Andy Schooler takes a look at the best, most eye-catching matches on the order of play for day one of Wimbledon 2025 – and picks out his best bets for them.
Don’t forget that Betano are offering you the chance to win two hospitality tickets to the Wimbledon final. To enter, simply place a £1 bet on your outright winner of the 2025 Wimbledon men’s singles through the promotion on this link.
Remember, this offer is for new customers only and entries must be 18 or over. Full t&Cs in the link here.
Centre stage
Fabio Fognini v Carlos Alcaraz (1st match, Centre Court – 1330 BST)
Centre Court should be packed for the return of the reigning champion, who will be bidding to complete a title hat-trick this year.
Alcaraz arrives on an 18-match winning streak, which includes capturing the recent French Open and the grasscourt warm-up event at Queen’s Club.
In truth, he should have few problems in winning this match, albeit veteran Fognini has always been a streaky player, so expect some spectacular winners from both men at some point. It should entertain.
What Fognini certainly isn’t is mentally strong and he endures a lot of dips. I expect he’ll almost certainly lose one of the sets heavily and so going under 27.5 games in the match probably makes sense.
For those seeking a big price, you can get 11/1 about Alcaraz winning the opener 6-0.
Of course, love sets don’t occur too often on a grasscourt but Fognini is holding at just a 66% rate this season and her he goes up against the best returner in the game, one who leads the tour for return games won on 34%.
Best of British
Jacob Fearnley v Joao Fonseca (2nd match, Court 1)
The future of British tennis will be on one side of the net in this contest and, possibly, the future of something much bigger on the other.
Fearnley is a rising star and his efforts so far this season have seen him crack the world’s top 50. Fonesca may not be there yet but he will be very soon with many tipping him for the very top.
In short, this promises to be a decent watch.
Fonseca has limited experience on grass but he pushed eventual champ Taylor Fritz all the way in Eastbourne last week where he claimed his first tour-level win on the surface.
Fearnley made the last eight at Queen’s Club – his first ATP quarter-final – and with great crowd support here, he can test the Brazilian, although I suspect the flamboyant teenager will ultimately prove too good.
A foray into the set betting may paid dividends here with a 3-1 Fonseca win looking tempting at 3/1.
Around the grounds
Marketa Vondrousova v McCartney Kessler (4th match, Court 12)
One of the most attractive ladies’ matches on day one takes place on the outside courts and I suspect those who get into Court 12 will see an entertaining affair.
These are two in-form players, both of whom have won a WTA grasscourt title in the lead-up to Wimbledon.
Vondrousova was the champion here two years ago but has struggled with injuries since which made her victory in Berlin, where she toppled world number one Aryna Sabalenka, all the more surprising.
Kessler won the smaller event in Nottingham but still beat some good players, including Beatriz Haddad Maia and Briton Katie Boulter. She’s inside the top 30 now and is the seeded player in this match-up. The pair have not played before.
As she showed here in 2023, Vondrousova has great variety in her game but Kessler is a good athlete who will get around the court.
She may well be able to win a set here, although I agree with the layers that Vondrousova is the favourite.
A 2-1 win for the Czech at 13/5 certainly has potential.
18+ gambleaware.org
