Wimbledon 2026 gets underway on Monday, June 29 in London. With the best 128 male and female players converging on the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for a fortnight of heavyweight tennis action, I preview everything you need to know about the event this year.
2026 men’s Wimbledon preview
Looking to bet on Wimbledon men’s singles? Then the below is for you, as I cover key context heading into the event, past champs and trends, before breaking down the draw quarter-by-quarter and giving my predictions.
Key context heading into Wimbledon men’s singles in 2026
The biggest story is the absence of Carlos Alcaraz. The two-time champion and 2025 finalist has been sidelined since April with a wrist injury, ruling him out of consecutive Slams for the first time since 2020.
That leaves defending champion Jannik Sinner as the overwhelming favorite – but there’s a cloud hanging over the Italian. He hit a wall mid-match in hot conditions against Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round of the French Open, and has since undergone medical testing at a hospital in Milan. He’s been spotted practicing at the All England Club wearing a glucose monitor on his arm. Sinner says the checks came back fine, but it’s hard to ignore, particularly with a heatwave in Europe at the moment.
Alexander Zverev finally broke through at Roland-Garros for his maiden Slam, though his Wimbledon record is poor – he’s never been past the fourth round.
The grass season itself has been dominated by Americans: Ben Shelton won Stuttgart, Frances Tiafoe took Halle with three top-10 scalps, and Taylor Fritz has been at the business end of all his events.
Will an American finally win Wimbledon again? ??
Pate Sampras won it last back in 2020.
What chances do you give Shelton and Fritz? https://t.co/iDzZYylUFU
— Tennisnerd.net (@Tennisnerdnet) June 23, 2026
Jack Draper is also back after injury, with Andy Murray in his corner as interim coach.
Recent men’s Wimbledon champions
- 2025 – Sinner beat Alcaraz
- 2024 – Alcaraz beat Djokovic
- 2023 – Alcaraz beat Djokovic
- 2022 – Djokovic beat Kyrgios
- 2021 – Djokovic beat Berrettini
Trends and records in Wimbledon men’s singles
- Only three men have won Wimbledon in the last eight years: Novak Djokovic (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022), Alcaraz (2023, 2024) and Sinner (2025).
- Last year saw a record 13 seeded men lose in the first round, including Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune.
- No man ranked outside the top 10 has won the title since Goran Ivanisevic entered as a wildcard in 2001. It’s a tournament that almost never produces a true outsider champion.
- The defending champion has reached at least the quarter-finals in each of the last seven editions.
- American men haven’t won a Slam since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open – 23 years ago. With Shelton, Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul all in form on grass, this feels like their best opportunity in years.
- Five-set matches are common at Wimbledon. In 2025, five of the eight quarter-finalists came through at least one five-setter en route.
2026 Wimbledon men’s draw analysis
Quarter 1
This is Sinner’s section. The world No 1 opens against Miomir Kecmanovic and has a fairly easy path early on, though Nuno Borges could be a tricky second-round opponent – the Portuguese has a solid serve and a penchant for being a tough out.
Next up is likely to be Ignacio Buse, before Luciano Darderi, the 14th seed, or Rafael Jodar, the up-and-coming teen, in the fourth round. Darderi’s a clay-court specialist, while Jodar is as fresh as they come on grass – this isn’t a section packed with grass pedigree.
Further down, Tommy Paul and Medvedev lurk and could produce an excellent fourth-round meeting. Paul’s been in sharp form on grass after his Queen’s final, while Medvedev made the Halle quarter-finals and has gone deep here in the past.
Still, unless heat strikes again, this quarter is Sinner’s to lose.
First task for defending champion Jannik Sinner ? pic.twitter.com/POWkkhlVje
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 26, 2026
Quarter 2
Felix Auger-Aliassime, the third seed, leads this section and has the game for grass – big serve, clean ball-striking, and a willingness to come forward when it counts.
But the real name in this quarter is Novak Djokovic. The seven-time champion sits at the bottom as the seventh seed, and I think this is where he makes his move. His path is navigable: Yibing Wu up first, then Stefanos Tsitsipas or Hugo Gaston in the second round, then Arthur Rinderknech in the third. Joao Fonseca, seeded 24th, is a possible fourth-round opponent – Fonseca beat Djokovic at the French Open, but grass is a very different proposition.
Djokovic is at his best on this surface. His spot serving and forehand get a boost from the slick surface, plus there’s less physicality required. With Alcaraz absent, Djokovic is the only man in the draw with multiple Wimbledon titles, and that experience matters on these courts more than anywhere else.
I’ve tipped him in my Wimbledon value bets, and I expect him to come through this quarter. Learner Tien and Andrey Rublev are the other seeds of note, with Rublev opening against qualifier Roman Safiullin in a tasty all-Russian affair.
Quarter 3
This is the juicy quarter. No 5 seed Alex de Minaur is up top, but Shelton sits at the bottom as the fourth seed and will be eyeing another deep Slam run. De Minaur’s speed and consistency make him tough on any surface, while Shelton arrives with a grass-court title from Stuttgart and three titles for the season.
