Carlos Alcaraz faced an unexpected challenge in his opening Wimbledon match against British qualifier Oliver Tarvet,World number 719 Oliver Tarvet gave Alcaraz a run for his money, pushing the defending champion in a way few expected. Alcaraz, who has never lost in a Grand Slam first round in 18 appearances, faces British qualifier Oliver Tarvet in the second round.

Alcaraz entered Wimbledon 2025 as a strong favorite, eyeing his third consecutive title at SW19. He is also aiming to be the second player ever to win Roland Garros, Queen's, and Wimbledon in the same year. However, his opening match proved to be anything but straightforward.

The young Brit, making his Wimbledon debut, displayed remarkable composure and skill, holding his own against the world number two. Tarvet's aggressive play and fearless approach seemed to unsettle Alcaraz, who struggled to find his rhythm early on. The match was marked by unforced errors from Alcaraz, a sign that he was feeling the pressure.

Despite the Centre Court crowd firmly behind him, Alcaraz found himself in a tight battle. Tarvet's impressive serve and net play kept Alcaraz on the defensive, and the young Brit even managed to win a set, sending shockwaves through the stadium. Alcaraz, known for his athleticism and powerful groundstrokes, had to dig deep to counter Tarvet's challenge.

Adding to the drama, the match was played on one of the hottest opening days in Wimbledon history. Temperatures soared above 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit), testing the players' endurance and concentration. During the match, Alcaraz showed his compassion by assisting a spectator who collapsed in the stands due to the heat, handing over a bottle of water as medics arrived.

Alcaraz acknowledged the challenging conditions, saying, "Playing with such a high heat out there is really difficult to deal with. Even tougher when you're playing long matches, long rallies. So we're playing in brutal conditions".

Despite the heat and Tarvet's spirited performance, Alcaraz managed to regain control of the match in the later sets. His experience and mental fortitude proved crucial as he weathered the storm and began to dictate the play. Alcaraz eventually secured the win, but not without a fight, demonstrating the depth of talent in the men's draw.

"I knew at the beginning that it was going to be really difficult playing against Fabio," Alcaraz said after his five set match with Fabio Fognini. "(It) doesn't matter (that) it's his last year, his last tournaments. The talent that Fabio has is immense. In every match, he can show his best tennis. I think today he has shown one of his best tennis".

While Alcaraz advanced to the next round, the match served as a wake-up call, highlighting the challenges that lie ahead in his quest for a third Wimbledon title. The young Spaniard will need to sharpen his game and maintain his focus if he hopes to overcome the stiff competition from rivals like Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and home favorite Jack Draper.

Meanwhile, Jack Draper, the British No. 1, had a successful start to his Wimbledon campaign, advancing to the second round after his opponent, Sebastian Baez, retired due to injury. Draper was leading 6-2, 6-2, 2-1 when Baez called it a day, but Draper had already displayed dominant tennis. Draper's potential path to the final includes possible matchups against Marin Cilic, Alexander Bublik, and Novak Djokovic, making it a challenging but exciting journey.