David Beckham and Gareth Southgate were amongst the spectators during Alcaraz’s match at Wimbledon 2025.

Unexpected, would be the right word to summarize what happened on day one of the Wimbledon Championships 2025. The day was very unlike British conditions, as the sun pelted over players and spectators, so much so that someone from the crowd became unconscious, resulting in play suspension for nearly 15 minutes.

Wimbledon is the most prestigious tournaments out there, with respected signatories attending play to watch the best players go head-to-head. As the event progresses to its final stages, actors and sportspersons from various disciplines, grace the marquee event.

The Royal Box consists of only 74 seats, and they are available on an invite-only basis, meaning the local crowd cannot buy tickets for this section. The All England Club readout says, these seats are reserved for “British and overseas Royal Families are invited as well as heads of government, people from the world of tennis, commercial partners, British armed forces, prominent media organisations, supporters of British tennis and other walks of life.”

Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, a member of the British royal family and the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York was the first royal to visit the Championship this year. She was spotted during the blockbuster five set contest between Carlos Alcaraz and Fabio Fognini.

However, it was former England football captain and legend David Beckham, who grabbed the spotlight during Alcaraz’s match. Recently knighted and previously appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003, Beckham has continued to strengthen his ties with the royal family over the years, actively supporting several of King Charles’s charities. ​​​​

Former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate also joined Becks in the royal box. Also in attendance, was England’s former leading test pacer Stuart Broad, who retired at the conclusion of Ashes 2023, along with his wife, Mollie King.

They were treated to a classic five-set duel by Alcaraz and Fognini, which very few saw coming. The quality was low, with flashes of brilliance from both. The Spaniard had a shocking day on court, missing plenty of forehands, with an unusually high count of unforced errors. Eventually, he prevailed in the decider set, to keep his title defense alive, and escape a massive scare on his first day in office.

Among other shocking results include World No. 8 Holger Rune’s defeat to Nicholas Jarry, after the Danish won the first two sets. World No. 9 and two-time semi-finalist Daniil Medvedev was stunned by Benjamin Bonzi, thereby extending the Russian’s terrible recent form.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram