Alexander Zverev believes a maiden Wimbledon title is possible this year after the German second seed breezed past Valentin Royer to reach the third round.
The recently crowned French Open champion defeated his 75th-ranked opponent 6-1 6-3 7-6 (7-3) in just over two hours on the grass courts of SW19.
He will now face American Marcos Giron as he continues his pursuit of back-to-back Grand Slam triumphs.
Despite never progressing beyond the fourth round at the All England Club, the 29-year-old is riding a significant wave of momentum.
French Open triumph fuels confidence
The German star ended his long wait for a major trophy last month by defeating Flavio Cobolli on the Parisian clay.
That landmark victory has fundamentally altered his mindset arriving in London as a reigning Slam champion.
“It builds confidence when you win in straight sets, especially at Wimbledon where I am still waiting for a big result,” said Zverev.
“If I continue playing like this, I think it is definitely possible this year.”
Dominant display features late wobble
The towering right-hander was in ruthless form during the early exchanges, winning nine consecutive games after Royer held his opening serve.
He did not face a single break point until stumbling with a double fault while leading 4-3 in the third set.
Royer seized the rare opportunity to force a tie-break, but the recent major winner quickly regained his composure to seal the match.
“The next tournament is always round the corner. I won the French Open, which I’ve been waiting for such a long time and was such a big relief, but two weeks later we’re here at Wimbledon.”
“It’s such a short turnaround. You have to remember that you can and have done it, but have to take every match at 100%.”
Fritz and De Minaur advance
Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Taylor Fritz secured his place in the next round with a 6-2 6-2 7-5 victory over fellow American Patrick Kypson.
The big-serving 11th seed notably defeated the recent French Open champion in the Halle Open final last month, proving his formidable credentials on grass.
Australian fifth seed Alex de Minaur also enjoyed a straightforward afternoon, dismissing French veteran Adrian Mannarino 6-3 6-2 6-2.
American tennis player Learner Tien has been admitted to hospital with a suspected stomach problem hours after his second-round Wimbledon defeat to Marton Fucsovics.
The 20-year-old was beaten in four sets by his Hungarian opponent following a gruelling encounter at SW19.
He appeared to struggle physically during the match and required a medical timeout to manage an undisclosed illness.
Spectators noted the unusual sight of the rising star eating plain bread during a fourth-set changeover to settle his stomach.
Social media update sparks mild concern
Fears over his condition grew when he later posted an image from a hospital bed connected to an intravenous drip.
However, those concerns were slightly eased by the presence of a large fast-food meal positioned next to his bedside.
The takeaway spread included two large boxes of chicken nuggets, suggesting the medical issue may not be overly severe.
Focus shifts to upcoming hard-court season
This early exit concludes a frustrating grass-court campaign for the Australian Open quarter-finalist.
He matched his Wimbledon performance from last year but failed to take the next step towards a maiden Grand Slam title.
Assuming a full recovery, the prodigious talent will now direct his attention towards the North American hard-court swing.
He holds a strong desire to improve his record at the US Open, where he has never advanced past the opening round.
Handling the weight of expectations
Expectations remain extraordinarily high for the young athlete, with tennis legend John McEnroe recently tipping him as a future major finalist.
Despite the significant praise, the former junior standout remains grounded about his developmental trajectory.
“I would never go out and say I have the best shot of anybody, because the US has a great crop of young guys who are really making big strides.”
He added that gaining experience on different surfaces remains the key to unlocking consistent success on the senior tour.
“A lot of us just haven’t really been exposed to the surface and just the more we get on, the more matches we play, just helps a lot.”
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has urged the All England Club to change its strict no-dog policy at Wimbledon after admitting that leaving her pet spaniel at home hurts her feelings.
The top seed has sailed through her opening two matches in straight sets at SW19.
However, the Belarusian star wants tournament organisers to relax rules preventing players from bringing their dogs into the grounds.
Unlike the French Open, which recently provided a dog concierge service at Roland Garros, Wimbledon only permits certified service or security animals.
Sabalenka credits her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Ash, with significantly improving her mental well-being on the tour.
Wimbledon’s strict animal policy
All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton confirmed ahead of the tournament that the current regulations would remain in place.
“The only dogs that we permit on site are service dogs, and those security and search dogs.”
Bolton added that the club remains in constant communication with players and does not anticipate the policy causing major issues.
Despite understanding the club’s desire to protect its historic facilities, the reigning Australian Open champion politely disagreed with the blanket ban.
“Obviously if the dog does something wrong inside of this historical place, probably going to take a bit of time to replace.”
“They’re probably afraid of damages inside. I have to say all of our dogs are very well-trained. We have to change that.”
