Shockingly, Jack Draper has never advanced past the second round at Wimbledon. It will be a challenge to even get out of the first round this year after Draper landed next to Taylor Fritz when the draw ceremony was held on Friday morning. Draper and Fritz will go head-to-head on Tuesday, with the winner possibly to embark on a collision course with reigning French Open champion Alexander Zverev for the quarterfinals. The bottom half of the bracket is also home to Ben Shelton, Alex de Minaur, Flavio Cobolli, and Alexander Bublik. Top seed Jannik Sinner is joined in the top half by Felix Auger-Aliassime, Novak Djokovic, and Daniil Medvedev.
With main-draw action beginning on Monday, it’s time to break down the field of 128.
Sinner’s quarter
Sinner probably shouldn’t be challenged on his way to the semifinals. Obviously you never know what can happen after what we witnessed at Roland Garros (the Italian lost to Juan Manuel Cerundolo in round two), but the good news for him is that it won’t be anywhere close to as hot in London as it was in Paris. Moreover, Sinner’s draw is a favorable one. The other highest-ranked players in this section of the bracket are either struggling at the moment (Medvedev) or unproven on grass (Luciano Darderi and Rafael Jodar).
Best first-round matchup — Marin Cilic vs. (8) Daniil Medvedev
Medvedev is no stranger to first-round exits at Grand Slams. The 29-year-old Russian has lost right away at four of the last five majors, including to Benjamin Bonzi at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2025. Cilic, on the other hand, advanced to the fourth round at the All-England Club last summer. The 37-year-old Croat is a former Wimbledon finalist (2017, lost to Roger Federer) and has not suffered a first-round defeat since 2011.
Best potential second-round matchup – (23) Rafael Jodar vs. Denis Shapovalov
Best potential third-round matchup – (11) Casper Ruud vs. (21) Tommy Paul
Possible surprises – Medvedev beating Cilic would be quite a surprise on paper, but the reality is that it has a very good chance of happening. Ruud is another top-12 seed who could bow out right away, as Hurkacz is a far superior grass-court player. Darderi and Jodar are probably vulnerable on grass, as well. As for the later rounds in this section, Cilic, Hurkacz, and Ethan Quinn all have a shot at going on deep runs if they manage to take out their seeded opponents in their opening matches.
Auger-Aliassime’s quarter
Although Auger-Aliassime is the highest seed in this section, Djokovic is the authority figure in both age and accomplishments. The Serb may be 39 years old, but he is a seven-time Wimbledon champion who is still advancing to Grand Slam semifinals on a somewhat regular basis. Djokovic’s draw is a decent one, although landing in the same half as Sinner is far from ideal. The world No. 8 could meet Stefanos Tsitsipas in round two and either Andrey Rublev or Joao Fonseca in the last 16. Auger-Aliassime is likely to face either Learner Tien or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in round four.
Best first-round matchup — (24) Joao Fonseca vs. Roberto Bautista Agut
It will be a tale of two players at opposite ends of the career spectrum when Fonseca and Bautista Agut go head-to-head for the first time in their careers. Fonseca is 19 years old; Bautista Agut is 38 and retiring at the end of this season. The veteran Spaniard is down at No. 163 in the world, but he has always been an outstanding grass-court player. That could cause some problems for Fonseca, who is just 5-8 lifetime on this surface.
Best potential second-round matchup – Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. (7) Novak Djokovic
Best potential third-round matchup – (22) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. (16) Learner Tien
Possible surprises — Djokovic can never be written off at any Grand Slam, but he also doesn’t inspire any confidence at the moment. The former world No. 1 lost to Fonseca in the French Open third round and needed a Lorenzo Musetti injury to dig his way out of the Australian Open quarterfinals. Unless Djokovic improves dramatically, Rublev or Fonseca will have a prime chance to reach at least the quarters in this section. You can also sound the upset alert for Auger-Aliassime if he eventually runs into Tien or Davidovich Fokina.
Shelton’s quarter
This may not be the most top-heavy quarter, but it is extremely deep. Shelton, De Minaur, Cobolli, Jakub Mensik, Karen Khachanov, and Arthur Fils — if healthy — are all realistic semifinal contenders. Ugo Humbert also has to be taken seriously on grass, especially on the heels of his recent performances at Queen’s Club and in Eastbourne. The unseeded contingent is also incredibly strong in this section, led by Matteo Berrettini, Stan Wawrinka, Grigor Dimitrov, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Adrian Mannarino, and Tallon Griekspoor.
Best first-round matchup — (27) Ugo Humbert vs. Zizou Bergs
Humbert and Bergs are also facing each other in the Eastbourne title match. Three days later they will collide at the All-England Club. It should be a good one, too. Humbert is a fantastic grass-court player and has twice reached the last 16 in SW19. Bergs is a two-time ATP finalist on grass (also ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 2025). Expect a five-setter, of which there always seem to many at Wimbledon.
Best potential second-round matchup – Tallon Griekspoor vs. (9) Flavio Cobolli
Best potential third-round matchup – Matteo Berrettini vs. (20) Arthur Fils
Possible surprises — As mentioned above, a whole host of unseeded floaters have serious potential to make some noise in this quarter. Of that group, Dimitrov, Griekspoor, and Kamil Majchrzak arguably have the best draws. Berrettini would also have a huge opportunity if he can get past Wawrinka in round one (likely) and if Fils is less than 100 percent (also likely). Mpetshi Perricard can always do damage with one of the biggest serves in the game.
Zverev’s quarter
Zverev should waltz into the round of 16 before possibly going up against Jiri Lehecka or Francisco Cerundolo. The real intrigue is on the other side of this section, where Fritz and Draper find themselves along with Bublik and Frances Tiafoe. With no especially dangerous unseeded floaters to speak of, Bublik and Tiafoe may be able to set up a head-to-head battle in the third round. Whoever wins that contest would likely meet the Fritz-Draper winner for a place in the quarterfinals.
Best first-round matchup — (6) Taylor Fritz vs. Jack Draper
Although Draper has never done anything at Wimbledon, he certainly has the talent — when he is fit — to win the whole thing. After all, this is a U.S. Open semifinalist (2024) and former world No. 4 we are talking about. The British left-hander is coming off a semifinal showing in Eastbourne and he will have three days off before facing Fritz, so there is reason to be confident. Meanwhile, Fritz posted back-to-back runner-up results in Stuttgart and Halle.
Best potential second-round matchup – Alex Michelsen vs. (18) Francisco Cerundolo
Best potential third-round matchup – (17) Frances Tiafoe vs. (10) Alexander Bublik
Possible surprises — The only conceivable way that part of this section could open up is if Draper defeats Fritz and then loses immediately thereafter due to some kind of physical issue. If that happens, 2025 ‘s-Hertogenbosch champion Gabriel Diallo would be one to watch. In Zverev’s half of the quarter, Alex Michelsen could end up being the No. 2 seed’s fourth-round opponent as opposed to Lechecka or Cerundolo.