Novak Djokovic crushed British wildcard Dan Evans in the Wimbledon second round as he stepped up his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title, while world No 1 Jannik Sinner cruised into round three on Thursday.
But there was heartbreak for home favourite Jack Draper as he crashed out to former finalist Marin Cilic.
Djokovic avoided becoming one of the host of big names eliminated in week one in south London as the Serb needed just one hour and 47 minutes to dispatch Evans in a 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 victory on Centre Court.
"It means I've been playing quite a long time!" Djokovic said when told he had just secured his 99th Wimbledon match victory.
"I still enjoy it. This court has given me so much. Wimbledon has a special place in my heart. Any history made here is obviously extra special."
Djokovic is dreaming of putting an exclamation point on his incredible career by becoming the most successful singles player in tennis history.
The 38-year-old has been tied with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam titles since winning his most recent major prize at the 2023 US Open.
Despite losing the last two Wimbledon finals to Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic believes the lawns of south-west London provide his best chance to win that elusive 25th major.
"I'm aware of the history on the line. I'm thinking about the big things I can do in this tournament," he said.
Sinner is yet to reach a Wimbledon final, but the US and Australian Open champion has been ruthless in dropping just 12 games in his opening two matches.
The Italian thrashed Australia's Aleksandar Vukic 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 to set up a third round clash against Spaniard Pedro Martinez.
The World No.1 does it in straight sets 👊
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2025
Jannik Sinner defeats Aleksandar Vukic 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 on Centre Court to move into the third round ➡️#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/cQWbONDZT3
"We saw there have been so many upsets this tournament so we try to stay focused and raise our level," said Sinner.
Draper's dream of following in the footsteps of Andy Murray as a British champion were dashed as 36-year-old Cilic rolled back the years.
The Croatian, who is making his first Wimbledon appearance for four years after major knee surgery, blasted 53 winners in a 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory.
Upset alert 🚨
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2025
Croatia's Marin Cilic stuns Jack Draper 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 to knock the No.4 seed out of The Championships 2025 😮#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/rZP6NQjWRy
"The emotions I'm feeling are incredible," said Cilic, who lost the final to Roger Federer at the All England Club in 2017.
"It's been a long journey but I never lost any doubt. This was a huge challenge, to come back and play at this level against Jack, in front of this crowd."
KREJCIKOVA'S RELIEF
Only one of the top five seeds in the women's draw – world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka – is still standing.
But defending champion Barbora Krejcikova and five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek avoided joining the big name casualties with hard-fought three-set wins.
Krejcikova has had a miserable time with injuries this year and arrived at Wimbledon with just six matches under her belt in 2025.
Despite not feeling 100 per cent, she overcame American Caroline Dolehide 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to set up a meeting with Emma Navarro.
"Definitely a huge relief," said the Czech. "I wasn't feeling that well but I was fighting for every ball. I'm really happy I won the third set."
Swiatek has previously struggled on Wimbledon's lush lawns despite being a former junior champion at the All England Club.
The former world No 1 dropped the first set to American Caty McNally before roaring back to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.
Iga Swiatek wins R2 matches.
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2025
The No.8 seed recovers from going a set down to defeat Caty McNally 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 and continue her journey at SW19 👊#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/bIJct7njvn
"For sure second and third set I played how I wanted to play," said Swiatek.
Elena Rybykina, Wimbledon winner in 2022, demolished Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-1.
Russian seventh seed Mirra Andreeva, aged 18, beat Italy's Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 7-6 (7/4).
RESULTS (second round)
MEN
Jannik Sinner (ITA x1) bt Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 6-1, 6-1, 6-3
Pedro Martinez (ESP) bt Mariano Navone (ARG) 7-5, 7-5, 7-6 (8/6)
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x19) bt Corentin Moutet (FRA) 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5
Brandon Nakashima (USA x29) bt Reilly Opelka (USA) 7-5, 6-2, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3
Jaume Munar (ESP) bt Fabian Marozsan (HUN) 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (11/9)
Flavio Cobolli (ITA x22) bt Jack Pinnington Jones (GBR) 6-1, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2
Jakub Mensik (CZE x15) bt Marcos Giron (USA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4)
Alex De Minaur (AUS x11) bt Arthur Cazaux (FRA) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-0
August Holmgren (DEN) bt Tomas Machac (CZE x21) 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (8/10), 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 7-6 (10/5)
Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) bt Jesper de Jong (NED) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
Novak Djokovic (SRB x6) bt Daniel Evans (GBR) 6-3, 6-2, 6-0
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP x26) bt Botic van de Zandschulp (NED) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5)
Luciano Darderi (ITA) bt Arthur Fery (GBR) 6-4, 6-3, 6-3
Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) bt Christian Garin (CHI) 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3
Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) bt Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN x25) 3-6, 7-6 (11/9), 6-3, 6-4
Sebastian Ofner (AUT) bt Tommy Paul (USA x13) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 7-5
Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) bt Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 6-1, 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4)
Marin Cilic (CRO) bt Jack Draper (GBR x4) 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
WOMEN
Mirra Andreeva (RUS x7) bt Lucia Bronzetti (ITA) 6-1, 7-6 (7/4)
Hailey Baptiste (USA) bt Victoria Mboko (CAN) 7-6 (8/6), 6-3
Barbora Krejcikova (CZE x17) bt Caroline Dolehide (USA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
Emma Navarro (USA x10) bt Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) 6-1, 6-2
Zeynep Sonmez (TUR) bt Wang Xinyu (CHN) 7-5, 7-5
Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS x18) bt Suzan Lamens (NED) 6-4, 6-0
Belinda Bencic (SUI) bt Elsa Jacquemot (FRA) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) bt Katie Volynets (USA) 6-0, 6-4
Iga Swiatek (POL x8) bt Caty McNally (USA) 5-7, 6-2, 6-1
Danielle Collins (USA) bt Veronika Erjavec (SLO) 6-4, 6-1
Elena Rybakina (KAZ x11) bt Maria Sakkari (GRE) 6-3, 6-1
Liudmila Samsonova (RUS x19) bt Yuliia Starodubtseva (UKR) 6-2, 6-1
Jessica Bouzas (ESP) bt Sofia Kenin (USA x28) 6-1, 7-6 (7/4)
Dayana Yastremska (UKR) bt Anastasia Zakharova (RUS) 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (10/8)
Daria Kasatkina (AUS x16) bt Irina-Camelia Begu (ROM) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
Clara Tauson (DEN x23) bt Anna Kalinskaya (RUS) 6-3, 7-6 (12/10)