Carlos Alcaraz will put his 18-match winning streak and bid for a third consecutive Wimbledon title on the line against veteran Fabio Fognini in the first round at Centre Court when the grass-court Grand Slam begins Monday.
Alcaraz, 22, arrives at Wimbledon fresh off winning the French Open for his fifth major title overall. The Spaniard is the No. 2 seed and could meet No. 8 Holger Rune in a potential quarterfinal.
His opening opponent, Fognini, 38, is a former top-10 player known as much for his talent as for his fiery on-court temper. Although once ranked No. 9 and a French Open quarterfinalist in 2011, Fognini is currently No. 130 and has never advanced past the third round in 14 prior Wimbledon appearances.
Fognini’s Wimbledon history is marked by controversy, including a $27,500 fine in 2014 for repeated outbursts and a $3,000 fine in 2019 for wishing “a bomb would explode at the club.” He also served probation after insulting a chair umpire at the 2017 U.S. Open.
Draw Sets Up Blockbuster Men’s Quarterfinal Possibilities
Friday’s draw revealed a tantalising men’s bracket. Top seed Jannik Sinner is projected to face No. 7 Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals, while No. 4 seed Jack Draper could meet six-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic, seeded sixth.
Djokovic, who has won seven of his record 24 Grand Slam titles at the All England Club, is attempting to return to form after a knee procedure.
Other projected men’s quarterfinals include Alcaraz vs. Rune and No. 3 Alexander Zverev against No. 5 Taylor Fritz.
The top half of the men’s draw is stacked with talent, including Sinner, Djokovic, Draper, Musetti, and Americans Ben Shelton (No. 10) and Tommy Paul (No. 13). Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, known for his underarm serves and unpredictable shot-making, also lurks as a threat after winning the grass title in Halle, where he defeated Sinner.
If both advance to the final, Alcaraz and Sinner could stage a rematch of their memorable French Open championship clash won by Alcaraz last month.
Women’s Draw Features Gauff, Sabalenka in High-Profile Sections
On the women’s side, No. 2 seed Coco Gauff opens play Tuesday against Dayana Yastremska, an Australian Open semifinalist earlier this year.
Gauff, who captured her second Grand Slam title at Roland-Garros, faces a challenging path that could include former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the second round and a potential third-round meeting with No. 28 seed Sofia Kenin — who famously beat Gauff in the first round at Wimbledon two years ago.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, runner-up to Gauff in Paris and a three-time major champion, begins against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine. Her section includes intriguing early challenges: a second-round match against 2024 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Lulu Sun, and a possible third-round meeting with either 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu or defending Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.
Defending Champion Krejcikova, Historic Moments for Eala
Women’s defending champion Barbora Krejcikova opens Tuesday’s Centre Court schedule against Alexandra Eala. The 19-year-old Eala is the first woman representing the Philippines to break into the WTA top 100. She signalled her rising potential with a stunning upset of Iga Swiatek en route to the Miami Open semifinals in March.
Kvitova’s Farewell Appearance Looms
In another first-round highlight, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova — who has announced she will retire later this year — faces No. 10 seed Emma Navarro. Kvitova, who lifted the trophy at SW19 in 2011 and 2014, remains a beloved figure in the sport for her graceful game and resilience after returning from career-threatening injuries.
Fans Eager for High-Quality Grass-Court Battles
As Wimbledon begins, anticipation is high for a tournament brimming with storylines: Alcaraz’s quest for a three-peat, Djokovic’s push for an eighth title at the All England Club, Gauff’s bid to extend her Grand Slam dominance, and the emotional farewell of veterans like Kvitova.
With the world’s top players in the mix and the possibility of mouthwatering matchups deep into the draw, this year’s edition promises two weeks of compelling grass-court drama at tennis’s most storied venue.