Wimbledon 2025: Draper in action, Zverev in decider, Swiatek and Sinner breeze through – live

Key events

Draper is making quick work of this opening set – a second break puts him 5-1 up, with Baez serving to stay in the set.

Jack Draper backs up the early break, and now leads Baez 3-1 on No 1 Court. Zverev taking the match on Centre to a fifth set means that Novak Djokovic’s match will start even later – and I’d be surprised if Coco Gauff will start at all, if she stays on Centre.

A second-serve ace from Zverev brings up set point, against serve – and a low cross-court return is too hot, Rinderknech’s response slapping into the net. Zverev offers from strong words of encouragement to his coaching box, and we’re going to a decider.

Rinderknech’s serve is still looking clinical and he takes a 4-2 edge into the first changeover – but Zverev’s not done yet, and gets it back to 5-4 down, on serve, as his opponent tightens up. As for Draper, he’s made the perfect start, leading 1-0 after breaking Baez in the opener; I didn’t see it because BBC One cut to the news.

Thanks, Daniel. Draper and Baez are out on No 1 Court, with the Argentinian serving first. As for Zverev, he has forced a tie-break, which he needs to win in order to stay in the hunt this year.

Jack Draper begins his quest for a Wimbledon title on Court No 2. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA

Righto, my watch is over. here’s Niall McVeigh to croon you through to the close. Rinderknech has guaranteed himself a breaker in the fourth … but Zverev must now serve to stay in the match. It’s getting real on Centre!

On Centre, we’re at the business end of set four, Rinderknech up 5-4. The way he’s serving, Zverev has a very significant problem.

There are easier first-round matches than Baez, but you’d assume Draper’s modal level takes care of him. If he’s to go deep here, he’ll probably have to beat Mensik in round four, then Djokovic in the last eight and Sinner in the last four; I’m not certain he’s ready for that quite yet, but similarly, i’m not certain he isn’t.

Next on No 1 Court: Jack Draper (4) v Sebastian Baez.

While all that was going on, Shelton, shocked into action by being broken, responds by peeling off three games in a row to take set one 6-4 before holding for 1-0 in the second; Rinderknech leads Zverev 2-1 4-3; Monfils leads Humber 4-3; Mensik leads Gaston 6-1 4-5; and Dimitrov leads Nishioka 3-0.

Navarro then congratulates her on a brilliant career, wishing her luck for the future and saying it was weird to be on the other side of the net having bombs served against you. She thinks she played well today, won’t bore us with a rundown, and off she goes.

Kvitova thanks the crowd for making a beautiful occasion, saying it means a lot to have another chance to play on Centre Court. She’s had her best experiences here and could never have imagined she’d be a two-time champ. She’ll miss Wimbledon, tennis and the crowd, but is ready for the next chapter of her life and can’t wait to return as a member.

She thanks all those who’ve helped her improve as a player and a person, citing her dad, in the crowd today, and her husband. Her mum is looking after her son, and she’s pretty keen on them too, thanking the former in Czech for all the sacrifices made on her behalf.

Otherwise, though, that’s it; well bloody done and mazal tov on a great career, champ; it’s been an honour to watch you.

Navarro stops to applaud Kvitova, who waves to the crowd, tears in her eyes, while, in comms, Martina has absolutely gone. As you might imagine, the work of a Czech Wimbledon champ means something to her – probably more so than to any other human on the planet. I can’t for a second imagine what’s going through her mind as she considers her own, very different, experience of the same.

Emma Navarro (10) beats Petra Kvitova 6-3 6-1

Next for her it’s Zhu or Kudermetova V, but this is now Kvitova’s moment. What a career!

Petra Kvitova of Czechia speaks in an interview marking her retirement. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Navarro holds for 5-1 and the 2011 and 2014 champ will soon have hit her final ball at Wimbledon. On Centre, we’re 2-2 in the fourth, Rinderknech by two sets to one, and on no 2, Bolt breaks Shelton for 4-3 in set one.

Kvitova survives a couple of double-break points, but eventually Navarro, who’s playing nicely, makes 6-3 4-1 and this one is accelerating away from the two-time champ.

I should have said, by the way, that Dan Evans did indeed serve out, beating Jay Clarke 1, 5 and 2; next for him it’s Muller or Djokovic.

Machac is nearly there, leading Dzumhur 6-3 6-2 4-3 with a break; Starodubtseva now leads Jones 3-1 in the third; and Moutet leads Comesana 6-4 6-4 1-1.

Mirra Andreeva (7) beats Mayar Sherif 6-3, 6-3

Next for her it’s Bronzetti.

Russia’s Mirra Andreeva returns the ball to Egypt’s Mayar Sherif. Photograph: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images

Down advantage, Zverev powers an ace down the T, closes out, and now trails 2-1 1-1; Kvitova wins her forst game in eight to trail Navarro 3-6 1-2; Shelton and Bolt are 2-2 in the first; and De jong has beaten DEubanks.

De Jong and Eubanks are playing a fifth-set breaker, the former up 7-2, while Navarro is all over Kvitova now, leading 6-3 2-0. But what an ovation there’ll be at the end, and rightly so.