Arthur Fils, seeded 20th, has a gettable early draw and could go deep provided he’s fit. The standout first-round clash is Stan Wawrinka vs Matteo Berrettini – two former top-10 players and Slam veterans going at it right out of the gate. Grigor Dimitrov is also in the mix as a wildcard nearby.
Throw in Jakub Mensik, the 15th seed, who has been knocking on the door of the top 10 all year, and Flavio Cobolli, who just made the French Open final and is defending quarter-final points.
Overall, Shelton’s path is manageable, with Ugo Humbert the most likely third-round test before a potential De Minaur showdown.
Quarter 4
Fritz and Zverev headline this section, with a potential quarter-final between the second and sixth seeds.
Fritz opens against Draper in the biggest match of the first round. Draper’s returning from injury and has Murray coaching him, but Fritz has been one of the best grass-court players in the world this month. He reached back-to-back finals in Stuttgart and Halle, and his 6-1 record on grass this season is backed up by a Tour-leading 43 grass-court wins this decade.
Against Zverev, Fritz holds a seven-match winning streak in the head-to-head, including at Wimbledon in 2024 and in Halle just last week. That’s a massive advantage.
Tiafoe, seeded 17th, is the other form player here after his Halle title, where he beat three top-10 players. Jiri Lehecka, Alexander Bublik, Francisco Cerundolo are dangerous floaters too – Lehecka had Shelton at two match points in their Stuttgart semi-final, Bublik is a two-time Halle champion, and Cerundolo arrives fresh off a Queen’s title.
Fritz looks well placed to come through this quarter and go deep though.
Final weekend predictions
- Semi-final – Sinner to beat Djokovic
- Semi-final – Fritz to beat Shelton
- Final – Sinner to beat Fritz
Sinner is the clear pick to win Wimbledon. Unless circumstances conspire to cook him on the court, he’s the best grass-court player in the world by some distance – his 37-3 record in 2026 tells the story.
I’ve got Djokovic coming through the second quarter and making the semis. Yes, his schedule has been thin this year, but this is Wimbledon – and Djokovic at Wimbledon is a different kettle of fish. He beat Sinner at the Australian Open earlier this year, so an upset isn’t out of the question, but I think Sinner gets there this time (though, as you’ll see in my Wimbledon betting tips, there’s value to be had in backing the Serb still).
In the bottom half, I’m backing Fritz. His grass form has been immense, and his head-to-head dominance over Zverev gives him a clear path through the quarter-final. Against Shelton in the semis, he’ll be the more experienced player on the big stage, and his baseline game on grass is as good as anyone’s right now.
Sinner should be too strong in the final, but Fritz making the championship match feels like more than just a punter’s dream this year.
2026 women’s Wimbledon preview
Eager to wrap your head around the women’s event? Then you’re in luck – below I run over all you need to know, from context heading into the tournament, to trends, past champions, how the draw has shaken out and who I predict will win.
Key context heading into Wimbledon women’s singles in 2026
The women’s field is as open as it’s been in years. Six different players have won the last six Slams, and there’s no dominant force right now.
Defending champion Iga Swiatek won last year’s final 6-0, 6-0 – perhaps the most dominant Grand Slam final in memory – but she hasn’t looked nearly as commanding in 2026.
Mirra Andreeva is the French Open champion at just 19, though clay is her best surface by some distance. On the form front, the grass season has been eye-catching: Linda Noskova won Berlin to crack the top 10, Donna Vekic claimed Queen’s as a lucky loser, and Marie Bouzkova took Nottingham. Aryna Sabalenka is the world No 1 but lost in the Berlin semis.
Then there’s Serena Williams. The 44-year-old has accepted a singles wildcard, her first Grand Slam singles appearance since the 2022 US Open. She’s been playing doubles at Queen’s and Berlin to ease back in. Nobody knows what to expect – including, probably, Serena herself.
Recent women’s Wimbledon champions
- 2025 – Swiatek beat Anisimova
- 2024 – Krejcikova beat Paolini
- 2023 – Vondrousova beat Jabeur
- 2022 – Rybakina beat Jabeur
- 2021 – Barty beat Pliskova
Trends and records in Wimbledon women’s singles
- Nine different women have won the last nine Wimbledons. Serena’s back-to-back titles in 2015-16 were the last time anyone defended the crown. Since then: Garbine Muguruza (2017), Angelique Kerber (2018), Simona Halep (2019), Ash Barty (2021), Elina Rybakina (2022), Marketa Vondrousova (2023), Barbora Krejcikova (2024) and Swiatek (2025).
- Last year’s first-round carnage hit the women’s draw too – both Coco Gauff, the second seed, and third seed Jessica Pegula were eliminated in round one.
- The women’s Wimbledon has produced more surprise finalists than any other Slam in recent years. Vondrousova and Krejcikova were both low-seeded or unseeded when they won.
