WIMBLEDON COURT REPORT: Taylor Fritz finally enjoys an easy day's work as the Royal Box gets a golden glow

7 hours ago 13

  • We are now halfway through the 2025 edition of Wimbledon after Sunday's play
  • Taylor Fritz progressed after Jordan Thompson retired due to back pain
  • Olympic and Paralympic champions packed the Royal Box on Sunday

By JAMES SHARPE

Published: 22:34 BST, 6 July 2025 | Updated: 22:38 BST, 6 July 2025

The first week of Wimbledon is officially complete and there were plenty more talking points as Sunday's play came to a close.

It was a day that saw reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz and Great Britain's last hope Cam Norrie win to set up a quarter-final showdown on Tuesday.

World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka also beat Elise Mertens in straight sets to book her place in the last-16.  

Mail Sport's JAMES SHARPE was on hand to recap some of the things you may have missed. 

Fritz finally gets an easy days work 

Taylor Fritz finally got the chance to put his feet up. After coming through two five-setters and a four-setter in the first three rounds, the American fifth seed reached the quarter-finals when Australian Jordan Thompson retired at 6-1, 3-0 due to back pain. No player has won more

Tour-level matches on grass since 2020 than Fritz’s 35. ‘From the first time I played on grass in the juniors, I was excited,’ he said. ‘I felt it would be good for my game.’ He was right.

Taylor Fritz (left) progressed after Australian Jordan Thompson retired due to back pain

Now Sabalenka has the crowd on side

Emma Raducanu's conqueror Aryna Sabalenka continued her march with a straight-sets win over Elise Mertens — and has picked up some new fans on the way. The world No 1 was the Centre Court villain two days ago, but was roared on by the same crowd on Sunday.

‘I didn’t have to pretend they were cheering for me this time,’ said Sabalenka, who now faces Laura Siegemund, the oldest player to reach their maiden Wimbledon quarter-final at 37.

Ben can bank on his lucky charm

When American Ben Shelton made it through to the fourth round, he made an on-court plea to his sister Emma’s employers Morgan Stanley to give his ‘lucky charm’ extra time off to keep supporting him. 

Hours later, Emma posted a video on Instagram to confirm she’d been given just that. Who’d have thought it — investment bankers do have a heart.

A golden glow to the royal box

It was another golden day on Centre Court as more Olympic and Paralympic champions packed the Royal Box. 

The guests on Saturday boasted 83 gold medals between them and another 54 were on show on Sunday, including the British 4x200m freestyle swimmers Tom Dean, James Guy, Duncan Scott and Matt Richards. 

Former West Indies cricketer Brian Lara was also in attendance — how England could have done with some of his batting as they slumped to defeat at Edgbaston.

Triple Olympic gold medalist Tom Dean was one of the many champions in the Royal Box

Mimi shows brawn as well as brains

British teenager Mimi Xu, beaten by Raducanu in the first round, got her juniors campaign under way as she fought from a set down to beat American Thea Frodin.

The 17-year-old brainbox, who completed her maths A-level two years early, was 5-3 down in the decider, but dug deep to triumph. ‘This (Wimbledon) is a special place to be,’ said Xu.

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