On No 3, Andreeva M is nearly there, up 6-3 5-2 against Sherif. She’s another whose game is elite but may lack the elite weapons which wins slams … but if you’re asking me and even if you’re not, my sense is she’ll get there, able to compensate for a lack of power with her tennis brain.

Zverev’s hands cost him again! He allows Rinderknech to come in and pass having laid a poor drop then, on set point, a net-cord takes a forehand long! Rinderknech leads buy two sets to one and the no 3 seed, who’s looked lethargic today, has work to do!

Meantime, on Centre, Navarro fights back from 0-30 down to hold for a 6-3 set. Those three straight doubles changed the flow of this match.

Serving to stay in the second set, Zverev doesn’t do enough with an overhead, allows Rinderknech deuce … then is passed on return! Naturally, he resolves the immediate danger with an ace while, on Centre, Navarro now leads Kvitova 5-3 in a topsy-turvy first set.

For those busting to know what I’m watching, as well as Zverev v Rinderknech and Kvitova v Navarro, I’ve just stuck on De Jong v Eubanks – one of the heroes of Wimbledon 2023 – as they’re 5-5 in the fifth, And I’ll also watch Shelton v Bolt, those two having just arrived on to No 2 Court.

Sakkari has beaten Blinkova 4 and 4, so faces Avanesyan next; Kvitova serves three straight doubles to hand Navarro break-back point, then dumps a forehand into the met. We’re back level at 3-3.

On Court 12, Evans is serving for the match against Clarke, leading 6-1 7-5 5-2; Andreeva leads Sherif 6-3 1-0; Kvitova leads Navarro 3-2; and Rinderknech leads Zverev 4-3 in the second, with a break.

Swiatek says she needed to focus on adjusting and she’s happy her game clicked in the second set. She’s also happy there was a bit of cloud coverage, before saying she improved in every game.

Otherwise, asked about her towel-snaffling antics, she advises that people at home like them and so does she, but if she plays another 15 years her house will be full of them.

Iga Swiatek (8) beats Polina Kudermetova 7-6 6-1

The shape of that match was not unfamiliar: close until it wasn’t. Next for Swiatek: Caty McNally.

Iga Swiatek is through to round two. Photograph: Joanna Chan/AP

Come on Petra! She breaks Navarro immediately and a backhand swatted to break the sideline gives her 2-0 0-40; meantime, Swiatek breaks Kudermetova again, so is now serving for the matc h at 7-5 5-1.

Yeah, time’s up. Swiatek breaks Kudermetova to lead 3-1 in the second, while Rinderknech achieves the first break in two hours 17 minutes of play, and leads Zverev 1-1 2-1. Trouble for the no 3 seed, whose self-belief might just’ve been irreparably damaged by the hiding he took off Sinner in the Aussie Open final.

Jaume Munar beats Alexander Bublik (28) 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2

Munar continues the good form he showed at Queen’s, and faces Marozsan next.

Jaume Munar and his rather fetching sleeveless number are into round two. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/Reuters

Munar is now serving for the match against Bublik, leading 5-2 in the fifth; Swiatek leads Kudermetova 7-5 2-1; Andreeva leads Sherif, who was 2-0 up, 5-3; Evans now leads Clarke 2-0 2-1, with a break; McNally has beaten Burrage 3 and 1; Collins leads Osorio 6-3 3-1; Machac leads Dzumhur 6-3 1-0; Jones leads Starodubtseva 6-1 2-2; and Moutet leads Comesana 6-4 3-0.

On Centre, Kvitova has come out for potentially the final time – the two-time champ will retire after the US open. Navarro is not a pleasant first-round draw, but after a year or two of improvements, she’s dropped off a little lately, thrashed by Bouzas Maneiro in the first round at Roland Garros before losing to Anisimova at Queen’s. She’s another hindered by the lack of a serious weapon, but should have enough here.

Immediately, Rinderknech raises break point, diddling Zverev with a drop, and though it’s soon saved, a similar shot then saves game point. From there, Zverev is again asked to respond when down advantage – he does – this time he serves out, sealing the deal with an ace down the T. He leads 1-1 1-0.

On Rinderknech, now knocking up with Zverev, Coach Calv messages with the following insight: “Good looking [redacted] with a massive serve. Meantime, a double on 30-all means Swiatek has set point … and Kudermetova sends a backhand into the net! How often do we see that, that being the better player hanging in there until the errors finally come?

Swiatek holds for 6-5, but can she find a way to break the Kudermetova serve?

Iga Swiatek in action during her first round match against Polina Kudermetova. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Reuters

Obviously I’ll be watching those, along with Swiatek 5-5 Kudermetova; on my final screen, and especially as Evans has just taken a 2-0 lead over Clarke, I’m going for the final set of Bublik v Munar, Munar up 2-1 with a break.

Coming up next on No 1 Court: Petra Kvitova v Emma Navarro (10)

Coming up next on Centre Court: Arthur Rinderknech 7-6 6-7 Alexander Zverev (3)

Thanks Niall and hi again everyone. It don’t stop!

Iga Swiatek is being kept on serve by Kudermetova on No 2 Court, while Dan Evans has set points to go 2-0 up against Jay Clarke – and takes them! With that, I’ll hand back to Daniel …