Wimbledon 2025: British qualifier Oliver Tarvet seals ‘dream’ first round win
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21-year-old qualifier Oliver Tarvet realised his Wimbledon dream on Monday – clinching a debut win against former Surbiton runner-up Leandro Riedi.
Tarvet – currently ranked No.733 in the world – put in a dominant performance to knock out the Swiss star 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 19 minutes.
He was later joined by fellow Brits Arthur Fery and Cam Norrie, who both came through with impressive four set victories.
Tarvet's victory means that he will face either two-time defending champion and five-time major winner Carlos Alcaraz or Fabio Fognini in what could be a life-changing second round match.
Tarvet has never played an ATP Tour-level event before this week and now could face the prospect of playing on one of the major show courts if results align.
“There’s a lot of emotions,” he said. “I’m just really overjoyed to be in this situation. All the hard work I’ve put in over the last few years has clearly paid off. I was just taking it match by match to see what I could do.
“This is my first tour level event – to come through qualifying and then win a first round at Wimbledon and maybe have the chance to play Carlos on Wednesday is truly incredible. It’s a dream come true for me to play at Wimbledon and it’s really special.”
Tarvet came into qualifying at Wimbledon thanks to a wild card off the back of a year competing in the NCAA for the University of San Diego.
The collegiate star became the first Briton to qualify for the men’s singles draw since 2017 after beating Alexander Blockx in the final round to achieve a lifelong ambition to play at SW19.
Now he could have the opportunity to be the first player to beat Alcaraz at Wimbledon in more than two years if the Spaniard can battle past Fognini today.
“You work for these moments and to play on the most prestigious court in the world,” he said. “I’m hoping I can continue my form into Wednesday.”
With plenty of match experience on the grass under his belt and with the British crowd behind him, Tarvet was always going to be a tough challenge for anyone in the opening round – and so it proved for Riedi.
The British star put on a clinic in effective serving on the grass – winning 91% (43/47) points on his first serve and not facing a single break point throughout the match.
Up against a player who has made an ATP Challenger final on grass before and has more experience in these bigger events, Tarvet put in an all-around professional performance. The 21-year-old needed just a single break in each set to seal a place in the second round on his maiden Grand Slam appearance.
Fery shocks 20th seed to clinch first Wimbledon win
World No.461 Fery picked up one of the shock wins of the day – knocking out 20th seed Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 51 minutes.
It’s a first career Wimbledon main draw singles win for British wild card Fery on his third attempt, and also the biggest victory of his career against the world No.22.
Like Tarvet, Fery is a recent graduate from Standford having reached a No.1 ranking in the NCAA back in 2022 and was named Pac-12 Singles Player of the Year the following year.
The victory is a reward for some impressive performances in recent months with the Brit having struggled with injury through the early parts of the season.
It was tricky match for Fery to get over the line with Popyrin saving eight break points throughout the fourth set to keep his hopes alive. On the ninth time of asking – and on a match point – Fery finally got his breakthrough and collapsed to his knees in celebration.
Fery – who is supported by the LTA Pro Scholarship Programme, presented by Lexus – will play either Luciano Darderi or Roman Sauffilin next.
Norrie beats former semi-finalist in four sets
In a battle between two former Wimbledon semi-finalists Norrie won a tough battle against Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3).
Norrie extended his unbeaten run against the former world No.9 to four matches to reach the second round for a sixth consecutive time.
The British No.3 had to fight the hot conditions as well as a tough opponent – showing his impressive resilience in the fourth set. Bautista Agut had two break points to go a double break up at 4-2, but the Briton managed to stay within striking distance.
Wit the Spaniard serving for the set, Norrie broke back and charged up the British crowd as he went on to dominate the resulting tie-break. A trademark Norrie flat backhand winner set up match point, which he took at the first time of asking.
The former semi-finalist will now have to face 12th seed Frances Tiafoe in what promises to be a blockbuster second round tie.
