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More eyes than usual were on court four on the first day of Wimbledon, where the unlikeliest of British heroes, Oliver Tarvet, the world No 733, kicked off his SW19 journey with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Leandro Riedi, a Swiss qualifier previously ranked as high as 117.
As the lowest-ranked player in this year’s Wimbledon draw, Tarvet’s presence alone was a story. The 21-year-old, a student at the University of San Diego, made history by becoming the first British man in eight years to navigate the perilous qualifying rounds and the St Albans native made headlines due to an American college caveat.
As per National Collegiate Athletic Association regulations, Tarvet is eligible to claim only $10,000 (£7,300) from his winnings, a mere fraction of the £66,000 typically awarded to first-round participants. “Tennis is an expensive sport,” he said. “But I will try to sort it out to keep playing here at Wimbledon.
“This is what you dream of as a little kid,” Tarvet said, beaming after his win. “It has always been a pretty long-term goal to be here so for it to happen so suddenly it has been really special.”
From the outset, court four was a cauldron of anticipation, packed to the brim with eager spectators, including Tarvet’s parents, old coaches, and childhood friends, all braving the heat to cheer on the underdog. In the early exchanges both players were feeling each other’s game out, but it was Tarvet who seized the initiative late in the first set, capitalising on a double fault to secure the crucial break.
Once ahead, Tarvet played with a maturity beyond his limited professional experience – Wimbledon is only his third professional tournament of 2025 – often lingering at the baseline, calmly reading Riedi’s returns before making his move. In the second set, he served with precision, firing three aces and winning a remarkable 82% of his first-serve points.
The tension simmered when Tarvet broke Riedi to go 2-1 up, prompting the Swiss to accuse him of taking too long between points. “It’s because he’s British.” the world No 503 said to the umpire before a warning was issued. The drama was short-lived, with the 23-year-old confirming post-match that Tarvet had apologised.
Throughout the match, Tarvet was a whirlwind of animation, punctuated by cries of “Vamos!” and self-motivating “Come on, come on” before serves. The 21-year-old would also refer to himself as “Gareth,” a playful college nickname referencing the former Wales international Gareth Bale, showcasing his relaxed confidence.
In the third set, the intensity dipped slightly, with both players visibly affected by the relentless heat. Riedi, desperate to find a way back, attempted a change of tactics, rushing the net and employing more slice and drop shots. But Tarvet swiftly adapted, mirroring his opponent’s strategy and delivering volley winners with remarkable ease.
“He played like a top-50 player for me today,” Riedi conceded. “He moved unbelievably on the grass, he was sliding everywhere and the passing shots he was producing were mind-blowing. I felt as if I was playing on a clay court, with his sliding. We had so many rallies and usually on grass it is the serve plus one shot … He did not miss at all. And then he forced me to miss more. He was a wall today, a British wall.”
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At 3-3 in the decider, Tarvet produced a moment of pure theatre, a wild forehand sending him sprawling on to his back, much to the crowd’s delight, yet still earning him the point. The decisive break came when Riedi, at 30-40 on his serve after more than two hours of gruelling play, sent a shot well long. With the finish line in sight, Tarvet served out the match to love helped by two aces.
Emotional, he shook Riedi’s hand, applauded the crowd, and embraced his coaching staff, all sporting University of San Diego shirts. His calm, however, never deserted him during the points themselves. In a moment of supreme self-possession, he even gestured to his own team to calm down as he served for the match.
Tarvet’s reward for this unforgettable victory? A potential second-round clash against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on Centre Court or No 1 Court. But far from being intimidated, Tarvet is embracing the challenge. “I came here without setting any expectations. I am confident I can win against anyone and Alcaraz is not an exception to that,” he said.
“He has done an incredible amount in the tennis world and he is a difficult guy not to respect but I am just going to go out there and treat it like any other match. I try to play the ball, not the player. I am just going to try to not let the moment get too big.”
English (US)