- Czech players have had a remarkable run at Wimbledon – Vondrousova, Krejcikova, and now Noskova and Bouzkova are all in form heading into SW19.
- Swiatek’s 6-0, 6-0 final over Amanda Anisimova last year was the first double-bagel in a Wimbledon women’s final in the Open Era.
- Grass remains the surface where the WTA is most unpredictable. The pre-tournament favorite has won just twice in the last six editions.
2026 Wimbledon women’s draw analysis
Quarter 1
This is Sabalenka’s quarter, and it’s a loaded one. The world No 1 opens against qualifier Teodora Kostovic, which shouldn’t pose any issues, but things get spicy quickly.
Jelena Ostapenko is a potential third-round opponent – the Latvian is always dangerous on fast surfaces when her ball-striking is on. Emma Raducanu, the 30th seed, sits on the same side and could be an alternative third round test after her strong Queen’s run.
Andreeva, seeded fifth, anchors the bottom half and is a real threat to go deep. The French Open champion’s all-court game goes well across surfaces – she can hit winners, construct points, and she’s completely fearless. She’d potentially face Sabalenka in the quarter-final.
Karolina Muchova, seeded 10th, and 14th seed Naomi Osaka could produce fireworks around the fourth round though, as they look to prevent a Sabalenka vs Andreeva meeting. Then there’s Maja Chwalinska who earned a wildcard after her Roland-Garros final run.
This is a tough quarter from top to bottom, but I expect the seeds to hold.
Quarter 2
Pegula, seeded fourth, and seventh seed Gauff are the big names here, with a potential quarter-final collision. Given both lost in round one last year, they’ll be desperate to make amends.
Pegula looked sharp on grass in Berlin, making the final before losing to Noskova, so her form is there. Gauff has the talent but has never been past the fourth round at Wimbledon – grass has been her weakest surface at Slam level.
Iva Jovic, seeded 16th, is one of the best young prospects on tour. The 18-year-old reached the Queen’s semis and won Ilkley last year – she knows how to play on this surface. Anna Kalinskaya, the 19th seed, and Belinda Bencic, seeded 11th, also lirk. Bencic is a former top-five player who’s been rebuilding after maternity leave and has won a title on grass before.
This quarter feels like Gauff’s to navigate if she can avoid the first-round ghosts.
Quarter 3
The Serena quarter – and potentially the most volatile section of the women’s draw. Serena Williams drew into the same section as Swiatek, the third seed, with a potential third-round meeting if both win two matches. That’s what everyone will be watching.
But Swiatek is far from a certainty to get there. Her form has been shaky since winning the title last year, and grass still isn’t her most natural surface. Taylor Townsend and Karolina Pliskova are a tough route to the third round.
Elina Svitolina, seeded eighth, is the player best positioned to capitalize. She’s a two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist whose defensive game and consistency on grass make her a real danger. Donna Vekic, the Queen’s champion, is a tricky early opponent for Svitolina, but if she gets through that, her path opens up.
Then there’s Alexandra Eala, the 29th seed, who beat Svitolina in the Berlin quarters and is one of the most improved players on tour. Jasmine Paolini, finalist two years ago, is a solid 13th seed.
If Swiatek stumbles – and recent form suggests she could – Svitolina is the one to watch in this section.
Quarter 4
Rybakina, seeded second, and sixth seed Anisimova anchor this section. Rybakina is the 2022 champion and arguably has the best single-match ceiling on grass of anyone in the draw – massive serve, flat groundstrokes, and the ability to hit through anyone.
Anisimova was brilliant last year and could be the one to challenge Rybakina to the semis, though her form has been patchier since her Dubai run back in February.
Noskova arrives as the ninth seed in red-hot form after her Berlin title, where she didn’t drop a set until the final. She’s just cracked the top 10 and her aggressive baseline game suits grass well. Madison Keys, the 26th seed, and Sorana Cirstea, seeded 17th, are experienced grass-courters who won’t go down without a fight.
Diana Shnaider, the 15th seed, and Bouzkova – the Nottingham champion – add further depth to this section. If Rybakina’s serve is firing, this is hers, but the quality in this quarter is high enough that anyone could emerge.
Final weekend predictions
- Semi-final – Sabalenka to beat Andreeva
- Semi-final – Rybakina to beat Svitolina
- Final – Rybakina to beat Sabalenka
I’m going with Rybakina. She’s won here before and her game is tailor-made for grass – massive serve, flat groundstrokes, a willingness to come forward. Sabalenka’s the favorite on paper, but Rybakina has the tools to neutralize her in a final.
In the top half, I’ve got Andreeva riding her Roland-Garros momentum all the way to the semis. Her all-court game and fearlessness make her dangerous on any surface, but Sabalenka’s power should be too much at the semi-final stage.
In the bottom half, Svitolina is my pick to come through a volatile third quarter. She thrives at Wimbledon and is positioned perfectly if Swiatek’s form wobbles. Rybakina should handle her in the semi before taking out Sabalenka in the final.
Read more about the big prize money increase at the 2026 Wimbledon.