The Wimbledon tournament was marked this Tuesday by one of the biggest surprises of the edition, with fourth seed Ben Shelton being eliminated in the first round by Finnish player Otto Virtanen, a name practically unknown to the general public. Virtanen saved a match point before delivering the biggest upset so far at SW19, leaving fans incredulous and the competition completely open right from the early stages.
The match between Shelton and Virtanen was a true battle that lasted four hours and twenty-one minutes on Court No. 2, ending with scores of 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(8), 6-2, 7-6(11-9) in favor of the Finnish player. Virtanen, who had to overcome physical and mental challenges, saved a match point at 8-9 in the tie-break of the final set before capitalizing on Shelton's error to close the contest. Alexander Zverev, the winner of Roland Garros, also advanced, but with a performance far from convincing against the young Alexander Blockx, winning 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, with Blockx claiming an impressive tie-break 7-0.
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The morning was equally positive for Alex de Minaur, who defeated Burruchaga in three sets, 7-6, 6-1, 6-0, demonstrating why he is considered one of the rising players on this surface. Matteo Berrettini, on the other hand, starred in an epic duel against veteran Stan Wawrinka, coming out on top in four sets decided by tie-break, in what was Wawrinka's last match on the grass of Wimbledon. The Swiss player bid farewell visibly emotional, thereby closing his chapter in this Grand Slam.
The early elimination of Ben Shelton is a genuine earthquake in the tournament hierarchy and opens the door to surprises in the upcoming rounds, especially in a section of the draw that seemed reserved for a smooth path for the young American. Otto Virtanen, who had never progressed beyond the first round at Wimbledon due to injuries and a lack of experience on this stage, stated after the match: “I don’t know if I still have a heart,” he joked, visibly emotional during the on-court interview. “But I’m here and I played until the last point… I had a fantastic month before this. I played many matches on grass. I’ve always loved playing here. Last year, unfortunately, I had an injury [and couldn’t play], but I always have an amazing experience at this tournament.”
Virtanen also added: “This means a lot to me. A great victory, on a great stage, in my favorite place. After a tough year, I’m finally starting to feel good, winning important matches… I’ve been playing every day this month, I feel healthy and I hope the results keep coming. And here we are.” The Finn will face British player Arthur Fery in the next round, who defeated Damir Dzumhur 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1.
Taylor Fritz, in turn, confirmed his favoritism by defeating Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 on Court No. 1 and will face Jack Draper in the next round. In the press conference after his victory, Fritz revealed: “Obviously, my confidence is high with how the grass season has been going for me. But I might be a little more nervous than in previous years because I’ve gotten into this rhythm. I won Eastbourne, I come here, and it’s like I’m playing matches almost every day. I feel that there’s no doubt when I step on the court that I’m going to play at a certain level, I’m going to play well. That gives me more confidence. I enjoy playing. A bit more nervous, more like how I feel when I play at the US Open or in Australia. I also usually take the week off before those tournaments, but I managed to play good tennis,” said the American.
Alexander Zverev, despite a hard-fought victory, showed that he will clearly need to elevate his level if he wants to replicate his success in Paris. The German was far from convincing and was at the mercy of an ambitious Blockx, who with more experience could have caused another upset in the tournament. Arthur Fils, after recent physical issues, confirmed his recovery by defeating Raphael Collignon 7-5, 6-1, 6-3, while Grigor Dimitrov also advanced with a score of 7-6, 6-3, 7-5.
In addition to the surprises and dramas, the day was also marked by the epic match between Berrettini and Wawrinka, with the Italian winning four tie-breaks and putting an end to the Swiss's grass-court career in an emotional and symbolic moment. Meanwhile, Frances Tiafoe and Flavio Cobolli will have to return to the court tomorrow due to the interruption caused by a lack of natural light, with an even tighter schedule expected in the coming days.
With the early exit of one of the favorites and hesitant performances from other big names, Wimbledon promises to be a true rollercoaster of emotions. The coming days will be crucial to determine whether the surprises will continue or if the seeded players still in the tournament can impose their will in an increasingly unpredictable event open to all possibilities.
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