Defending champion Jannik Sinner’s route to Wimbledon title

Reigning champion Jannik Sinner returns as the top seed – with Carlos Alcaraz absent due to injury – and will face Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic as he begins his title defence. Seventh seed Novak Djokovic is a possible semi-final opponent for the Italian.

R4: Darderi (14) / Jodar (23)

QF : Medvedev (8) / Ruud (11) / Paul (21)

F: Alexander Zverev (2), Ben Shelton (4), Taylor Fritz (6)

(PA)

Jamie Braidwood27 June 2026 11:10

Confirmed order of play on day one and tournament schedule

Defending men’s Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner will open play on Centre Court against Miomir Kecmanovic while Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka and Emma Raducanu will also be in action on day one of the Championships.

Sinner, the favourite to defend his title with two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz absent, has not played a match since his shock second-round exit from the French Open last month, which came while the Italian was feeling unwell in the intense heat.

The men’s No 1 has been drawn in the same half of the draw as seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic, who begins his latest bid for a 25th time grand slam title against China’s Wu Yibing at the age of 39.

Sabalenka, the women’s No 1, also begins her campaign against Teodora Kostovic, while a potential third-round rematch with British No 1 Raducanu could await later in the tournament.

Raducanu, who lost to Sabalenka in the third round of Wimbledon last year, came into the tournament with a slight injury worry and plays Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic, on her favoured No 1 Court, in her first match.

Jamie Braidwood27 June 2026 10:55

Meet the 21 British players at Wimbledon: ‘It’s been a dream since I started playing’

From grand slam champions to underdogs ranked outside the world’s top 300, these are the home players who will be taking to the grass at SW19 in the singles draws

Jamie Braidwood27 June 2026 10:55

British players in the draw – men’s singlesCameron Norrie (26) v Michael Zheng (Q) Shintaro Mochizuki (Q) v Max Basing (Q) Brandon Nakashima (28) v Jack Pinnington Jones (WC) Felix Gill (WC) v Rafael Jodar (23) Arthur Rinderknech (25) v Oliver Tarvet (Q) Karen Khachanov (19) v Billy Harris (Q) Jakub Mensik (15) v Toby Samuel (WC) Damir Dzumhur v Arthur Fery (WC) Taylor Fritz (6) v Jack Draper Alex Michelsen v Jacob Fearnley (WC) Vit Kropiva v Jan Choinski Valentin Royer v Harry Wendelken (WC)

Jamie Braidwood27 June 2026 10:25

British players in the draw – women’s singles(WC) Mika Stojsavljevic v Belinda Bencic (11) Fran Jones v Diane Parry Emma Raducanu (30) v Antonia Ruzic (WC) Harriet Dart v Jelena Ostapenko Alicia Parks v Alicia Dudeney (WC) Barbora Krejcikova v Hannah Klugman (WC) Irina-Camelia Begu v Katie Swan (WC) Katie Boulter v Tyra Grant (Q) Mimi Xu vs Daria Kasatkina

Jamie Braidwood27 June 2026 09:55

Jack Draper’s daunting Wimbledon draw followed by Eastbourne Open disappointment

Jack Draper’s daunting Wimbledon draw was followed by disappointment at the Eastbourne Open as he suffered a semi-final exit at the hands of Ugo Humbert.

The 24-year-old discovered on Friday morning he will face world number seven Taylor Fritz in the first round at the All England Club after an injury-ravaged year left him unseeded.

He was then denied a place in the final at Devonshire Park as he slipped to a 7-5 6-3 loss to sixth seed Humbert in an hour and 42 minutes.

While the defeat dashed Draper’s hopes of securing a maiden ATP title on home soil, he can take confidence from a promising week on grass following a year disrupted by injury.

Edward Elliot27 June 2026 09:25

Why is Carlos Alcaraz not playing Wimbledon?

Wimbledon will be a quieter place this year without the talents of two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz.

The 23-year-old Spaniard is not playing this year’s tournament as he continues to recover from a wrist injury.

Alcaraz initially made the decision to skip the defence of his French Open title after withdrawing from the Barcelona Open in April due to pain in his right wrist.

He then confirmed he would be missing the entire grass-court season, with a possible return planned ahead of the US Open later this summer.

Jamie Braidwood27 June 2026 08:55

When is Serena Williams playing at Wimbledon?

Serena Williams will play Australia’s Maya Joint, the world No 53, in the first round of Wimbledon as the seven-time champion returns to the Championships and singles action for the first time in four years.

Williams, 44, lost in the first round to Harmony Tan on her last Wimbledon appearance in 2022 and has made a stunning comeback to the sport this month, receiving a wildcard into the doubles with her sister Venus Williams and, sensationally, into the singles as well.

Jamie Braidwood27 June 2026 08:35

Emma Raducanu ‘managing a niggle’ ahead of Wimbledon

Emma Raducanu is due to open her Wimbledon campaign against Croatian Antonia Ruzic but fitness doubts surround the 30th seed, who could again meet Aryna Sabalenka in the third round in a repeat of last year.

Raducanu did not turn up for her scheduled practice session on Thursday having reportedly been seen wearing a protective boot the previous evening.

The British number one’s team confirmed she is managing a niggle and concerns grew when she did not appear on the practice schedule for Friday.

Raducanu is due to speak to the media at a press conference on Saturday.

(PA Wire)

Eleanor Crooks27 June 2026 08:15

Wimbledon prize money: Men’s and women’s singles

Quarter-finals – £480,000

Overall increase from 2025: 22%

Jamie Braidwood27 June 2026 08:10