The 9 best Round 1 matches to watch at Wimbledon: ft. Raducanu, Eala, Gauff & Fonseca
The Wimbledon men’s and women’s singles draws have been made, and there are plenty of enticing opening-round matches for tennis fans to dig their teeth into.
From established names and Grand Slam champions to the hottest prospects on the ATP and WTA Tours, there are plenty of enticing matches set for Monday and Tuesday.
Here, we look at nine of the best round-one matches to watch at the All England Club.
(17) Barbora Krejcikova vs Alex Eala
Steffi Graf and Marketa Vondrousova are the only defending women’s singles champions to lose in Round 1 at Wimbledon, and Krejcikova will be hoping to avoid following in their footsteps.
The Czech is the lowest-seeded defending champion of the Open Era and has struggled with injuries throughout 2025, and an opening-round test against Eala is not easy.
Eala has just reached the first WTA Tour final of her career on the grass courts of Eastbourne and will be the first Filipina to play a main-draw match at SW19.
Joao Fonseca vs Jacob Fearnley
When an all-unseeded clash is scheduled on Court 1, you know there is plenty to be excited about.
It has been a whirlwind 12 months for home favourite Fearnley, who is now established inside the top 100 of the ATP Rankings after making his Grand Slam debut at this event back in 2024.
However, he faces a stern test against Brazilian teen star Fonseca, with the 18-year-old beating the Brit in Indian Wells – and keen to impress on his Wimbledon debut.
Emma Raducanu vs Mimi Xu
Four years ago, Raducanu was a wildcard into the main draw at Wimbledon and ultimately the tournament’s big breakout star; now, the shoe is on the other foot.
The 22-year-old finds herself up against British wildcard Mimi Xu, with the 17-year-old making her Grand Slam main draw debut at the All England Club.
This is a match that Raducanu should win, but all eyes will be on her fitness, and what potential rising star Xu can show when the compatriots meet out on Court 1.
(5) Taylor Fritz vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
Fifth seed Fritz thrives on grass courts and is a two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist, though his draw at this year’s tournament is full of potential stumbling blocks.
That starts with a dangerous opening-round contest versus Mpetshi Perricard, who reached the fourth round as a lucky loser twelve months ago.
The Frenchman’s form has been shaky in 2025, though, if he can get his serve firing, he could cause the US No 1 some significant problems.
Dayana Yastremska vs (2) Coco Gauff
Fresh off her second Grand Slam singles triumph at the French Open, what impact can world No 2 Gauff have at Wimbledon this year?
The US star is among the big favourites but has been handed a tough draw against Ukrainian Yastremska, who pushed Gauff all the way when they faced off in Madrid back in April.
Yastremska was the Nottingham Open runner-up last week and has the game on grass to cause anyone problems.
Gael Monfils vs (18) Ugo Humbert
Six years ago, Monfils and Humbert met in Round 1 of Wimbledon, with the latter rallying from two sets down and saving match points before his opponent’s retirement in the decider.
Now, French No 2 Humbert and veteran Monfils once again face off, in one of the trickiest opening-round matches to call in the men’s singles draw.
Monfils has put on eye-catching displays at both Grand Slam tournaments this year, while Humbert has struggled to rediscover his best form in 2025.
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(WC) Petra Kvitova vs (10) Emma Navarro
Kvitova announced before the draw was made that this would be her final appearance at the tournament, though the draw gods have not been kind to the two-time former champion.
The Czech, who has struggled since returning from maternity leave earlier this year, has been handed a test versus 10th seed Navarro, who beat Gauff at this event back in 2024.
Navarro herself has not been at her best throughout 2025, and will look to move on from a heavy opening-round defeat at Roland Garros last month.
Learner Tien vs Nishesh Basavareddy
Two of the hottest prospects in US men’s tennis, Tien and Basavareddy will face off in tour-level action for the first time in the opening round of action at SW19.
It is world No 67 Tien who has achieved the more eye-catching and significant results of the two so far, with wins over the likes of Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev already this season.
However, in the main draw of a Grand Slam by right for the first time, Basavareddy will be eyeing this one up as a significant opportunity.
(9) Paula Badosa vs Katie Boulter
Home players have not fared too well in the draw this year, and British No 2 Boulter is among those to have been dealt a tough hand.
Ninth seed Badosa has reached the second week of Wimbledon three times in the past, including in 2024, and was an Australian Open semi-finalist in January.
The Spaniard does come in after the recurrence of injury issues in recent months, however, and Boulter may be fuelled by a passionate Centre Court crowd.
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