Who Will Win Wimbledon? A Cheat's Guide to This Year's Runners and Riders
From Tiger Sabalenka and die-hard Djokovic to Sinner and Gauff, Katie Strick looks into who’s got the balls to conquer SW19. The British pin-up hoping Sir Andy Murray can help revive his Wimbledon dream. The ageing king of Centre Court who refuses to abdicate. A teen prodigy tipped to dominate the next era of women’s tennis.
Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz may have withdrawn from the championships with a wrist injury, but this year’s race for SW19 glory is no less fierce — if anything, it suddenly feels more open than it has been in years with Spain’s golden boy out of the picture. His closest rival and defending champion, Jannik Sinner, struggled with suspected heat exhaustion at the French Open last month, while seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic won’t surrender his shot at history without a fight. The 39-year-old is bidding to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles and claim a record-extending 25th Grand Slam. But can he really do it with his ranking at a four-year low?
Meanwhile, World No 3 Alexander Zverev arrives at SW19 fresh from his French Open triumph, Aussie speed demon Alex de Minaur is playing some of the best grass-court tennis of his career, and Murray has hinted that his protégé Jack Draper may finally be coming of age. The contest looks equally spicy on the women’s side. World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka is on a mission to add Wimbledon to her Grand Slam collection, while fans are asking whether this could finally be Emma Raducanu’s year after she reached the Queen’s final earlier this month.
Wimbledon 2026 Men’s Players
Jannik Sinner
Nationality: Italian
World ATP ranking: 1
Likelihood of winning: ● ● ● ● ●
In a nutshell: The defending champion, World No 1 and the man everyone else is trying to beat. He’s been compared to a young Novak Djokovic for his ice-cool attitude and famously consistent play, though his game is built on far more attacking instincts.
Talking point: Wimbledon 2026 really is Sinner’s title to lose. The 24-year-old became the first Italian to win the championships last year and now arrives at SW19 without his biggest rival, Carlos Alcaraz, leaving the draw wide open. There are some caveats, however: he looked physically vulnerable during his French Open campaign, struggling with suspected heat illness, and temperatures in London next week are expected to be high.
Fun fact: Before choosing tennis, Sinner was one of Italy’s best young skiers and won a national championship title aged eight.
What to say: “Can anyone realistically stop him this year?”
What not to say: “He’s just a young Djokovic.”
Novak Djokovic
Nationality: Serbian
World ATP ranking: 8
Likelihood of winning: ● ● ● ●
In a nutshell: The ageing king who refuses to abdicate. The 39-year-old is the greatest male player of all time and a seven-time Wimbledon champion whose extraordinary longevity has been described as “superhuman”. Write him off at your peril.
Talking point: This feels increasingly like Djokovic’s last dance. Nearing 40, he’s chasing an eighth Wimbledon crown to equal Roger Federer’s record and a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title. The bigger question is whether he still has the stamina for another two-week slog. Grass may help: the faster surface tends to produce shorter, less physically demanding points than clay. Yet there are signs of vulnerability — he failed to capitalise on Sinner’s early French Open exit and lost to young gun João Fonseca.
Fun fact: He famously eats a blade of Centre Court grass after every Wimbledon triumph.
What to say: “The tennis is still there — but is the stamina?”
What not to say: “He’s too old.”
Jack Draper
Nationality: British
World ATP ranking: 160
Likelihood of winning: ● ● ●
In a nutshell: Britain’s former golden boy and tennis pin-up whose Wimbledon hopes now hinge on whether Andy Murray can help mastermind a last-minute comeback.
Talking point: Last summer the 24-year-old reached a career-high of World No 4. But various injury setbacks and missed tournaments have seen him slip down the rankings to British No 3 behind Cameron Norrie and Jan Choinski. He missed the French Open and Queen’s but there are hints at a comeback. His secret weapon? His childhood idol Murray, who’s been coaching him for the past month and recently told reporters Draper is looking “bloody good” ahead of Wimbledon.
Fun fact: His mother, Nicky, was a junior British tennis champion and his father, Roger, used to run the Lawn Tennis Association.
What to say: “Can he become the first British man to win Wimbledon since Murray?”
What not to say: “He’s Britain’s poster boy, not a serious contender.”