Finding calm on the court
The two-time Grand Slam winner admitted that leaving her pet alone at her rented accommodation has been emotionally difficult.
“It just sometimes hurts to leave him at the house by himself. He really gets attached a lot, but he suffers staying alone.”
“It’s just like a little fluffy thing that always wants cuddles and love. Wimbledon, please, I beg you, let the dogs inside.”
The 26-year-old previously brought her dog to post-match interviews earlier this year, explaining that having him nearby helps keep her grounded.
Sabalenka noted that petting Ash prevents her from losing her temper with her coaching team during stressful moments.
Straight sets progression
On the court, the top seed has remained entirely focused on securing her first Wimbledon singles title.
She recently dispatched American McCartney Kessler 6-1 7-6 to comfortably reach the third round.
“I’m extremely happy I was able to close it in straight sets. That was a very tough battle and I’m super happy I was able to handle it.”
The world number one will now face Jelena Ostapenko in her next grass-court clash.
The Latvian advanced after defeating Antonia Ruzic, who was a late replacement following Emma Raducanu’s withdrawal.
The Women’s Tennis Association has terminated its hosting agreement with Saudi Arabia a year early, moving the prestigious season-ending Finals to Indian Wells in California this November.
The elite tournament has been hosted in Riyadh for the past two editions following a lucrative three-year deal signed with the Saudi Tennis Federation in April 2024.
However, the final year of that arrangement has now been cancelled by mutual consent.
The decision comes after the Saudi federation accepted a formal request from the governing body to relocate the upcoming championship.
Geopolitical tensions force relocation
BBC Sport understands that ongoing political friction between Iran and the United States complicated logistical planning for the event.
These mounting geopolitical challenges ultimately contributed to the contract concluding twelve months ahead of schedule.
The prestigious hard-court championship will now be staged at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden between 8-15 November.
It will feature the year’s top eight singles players and elite doubles pairings competing for the ultimate season crown.
Building a premier global championship
Valerie Camillo, chair of the organisation, believes the Californian venue allows the tour to continue elevating the tournament’s global prestige.
“The Indian Wells Tennis Garden provides an exceptional stage for the WTA Finals.”
Camillo stated, highlighting the location’s world-class facilities and passionate fan base.
“From its world-class facilities and passionate fan base to its proven ability to deliver premier tennis events, the venue offers everything needed to showcase the very best of women’s tennis.”
Controversy surrounding the Riyadh deal
The initial decision to stage the lucrative finals in the Middle East sparked widespread condemnation from various human rights groups.
Critics accused the Gulf state of ‘sportswashing’ its international reputation to distract from severe restrictions on women’s rights and freedom of expression.
Despite the fierce backlash, chief executive Steve Simon initially defended the move as a catalyst for progressive reform.
“The WTA has been breaking down barriers for more than 50 years.”
Simon previously told BBC Sport, arguing that bringing elite female athletes to the region would inspire local women and girls to embrace the sport.
Saudi Arabia originally secured hosting rights after presenting a bid that aligned with the tour’s ambition to achieve equal prize money across the women’s game.
World number one Jannik Sinner has advanced to the third round of Wimbledon after a hard-fought straight-sets victory over Portugal’s Nuno Borges.
The Italian ground out a 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 win against the resilient 48th-ranked Borges on Centre Court.
It was a much-improved performance from the top seed, who required three-and-a-half hours to battle past Miomir Kecmanovic in a five-set marathon on Monday.
Sinner will now face American world number 81 Jenson Brooksby for a place in the last 16.
Finding rhythm on the grass
Despite opting against a grass-court warm-up tournament following a disappointing French Open exit, the 22-year-old looked visibly more assured in London.
Borges thrilled the crowd with a mix of heavy hitting and delicate drop shots, even threatening an upset when he secured an early break in the second set.
However, the Portuguese player faltered when trying to serve out the set to level the match.
The 29-year-old missed a crucial set point before an unforced error gifted the break back to his relentless opponent.
Sinner subsequently charged through the resulting tie-break and recovered from a poor opening service game in the third set to seal the victory in two hours and 32 minutes.
“I need to get back to the rhythm, but if you look at the scoreboard it was very close and matches like these help me a lot.”
Jannik Sinner
The world number one acknowledged he struck 29 unforced errors but remained positive about his progression.
“There are obviously a couple of things to improve, but I’m very happy,” he added.
Pundits praise competitive test
The challenging nature of the opening rounds could prove highly beneficial for Sinner as he navigates the latter stages of the tournament.
Three-time Wimbledon singles champion John McEnroe told BBC TV that the difficult match was exactly what the top seed needed.
