Sinner on court, Musetti into second set

New York Times

02-07-2025

Follow reaction to an entertaining second day at the 2025 Championships, with American Coco Gauff one of several big names knocked out at SW19 Getty Images Getty Images
The heat has not stopped play progressing at Wimbledon today as another wave of stars take to the courts.
No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner is underway in the early stages of his match against Luca Nardi — that's an intriguing battle between two Italians.
Meanwhile, their compatriot Lorenzo Musetti (7), last year's semifinalist here, is down a set against Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili over on No. 2 Court. Getty Images
FINAL: Tauson 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 Watson
After a stunning day for the Brits yesterday — the best in the Open Era for wins by British players at Wimbledon — we've seen a couple of home hopefuls exit today and Heather Watson is one of them.
After working hard to take the first set, she let that match slip with No. 23 seed Clara Tauson taking the next two sets to seal the win.
Here's what the American had to say in his on-court interview after booking his place in the second round:
'The score line lied a little bit, he was in a lot of my service games. He has a great serve, he's a tough guy to break and he had a couple of break points there which made me a little nervous.
'I tried to make it as difficult for him as I could. The grass doesn't get much better than it does at Wimbledon. Every time you come out here you feel pretty good, especially knowing that I've had some good results out here.
'I haven't played too many matches so I don't have a great idea (of where I am) but I've been practising and obviously I played a good match out here today.'
Well, it's been a disappointing day for Jessica Pegula. Here's how she reflected on her first round exit against Elisabetta Cocciaretto:
'I don't know (what happened). She played absolutely incredible tennis. Do I think I played the best match ever? No, but I definitely don't think I was playing bad. It wasn't like I was playing that bad.
'She just was hitting her shots and going for it, serving big, serving high percentage, going big second serves, redirecting the ball. It was just her day I honestly think today.
'She has good results on grass, though. I remember I played her, what, fourth round a couple years ago. She obviously likes the grass and does well on it.' Caoimhe O'Neill / The Athletic
Panama hats and tennis go hand in hand. All along Wimbledon Park Road there are pop-ups selling the hats you will see fill up Centre Court for the next two weeks.
Soccer legend David Beckham and former England manager Gareth Southgate were both spotted wearing them in the Royal Box as Carlos Alcaraz overcame Fabio Fognini on Monday afternoon.
This man was selling them for £20 per hat. That's roughly $28. Not a bad business to be in over the next two weeks.
FINAL: Monday 4-6, 4-6, 2-6 Paul
That's a tidy performance from Tommy Paul.
A straight-sets victory wrapped up on two match points, the quarter-finalist from last year is back with a bang.
He'll be glad to get out of the sun having booked his place in the next round.
Here's what she had to say in her on court interview:
'To play here in such an unbelievable stadium and tournament is such a dream come true for me. I was so pumped to play here, I couldn't wait for the match to start. I played a really great champion, she's a great player and a role model for all of us.
'I had a lot of stops, last year here I was in the hospital for a month and I couldn't play here. So that's why I was so pumped to play. It's the best tournament and grass is always special to play.
'I don't think too much about my ranking right now. The journey of tennis is long, you have to adapt yourself and enjoy.'
I was saying on the Tennis Podcast last week that backing players who have had a good week on the grass just before Wimbledon can often be a fool's errand.
Step forward American No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula, who fresh from winning the Bad Homburg Open on Saturday, has just bombed out in the first round here, losing to the world No. 116 Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
That's a big upset and a major setback for Pegula, a former quarterfinalist here.
FINAL: Cocciaretto 6-2, 6-3 Pegula
Well, well, well.
The first two days at Wimbledon have been rocky for the seeded players and another one falls at the first round.
No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula of the U.S. is out after a straight-sets defeat against Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Cocciaretto, quite understandably, looks thrilled with that result. Caoimhe O'Neill/The Athletic
Southfields is a regular spot for me being a Wimbledon local.
And I was tempted to call it a hidden gem but for two weeks of the year thousands of new people get to discover it as the train station is on a road that leads straight into the All England Club.
Here are some of those people leaving the tube station this morning after some earlier disruption on the District line had cleared up.
'We apologise to customers using the District line for the delays to their service this morning,' a Transport for London spokesperson said. 'The delays were caused by a fire alert at South Kensington.'
Monday 4-6, 1-2* Paul
It's Britain against the USA over on No. 3 Court as Tommy Paul has taken the first set against wildcard Johannus Monday.
And it's getting better for the No. 13 seed — Paul has just broken Monday in the second set.
He lets out a little fist pump in celebration and heads straight for a towel stuffed with ice cubes to put around his neck at the changeover.
Tauson 2-6, *1-0 Watson
Over on Court 12 Britain's Heather Watson is in action and she has taken the first set 6-2 against No. 23 seed Clara Tauson, though she is a break down in the second.
Things are heating up here at Wimbledon — it's already 30 degrees C (86 degrees F) with things set to get hotter as we move through the afternoon.
There's a light breeze but it's not really taking the edge off baking conditions around the site.
Cocciaretto 6-2, 0-0* Pegula
Well, after a day of upsets yesterday we're off to an interesting start for third seed Jessica Pegula on No. 2 Court here.
Cocciaretto has taken the first set inside 25 minutes to leave the American with a job to do in the second set.
Pegula will serve first as we resume play.
This is what I'm calling the fancy entrance to Centre Court.
Throughout the day visitors stop here to take photos. And you can see why. Look at the ivy covered walls and colourful planters.
It all looks and feels quintessentially British and as a lot of tennis fans have told me today, from England and elsewhere, this is why they make this sporting pilgrimage.
There's just something about Wimbledon.
Among the matches getting underway first thing here at Wimbledon are the following: Elisabetta Cocciaretto vs. Jessica Pegula (3)
Johannus Monday vs. Tommy Paul (13)
Alex de Minaur (11) vs. Roberto Carballés Baena
But there's plenty more to come throughout the day too...
Only moments away from the action starting.
We can't wait. Getty Images
There is some serious history behind the trophies received by the two Wimbledon singles champions.
The men's singles trophy was first presented in 1887 — cup-shaped and standing 18 inches high, with a diameter of 7.5 inches.
A for the women's singles trophy, that was first presented a year earlier — dish-shaped with a mythological theme, it is known as the Rosewater Dish or Venus Rosewater Dish.
The winner of both will receive a three-quarter size replica bearing the names of all past champions.