Wimbledon 2026: Serena and Venus return, Sinner targets title defence

London is calling for the culmination of the grass-court season at Wimbledon 2026.

The iconic competition is the oldest ongoing tennis tournament in the world, taking place just weeks after the conclusion of Roland-Garros on the red clay in Paris. Across the Channel, players must adapt from the slowest surface in the game to the quickest.

Jannik Sinner will aim to defend his men’s singles trophy and bounce back from a shock second-round exit at the French Open. The injury-enforced absence of two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz could make for an enticing bottom half of the draw.

The women’s singles field has produced six different champions in the last six Grand Slams, as Iga Świątek returns in a bid to become the first back-to-back victor of the Venus Rosewater Dish since Serena Williams a decade ago.

Talking of Williams: she’s back. The 23-time Grand Slam champion will compete in singles for the first time in four years, as well as playing doubles with Venus Williams, back together at the site of their third joint Olympic gold medal at London 2012.

Olympics.com brings you the rundown of the season’s third major in south-west London.

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Wimbledon 2026 – Novak Djokovic’s golden chance for Grand Slam No. 25

Novak Djokovic has not won Wimbledon since 2022, but he may not get a better chance to clinch the record 25th Grand Slam. No Alcaraz complements the Olympic champion’s stunning record at the All England Club, where he is a seven-time winner and one of three singles players to win over 100 times.

The 39-year-old is acutely aware of each opportunity that arises at a Grand Slam to create more history, just as he will know that the challenge for No. 25 intensifies with each passing tournament.

Then there is Sinner, the runaway world number one who has only lost three times all season. Physical issues in Paris show that he is not invincible, but the Italian has proven his prowess on the grass amid undeniable dominance this season.

Sinner can also count on coach Darren Cahill, who had been deliberating his position this time last year. The Australian promised the world No. 1 that he could decide his fate should he win Wimbledon, and 12 months later, they are back for another title bid.

Who else can challenge for the men’s singles trophy? Olympic gold medallist Alexander Zverev ended his wait for a Grand Slam at Roland-Garros, but has never made it past the fourth round in south-west London.

U.S. number one Ben Shelton is thriving on the grass after clinching the Stuttgart ATP 250 title, while his compatriot Taylor Fritz was a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year and is now building his way back from an injury layoff.

Great Britain’s Jack Draper is aiming to do the same after withdrawing from Queen’s (ATP 500) to delay his comeback, supported by interim coach and double Wimbledon champion, Andy Murray. Meanwhile, Alcaraz headlines the list of absentees alongside Lorenzo Musetti, Holger Rune and Valentin Vacherot.

Wimbledon 2026 – men’s singles schedule

22-25 June: Qualifying

26 June: Official draw, 10:00 local time (BST, GMT+1)

29-30 June: First round (128 players)

1-2 July: Second round (64 players)

3-4 July: Third round (32 players)

5-6 July: Fourth round (16 players)

7-8 July: Quarter-finals

10 July: Semi-finals

12 July: Men’s singles final

Wimbledon 2026 – will Iga Świątek reinforce herself as a grass maestro?

Świątek’s surge to the Wimbledon women’s singles title was further evidence of the Pole’s greatness, now a six-time major champion. The Olympic bronze medallist has since begun working with Francisco Roig, a longtime member of Rafael Nadal’s coaching entourage.

The 25-year-old heads to SW19 without a season title for the second straight year, and as the world No. 3 challenges for top spot in the WTA rankings, she is on track to establish herself as one of the tour’s outstanding grass-court players.

In the race for world number one, three-time semi-finalist Aryna Sabalenka will hope for a stroke of luck in the challenge against former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina, who has managed just one grass win this season.

Mirra Andreeva is one to keep an eye out on, the newly crowned Roland-Garros champion who made the quarter-finals at Wimbledon last season. She skipped the Berlin Open to focus on recovery and maximum performance for the surface change.

Then there is the U.S. entourage headlined by 2025 runner-up Amanda Anisimova, aiming to go a step further this time round, and current USA No. 1 Jessica Pegula.

Two-time major singles champion Coco Gauff has struggled in recent seasons on grass and is vying for a maiden appearance in the quarter-final stage and beyond. And could home hope Emma Raducanu build on her run to the Queen’s final and ignite her season in London?

Wimbledon 2026 – The grand return of the Williams sisters

It has been four years since Serena and Venus last played doubles together, and the former competed in a singles match, both at the US Open. From New York to London, the Williams sisters will make a momentous comeback at SW19.

The eighth and final women’s singles wildcard was accepted by Serena on the eve of qualifying, which will take place in scorching heat the week before the main draw.

A seven-time winner of the Venus Rosewater Dish alongside six Wimbledon doubles titles, each of which she won with her older sister, Serena will grace the grounds of the All England Club for the first time since 2022.

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