Ninth-seeded Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev suffered a major upset at Wimbledon this year. In the first round played on Monday, Medvedev lost to Benjamin Bonzi, ranked 64th, with a score of 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2.
Sports News: Wimbledon 2025 has begun with several unexpected twists. While Daniil Medvedev, one of the top players in the world, was knocked out in the first round, two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur had to retire mid-match due to the scorching heat, causing a major setback for her fans.
Bonzi eliminates Medvedev
The journey of Russian star player and ninth seed in the tournament, Daniil Medvedev, was extremely disappointing this time. He was defeated by France's Benjamin Bonzi with a score of 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2, thus ending his run in the tournament. The match lasted for about three and a half hours, during which both Medvedev's strategy and mental fortitude appeared to falter.
It is noteworthy that Medvedev reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon last year, but this time, losing in the first round is a major blow for him. Moreover, this is the second consecutive Grand Slam in which Medvedev has been eliminated in the first round. Earlier, he was upset in the initial match of the French Open held in Paris.
Medvedev's situation is reminiscent of 2017 when he lost in the first round of both the Australian Open and the French Open. In 2023, qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild also knocked Medvedev out of the French Open, casting a shadow over his consistent performance.
Heat Dampens Ons Jabeur's Hopes
In the women's category, a major setback occurred when two-time finalist and former world number 2, Tunisia's Ons Jabeur, was forced to retire mid-match. Jabeur played against Bulgaria's Viktoriya Tomova but had to concede due to the rising heat and deteriorating health.
In the first set, Jabeur fought hard and lost the set 7-6 (7-5). After that, trailing 0-2 in the second set, she decided to retire. Jabeur's condition appeared to be worsening during the match. At the score of 3-2, she took a medical timeout of about 14 minutes, where the medical staff checked her blood pressure and tried to provide relief with ice packs.
However, the intense heat — where the temperature had exceeded 30 degrees Celsius — had such an effect on her body that she could not regain her rhythm. Jabeur kept her head covered in a towel and kept drinking water repeatedly, but weakness and fatigue were clearly visible in her movements. Finally, she left the match midway, handing over the ticket to the second round to Tomova.
Disappointment among Fans, Excitement Remains in the Tournament
The early exit of big names like Medvedev and Jabeur created a lot of excitement in the initial rounds of Wimbledon. For Medvedev, this second consecutive Grand Slam upset raises questions about his confidence. Meanwhile, for Jabeur, the heat ruined her preparations, and this could also increase concerns regarding her fitness.
However, despite these setbacks, the excitement of the tournament has not diminished. New faces will now get a chance to prove themselves on the big stage, while fans will be eager to see who goes on to win the Wimbledon crown.
