Top seed Aryna Sabalenka will begin her campaign at this year’s Wimbledon championships against qualifier Carson Branstine.
In her section, the Belarussian could face 2024 quarter-finalist Lulu Sun in round two followed potentially by either Emma Raducanu or former champion Marketa Vondrousova. After settling for runner-up in her two previous Grand Slam appearances, the world No.1 is targeting her first Wimbledon title. Despite her success on the Tour, Sabalenka has yet to win a WTA title of any kind on the grass. However, she has reached the semi-finals twice at SW19. Sabalenka recently played at the Berlin Open where she suffered a surprise loss to Vondrousova.
Second seed Coco Gauff will be bidding to win her first Wimbledon trophy after capturing her maiden French Open title in June. On the WTA Tour, no player has won both events in the same year since 2015, when Serena Williams achieved this feat. Despite being only 21, Gauff will be making her sixth main draw appearance in the event. Similar to Sabalenka she is yet to win a WTA trophy on the grass. The American will open up against Dayana Yastremska and could face the highly experienced Victoria Azarenka in the second round.
Iga Swiatek will start her bid against Polina Kudermetova, who is yet to break into the top 50. In her section of the draw, the Pole could potentially face either Danielle Collins or Marya Kostyuk in the third round followed by a possible showdown against Elena Rybakina. Since serving a brief suspension for an anti-doping violation last season, Swiatek has yet to win a trophy of any sort. She will be hoping to end her drought at Wimbledon, which is statistically her worst Grand Slam in terms of matches won. Her best result at the event was reaching the quarter-finals in 2023.
The other players seeded in the top five are Jasmine Paolini and Qinwen Zheng, who are both yet to win a major title. Paolini, who was runner-up at Wimbledon 12 months ago, opens up against Anastasija Sevastova. Meanwhile, Zheng faces Katerina Siniakova followed by a potential clash with four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka. Osaka starts against Australian qualifier Talia Gibson.
Defending champion Barbora Krejcikova has experienced a setback in her preparation for Wimbledon after pulling out of her quarter-final match at Eastbourne due to a thigh injury. Seeded 17th in the draw, she has a tricky opening match against rising star Alexandra Eala who is currently playing in Eastbourne. She is in the same section as 10th seed Emma Navarro who plays two-time champion Petra Kvitova in her first match. Kvitova will retire from tennis at the end of this season.
As for the British players, in their opening matches Raducanu faces wild card Mimi Xu, Katie Boulter plays ninth seed Paula Badosa and Sonay Kartal takes on Jelena Ostapenko who recently withdrew from Eastbourne due to injury.
The tournament will get underway on Monday.
What are the top 10 seeds facing in the first round?
1. Aryna Sabalenka VS Carson Branstine
2. Coco Gauff VS Dayana Yastremska
3. Jessica Pegula VS Elisabetta Cocciaretto
4. Jasmine Paolini VS Anastasija sevastova
5. Zheng Qinwen VS Katerina Siniakova
6. Madison Keys VS Elena Gabriella Ruse
7. Mirra Andreeva VS Mayar Sherif
8. Iga Swiatek VS Polina Kudermetova
9. Emma Navarro VS Petra Kvitova
10. Paula Badosa VS katie boulter
Projecting rounds (based on seedings)
Fourth round
Sabalenka-Svitolina
Badosa-Keys
Paolini-Anisimova
Shnaider-Zheng
Andreeva-Navarro
Muchova-Pegula
Swiatek-Rybakina
Kasatkina-Gauff
Quarter-finals
Sabalenka – Keys
Paolini- Zheng
Swiatek – Gauff
Andreeva – Pegula
Semi-finals
Sabalenka – Paolini
Pegula – Swiatek
Full draw
