Wimbledon 2025: British players aim to turn heads on the grass courts

Wimbledon kicks off on Monday, ushering in the 138th edition of the prestigious Championships at the All-England Club, where British hopes run high with a record 23 players set to compete in both the men’s and women’s singles.

With 14 homegrown talents slated to take the court on day one, this participation marks the highest British involvement in singles since 1984, a significant moment for British tennis.

A promising day ahead will feature well-known names including Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu, both of whom have secured coveted show-court slots aimed at maximising their visibility. The weather will play its part as well, with temperatures predicted to soar as high as 33°C in south-west London, posing additional challenges for competitors on the verdant grass courts.

As is tradition, the men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz will grace the hallowed Centre Court first, commencing his title defence against the seasoned 38-year-old Fabio Fognini at 13:30 BST. Following Alcaraz, Boulter will face off against Spain’s ninth seed Paula Badosa before the formidable German Alexander Zverev squares off against France’s Arthur Rinderknech.

Meanwhile, on Court One, the women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka opens the day’s proceedings at 13:00 BST against Canadian Carson Branstine, who has impressed in qualifying, marking her Grand Slam main draw debut. The action continues with British star Jacob Fearnley taking on Brazilian prodigy Joao Fonseca, before a highly anticipated all-British clash between Emma Raducanu and 17-year-old Mimi Xu unfolds.

Across various courts, additional British hopefuls prepare to make their mark. Cameron Norrie, the semi-finalist from three years ago, will be aiming to overcome Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, while Sonay Kartal takes on former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko. For the younger generation, the 16-year-old wildcard Mika Stojsavljevic, who secured the US Open girls’ title last year, is pitted against American 31st seed Ashlyn Krueger, while fellow British teenager Hannah Klugman faces Leylah Fernandez, the player Raducanu triumphed over in the iconic 2021 US Open final.

The tournament also marks the Grand Slam debut for Oliver Crawford, born in the US to British parents, who will go up against Italian Mattia Bellucci. And for fans looking for top-tier action, Court Two will feature four top-10 contenders, including former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys, among others.

Wimbledon promises to deliver another exhilarating chapter in tennis history, with both seasoned veterans and rising stars set to leave their mark. As the players gear up for the challenges ahead, all eyes will be on the iconic grass courts as they chase glory, amidst a backdrop of soaring temperatures and patriotic support.