Wimbledon 2026 draw: Alcaraz out, Sinner and Djokovic share a half
The Wimbledon 2026 draw is out — and it has cracked the men’s event wide open. With Carlos Alcaraz forced out by a wrist injury, defending champion Jannik Sinner heads a top half that also contains seven-time champion Novak Djokovic, meaning the two biggest names left in the draw can only meet in the semi-finals. On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka leads the field as world No. 1, with defending champion Iga Świątek seeded third and a returning Serena Williams handed a wildcard. Here is how both draws break down, the ties to circle, and where the value sits.
Play begins on Monday 29 June and runs through to the finals on the weekend of 11–12 July. Fancy plotting it yourself? Build and share your own bracket with our Wimbledon 2026 men’s draw predictor and women’s draw predictor.
Wimbledon 2026 draw: the headlines
- Alcaraz out. The 2025 finalist withdrew with a wrist problem, reshaping the seedings — Alexander Zverev moves up to No. 2.
- Sinner and Djokovic share a half. The top seed and the seven-time champion are on a collision course for the semi-finals, not the final.
- Serena returns. A wildcard brings Williams back to Wimbledon singles for the first time since 2022.
- Fritz v Draper headlines round one. The biggest opening-day tie pits the No. 6 seed against Britain’s Jack Draper.
Men’s singles draw breakdown
The withdrawal of Alcaraz removes the man who has contested the last two finals, and it tilts the balance of the draw firmly towards Sinner. The Italian, chasing back-to-back titles, opens against Miomir Kecmanović and sits in the same half as Djokovic — a top-half logjam that could deliver a blockbuster last-four meeting between the world No. 1 and the most successful man in the tournament’s history.
Top half: Sinner and Djokovic
Sinner anchors the first quarter with Daniil Medvedev (8) his projected quarter-final opponent. Djokovic (7) leads the second quarter and could run into a resurgent Félix Auger-Aliassime (3) in the last eight, with a potential second-round test against Stefanos Tsitsipas to navigate first. If the seeds hold, the top-half semi-final is Sinner v Djokovic — and that is the match the draw is built around.
Bottom half: Zverev, Fritz and de Minaur
The bottom half is led by Zverev (2), now the second seed and still chasing a maiden Grand Slam title. His path features the standout first-round tie of the tournament one quarter across, where Taylor Fritz (6) meets Jack Draper. Alex de Minaur (5) and Ben Shelton (4) headline the third quarter. With Alcaraz gone, the route to the final from the bottom half is as open as it has looked in years.
Women’s singles draw breakdown
Sabalenka arrives as the dominant world No. 1 and tops the draw, with Elena Rybakina — the 2022 champion — seeded second and defending champion Świątek third. The Pole, who won the 2025 title in ruthless fashion, leads the third quarter and would meet Elina Svitolina (8) in a projected quarter-final.
The projected quarter-finals
If the seeds hold: Sabalenka (1) v Mirra Andreeva (5); Jessica Pegula (4) v Coco Gauff (7); Świątek (3) v Svitolina (8); Rybakina (2) v Amanda Anisimova (6) — a rematch of the 2025 final that Świątek won. Britain’s Emma Raducanu (30) is seeded and opens against Antonia Ružić, while Serena Williams begins her comeback against Australia’s Maya Joint.
First-round ties to circle
| Tie | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Taylor Fritz (6) v Jack Draper | The tie of the round — a seeded American against Britain’s leading man, fresh from injury. |
| Novak Djokovic (7) v Wu Yibing | Djokovic begins his title hunt; a possible Tsitsipas meeting looms in round two. |
| Casper Ruud (11) v Hubert Hurkacz | A brutal opener — a seed drawn against one of the most dangerous grass-court floaters. |
| Elena Rybakina (2) v Loïs Boisson | A former champion against France’s breakout name. |
| Serena Williams (WC) v Maya Joint | Williams’ first Wimbledon singles match since 2022. |
Where the value sits
With Alcaraz out, Sinner is a clear and deserved favourite, but the price reflects it — the each-way and outright value lies further down. Draper is the home hope the market will pile into; Djokovic’s experience makes him dangerous from a tricky half. For the full breakdown of title odds, each-way picks and prediction-market reads on both draws, see our Wimbledon 2026 outright betting tips.
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How to watch Wimbledon 2026 in the UK
Wimbledon is broadcast live on the BBC across TV, iPlayer and BBC Sport online, with full coverage of both singles draws from the first round to the finals. For the schedule, seedings, history and full guide, visit our Wimbledon 2026 hub.
FAQs
When does Wimbledon 2026 start?
The main draw begins on Monday 29 June 2026 and runs through to the singles finals on the weekend of 11–12 July.
Why is Carlos Alcaraz not in the Wimbledon 2026 draw?
Alcaraz withdrew with a wrist injury, ruling him out of the Championships. His absence moved Alexander Zverev up to the No. 2 seed.
Can Sinner and Djokovic meet in the final?
No. Both are in the top half of the draw, so they can only meet in the semi-finals.
Who are the defending champions?
Jannik Sinner won the 2025 men’s title and Iga Świątek won the women’s; both return to defend in 2026.
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