Top seed Alexander Zverev knocked out in shocking Wimbledon upset
- Alexander Zverev, ranked world number three, was eliminated in the first round of Wimbledon after a lengthy five-set match against Arthur Rinderknech, lasting almost five hours.
- This year's tournament has seen four top-10 players knocked out in the first round, indicating a surprising turn of events and a higher level of unpredictability.
- Rinderknech's victory is a significant milestone, as it marks his first win against a top-10 player in a major, raising questions about the shifting dynamics in professional tennis.
On July 1, 2025, in the United Kingdom, world number three Alexander Zverev faced a surprising exit from Wimbledon after losing in the first round to Arthur Rinderknech, the world number 72. The match took place over two days, beginning on June 30 and concluding late into the night, with a final score of 7-6(3), 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4. Zverev's defeat marked him as the fourth top-10 player to be eliminated in the first round of the tournament this year, following earlier upsets involving Lorenzo Musetti, Holger Rune, and Daniil Medvedev. This unexpected outcome underlined the unpredictability of the tournament, as many top seeds failed to advance, highlighting a challenging year for prominent players, especially for those seeded third. Rinderknech's victory was particularly dramatic, lasting a grueling four hours and 40 minutes. His previous claim to fame was a retirement from a match where he was winning at the French Open last year due to an injury he sustained while kicking an advertising board. Remarkably, this match against Zverev was the first time Rinderknech secured a win against a top-10 opponent in a major event, demonstrating his significant progress in his career. In his post-match comments, Rinderknech expressed exhaustion and disbelief at the emotional intensity of the match, indicating the physical and mental toll such a lengthy contest can take on players. Among other notable results, Italian seventh seed Lorenzo Musetti was also defeated, losing to Nikoloz Basilashvili. Despite being a previous semifinalist, Musetti's performance was hindered by health issues following a thigh injury. Meanwhile, world number one Jannik Sinner managed to secure a commanding victory in his match, signaling his intent in the tournament and setting up potential future clashes in what many expect will be a competitive milieu. As for Zverev, this defeat is another setback for the three-time Grand Slam finalist, who has struggled to find his form this tournament. His early exit means he will have more time on his hands to reassess his performance as he trains for upcoming events, emphasizing the competitive nature of tennis, where no match is assured of victory, regardless of rankings. The first round upheaval has set a dramatic tone for Wimbledon, leaving fans and competitors alike to reconsider the landscape of the tournament as it progresses.