Yonex Athletes Deliver Inspiring Stories as Wimbledon Comes to a Close

London, UK While Wimbledon remains the most historic event in professional tennis, the 2025 edition was unlike any fans had experienced before.

One of tennis’s greatest beauties is how players from all categories come together to compete at the same venue the pros, wheelchair athletes, rising juniors, and more. This year, once again, Team Yonex athletes wrote inspiring stories with their performances.

Tokito Oda (JPN) and Alfie Hewett (GBR) have built a fierce rivalry in men’s wheelchair tennis in recent years. The two Yonex stars faced off once again their 16th meeting in a final.And they delivered.

Backed by a passionate home crowd, Hewett claimed the opening set. But the 19-year-old Japanese sensation Oda battled back to win his second Wimbledon title with a 3–6, 7–5, 6–2 victory.

“This is the best match I’ve played against Alfie,” Oda said with a smile. “It’s great for the sport, too.”

Oda now sets his sights on completing a career “Golden Slam” winning all four majors and Paralympic gold as he heads to the US Open in September.

In the junior category, graduates of Yonex’s Vamos•J program continued to shine. This developmental initiative featuring training camps and tournaments  has been held across various countries since its launch in 2011.

Niels McDonald (GER) and Mika Stojsavljevic (GBR), both participants in the 2019 UK camp, have already made their mark on the junior circuit. Stojsavljevic won the Girls’ Singles title at the US Open last year, while McDonald captured the Boys’ Singles title at this year’s Roland-Garros. Both players competed at Wimbledon this year as they continue their journey toward a professional career.

In women’s doubles, Elise Mertens (BEL) claimed the title alongside Veronika Kudermetova. It marked Mertens’ fifth career Grand Slam doubles title and her second at Wimbledon.

In women’s singles, Belinda Bencic (SUI) captured the hearts of the British crowd and fans around the globe with her inspiring run.

Just 15 months after giving birth, she reached her first-ever Wimbledon semifinal. Once hailed as a teenage prodigy, the 28-year-old Swiss star advanced to her first Grand Slam semifinal since the 2019 US Open. Now a mother, Bencic had her daughter, Bella, with her through much of The Championships as she made a career-best run stopped only in the final four by eventual champion Iga Swiatek.

The breakout performance in men’s singles came from Ben Shelton (USA), who reached the quarterfinals his best result at Wimbledon to date.

With this momentum, even greater things may await him at his home Slam, the US Open, next month.

We’ll all be watching to see what Shelton and the rest of Team Yonex can achieve in New York City.