Alexander Zverev and Coco Gauff crashed out of Wimbledon 2025 in the first round, with their defeats among the biggest upsets at the tournament thus far.
Wimbledon 2025 Throws Up Countless First Round Upsets
Day one and day two of Wimbledon 2025 were marred with several first round upsets.
The tournament, which many describe as the most prestigious of the four Grand Slams, is no stranger to drama and has thrown up countless shock results over the years.
In 1994, we were presented with what is perhaps the biggest upset in Wimbledon history. It came as unseeded Lori McNeil became the first player in the Open Era to beat a defending Grand Slam champion in the opening round of their title defence, as she overcame Steffi Graf.
Sergiy Stakhovsky’s win over Roger Federer in 2013, Sabine Lisicki’s triumph over Serena Williams in the same year and Peter Doohan’s 1987 victory over Boris Becker also stand out.
And now, the long list of upsets at the All England Club has been added to in 2025.
Two of the top three seeds in the women’s singles event have suffered early exits, while there were 13 seeded eliminations in the first round in the men’s singles event.
French Open Champion Coco Gauff Among First Round Flops
The biggest shock in the women’s singles event thus far is Coco Gauff’s defeat.
Fresh off the back of winning the 2025 French Open, the second Grand Slam of her career, the 21-year-old fell at the first hurdle in the English capital.
She was beaten 7-6, 6-1 in straight sets by unseeded Ukrainian Dayana Yastremaka.
“It’s the win of her career.”
No.1 Court is stunned as Dayana Yastremska defeats No.2 seed Coco Gauff 7-6(3), 6-1 đČ#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/pZYylWHcs8
â Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2025
Joining the world No. 2 as an early dropout is third seed Jessica Pegula.
It took just 58 minutes for the American to fall to a 6-2, 6-3 loss – the quickest defeat to a top five seed at a major since 2022 – against Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Additionally, fifth seed Qinwen Zheng was beaten in the first round at Wimbledon for a third consecutive year, losing 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 to doubles star Katerina Siniakova.
British No. 1 Emma Raducanu, who was handed a tough route to the final alongside Jack Draper, beat fellow Brit Mimi Xu and faces Markéta Vondrouƥovå in the next round.
Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal were also victorious.
The favourite to win the tournament, according to the best betting sites in the UK, is world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Already a two-time Grand Slam winner, it would be her first Wimbledon title.
Zverev and Medvedev Fall To Shock First Round Exits
On the men’s side of the draw, Alexander Zverev’s early exit is undoubtedly the biggest shock.
Heading into the tournament as third seed, the German resumed his match against Arthur Rinderknech on day two after finishing late on day one and was beaten 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4.
Win-derknech stuns on Centre Court âš
The Frenchman takes down No.3 seed in a marathon match, winning 7-6(3), 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4 in 4 hours and 40 minutes đ«đ·#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Q8sP7S5pN2
â Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2025
Seventh seed Lorenzo Musetti, who reached the semi-finals last year, also lost in the first round.
He suffered defeat to qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili, while eighth seed Holger Rune was beaten by Nicolas Jarry and ninth seed and former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev lost to Benjamin Bonzi.
Recent Halle Open winner Alexander Bublik, who recently mocked world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, is another standout exit in the opening round, alongside Francisco Cerundolo and Alexei Popyrin.
Britain’s greatest hope Draper, meanwhile, cruised past Sebastian Baez. He faces Marin ÄiliÄ next.
Fellow Brits Oliver Tarvet, Arthur Fery, Billy Harris, Dan Evans, Cam Norrie and Jack Pinnington Jones were also victorious in their respective first round matches.
Two-time Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz remains the 11/10 favourite to win the title, according to the best tennis betting sites, while Draper is rated as the fourth favourite at 10/1.
