This year’s Wimbledon Championships are under way – and you can follow every minute live across the BBC. The world’s most prestigious tennis tournament has returned to the lawns of SW19, and the action promises to be as thrilling as ever.
World number one Jannik Sinner is defending his men’s singles crown, but rival and two-time winner Carlos Alcaraz is missing with a wrist injury. The absence of the Spanish sensation has opened the door for others to stake their claim for the title.
Poland’s Iga Swiatek is the defending women’s champion, having beaten Amanda Anisimova 6-0 6-0 in last year’s showpiece. The dominant performance was a statement of intent, and she will be looking to defend her crown with similar authority.
The tournament takes place from Monday, 29 June to Sunday, 11 July, with coverage across all BBC platforms. Whether you are a die-hard tennis fan or a casual viewer, there is something for everyone.
Here is all you need to know.
Who plays on day two at Wimbledon?
Defending women’s champion and third seed Swiatek will open day two on Centre Court from 13:30 BST, taking on American Taylor Townsend. The Polish star will be looking to start her campaign with a commanding performance.
Men’s second seed Alexander Zverev, who won his maiden Grand Slam crown at the French Open earlier in June, follows her, facing Alexander Blockx. The German is in the form of his life and will be a major contender for the title.
Then Serena Williams makes her return to singles action after a near four-year absence against Australia’s Maya Joint. The 23-time Grand Slam champion has been working towards this moment, and her presence at Wimbledon is one of the stories of the tournament.
Veteran Swiss star Stan Wawrinka, 41, is third on Court One, with 2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini his first-round opponent in his final Wimbledon. The Swiss great is bidding farewell to the tournament that has given him so many memories.
After 10 Britons fell on day one, the eight home players beginning their campaigns on Tuesday will hope for better luck – plus Jack Pinnington Jones will resume his tie against Brandon Nakashima, which was suspended because of bad light with the British wildcard trailing by two sets to love and 4-3 in the third set.
Katie Boulter, the British women’s number two, is up first on court three, facing Italy’s Tyra Grant, while men’s number two Jan Choinski is on court 16 against Vit Kopriva. The home crowd will be hoping for some victories to cheer.
Women’s second seed Elena Rybakina, Amanda Anisimova, Ben Shelton, Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz are among the top-10 seeds also in action on day two. The quality on display across the courts is exceptional.
How to follow on the BBC
Every match from all 18 courts is available live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app, and there will also be daily television coverage on BBC One and BBC Two. No matter where you are, you can follow the action.
There is a dedicated Wimbledon Extra channel on BBC iPlayer, with match highlights available on demand throughout the tournament across platforms. You can catch up on all the best moments at your convenience.
The BBC Sport website and app will have daily live text commentaries and in-play clips alongside match reports, analysis and features. The comprehensive coverage ensures you never miss a moment.
There will be radio coverage across 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, starting from 13:00 BST on weekdays and 12:00 on weekends, as well as a daily podcast via the ‘All About Wimbledon’ feed on BBC Sounds. John McEnroe and Tim Henman will also return to Radio 5 Live’s iconic 6-Love-6 show.
On site, a new analysis suite will help provide more tactical insight, alongside bespoke video breakdowns of key matches, players and talking points. The technology allows viewers to understand the game on a deeper level.
BBC iPlayer will have a new inclusive feed for Centre Court matches for fans who are blind or visually impaired. It has been co-designed by members of the blind and partially-sighted community and can be found on the Audio Described category page on iPlayer. This is a significant step towards making the tournament more accessible.
Who are the key players to watch?
Sinner is the favourite to win the men’s title, particularly with Alcaraz absent. The Italian has been in sensational form and will be difficult to stop.
All-time great Novak Djokovic continues his quest for a standalone record 25th Grand Slam title – and an eighth at SW19, which would equal Roger Federer’s men’s record. The Serbian legend is determined to add to his legacy.
French Open champion Alexander Zverev, last year’s semi-finalist Flavio Cobolli and big-serving American Ben Shelton are among the other contenders. The depth of talent in the men’s draw is remarkable.
Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam final that world number one Aryna Sabalenka has not reached, having lost in the semi-finals three times. She will be desperate to finally break through.
World number four Jessica Pegula, last year’s runner-up Anisimova and eighth-ranked Elina Svitolina are all bidding for a first major singles title. The women’s draw is wide open.
World number two Elena Rybakina has some pedigree at Wimbledon, having won the title in 2022, while recent French Open winner Mirra Andreeva reached the quarter-finals last year. The young Russian is one to watch.
Which British players are left in the singles?
Six British players were ranked high enough to receive direct entry into the singles draws, though Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper pulled out prior to their first-round matches because of injury. Their absences are a blow to home hopes.
British number one Cameron Norrie was joined in the main draw by Boulter, Choinski, and Fran Jones. However, Norrie lost to Michael Zheng in five sets in the first round while Jones was beaten in straight sets by Diane Parry. It was a disappointing start for the British contingent.
Men’s singles wildcard Felix Gill also fell on day one while Pinnington Jones will resume his first-round tie on Tuesday, when Jacob Fearnley, Arthur Fery, Toby Samuel, and Harry Wendelken begin their campaigns. The British hopes are now resting on the shoulders of these players.
Five of the six British women who received main-draw singles wildcards exited in the first round, with defeats for Harriet Dart, Alicia Dudeney, Hannah Klugman, Mika Stojsavljevic and Mimi Xu. Katie Swan faces Irina-Camelia Begu on Tuesday. It has been a tough tournament for British women so far.
Oliver Tarvet, Billy Harris and Max Basing also came through qualifying to reach the main draw – the first time since 1999 that three British players have done so. Tarvet and Basing lost in the first round. The achievement of qualifying is a positive sign for British tennis.
Prize money and protests
The total prize fund at this year’s Wimbledon will be £64.2m, following the largest annual increase in the event’s history. The singles’ champions will each take home £3.6m with first-round losers paid £80,000. More than £6m has been set aside for the qualifying competition – an increase of 25%.
Overall prize money has increased by £10.7m, with leading players welcoming the 20% increase in prize money as a “genuine and significant step forward”. However they will still expand their protests about prize money – limiting the time they offer at the media weekend and restricting post-match appearances to 15 minutes throughout the first week. The tensions between players and organisers continue.
BBC coverage team
Isa Guha and Clare Balding will guide the day’s action from the BBC studio, with Andy Stevenson presenting coverage of the wheelchair finals. They will be joined by a host of Grand Slam champions including John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Pat Cash, and Tracy Austin.
Tim Henman and Annabel Croft will provide inside analysis, while Jamie Murray, Eugenie Bouchard and Kyle Edmund will join the team this year. Former British number one Laura Robson will be courtside throughout the fortnight to deliver immediate reaction and analysis, bringing tennis fans to the heart of the action throughout The Championships. The iconic Andre Agassi will also return to the BBC team for the final few days of the championships.
Radio and BBC Sounds
Gigi Salmon and Clare McDonnell present live coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, with BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller leading the commentary team. Joining the team are former Wimbledon champions Cash and Marion Bartoli, offering expert insights throughout the tournament.
5 Live’s Wimbledon team will bring audiences all the major matches live, with regular updates from the outside courts. Delyth Lloyd and Lee James will commentate and present live, extensive coverage of Wimbledon on the BBC World Service, while there will also be coverage across the 39 BBC Local Radio stations.
