Carlos Alcaraz ended the Wimbledon fairy tale of British amateur Oliver Tarvet on Wednesday. The world number one did not have to exert himself deeply to reach the third round: 6-1, 6-4 and 6-4. Aryna Sabalenka had significantly more trouble.
Wimbledon has been captivated in recent days by the 21-year-old Tarvet. As an amateur player, he survived the qualifications and the first round in London and then forced a dream match on center court against Alcaraz.
That’s what Tarvet did while he probably isn’t allowed to collect his Wimbledon prize money in full because he is studying at a university in the United States. According to the rules of the University of San Diego, the communications student may make a maximum of $10,000 (almost 8,500 euros) profit per year. He won $135,000 at Wimbledon.
Tarvet could not increase that amount by stunning against Alcaraz. The world number one immediately made a statement by breaking the Brit in his first service game. Tarvet was able to keep up with Alcaraz longer in the second set, but he still lost without a chance.
Alcaraz thus experienced a much easier afternoon than on Monday, when he was forced into a five-setter by Fabio Fognini in the first round. The Spaniard will play against the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime or the German Jan-Lennard Struff in the third round. They will play against each other on Wednesday evening.
Sabalenka Wins After Tough Start
Sabalenka had a much harder time with Marie Bouzková earlier in the day. The world number one in women’s won without losing a set against the Czech, but it certainly wasn’t easy: 7-6 (4) and 6-4.
Bouzková forced the Belarusian top tennis player to play a tiebreak in the first set, in which Sabalenka was superior to her opponent. The Czech did not get over that blow. Sabalenka quickly ran away from Bouzková after an early break.
Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam tournament where Sabalenka has not yet reached the final. She stranded in the semi-finals in 2021 and 2023. Last year she was forced to withdraw with an injury. “This year I hope to take the title home,” said Sabalenka after her victory.
The road to the title is open for Sabalenka, because no fewer than four top ten players have already been eliminated in the first round: Coco Gauff (WTA-2), Jessica Pegula (WTA-3), Zheng Qinwen (WTA-6) and Paula Badosa (WTA-9). Sabalenka will play against Briton Emma Raducanu (WTA-40) or former Wimbledon winner Markéta Vondrousová (WTA-73) in the third round.
World number eight Madison Keys also won on the hallowed grass of London. She was too strong for Olga Danilovic in two sets: 6-4 and 6-2. The American can become the first woman since Serena Williams to win both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in one season at Wimbledon. Williams last did so in 2015.