Wimbledon 2025 is heating up as the second week commences, with thrilling matches and high stakes. On the men's side, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz faces a potentially tricky fourth-round encounter against Andrey Rublev. Meanwhile, on the women's side, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continues her quest for a maiden Wimbledon title, with a challenging path ahead.
Alcaraz, seeking his third consecutive Wimbledon title, has had a somewhat bumpy ride to the round of 16. He needed five sets to overcome Fabio Fognini in the first round and dropped a set to Jan-Lennard Struff in the third. Despite these challenges, Alcaraz's ability to raise his level when tested has been evident. He leads the head-to-head against Rublev 2-1, although Rublev defeated him on fast conditions last year in Madrid.
Rublev, currently ranked No. 14, has been working on controlling his emotions with the help of his new coach, Marat Safin. After falling out of the world's top 10, Rublev is on the verge of returning. While he has the game and power to trouble Alcaraz, the Spaniard's variety and speed may be enough to offset Rublev's strengths. Rublev has been focusing on better controlling his emotions and being kinder to himself. The match between Alcaraz and Rublev is scheduled for Sunday, July 7th, on Centre Court.
Aryna Sabalenka, the World No. 1, survived a tough challenge from British hope Emma Raducanu in a thrilling two-set match. Sabalenka had to fight back from a deficit in the second set to win 7-6(6), 6-4. Sabalenka expressed her relief and admiration for Raducanu's level of play. Sabalenka will face Elise Mertens next. Sabalenka leads their rivalry 10-2 overall (2-0 in 2025). With other top seeds eliminated, Sabalenka's path to the Wimbledon title has seemingly opened up. However, she remains grounded, emphasizing that each match is a new challenge.
The Championships are now well underway, with the top players battling for a place in the quarterfinals. As Alcaraz aims to continue his Wimbledon dominance and Sabalenka seeks her first title at the All England Club, the second week promises more exciting tennis action.
