Oliver Tarvet vs Alcaraz: Wimbledon 2025 Preview | British Qualifier

If you’re just hearing about the British underdog who has caught Wimbledon’s imagination, then there’s one thing he would like you to know – he’s Ollie, not Oliver, Tarvet.

“I usually only get called Oliver when my mum is annoyed at me. So you know, I try to avoid it at all costs,” the 21-year-old said.

He added that when he heard “Oliver” being shouted from the stands of court four during his first-round victory on Monday, it made him think he had “done something wrong”.

The fans could be forgiven for not knowing – after all, he is the world number 733 making his Grand Slam debut.

But he is quickly carving a name for himself and is unfazed by what lies ahead in the second round – namely, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on Centre Court on Wednesday in front of 15,000 fans.

Should the US college student win, it would mark the biggest upset in Wimbledon history. But he is not ruling out his chances, choosing to see it as an opportunity not an experience.

“I don’t really like the word ‘experience’ because I feel like then you’re just there to almost just spectate; you don’t really have the expectation to win,” he told BBC Sport.

“And, obviously, I’m not saying that I expect to win. But at the same time I feel like I’ve been quietly confident this whole tournament and it’s got me to where I am.

“A big thing for me is just playing the ball, not the player.”

For his father Garry, it is a moment he can scarcely believe.

“What a mouth-watering prospect,” he said.

“A week of qualifying, a round one win. And this is just too much. It is going to be fun because Ollie has played in front of big crowds – 700 or 800, maybe 1,000. To go in front of 15,000, that is quite a step up, isn’t it?”