Matteo Berrettini ends Stan Wawrinka's final Wimbledon appearance

Stan Wawrinka's Wimbledon career came to a close on Tuesday after Matteo Berrettini outlasted the Swiss veteran in a dramatic first-round contest that featured four tie-breaks.

The Italian recovered from dropping the opening set to claim a 6-7(7), 7-6(16), 7-6(7), 7-6(5) victory on the No. 1 Court, sealing the win after more than four hours of high-intensity tennis.

Wawrinka, who plans to retire after the 2026 season, received a standing ovation as he left the court following what is expected to be his final appearance at the All England Club. The three-time Grand Slam champion repeatedly delighted the crowd with flashes of the shot-making that made him an elite tennis player in his prime.

Berrettini found himself on the brink in the second set but refused to give in, fending off six set points before edging an 18-16 tie-break that shifted the momentum of the match.

With the roof closed for the latter stages of the contest, the atmosphere grew increasingly electric as Wawrinka fought to extend the match. The 41-year-old stayed within touching distance until the closing moments, but Berrettini remained composed to finish the job.

The victory sends Berrettini into the second round, where the former Wimbledon runner-up will take on Arthur Fils as he continues his return from an injury-hit spell earlier this season.

On the women's side, Iga Swiatek's reaction after match point stood out as much as the tennis itself, with the Pole visibly emotional on court after sealing a hard-fought three-set win over Taylor Townsend. For a player with multiple Grand Slam titles, the tears underlined how heavy the moment felt as defending champion at Wimbledon.

The world No. 3 later admitted that returning to Centre Court in that role carried an emotional weight she struggled to fully process. Winning at the venue where she claimed the title a year earlier brought a surge of memories and expectations she had not entirely anticipated.

Her performance reflected that contrast. After a dominant opening set in which she barely put a foot wrong, her level dropped sharply in the second as unforced errors crept in and Townsend raised her intensity at the net. The shift turned the match into a contest.

Swiatek also acknowledged that her opponent played a key role in disrupting her rhythm, particularly by stepping forward more often and taking time away. She added that while her own errors increased, the pressure from across the net contributed to the swing in momentum.

Despite the dip, Swiatek insisted she never felt the match was out of reach. Even during her second-set struggles, she pointed to small positives in her game and used them as a reset before regrouping for the decider.

The world No. 3 ultimately regained control in the final set, surviving a tense opening service game before edging ahead and closing out the match in just over two hours. She now moves on knowing the path ahead remains demanding, but insists her focus is on improving consistency rather than the external pressure of defending her title.