“That is just what the doctor ordered. Highly competitive and he lifted his game. He is going to go into Friday feeling a lot better than he was on Monday.”
John McEnroe
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash echoed these sentiments on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“When you look at the end result then that is pretty good, especially considering the way Borges played in the first two sets.”
Pat Cash
Cash noted that while the Italian is not yet flowing at his absolute best, finding his forehand rhythm will be enough to maintain his momentum.
Former semi-finalist Denis Shapovalov has retired from his first-round match at Wimbledon after injuring his shoulder in a collision with a courtside barrier.
The Canadian was tied at 7-7 in a second-set tiebreak against Pablo Carreno Busta when he desperately chased down a forehand.
Unable to halt his momentum, he tumbled heavily into the protective sheeting surrounding Court 6.
He immediately pulled up in visible pain, prompting both the umpire and his Spanish opponent to rush to his aid.
Apology to opponent ends match
Following initial treatment from the physiotherapist, play briefly resumed.
The world number 41 played just one more point, netting a forehand to concede the tiebreak 9-7 before calling for further medical assistance.
Realising the extent of the damage, the left-hander opted to abandon the contest entirely.
“Sorry man, I think I f***ed it.”
His dramatic withdrawal gifts Carreno Busta his first-ever victory at the All England Club.
The 34-year-old Spaniard had suffered seven consecutive defeats at the grass-court grand slam prior to this encounter.
Struggles continue for former semi-finalist
This early exit compounds a challenging season for the former world number 10.
He arrived at SW19 having secured only one match win over the past two months.
His grass-court preparation was minimal, featuring an opening-round loss to Marin Cilic in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and a second-round exit to Alex de Minaur at Queen’s Club.
The painful departure is a stark contrast to his remarkable 2021 campaign in London.
During that deep run, he defeated Andy Murray, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Karen Khachanov before falling to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
Shapovalov is the second player to retire from the men’s draw on Monday, following Frenchman Luca Van Assche’s withdrawal against Marton Fucsovics with a back issue.
French Open runner-up Maja Chwalinska has been knocked out in the first round of Wimbledon following a shock 2-6 7-5 6-2 defeat by Thai qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew.
The 24-year-old Polish player entered the grass-court tournament as the 20th seed after receiving a wildcard entry.
Her elevated status came despite missing the direct ranking cut-off for the main draw at SW19.
This unusual situation arose following her historic run at Roland Garros last month, where she became the first qualifier to reach the women’s singles final.
From Paris fairytale to London early exit
Starting brightly in London, the recent Grand Slam finalist secured the opening set comfortably against her lower-ranked opponent.
However, her momentum faltered against the world number 164, who fought back tenaciously to claim the biggest victory of her career.
Sawangkaew was making her Wimbledon debut and only her second ever appearance in a major tournament main draw.
The Thai competitor previously suffered a first-round elimination against Emma Raducanu at this year’s Australian Open.
A stark contrast in major tournament fortunes
Defeat on the English grass marks a rapid crash back to earth for the former world number 114.
Just weeks ago in Paris, she joined Raducanu as only the second player in the Open Era to reach a major final as a qualifier.
Ultimately, that exhausting clay-court campaign culminated in a straight-sets championship loss to Mirra Andreeva.
She will now have to regroup ahead of the upcoming hard-court swing, while her conqueror advances to the second round at the All England Club.
Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas has sacked his father Apostolos as his coach ahead of Wimbledon, stating the decision is completely final following a difficult run of form.
The former world number three confirmed the split before the grass-court grand slam begins in London.
He had previously parted ways with his father only to rehire him later, but insists there is no route back this time.
Looking for a new direction
The two-time grand slam finalist has endured a difficult couple of years, plummeting to 87th in the ATP world rankings.
Further success has eluded the Greek player, who failed to progress beyond the second round of any major tournament last season.
Speaking ahead of Wimbledon, he explained that he had outgrown their professional relationship.
“The older I get, the harder I find it to maintain a stable relationship with my father in a coaching context.” Stefanos Tsitsipas
Seeking a fresh start
He added that while he still loves his father, he feels it is time to find something completely different for his career.
The former French and Australian Open finalist noted that Apostolos had already given everything he possibly could to his development.
Once hailed as a future superstar tipped to replace the sport’s legendary ‘Big Three’, the right-hander’s progress has severely stalled.
Previous coaching struggles
He attempted to change his setup last year by hiring former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic.
However, that coaching relationship collapsed after just two months and ended with highly critical remarks from the Croatian.
Ivanisevic suggested at the time that the struggling star needed to solve personal issues outside of tennis before he could return to the top.
The former top-10 mainstay will now navigate the upcoming grass-court campaign on his own.