The world's premier grass-court championship, Wimbledon, kicks off on Monday with defending champion Jannik Sinner aiming to retain his title, while world number one Aryna Sabalenka pursues her first Grand Slam trophy of the season. Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic also begins his quest for a record 25th major singles crown.
Sinner's Fresh Approach
With two-time Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz absent from the draw, Sinner enters as the favorite in the men's singles. The Italian skipped all grass-court warm-up events following his disappointment at the French Open, believing that arriving at the All England Club fully rested could work in his favor. "If you don't play any tournament, you don't have these doubts, you just go and play," Sinner said ahead of his opening-round match against Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic.
Sabalenka's Confidence Rebuilt
Sabalenka arrives in London eager to end her wait for a Wimbledon title. Although the Belarusian has held the world number one ranking since late 2024, she has converted only one of her last five Grand Slam finals into a title. After working with a sports psychologist following her French Open setback, the four-time Grand Slam champion says her confidence has returned. "Overall I feel like things are clicking back together," Sabalenka said before her first-round encounter with Teodora Kostovic.
Djokovic's Historic Chase
Novak Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, begins another pursuit of history. The Serbian great is targeting a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, which would move him ahead of Margaret Court. "I always loved playing on grass. I have a very good history at Wimbledon, and that gives me a higher dose of confidence coming into the tournament," Djokovic said.
With tennis's biggest stars chasing glory, another memorable Wimbledon fortnight is set to begin.
