It’s like Christmas eve for grass court tennis fans: the release of the men’s singles draw leaves us with a blueprint for a dreamy Wimbledon fortnight, as we learned possible pitfalls and mouthwatering matchups that could define these Championships.
With the 128-player draw hot off the presses, let’s dig in and see what we’ve learned.
Toughest Draw for Top 4 Seed: Jack Draper
Jack Draper, newly minted Top-4 talent and seeded higher than ever at Wimbledon. The eyes of a nation will be upon the young buck, hoping that he can make good on his promise with a career-best run at Wimbledon.
Mission one – reaching the third round for the first time – might be tricky. Sebastian Baez, Draper’s first-round opponent, is known more for his work on the clay, but what about a potential second-round clash with former finalist Marin Cilic? The Croatian has been on the rise lately, and just won a challenger title on the grass. If Draper does get to the third round for the first time in his fourth Wimbledon appearance, he’d likely face Alexander Bublik, the Halle champion who took out Draper in the fourth round at Roland-Garros. Maybe the absurdity of this brutal draw will actually help Draper relax and play with the underdog mentality.
Sinner has it harder than Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz is the favorite to complete a Wimbledon three-peat this year in London, and the draw hasn’t hurt his chances. Sure, there are potential potholes, like a third-round clash with Felix Auger-Aliassime, but it all looks manageable for Alcaraz, who enters Wimbledon on an 18-match heater and with oodles of confidence coming off of titles at Rome, Roland-Garros and Queen’s Club, with a few days in Ibiza to recharge in between. As for World No.1 Jannik Sinner, he’s avoided having Novak Djokovic in his quarter, but the seven-time champion is in his half, along with Denis Shapovalov, a potential third-round opponent if seeds hold, and Tommy Paul, a potential round of 16 opponent. There’s also Lorenzo Musetti, one of last year’s semifinalists, lurking as a potential quarterfinal matchup. If Sinner continues to improve on grass, his game should see him through to the semis – then it will get interesting.
Bublik Lurking
Alexander Bublik just has to keep his blinders on and not think about the fact that everybody expects him to parlay his recent form into a deep run and another upset of Draper at Wimbledon in the third round. The No.28 seed needs to block out the noise and just play with the joy that has characterized his tennis over the last month.
Grass is probably his best surface. He’s been to at least the third round at Wimbledon in each of the last four years. His game is clicking on all cylinders. He just has to keep it rolling and we’ll all be blessed with a showdown for the ages in the third round, if he should meet Draper.
Fritz Lands in a Nice Spot
Taylor Fritz is busy working up a lather in Eastbourne right now, where he is in the hunt for his fourth title at the seaside tournament. But what of his chances at Wimbledon, where he has landed in Alexander Zverev’s quarter of the draw? If the American had to choose a quarter, surely he’d pick Zverev's, as he’s now defeated the German in their last five meetings.
But he must get to the quarterfinals to realize that particular advantage, and before that Fritz will be challenged by the likes of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round, and – potentially – Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round. If you’re looking for a preview of that third round match tune your live streams to Eastbourne today, as the pair will contest a semifinal. Fritz could face Halle Runner-up Daniil Medvedev in the round of 16 if the seeds hold. Essentially, Fritz got the quarter he wanted, but the path to said quarterfinal is more treacherous than he would have liked.
Djokovic the Disruptor?
A seven-time champion, with 24 major titles. On the surface and at the Slam that gives him his best chance for a record 25th major title. The time is now for Novak Djokovic, and the 38-year-old will hope to script a tennis fairy tale for the ages at the All England Club. He wasn’t able to get past Sinner at Roland-Garros, where the tennis was perhaps a tad too physical, but at Wimbledon Djokovic can use his courtcraft and experience to craft shorter points. If the Serbian legend is able to reach the semifinals it means he is dialled in and we’d like his chances against Sinner a lot more on Centre Court.
Djokovic is in Draper’s quarter, and it’s hard to tell who he might face in the second week. Alex Michelsen in the third round? Alex de Minaur in the round of 16? All in all, a favorable draw and an opportunity for a magical run.