Wimbledon matches to watch: Serena Williams returns, a real first-round blockbuster, and a clash of two favourites
Serena Williams v Maya Joint
Serena Williams’ first-round match at Wimbledon was also going to be one to watch, whoever the 44-year-old was drawn next to ahead of her first singles match in four years. Williams could have played anyone in the women’s draw, so in Australia’s Maya Joint, the American has perhaps landed a forgiving opening opponent.
We should remember, of course, that Williams lost her last match at Wimbledon to the virtually unknown Harmony Tan, then ranked 115th in the world. Even with two matches in doubles under her belt, there is going to be a lot of rust – and unknowns – when Williams steps back onto Centre Court. Given the unprecedented nature of her comeback, Williams will still be a huge underdog against Joint, the world No 53.
That’s not to say it’s not a winnable match for Williams, or a daunting prospect for the 20-year-old Joint. After all, tennis history will tower over the Australian when the players step onto court. Williams is the greatest women’s player of all time, with 23 grand slam titles and seven Wimbledon crowns. Joint is yet to win a WTA title and has only progressed past the first-round of a grand slam twice. It’s going to be the biggest match of Joint’s career by some distance.
That can play into Williams’ hands. Everything about this match will be compelling, from the show of Williams’ return, to the fact that there will be a 24-year age gap between the players.
Jack Draper v Taylor Fritz
Everything about this screams blockbuster. It looks like it could be a grand slam semi-final, between two players who have been ranked inside the world’s top five as recently as last year, but it’s taking place in the first round.
Jack Draper, of course, is on the comeback trail. Last year, the Briton entered Wimbledon as the fourth seed. This time, he’s not just unseeded but ranked 160th in the world, after a nightmare year of injury set-backs. Whether the 24-year-old’s body can stand up to a best-of-five match so soon into his latest comeback, given persistent injury issues, remains a huge unknown.
But Draper’s belief is growing, and he will relish the opportunity of stepping onto Centre Court and the big stage in front of his home fans after so spending so long on the sidelines. Draper’s confidence has been picked up by the arrival of a legend in his corner – none other than two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray. With the backing of his idol, Draper can be dangerous.
Fritz, though, has found form on the grass after skipping most of the clay-court season due to a persistent knee injury. The American reached the Wimbledon semi-finals only last year, and it required an inspired Carlos Alcaraz to subdue him. He has since reached back-to-back finals at Stuttgart and Halle -which included an impressive win over top seed Alexander Zverev.
Fritz and Draper could have met at this week’s Eastbourne, but the 28-year-old American pulled out on the eve of the warm-up event citing a back injury. It made sense: Fritz has a chance of winning Wimbledon if he can replicate his grass-court form. One thing is for sure, though, this is as tough as an opening draw as either player could have asked for.
Iga Swiatek v Taylor Townsend
Defending champion Iga Swiatek has been handed a tricky start to her title defence: a first career meeting with American Taylor Townsend.
A lot has changed in the Pole’s camp since she won a maiden Wimbledon title last year, with Francisco Roig – former coach of Rafael Nadal, Matteo Berrettini, and, for a split second, Emma Raducanu – now in her corner.
Her on-court issues – particularly on serve – over the last couple of seasons haven’t gone away, and a loss in Bad Homburg to Emma Navarro means she arrives at SW19 having played just one grass-court match before beginning her title defence. But she bounced back from a poor (by her own standards) French Open last year to win a major title on what had hitherto been her worst surface, so anything is possible.
First she’ll have to get past Townsend, an unfancied opponent on paper who could certainly cause her problems. The world No 81 has had a mixed season so far, failing to get past the opening round in singles at either the Australian or French Open.
But she is fresh from winning the women’s doubles title at Roland-Garros and could be overdue a breakthrough at Wimbledon, where she has never gone beyond the second round.
Hannah Klugman v Barbora Krejcikova
Several of the British wildcards have been handed tough draws, but perhaps the pick of them all is Hannah Klugman, who will face 2024 champion Barbora Krejcikova in just her second appearance at Wimbledon.
The 17-year-old Klugman is widely regarded as one of Britain’s most promising young hopefuls, and the Wimbledon native has been given a wildcard to her home tournament for the second time. Her rise began when she won the prestigious Orange Bowl trophy, a major tournament for under-18s, in 2023.
One of her opponents on the way to victory was American teenager Iva Jovic, who is now ranked 17th in the world. Klugman’s progress since then has been slower – she is currently the world No 412 – but she claimed a brilliant first WTA Tour win only 10 days ago in Nottingham, which she entered as a lucky loser, beating compatriot Harriet Dart in straight sets in the first round.
That win will boost her confidence on the surface heading to her home slam, while she can swing freely as the total underdog against Czech Krejcikova. The two-time major winner had an indifferent start to 2026 but appears to be coming into form at just the right time, reaching the final in s’Hertogenbosch – albeit then withdrawing with illness.
Stan Wawrinka v Matteo Berretinni
One of the most eye-catching of these first-round draws. Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka has been given a wildcard entry into his final Championships as he continues his farewell tour before retiring at the end of the year.
The three-time major champion has been drawn against one of the most dangerous unseeded players: former Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2021 showpiece. It’s a clash between two fan favourites, and two titans of the sport who have both in latter years been ravaged by injury and bad luck (in Berrettini’s case) and simply the passage of time (in Wawrinka’s).
After years of misfortune Berrettini appeared back to his best at the French Open, reaching the quarter-finals on his first appearance at the tournament in five years, but retired with a hip problem as he trailed a set and 5-2 down.
The 30-year-old has not played since then but if he has managed to shake off that injury he will be a difficult opponent for anyone on a surface which suits his huge serve perfectly, and on which he has unfinished business after that lone Wimbledon final appearance. Against the 41-year-old Wawrinka it may simply be a case of whose body holds up better in what is sure to be an entertaining clash.
British players in the draw – women’s singles
- (WC) Mika Stojsavljevic v Belinda Bencic (11)
- Fran Jones v Diane Parry
- Emma Raducanu (30) v Antonia Ruzic
- (WC) Harriet Dart v Jelena Ostapenko
- Alicia Parks v Alicia Dudeney (WC)
- Barbora Krejcikova v Hannah Klugman (WC)
- Irina-Camelia Begu v Katie Swan (WC)
- Katie Boulter v Tyra Grant
British players in the draw – men’s singles
- Cameron Norrie (26) v Michael Zheng
- Shintaro Mochizuki v Max Basing (Q)
- Brandon Nakashima (28) v Jack Pinnington Jones (WC)
- Felix Gill (WC) v Rafael Jodar (23)
- Arthur Rinderknech (25) v Oliver Tarvet (Q)
- Karen Khachanov (19) v Billy Harris (Q)
- Jakub Mensik (15) v Toby Samuel (WC)
- Damir Dzumhur v Arthur Fery (WC)
- Taylor Fritz (6) v Jack Draper
- Alex Michelsen v Jacob Fearnley (WC)
- Vit Kropiva v Jan Choinski
- Valentin Royer v Harry Wendelken (WC)
