The draws for the 2025 edition of Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam of the season, were announced on Saturday, setting up a fortnight of high-stakes tennis as defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Barbora Krejcikova lead a talent-rich field into the season’s third Grand Slam.
Alcaraz handed Fognini test; potential clash with Draper looms
Men’s defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off titles at Roland Garros and Queen’s Club, will open his campaign against Italian veteran Fabio Fognini. The Spaniard, eyeing his third consecutive title at SW19, is seeded to meet Britain’s Jack Draper in a blockbuster quarter-final, a contest already drawing significant local interest.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2023, begins against fellow Italian Luca Nardi and finds himself in the opposite half of the draw from Alcaraz. A possible semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic could headline the second week if both players hold form.
Djokovic, chasing a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon crown, will face Alexandre Müller of France in the first round. The Serbian, who has made the final in each of the past two editions, could face Alexander Bublik in the fourth round and Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals, according to the projected draw.
In other notable first-round ties, Stuttgart champion Taylor Fritz takes on Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori, while Halle winner Alexander Bublik meets Jordan Thompson of Australia.
Krejcikova, Sabalenka headline women’s draw
In the women’s field, defending champion Barbora Krejcikova begins against 19-year-old Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. Krejcikova could face either Elena Rybakina or Ons Jabeur in a potential semi-final, both of whom she defeated en route to her 2024 title.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, who is still in search of her first Wimbledon crown, faces Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine. If she advances, a potential third-round showdown with Britain’s Emma Raducanu awaits. Raducanu opens against fellow Briton Mimi Xu in a much-anticipated Centre Court match.
Elena Rybakina, champion in 2022, opens against Varvara Gracheva, while French Open winner Coco Gauff will play Dayana Yastremska. World No. 2 Iga Swiatek starts against Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko as she continues to build her grass-court credentials. Ons Jabeur, a two-time finalist at SW19, faces Czech youngster Linda Noskova in her opener.
British interest peaks with Draper and Raducanu
British No. 1 Jack Draper, currently ranked fourth in the world, begins against Argentina’s Sebastián Báez. A potential quarter-final against Alcaraz stands as one of the most anticipated matchups in the men’s draw.
On the women’s side, Raducanu’s form in Birmingham and Eastbourne has fuelled hopes of a deep run, although she’ll need to navigate past Xu and potentially Sabalenka to reach the second week.
With a blend of Grand Slam legends, rising stars and home favourites in both draws, Wimbledon 2025 promises drama from the opening day to the final Sunday.
