The 2026 Wimbledon Championships return from 29 June to 12 July at the All England Club, promising a fascinating blend of established champions, rising contenders and unpredictable storylines on tennis’ fastest surface.
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DATES: 29 June – 12 July 2026
VENUE: All England Club, London
BROADCAST DETAILS
From the first Monday, 29 June until Sunday, 12 July, there will be one feed available on SuperSport:
- from 11:50am on SuperSport Tennis
- Grandstand Africa will regularly feature action from All England Club
The quarterfinals start on Tuesday, 7 July, with times altering slightly from there, but all the main matches will be live on SuperSport Tennis and SuperSport Grandstand Africa.
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With injuries, form fluctuations and the unique demands of grass courts reshaping expectations, this year’s tournament looks set to be one of the most open in recent memory.
SINNER THE FAVOURITE IN ALCARAZ’S ABSENCE
The biggest pre‑tournament talking point is the withdrawal of Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time champion, due to a wrist injury. His absence removes one of the sport’s most dangerous grass-court players and leaves defending champion Jannik Sinner as the standout favourite.
Sinner, who won his first Wimbledon title in 2025, arrives as world No 1 and with a game perfectly suited to the surface, combining clean ball striking with a powerful serve. Despite a relatively subdued clay season, his overall consistency continues to make him the player to beat.
Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic remains a major threat. Even at 39, his experience and unmatched record at the All England Club ensure he cannot be discounted, particularly on a surface where tactical awareness and return quality are decisive.
Alexander Zverev, fresh from a maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, enters Wimbledon with high confidence. The question, however, is whether his clay-court success can translate to grass, where he has historically struggled to make deep runs.
Among the emerging names, Ben Shelton and Britain’s Jack Draper could prove dangerous. Shelton’s powerful left-handed serve is a major weapon on grass, while Draper’s aggressive style and home support make him a potential dark horse
WIDE-OPEN RACE FOR THE WOMEN'S TITLE
The women’s draw is arguably even harder to predict, continuing a recent trend of unpredictability at Wimbledon.
Iga Świątek, the reigning champion, returns after claiming her first title at SW19 in 2025. While she has improved significantly on grass, it remains her least dominant surface, which could leave her vulnerable against more natural grass-court players.
Aryna Sabalenka once again looms as a serious contender, with her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game ideally suited to grass courts. Meanwhile, Elena Rybakina, the 2022 champion, remains one of the most dangerous players on this surface thanks to her flat groundstrokes and ability to dictate short points.
INJURIES AND RETURNS
Several withdrawals have already reshaped the tournament landscape. Alongside Alcaraz, players such as Lorenzo Musetti are also sidelined through injury, further opening opportunities for lower-ranked contenders.
Meanwhile, one of the most nostalgic stories of the tournament will see Serena and Venus Williams team up in doubles, marking a rare reunion for the legendary sisters. Their presence adds star power beyond the singles draws and will be one of the most closely followed subplots of the fortnight. Serena has also been handed a wild card to compete in the women's singles draw.
This is not a drill.@serenawilliams will compete in the 2026 ladies' singles at #Wimbledon as a wild card. pic.twitter.com/1vHnDEQ4xm
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 21, 2026