Wimbledon 2025: 5 First-Round Matches You Can’t Afford to Miss

Tennis season’s most exciting tournament is back! Wimbledon is underway, and the first round is absolutely packed with drama, surprises, and some truly can’t-miss matchups. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just getting into tennis, here are five opening-round contests that will have everyone talking.

1. Serena Williams (Wild Card) vs. Maya Joint

The Story

Let’s start with the biggest headline in tennis right now. Serena Williams — yes, that Serena Williams — is back playing singles at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in nearly four years. The seven-time Wimbledon champion is stepping back onto the grass courts that made her a legend.

Her opponent is Maya Joint, a 20-year-old Australian just getting started in her career.

Why This Match Matters

• Serena showed some really promising signs in two doubles matches returning. She still hits the ball incredibly hard, and her serve (arguably the greatest of all time) is still a major weapon.
• The big question marks: How will she move around the court in a full singles match? And will her body hold up if the match goes long — especially into a third set?
• On paper, the matchup looks manageable for Serena. Maya Joint has had a tough season, winning just 3 matches and losing 15 this year. She’s only played one Wimbledon main-draw match before (and lost it last year).
• No matter the result, this will be one of the most-watched matches of the entire tournament’s first week.

2. Iga Swiatek (#3 Seed) vs. Taylor Townsend

The Story

Iga Swiatek is the defending Wimbledon champion. She won the title last year and is one of the top favorites to do it again. But defending a Grand Slam is never easy — especially when you’re not fully comfortable on grass yet.

Her opponent, Taylor Townsend, is a crafty American player known for creating upsets at the biggest tournaments.

Why This Match Matters

• Swiatek has played very little tennis on grass this year. Her only grass-court match was a loss to Emma Navarro in Bad Homburg, and she didn’t go deep into any tournament to tune up.
• Taylor Townsend is the kind of player who can make anyone uncomfortable on the court. She has an all-court game and a history of producing big surprises at Grand Slams.
• Here’s the catch: Wimbledon hasn’t been Townsend’s best tournament. She has never advanced past the second round in eight appearances.
• This will be their first-ever meeting. Swiatek is the clear favorite, but Townsend won’t be scared on the big stage.

Key Takeaway: Swiatek wants to start her title defense smoothly. Townsend wants to crash the party. Expect a competitive match.

3. Aryna Sabalenka (#1 Seed) vs. Teodora Kostovic (Qualifier)

The Story

This one has story of the written all over it. Teodora Kostovic, an 18-year-old from Serbia playing in her very first Grand Slam main draw, was asked who she wanted to play in the first round.

Without hesitation, she said:

"I want to face Sabalenka!"

And guess what? She got her wish.

Sabalenka is the World No. 1 and a four-time Grand Slam champion. Kostovic is ranked No. 184. But the teenager isn’t backing down one bit:

"Let’s see if she can deal with my power. Of course I can beat her. I can beat anybody when I’m in the zone."

Why This Match Matters

• Sabalenka is a three-time semifinalist at Wimbledon and has become nearly unbeatable in opening-round matches of tournaments. She hasn’t lost a first-round match since February 2025.
• Kostovic, a former junior No. 4, earned her spot by winning three grueling qualifying matches. She has zero pressure and total belief in herself.
• It’s almost certain Sabalenka will win the match. But Kostovic’s fearless attitude could make the opening round spicier than anyone expects.

Key Takeaway: Sometimes the most lopsided matchups on paper produce the most exciting tennis. Keep an eye on the confidence of this teenager.

4. Emma Navarro (#23 Seed) vs. Paula Badosa

The Story

It’s not every day that two former Top 10 players meet in the very first round of a Grand Slam. That’s exactly what’s happening here.

Both Emma Navarro (USA) and Paula Badosa (Spain) have struggled recently, but both have shown signs of a comeback just in time for Wimbledon.

Why This Match Matters

• Navarro recently beat Swiatek in a three-set thriller — on grass. So she knows she can play at a high level on this surface.
• Badosa came back from losing the first set 6-1 to beat Coco Gauff and showed the kind of fighting spirit that wins matches at Wimbledon.
• Badosa leads their head-to-head 2-1 and won their only previous meeting on grass in straight sets.

Key Takeaway: This is a high-quality first-round match between two players who’ve shown they can beat the best on their day. No easy outs here.

5. Tatjana Maria vs. Yulia Putintseva

The Story

If you love entertaining, dramatic, back-and-forth tennis, circle this match.

Tatjana Maria (Germany) and Yulia Putintseva (Kazakhstan) are two of the most exciting players to watch on the tour — and they’ve got years of history between them.

Why This Match Matters

• Maria’s game is perfect for grass. Her slicing shots, crafty play at the net, and ability to mix up her shots make her a nightmare on this surface. She’s a former Wimbledon semifinalist and won the biggest title of her career on grass at Queen’s Club last year. She’s been playing her best tennis of the season recently, with a 10-4 record including a big win and a run to a final.
• Putintseva is one of the most entertaining personalities on the tour. She plays with incredible intensity and emotion, and she’s plenty dangerous on grass too — she won a grass-court tournament in 2024.
• These two have faced each other six times going all the way back to 2012. Four of those six matches went to three sets. So buckle up — this could be a long one.
• Putintseva leads the head-to-head 4-2, but Maria hasn’t beaten her since 2015. This will be their first-ever match on grass.

Key Takeaway: Expect drama, slices, comebacks, and maybe even a few tears. This is everything that makes Grand Slam tennis special.

Summary

Wimbledon’s first round is always unpredictable, but this year it’s truly loaded with must-see matchups:

1. Serena Williams returns to Grand Slam singles after nearly four years against an unseeded Australian. The legend’s fitness and form are the big unknowns.
2. Iga Swiatek begins her title defense against the dangerous and unpredictable Taylor Townsend — on limited grass-court prep.
3. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faces fearless teen Teodora Kostovic, who literally chose this matchup and believes she can pull off the upset.
4. Two comebacking former Top 10 players, Emma Navarro and Paula Badosa, collide in a high-quality first-rounder.
5. Tatjana Maria and Yulia Putintseva bring their long rivalry to grass for the first time — with dramatic three-setters practically expected.

FAQ

Why is Serena Williams back at Wimbledon?
She’s returning to Grand Slam singles competition for the first time in nearly four years. As a seven-time Wimbledon champion and fan favorite, her return is one of the biggest stories in all of sports right now.

What does "qualifier" mean for Teodora Kostovic?
A qualifier is a player who wasn’t ranked high enough to automatically enter the main tournament. Kostovic had to win three matches in the qualifying rounds just to earn her spot in the main draw — an impressive achievement for an 18-year-old.

Why is grass a different challenge than other surfaces?
Grass courts are the fastest of all the major tennis surfaces. The ball stays lower and skids more, meaning players need quick reactions and different strategies. Some players (like Tatjana Maria) really thrive on grass, while others need time to adjust.

Who is the favorite to win Wimbledon 2025?
Aryna Sabalenka (World No. 1) and Iga Swiatek (defending champion) are among the top favorites. But Wimbledon is historically unpredictable — that’s part of what makes it so exciting!

How long is a Grand Slam match?
Women’s matches at Wimbledon are best-of-three sets, meaning the first player to win two sets wins the match. This makes it slightly shorter than men’s Grand Slam matches (which are best-of-five), but it’s still plenty of room for comebacks and dramatic moments!