British world No 733 Oliver Tarvet produced one of the biggest shocks of the opening day at Wimbledon with a straight-sets victory over Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi, winning 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. The 21-year-old, a college student at the University of San Diego, had already made headlines simply by qualifying for the main draw. Now, his reward is a blockbuster second-round clash with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Ranked 733 in the world and playing just his third professional tournament of the year, Tarvet showed composure well beyond his experience. The atmosphere on Court 4 was electric, filled with friends, family, and supporters who braved the sweltering heat to witness a truly improbable story unfold. Early on, both players tested each other cautiously, but Tarvet capitalised on a late double fault from Riedi in the opening set to take control.
Despite his underdog status, Tarvet’s game was rock-solid. He served with purpose, firing three aces in the second set and winning 82% of his first-serve points. His ability to read Riedi’s game from the baseline and adapt to tactical changes proved decisive. When Riedi tried to disrupt his rhythm by accusing him of time-wasting and mixing up his shots, Tarvet remained unfazed, apologising for any delay but continuing to dictate the match.
There was no shortage of personality from the young Brit either. Animated throughout the contest, Tarvet pumped himself up with roars of “Come on!” and “Vamos!”, and even referred to himself as “Gareth” a playful nickname from his college days referencing footballer Gareth Bale.
In the third set, the intensity of the heat began to show, but Tarvet stayed mentally strong. At 3-3, he produced a crowd-pleasing moment of drama, flinging himself to the turf after a wild forehand but still managing to win the point. He later secured the crucial break and calmly served out the match to love, capping off a remarkable debut on the sport’s biggest stage.
His next challenge is monumental: a showdown against Alcaraz on one of Wimbledon’s show courts. But Tarvet remains unfazed. He insists he’ll treat the match like any other, choosing to focus on the ball rather than the player. With a grounded mindset and fearless game, he’s determined to enjoy the moment and see just how far this unexpected run can go.
Even with prize money limited due to college athlete rules, Tarvet’s story is already one of Wimbledon’s most captivating tales.
