Day 2 of Wimbledon 2025 delivered one of the most unpredictable openings in recent memory. The tournament was turned on its head as eight of the top 10 seeds, four men and four women, were eliminated across the first two rounds, shaking up both draws dramatically. It marked a new Open Era record, with 23 seeded players bowing out by the end of Day 2. The usual air of order and expectation gave way to a wild free-for-all, turning Centre Court and its surrounding lawns into a stage where reputations toppled and new narratives took shape.

On the men’s side, major contenders like Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Daniil Medvedev, and Lorenzo Musetti were all sent packing. The women’s draw saw shocking defeats for Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, two Americans considered among the most popular players in the field. The flurry of early exits prompted Gauff’s former coach, Brad Gilbert, to wryly comment, “Upsets are contagious.” At Wimbledon this year, it seemed no one was immune.

But numbers alone don’t capture what made Day 2 so unforgettable. Beneath the scorelines and shattered brackets was a moment of quiet heartbreak, one that moved even the steeliest figures in tennis. Martina Navratilova was moved to tears after a certain speech.

Petra Kvitova, the two-time Wimbledon champion who triumphed here in 2011 and 2014, stepped onto the grass knowing it might be her last time. She had announced in June that the 2025 season would be her final one, with the US Open slated to be her farewell tournament. Wimbledon, however, was her spiritual home. Granted a wildcard, she was drawn against world No. 10 Emma Navarro in the first round. Despite a strong opening few games, Kvitova fell 3-6, 1-6 to the rising American. What happened next was unexpected, even by Wimbledon standards.

Known for its stiff upper lip and time-honored procedures, the All England Club made a rare exception by inviting the losing player—Kvitova—to address the crowd. It was a break from protocol that signaled just how much she meant to this tournament.

As Kvitova stood on the court, soaking in the ovation, the tribute turned personal. Martina Navratilova, nine-time Wimbledon champion and fellow Czech-born left-hander, was on air when she was asked to say a few words about Kvitova’s legacy. Her voice faltered. Her eyes filled. “It’s hard for me to talk right now,” Navratilova said softly. “She’s just such a nice person on and off the court. A role model everywhere.”

The scene carried even more weight given their shared heritage. Navratilova, once exiled from Czechoslovakia, had long been a trailblazer. Kvitova followed in her footsteps—winning her first Wimbledon title in 2011 by defeating Maria Sharapova in straight sets and becoming the first player born in the 1990s to win a Grand Slam. Three years later, she repeated the feat by dismantling Eugenie Bouchard in the 2014 final. Along the way, she became the first Czech winner since Jana Novotná in 1998 and the first left-handed woman to win the title since—yes—Martina herself in 1990. Kvitova’s speech struck the same bittersweet tone.

 “To have another chance to play one more time here means a lot to me. This place holds the best memories I could wish for. I never dreamed of winning Wimbledon, and I won it twice; this is something very, very special. I will miss Wimbledon for sure, I will miss tennis, I will miss you fans, but I’m ready for the next chapter in my life as well.” She thanked her family, her team, and everyone who supported her through her 19-year career. Even Emma Navarro, despite ending Kvitova’s run, paid her respects post-match, calling her a champion and inspiration.

While Centre Court processed the farewell, over on Court 1, a different kind of drama unfolded—this time behind the microphone.

John McEnroe draws attention with his interesting comments at Wimbledon

The three-time champion (1981, 1983, 1984), John McEnroe, has been a mainstay of the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage since making his commentary debut for them in 2004. Throughout these 21 years, he has received plenty of love along with some severe criticisms for his commentary. Having said that, there hasn’t been a time when he failed to make the headlines. This time, while doing the commentary for Jack Draper’s first-round match, he couldn’t hide his surprise seeing the Brit donning a cap during his match against Baez.

As per records, London’s temperature soared up to 34.2°C (93.56°F) by afternoon at the All England Club, marking the year’s warmest day. Upon seeing Draper wearing a cap, John McEnroe commented, “I like hats, but when I played, the brim would get in my eyesight and it felt like I was getting hotter. I was already hot enough to start, I didn’t need to get hotter.” He further added, “I was ready to strangle someone in the warm-up. To each his own.“

However, having said that, he also hailed Jack Draper’s enormous potential by claiming him to be the “fourth favorite” to win the Wimbledon Championships this year. Draper is currently ranked fourth in the world and he has already clinched the title at Indian Wells earlier this season. Although he failed to reach the quarterfinal of the French Open, Draper did manage to reach the semifinal in the pre-Wimbledon tournament at the Queen’s. According to John McEnroe, “He could win a major for the first time in his life, this is about dealing with the nerves. That’s pressure but it’s also a pretty cool feeling.”

Other than this, yet another interesting moment was captured during the broadcast on Day 2. This time, John McEnroe playfully insinuated that his colleague Simon Reed might stir up some trouble because of their commentary during the match. But why? Seeing Draper’s dominating performance in the first round against Baez on Court 1, Reed suggested that the match resembled more like a practice session. This incident took place when Jack Draper secured a commanding 5-1 lead in the opening set with a double break advantage.

Reacting to Reed’s comment on what he claimed to be more like a one-sided battle, John McEnroe said, “I don’t think the All England Club will be too happy with you saying this first-round match on Court 1 is practice.” Hearing this, Reed tried to clarify a bit, saying, “You know what I mean.” Both of them gave a broad smile after this hilarious exchange. Why did he say that, though?

Well, the All England Club takes particular pride in selecting the most interesting matches for Centre Court and Court 1, hence McEnroe’s light-hearted statement now puts a serious question mark on Wimbledon’s decision. What are your thoughts on this, though? Check out EssentiallySports’ minute-by-minute update of the Championships on our Live Blog.