Alexander Zverev
Nationality: German
World ATP ranking: 3
Likelihood of winning: ● ● ● ●
In a nutshell: One of the biggest servers in tennis and this year’s French Open winner.
Talking point: With Alcaraz absent and Djokovic approaching 40, there may never be a better opportunity for Zverev, 29, to finally crack Wimbledon. The German arrives at SW19 fresh from his French Open triumph and with Olympic gold already on his CV, yet remarkably he has never progressed beyond the fourth round at SW19.
Fun fact: He still refers to his parents as his biggest critics — both were professional tennis players and his father remains one of his coaches.
What to say: “If not now, when?”
What not to say: “He doesn’t have the game for grass.”
Alex de Minaur
Nationality: Australian
World ATP ranking: 6
Likelihood of winning: ● ● ●
In a nutshell: One of the quickest players in the world, nicknamed “The Demon” for his energy and speed.
Talking point: Wimbledon ended in tears for De Minaur in 2024 when he withdrew injured before his quarter-final. Two years on, he’s back and playing a strong grass-court season, reaching the quarter-final at Queen’s. The 27-year-old may play under the Australian flag — but don’t be surprised if large swathes of Centre Court are willing him on. Since getting engaged to UK No 1 Katie Boulter, De Minaur has essentially become Britain’s adopted son-in-law.
Fun fact: Born in Sydney to a Uruguayan mother and Spanish father, he spent much of his childhood in Spain and speaks fluent Spanish.
What to say: “You can’t help rooting for him after what happened in 2024.”
What not to say: “Oh, that’s Katie Boulter’s fiancé.”
Alexander Bublik
Nationality: Kazakhstani
World ATP ranking: 11
Likelihood of winning: ●
In a nutshell: Tennis’s most loveable wildcard who’s quickly becoming a legitimate threat.
Talking point: Bublik, 29, felt like tennis’s court jester for years — serving underarm and attempting trick shots most pros would never dream of — then he won five titles in a season, broke into the top 10 and started beating some of the world’s best players. He remains utterly unpredictable, but now he has the results to back up the showmanship.
Fun fact: He once admitted he primarily plays tennis because it pays well. Fortunately for him, Wimbledon increased its prize money again this year: even a first-round loser will bank £80,000.
What to say: “You genuinely have no idea what he’ll do next — that’s what makes him so dangerous.”
What not to say: “He doesn’t care about tennis.”
Taylor Fritz
Nationality: American
World ATP ranking: 7
Likelihood of winning: ● ● ● ●
In a nutshell: One of the world’s most dangerous grass-court players and America’s best hope of ending its Wimbledon drought.
Talking point: No American man has won Wimbledon since Pete Sampras in 2000. Fritz, 28, came closer than most last year, reaching the semi-finals before losing to eventual champion Alcaraz. With the Spaniard absent, a huge serve and an excellent record on grass, the Californian has every reason to believe 2026 could be his year. Off court, his relationship with influencer Morgan Riddle helped make him part of one of tennis’s most recognisable couples before they split earlier this year.
Fun fact: Tennis runs in the family. His mother, Kathy May, was a top 10 player and his father also competed professionally.
What to say: “Could an American finally win Wimbledon again?”
What not to say: “He’s famous because of Morgan Riddle.”
Wimbledon 2026 Women’s Players
Aryna Sabalenka
Nationality: Belarusian
World WTA ranking: 1
Likelihood of winning: ● ● ● ● ●
In a nutshell: The World No 1 and women’s tennis’s most fearsome hitter.
Talking point: Sabalenka, 28, has been the dominant force in women’s tennis over the past two years and possesses many of the ingredients of a great grass-court player: a huge serve, aggressive ball-striking and a willingness to attack. Yet Wimbledon remains a major she has never quite mastered. Is this finally the year she cracks the code?
Fun fact: She used to smash racquets so regularly her team made her meditate between practice sessions. That and her trademark tiger tattoo has led fans to nickname her “The Tiger”.
What to say: “Is this finally her year?”
What not to say: “She’s all power and no finesse.”
Emma Raducanu
Nationality: British
World WTA ranking: 32
Likelihood of winning: ● ●
In a nutshell: Britain’s most famous female player and still one of the biggest attractions in world tennis, five years on from her astonishing US Open triumph as an 18-year-old qualifier.
