Argentine Francisco Cerúndolo, ranked around the 42nd position in the world, will face Rafael Nadal on his return to Wimbledon. Nadal has not competed at the event since 2019 when he was knocked out by Roger Federer in the semifinals. The Balearic champion lines up to chase a title on the grass at the All England Club in London, a trophy he last claimed in 2010. Expect service holds to play a prominent role as the court speeds reward big servers and precise serving games.
In the second round, Nadal could meet American veteran Sam Querrey. If Nadal advances to the third round, a potential clash with Croatia’s Marin Čilić or the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp could surface. A potential last-16 showdown might pit Nadal against Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime. In a possible path to the later rounds, he could encounter Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece or Matteo Berrettini of Italy, who have shown strong form on grass in recent weeks, with Berrettini finishing as a runner-up last year and capturing titles at Stuttgart and Queen’s Club in the most recent grass swing.
Alcaraz-Djokovic, potential clashes
With Nadal and Djokovic occupying the top two seeds, a direct meeting in the final would only occur if the draw allows, especially since Wimbledon has blocked participation from certain rivals following the ongoing geopolitical tensions and recent health concerns. Djokovic, currently ranked number one, will begin his campaign on Monday with a center-court debut against Soon-Woo Kwon of Korea, a match scheduled for late night local time. In the quarterfinals, Djokovic could cross paths with Djokovic’s sister tournament rival Carlos Alcaraz, who also starts against German talent Jan-Lennard Struff on the same day. The theoretical semi-finals might see the champion facing the winner of a match involving Hubert Hurkacz, who knocked out Federer last year and is set to face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the early rounds.
In the simulated quarterfinal lineup at the bottom of the men’s draw, potential matches might look like this: Djokovic vs Opelka, Sinner vs Alcaraz, Ruud vs Carreño, Norrie vs Hurkacz, Berrettini vs Schwartzman, Tsitsipas vs Fritz, Auger-Aliassime vs Fritz, Čilić vs Nadal.
Matches on the men’s side include Nadal versus Cerúndolo, Alcaraz versus Struff, Carreño versus Lajović, Bautista Agut versus Balázs, Davidovich against Hurkacz, Ramos-Vinolas versus Ruud, Martínez against Molčan, all catalogued under Wimbledon. This snapshot comes from the Spanish ATP Tour and reflects the lead-up to the tournament in late June.
On the women’s side, Paula Badosa is placed to face American Louise Chirico in a preliminary round. In the same quadrant, defending champion Simona Halep from Romania, American Coco Gauff who reached the Roland Garros final, and Czech star Karolína Plíšková, last year’s Wimbledon finalist, are in the mix. Should Badosa progress to the third round, a potential meeting with Plíšová could be on the cards after a year with limited play. Garbiñe Muguruza also opens against Belgian Greet Minnen, while the world no. 1 Iga Šwiatek from Poland is positioned to meet a quarterfinal opponent in this portion of the draw. Badosa and Muguruza are viewed as contenders for the semi-finals from their section of the draw.
In the quarters, the women’s draw points toward a final that could feature Iga Świątek against Krejčíková, with Muguruza meeting Pegula in another bracket, and Badosa facing Halep in a high-stakes clash. Coco Gauff could encounter Karolína Plíšková, while Emma Raducanu and other top contenders line up in additional high-octane matchups. The path to the final is dense with elite players eager to claim Wimbledon glory.
Wimbledon’s women’s draw also includes potential clashes among the sport’s brightest stars, with a focus on form, resilience, and the ability to adapt to the grass. The overall layout hints at a compelling tournament where a blend of seasoned champions and rising talents will push for the championships across both singles events.
Participated matches listed include Nadal vs Cerúndolo, Alcaraz vs Struff, Carreno vs Lajović, Bautista Agut vs Balázs, Davidovich vs Hurkacz, Ramos-Vinolas vs Ruud, and Martínez vs Molčan. The record stems from the official tour coverage and represents a snapshot of the Wimbledon buildup as teams and players fine-tune their games for the grass season.
This edition of Wimbledon shapes up as a proving ground for a mix of veteran grit and fresh talent, with the grass surface offering a unique test. Viewers can expect tight serves, rapid rallies, and strategic shotmaking shaped by the challenging turf. The field’s depth suggests memorable duels, unexpected upsets, and a genuine chance for multiple champions to emerge in a year that blends experience with youthful energy.