Wimbledon is here. Just like that, we’re more than halfway through the 2026 season.
The third Grand Slam of the year has already given us many storylines. Last year’s men’s runner-up Carlos Alcaraz announced his withdrawal early doors. A certain seven-time champion was awarded a singles wildcard shortly after dipping her toe in for some doubles. And British No 1 Emma Raducanu left it until the night before her opening-round match to announce her non-involvement.
A lot has taken place and the first round is under way. Read on to find out who the likes Serena Williams, Tyra Grant, Frances Tiafoe and Arthur Fils are opening against.
Serena Williams
The 23-time Grand Slam champion is back at the age of 44. Her last appearance on a singles court was in 2022 at the US Open where she reached the third round. She went out in the first round at SW19 that same year to Harmony Tan in three dramatic sets. The seven-time champion takes on Australian 20-year-old Maya Joint in the first round. Serena will also be playing doubles with big sister Venus.
(7)Coco Gauff
American two-time major winner is looking to play her way into form after losing her one and only warm-up match in Bad Homburg. Gauff has never gone beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon but should fancy her chances this year after falling in a kind spot in the draw. According to projections, compatriot 28th seed Ann Li is the first seeded player Gauff could face. She must get past Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch in round one first.
(13)Jasmine Paolini
The Italian No 1 is getting back to full health after a nagging foot injury hampered her progress at Roland Garros. Paolini took some time off after the French Open to help aid recovery and only returned to action at Eastbourne last week where she lost to eventual runner-up Tatjana Maria in the opening round. The 2024 runner-up, who enjoys playing on the grass, has been handed a tricky first-round…
(Q)Robin Montgomery
Qualifier Montgomery is one of the most in-form players on grass after getting through three rounds of qualifying and securing her first WTA Tour title in 's-Hertogenbosch earlier in the month. The 21-year-old lefty is making her second main-draw appearance at SW19 and is more than capable of springing a surprise on whoever she faces. The first-round encounter against Paolini will be one to watch, for sure.
(14)Naomi Osaka
Four-time Grand Slam champion reached her first grass-court final in Bad Homburg last week but ended up retiring due to a foot injury against Karolina Muchova. However, Osaka was in good spirits during her pre-tournament press conference at SW19 on Sunday and spoke about how being efficient at the WTA 500 – she won all her matches en route to the final in straight sets – pleased her. She will be looking for more of the same against France’s Elsa Jacquemot in round one.
(26)Madison Keys
Keys took home a third Eastbourne crown over the weekend which will no doubt set her up nicely for another deep run at Wimbledon. This is the American’s 12th appearance and the two-time quarter-finalist is in an interesting section of the draw – bottom half with fellow big hitters Elena Rybakina and Amanda Anisimova. American qualifier Kayla Day is Keys’ first-round opponent.
Alycia Parks
Parks is having a tough season but has performed well at the majors despite facing tricky first-round opponents. The American, yet to win a match on the grass in 2026, is making her fourth appearance at SW19 and the Grand Slam draw Gods have been kind for once. Parks faces little-known British wildcard, and first namesake, Alicia Dudeney in the opening round.
Taylor Townsend
The 2024 women’s doubles champion has been handed another stinker of a first round. At Roland Garros she landed Coco Gauff in round one and weeks later at SW19, defending champion and No 3 seed Iga Swiatek is her opening-round assignment. Townsend has it in her locker to win these types of matches – think back to the Mirra Andreeva match at the US Open last year.
(Q)Tyra Grant
Fans are excited about Grant, the 18-year-old Italian who switched allegiance from the United States last year. The teenager showed her promise after coming through qualifying last week in professional fashion – dropped just one set across three matches. The Grand Slam debutant will have plenty of eyes on her first-round match against Great Britain’s Katie Boulter. Another match that could end up being an upset.
(3)Félix Auger-Aliassime
The Canadian has a game that is well-suited to the grass and also has a Wimbledon quarter-final to his name after reaching the last eight in 2021. Auger-Aliassime is playing his seventh Wimbledon and enters at a career-high world No 4 in the rankings after a run to the quarters at Roland Garros. Has three grass-court wins to his name in 2026 and faces Aleksandr Shevchenko in the first round.
(4)Ben Shelton
American lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals last year and coincidently lost to Sinner in the round of 16 in 2024. Shelton enters his fourth Wimbledon with a grass-court title to his name after winning in Stuttgart – won all four of his matches in three sets so will be match-ready for first-round opponent Otto Virtanen.
(17)Frances Tiafoe
Big Foe reached the fourth round in 2022 and is playing his ninth Wimbledon. The Halle champion has seven grass-court wins to his name in 2026, including three against top-tenners – Flavio Cobolli, FAA and Taylor Fritz. Played some of the cleanest tennis against Fritz in that Halle final. Reached the quarters in Stuttgart the week before. Frenchman Terence Atmane stands in the way of a place in the second round.
(20)Arthur Fils
Exciting Frenchman has not played since Rome and pulled out of the French Open due to a hip injury. This will be his third appearance at SW19 – missed Wimbledon last year but reached the fourth round in 2024 which is his best Grand Slam result to date. Has a tricky first-round opponent in the form of Belgian Raphaël Collignon.
Gabriel Diallo
After going several months without registering a singles victory, the 24-year-old Canadian put together some good wins in Eastbourne. Diallo, a man who knows his way around a grass court following a maiden title in ‘s-Hertogbosch in 2025, is playing his second Wimbledon. Benjamin Bonzi from France is Diallo's opening-round opponent.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
GMP is playing his third Wimbledon and has a former British No 1 in his coaching corner in the shape of British-Canadian Greg Rusedski. The 22-year-old Frenchman reached the quarter-finals in Stuttgart before coming through qualifying at Queen’s and losing in three tight sets in the first round. He reached the second week – fourth round – on his debut in 2024 and is more than capable of doing so again this year. Will have to get past German Yannick Hanfmann first.
Words by Eugene Allen