Talking point: Her run to the Queen’s final, where she lost to Croatia’s Donna Vekić, reminded everyone just how magnetic Raducanu can be when healthy and confident — and reignited hopes the 23-year-old could recreate her surprise US Open victory at Wimbledon after years disrupted by injuries and coaching changes.
Fun fact: She has worked with 10 different coaches in less than five years — she recently rehired Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to US Open victory.
What to say: “Her Queen’s run was impressive and she’s with her old coach — could Raducanu finally be back?”
What not to say: “She’s just a one-shot wonder.”
Mirra Andreeva
Nationality: Russian
World WTA ranking: 5
Likelihood of winning: ● ● ●
In a nutshell: A teen prodigy fresh from French Open glory.
Talking point: The frightening thing about Andreeva is that she doesn’t play like a teenager. At just 19, she’s already a top-five player with a knack for dismantling opponents twice her age and experience. Her tennis IQ and composure are so advanced that many believe it’s a question of when, not if, she becomes a multiple Grand Slam champion following her success in Paris.
Fun fact: Andreeva has admitted she still gets starstruck around some of her rivals and once said she could barely believe she was sharing a court with Sabalenka.
What to say: “Could she win two Slams in a row?”
What not to say: “She’s too young to win it.”
Elena Rybakina
Nationality: Kazakhstani
World WTA ranking: 2
Likelihood of winning: ● ● ● ●
In a nutshell: The 2022 Wimbledon champion and owner of one of the biggest serves in women’s tennis.
Talking point: Rybakina, 27, is the kind of low-profile, unflashy player nobody seems to talk about until she’s suddenly in the semi-finals and threatening to win the whole thing. Already a Wimbledon champion, she combines a huge serve with an almost unnerving calm and has all the tools to ruin anyone’s fortnight.
Fun fact: She was born in Moscow but switched allegiance to Kazakhstan after receiving greater financial support.
What to say: “She’s the player nobody wants to draw.”
What not to say: “I always forget about Rybakina.”
Coco Gauff
Nationality: American
World WTA ranking: 7
Likelihood of winning: ● ●
In a nutshell: One of the biggest stars on planet sport and still only 22 years old.
Talking point: The former child prodigy announced herself to the world by beating her idol Venus Williams at Wimbledon aged just 15. Seven years on, Gauff returns as a multiple Grand Slam champion and one of the biggest names in world sport — yet she has never progressed beyond the fourth round at SW19 and is still chasing the deep Wimbledon run many assumed would come first.
Fun fact: She carried her school books around tournaments because her parents insisted she finish her homework.
What to say: “How is she still only 22?”
What not to say: “She’s still an underdog.”
Lois Boisson
Nationality: French
World WTA ranking: 154
Likelihood of winning: ●
In a nutshell: The breakout star fans will suddenly be googling.
Talking point: Boisson’s rise has been so sudden that many fans are still playing catch-up. A year ago she was ranked outside the world’s top 300. In February she shot up to No 34. Now she arrives at Wimbledon with a semi-final appearance at Roland Garros and the sort of momentum that makes higher-ranked opponents nervous.
Fun fact: British No 5 Harriet Dart recently complained to the umpire that Boisson “smelled really bad”. Boisson responded by joking on Instagram that she was open to a deodorant sponsorship.
What to say: “Apparently she’s the hot new thing for 2026.”
What not to say: “She’s only here because of the French Open.”
Serena Williams
Nationality: American
World WTA ranking: Unranked (wildcard)
Likelihood of winning: ●
In a nutshell: The greatest women’s player of all time and Wimbledon’s ultimate returning queen. A seven-time champion with 23 majors to her name.
Talking point: Just when everyone thought it was over, Serena is back. The 44-year-old accepted a wildcard this week and will play her first official singles match in almost four years. Commentators say a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title is close to impossible. Then again, this is Serena Williams.
Fun fact: Since last playing Wimbledon singles, she has had a second daughter and is now making her comeback with a film crew reportedly chronicling every step.
What to say: “Imagine if Serena made one more run.”
What not to say: “She’s back for the buzz, not the tennis.”
