Feeling the heat – Spectators brave record opening day temperatures during the 2025 Wimbledon Championships

It’s day three at Wimbledon 2025 and a packed day is almost done, with a raft of British players in action including Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter, as well as Carlos Alcaraz, Naomi Osaka and a host of other big names.

The first Brit on court today was Sonay Kartal, sweeping aside Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova in straight sets, though Billy Harris was beaten by Portuguese No 1 Nuno Borges. British qualifier Oliver Tarvet also exited, showing heart in a loss to defending champion Alcaraz in the match of his life, but Cameron Norrie advanced with an epic win over Frances Tiafoe on Court One. Raducanu, meanwhile, faces a huge test against former champion Marketa Vondrousova.

Yesterday Jack Draper cruised through to the second round, but Heather Watson and Jodie Burrage were early casualties among the home prospects. There were more dramatic exits in the women’s draw, however, when third seed Jessica Pegula and fifth seed Zheng Qinwen were eliminated, before French Open champion Coco Gauff lost to Dayana Yastremska in the final match on Court One.

The men’s No 3 seed Alexander Zverev suffered a shock defeat to France’s Arthur Rinderknech but top seed Jannik Sinner swept past Italian Luca Nardi. Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic saw off the stout challenge of Alexandre Muller to make his way into the next round, crediting “miracle pills” for his turnaround.

Follow all of the latest from Wimbledon with The Independent’s live blog below:

No sweat from Raducanu

*Raducanu 6-3 1-1 Vondrousova

There is no doubt that Raducanu has found her mojo tonight.

A wonderful double-handed backhand flies past Vondrousova, clipping the line and sending her into a 30-0 lead.

She has to work hard the next point but as her opponent sends a backhand out, there’s a huge scream from the Brit.

Will Castle2 July 2025 19:15

Vondrousova survives early scare to hold

*Raducanu 6-3 0-1 Vondrousova

Raducanu storms into a 0-30 lead and looks set to break again, but Vondrousova finally finds her serve and wins four consecutive points to hold.

Will Castle2 July 2025 19:10

Set! Raducanu serves out opening frame, 6-3

Raducanu 6-3 Vondrousova*

Raducanu moves into a 30-0 lead, scoring the second of those points with a lovely ace down the T.

Another serve is too much for Vondrousova, who can only chop it wide and into the net. 40-0.

Triple set point… but the first goes begging, as Raducanu spins an inside-out forehand wide.

Another gone! Raducanu, who is less tentative to approach the net now, moves in but is beaten by a great pass – right into the corner. 40-30.

Long by Vondrousova! Raducanu holds for the first set! The crowd is ecstatic at that.

Alex Pattle2 July 2025 19:04

Raducanu breaks again and will serve for first set

*Raducanu 5-3 Vondrousova

Over the last few games, neither player has been convincing on serve. Vondrousova is already 0-30 down. But Raducanu clips the tape and won’t get the luck of the fall. 15-30.

Big shout from Raducanu, and applause from the crowd, as Vondrousova shoves a shot long. 15-40.

But the Czech saves the first break point with a tidy serve. 30-40. Another break point saved, with Vondrousova manoeuvring Raducanu around the court well. Deuce.

Double-fault! Another break point for the 22-year-old… saved! Ace down the T.

And ANOTHER double-fault, for a fourth break point…

Loudest cheer yet as Vondrousova strikes a forehand wide! “Come on!” shouts Raducanu – she’ll serve for the set!

Raducanu immediately broken back

Raducanu 4-3 Vondrousova*

Raducanu thinks she has Vondrousova beaten – or the crowd does, at least – but the Czech recovers with a fantastic lob.

Raducanu gets there, but Vondrousova’s next shot is a lovely inside-out forehand. Just inside the chalk, winner. 0-30.

Now Raducanu frames one, and it’s 0-40! Can Vondrousova break right back?

Lots of shouts of “come on, Emma!” from the crowd. She saves the first break point as Vondrousova goes long with a backhand. 15-40.

Now the young Brit buries a smash, 30-40… but she fires a forehand long and is broken!

Alex Pattle2 July 2025 18:54

Raducanu breaks serve in first set!

*Raducanu 4-2 Vondrousova

A window for a break here… Raducanu is 0-30 up after a couple of misses from Vondrousova…

But the former Wimbledon champ produces a big serve that has Raducanu stretching and flinging the ball out of play. 15-30.

Much better return from Raducanu this time, and it sets up a rally in which she’s always on the front foot, until Vondrousova ultimately nets!

15-40… double break point.

And Raducanuy gets it! With a running backhand pass down the line, no less!

The crowd is up for this.

Emma Raducanu in action in round two
Emma Raducanu in action in round two (Getty Images)

Alex Pattle2 July 2025 18:51

Raducanu holds after concern at deuce

Raducanu 2-1 Vondrousova*

Vondrousova hits the wrong side of the tramline with an ambitious groundstroke, but Raducanu nets shortly after a second serve on the next point. 15-15.

Raducanu can’t quite shuffle her feet into position as she tries a forehand now, and she nets again. 15-30.

Better from the Brit! She rips a backhand and rushes the net, where she slices a winner past Vondrousova – with help from the net cord, though the Czech looked beaten anyway. 30-30.

More fine net play from Raducanu, to the delight of the Centre Court crowd. She puts away a smash after chipping a forehand approach shot into the corner. 40-30.

But she propels a forehand long to find herself at deuce.

Really good baseline hitting from both players, who push the ball close to the baseline and tramline again and again. Eventually, Raducanu finds the chalk on a cross-court backhand, and Vondrousova can’t get it back.

Vondrousova then aims to move in on a forehand, but she whips it wide! Raducanu holds.

Emma Raducanu in action in round two
Emma Raducanu in action in round two (Getty Images)

Alex Pattle2 July 2025 18:40

Vondrousova holds to keep it level early on

*Raducanu 1-1 Vondrousova

Vondrousova can’t beat the net on her first service point, misfiring with a groundstroke, before she falls to 0-30 thanks to a crouching backhand winner by Raducanu.

The Briton misses on her next effort, however. 15-30.

And a couple more misses by Raducanu from the baseline see her fail to convert from a promising position in this game.

Alex Pattle2 July 2025 18:33

Raducanu up and running

Raducanu 1-0 Vondrousova*

Raducanu flies into a 40-0 lead, forcing two errors out of Vondrousova either side of a spitfire, inside-out forehand winner.

She punctuates that winner with a “come on!”, but two points later, Vondrousova scores with a forehand winner of her own – a well-placed one down the line. 40-15.

Now a longer rally ends with Raducanu, on the stretch, slapping a backhand low and wide. 40-30.

Fine serving from Raducanu, though, as she holds!

Alex Pattle2 July 2025 18:30

Elsewhere at Wimbledon

Noami Oasaka is a set up against Katerina Siniakova, but another seed has fallen on the women’s side! Beatriz Haddad Maia loses to Dalma Galfi in straight sets!

Alex Pattle2 July 2025 18:27