LONDON (AP) — Get ready for Wimbledon before play begins Monday with a guide that tells you everything you need to know about how to watch the third Grand Slam tennis tournament of 2025 on TV, what the betting odds are, what the schedule is, who the top seeds and defending champions are and more:
When does Wimbledon start?
Play begins Monday at 11 a.m. local time, which is 6 a.m. ET. The first match on Centre Court — which traditionally involves the previous year's men's champion — is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. local (8:30 a.m. ET). The previous year's women's champion opens Centre Court on Day 2.
Where can I watch Wimbledon on TV?
— In the U.S.: ESPN and Tennis Channel.
— Other countries are listed here.
Who are the defending champions at Wimbledon?
Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain won the 2024 singles titles. Krejcikova got past Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 for her second Grand Slam title and first at the All England Club. Alcaraz beat seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) to win his second consecutive trophy at the grass-court major — defeating Djokovic each time — and fourth Slam title overall, a total Alcaraz now has raised to five at age 22.
Who are the top seeds at the All England Club?
Aryna Sabalenka is the top-seeded woman, and Jannik Sinner is the top-seeded man. They are the players who are ranked No. 1, and the tournament seedings — which were officially released Thursday — follow the WTA and ATP rankings. For the women, French Open champion Coco Gauff is No. 2, Jessica Pegula No. 3 and Paolini No. 4. For the men, Alcaraz is No. 2, Alexander Zverev No. 3 and Jack Draper No. 4.
Who are the betting favorites at Wimbledon this year?
Sabalenka and Alcaraz are listed as the money-line favorites to win the singles trophies, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Sabalenka is at +290 — she was at +275 before Friday's draw — with 2022 champion Elena Rybakina next at +600 and Gauff the third choice at +750 (she was at +600 before the draw). Alcaraz moved to +110 from +130 after the draw, ahead of Sinner (+190), followed by Djokovic (+650).
Who does Coco Gauff play in her first Wimbledon match and when?
Gauff was drawn to face Dayana Yastremska, a 2024 Australian Open semifinalist, in the first round. That match will be Tuesday, when all of the women in the bottom half of their bracket are scheduled to play. Sabalenka — who faces Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine — and the rest of the top section will be in action on Monday. Alcaraz meets Fabio Fognini at Centre Court on Monday, when the bottom half of the men's bracket will be on the program; Sinner takes on Luca Nardi on Tuesday, when the top of the men's draw will play.
Other basic facts about the grass-court Grand Slam tournament
Wimbledon is played outdoors on grass courts at the All England Club in southwest London; there are retractable roofs at Centre Court and No. 1 Court. Women play best-of-three-set matches with a first-to-10 tiebreaker at 6-all in the third; men play best-of-five with a tiebreaker at 6-all in the fifth. Unlike at the other three major tennis tournaments — the U.S. Open, Australian Open and French Open — there are no night sessions; there is an 11 p.m. curfew at Wimbledon. This is also the last Grand Slam event with 14 days of competition; later this year, the U.S. Open will join the Australian Open and French Open as a 15-day event that begins on Sunday instead of Monday.
What is new this year at Wimbledon?
The All England Club will use electronic line-calling during matches for the first time, replacing line judges. That puts Wimbledon in line with the Australian Open and U.S. Open, leaving the French Open as the last major with humans making in or out calls — at least as of now. Another change in 2025: The times for the two singles finals are moving later, with both now starting at 4 p.m. (11 a.m. ET).
What is the singles schedule at Wimbledon?
— Monday-Tuesday: First Round (Women and Men)
— July 2-3: Second Round (Women and Men)
— July 4-5: Third Round (Women and Men)
— July 6-7: Fourth Round (Women and Men)
— July 8-9: Quarterfinals (Women and Men)
— July 10: Women’s Semifinals
— July 11: Men’s Semifinals
— July 12: Women’s Final
— July 13: Men’s Final
Key stories to read before play begins at Wimbledon
— Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz are young stars leading tennis into the future
— Arthur Ashe's 1975 triumph is among the anniversaries at Wimbledon this year
— Alcaraz will face Fabio Fognini in the first round Monday
— Alcaraz-Raducanu is just one of the star-studded mixed doubles teams for the US Open
— Coco Gauff won her second Grand Slam title at the French Open
— Aryna Sabalenka apologized to Coco Gauff about post-match comments in Paris
— Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner bring their rivalry from France to England
— Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff and other players ask the Grand Slam events for more money
— A group of tennis players sued the organizations that run the sport
What is the prize money at Wimbledon in 2025?
Total player compensation at Wimbledon is 53.5 million pounds (about $72 million), a jump of 7% over last year. The two singles champions each earn 3 million pounds (about $4 million).
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press
