Wimbledon has announced its highly anticipated draw for the 2026 edition that will see Serena Williams making her return to the tournament after four years.
Where the draw has bought a smile on Williams’ fans, on the other hand, it has bought tension for the British players who are expected to face a tough test at the major tournament.
Tough test for Brits at Wimbledon 2026:
According to ESPN, Brit Jack Draper has been drawn to face American sixth seed Taylor Fritz in the first round at Wimbledon.
Draper, who is making his way back from a series of injuries in recent months, is in the semifinals of the Eastbourne tournament and faces a tough start to his campaign at the All England Club this year against US star Fritz, who reached the semifinal at Wimbledon last year.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will be alongside Draper next week, having joined the 24-year-old's coaching team.
In the women's draw, Emma Raducanu could face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in this year's Wimbledon third round, but questions remain over the Brit's fitness heading into the tournament.
Raducanu has been drawn to face Antonia Ruzic in the opening round but skipped practice on Thursday and was reportedly wearing a protective boot on her leg.
Serena Williams to face Maya Joint in first round:
American superstar Serena Williams will make her highly anticipated singles comeback at Wimbledon against Australian world number 53 Maya Joint in the first round, BBC reported.
Williams, who is a seven-time women's champion at the All England Club, has been given a wildcard to restart her singles career at the age of 44, having not played competitively since the US Open in 2022.
Joint lost in the first round on her Wimbledon main-draw debut last year and has won just one of her past 14 matches.
Williams will also play in the double's tournament alongside sister Venus. The 44-year-old made her comeback after four years away from the sport. Her last of seven Wimbledon titles came a decade ago in 2016.
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic in same half:
As per News.Az, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner have been placed in the same half of the Wimbledon draw.
Djokovic, a seven-time champion at the grass-court Grand Slam, could meet World No. 1 and defending champion Sinner in the semi-finals, with Roland Garros champion Alexander Zverev placed in the opposite half of the draw.
Seventh seed Djokovic will begin his campaign against Wu Yibing and, if he wins his opening match, could face either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Hugo Gaston in the second round.
The Serbian is seeded to meet Arthur Rinderknech in the third round, Andrey Rublev or Brazil’s Joao Fonseca in the fourth round, and third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals.
Sinner, who defeated Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s final, will open against Miomir Kecmanovic. The Italian is set to face the winner of Nuno Borges and Tristan Boyer in the second round.
The 24-year-old is seeded to meet Ignacio Buse in the third round and could face either Spaniard Rafael Jodar or compatriot Luciano Darderi in the fourth round.
