet to hit a winner and is now in a spot of early bother.On Centre, Djokovic leads 3-2 and has Muller sweating again at deuce.
Here’s Tumaini Carayol on Jack Draper’s first step on the long road to competing for a Wimbledon title.Elsa Jacquemot might have been the star of this year’s French Open – she lost in three sets to Lois Boisson, who went on to reach the semi-finals and steal Parisian hearts.Boisson didn’t get through the qualifiers here, but Jacquemot has taken Magda Linette, the No 27 seed, to a third set on Court 11.Elena Rybakina beats Elina Avanesyan 6-2, 6-1.It takes one minute over an hour for the 2022 champion to move into the second round.
Meanwhile, Azarenka has levelled up against Zakharova, winning the second set 6-2.Muller has to fight tooth-and-nail to get a game on the board but he fends Djokovic off for now, and it’s on serve at 2-1 to the Serb in the second set.Over on No 1 Court, Yastremska and Gauff are locked at 2-2.Wednesday’s order of play is out for Centre and No 1 Courts, with British hopes well represented.Emma Raducanu, Cam Norrie, Katie Boulter and Oliver Tarvet all get a show-court slot