Carlos Alcaraz starts Wimbledon title defence against Italian foe
Carlos Alcaraz will start his Wimbledon defence against Fabio Fognini while world number one Jannik Sinner faces a potential semi-final clash against Novak Djokovic following Friday's draw.
On the women's side, reigning champion Barbora Krejcikova begins her campaign against 2025 breakout star Alexandra Eala on Centre Court.
Spain's Alcaraz, who has beaten Djokovic in the past two finals, arrives at the All England Club on a career-best 18-match winning streak.
He is aiming to become just the fifth man to win at least three straight Wimbledon titles in the Open Era after Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Djokovic.
The Spaniard, 22, has a 2-0 head-to-head record against Italian veteran Fognini.
Sinner's pursuit of a maiden Wimbledon crown could hinge on a heavyweight semi-final clash with seven-time champion Djokovic.
The Italian opens against compatriot Luca Nardi at the grass-court major while Djokovic, competing at his lowest seeding (sixth) since 2018, will begin his campaign for a record-tying eighth Wimbledon men's title against Frenchman Alexandre Muller.
Djokovic, who has been in every final since 2018, is seeded for a quarter-final meeting with British fourth seed Jack Draper, who starts against Argentina's Sebastian Baez.
Krejcikova missed the first five months of 2025 with a back injury and was forced to withdraw from this week's Eastbourne quarter-finals due to a thigh injury.
Filipino emerging star Eala, 20, captured the tennis world's attention in March by defeating three Grand Slam champions – Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek – to reach the Miami semi-finals.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, hoping to progress beyond the semi-finals for the first time, opens against fast-rising Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine.
Second seed Coco Gauff, who beat Sabalenka in the French Open final earlier this month, starts against Nottingham finalist Dayana Yastremska.
The Championships start on Monday and finish on July 13.
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By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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