Tomorrow, the All England Club opens its gates for the 139th edition of Wimbledon. Opening Monday promises to be loaded with emotion, between a historic comeback, a title defence and fresh faces. Here is what to watch.
Centre Court will witness a moment of history with the return of Serena Williams in singles. At 44, the American with 23 Grand Slam titles and seven Wimbledon crowns makes her comeback after four years away from competitive tennis. Her last singles match dated back to the 2022 US Open. Williams, handed a wild card, will face Australia's Maya Joint in the first round. Novak Djokovic called her return "epic" and "an inspiration for millions around the world." Grass remains Serena's surface of choice, the one on which she built her legend. Whether her body can match her ambition after four years away remains the great unknown.
Emma Raducanu opens proceedings on Court No. 1. The Briton, who electrified the tennis world by winning the 2021 US Open, carries physical doubts after cutting short a practice session this week. Beaten 6-0, 7-6(6) in the Queen's final by Donna Vekić, Raducanu needs to reassure about her fitness before she can mount a serious campaign. The home crowd will carry her, but the pressure of local grass can weigh heavily.
Jannik Sinner, the defending champion, begins his title defence under unusual circumstances. The world number one chose not to play any grass-court warm-up tournament, opting for targeted training after his physical struggles at Roland-Garros. The Italian says he feels "well prepared" and has made "small adjustments" to his fitness regime. His first-round opponent will be an immediate test of whether that strategy pays off.
Wimbledon 2026 introduces a historic first: video review. For the first time, players will be able to challenge certain decisions on Centre Court, Court No. 1 and four other show courts during singles matches. The All England Club, long resistant to this technology, takes the plunge while preserving its traditions. Prize money reaches a record 64.2 million pounds, up 20% from 2025.
On the women's side, Iga Świątek defends her title with a question mark. Her early exit at Bad Homburg to Emma Navarro reignited doubts about her grass-court adaptation. By contrast, Madison Keys, fresh from her Eastbourne title, and Karolina Muchová, victorious at Bad Homburg, arrive brimming with confidence.
The tournament also welcomes a batch of players making their Grand Slam debuts: Tyra Caterina Grant, Teodora Kostovic and North Macedonia's Gjorcheska, who writes a new chapter in her country's sporting history. Bianca Andreescu returns to Wimbledon via qualifying, a testament to her determination to reclaim her place among the elite.
First ball struck tomorrow morning. Fifteen days of grass, tradition and tennis lie ahead.
