Serena Williams Returns as Carlos Alcaraz Withdraws Ahead of Wimbledon 2026
Less than a month after the conclusion of Roland Garros, the 2026 Grand Slam season continues with the start of Wimbledon on the grass courts of London. The tournament begins today, Monday, with the draws already published, highlighting several intriguing matchups in the later stages, notable absences, and a highly anticipated comeback.
One of the main stories in the women's draw is the return of Serena Williams, who is competing at Wimbledon for the first time in four years. Williams will participate in the singles tournament and also team up with her sister Venus Williams in the doubles, potentially creating one of the tournament's standout moments.
On the men's side, Carlos Alcaraz will be absent due to an injury that also kept him out of Roland Garros. His withdrawal opens up the competition for the title, giving an advantage to top seeds such as Yannick Sinner and Novak Djokovic. According to the rankings, Djokovic could face Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals and potentially meet world number one Yannick Sinner in the semifinals. Sinner, who withdrew from his last Roland Garros match due to a heatwave in France, is projected to face Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals.
In the bottom half of the men's draw, reigning Roland Garros champion Alexander Zverev may meet Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals, while Alex de Minaur and Ben Shelton are set for another quarterfinal clash. If the top seeds advance as expected, the final could feature a showdown between Sinner and Zverev.
The women's draw also promises excitement. Roland Garros champion Mira Andreeva might face world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals, with the winner likely to play either Jessica Pegula or Coco Gauff next. In the other half, Iga Swiatek could meet Elina Svitolina in the quarters, while Amanda Anisimova and Elena Rybakina may contest the other quarterfinal. With these compelling matchups and the return of a tennis legend alongside the absence of a top star, Wimbledon 2026 is set to deliver high drama from the opening day.
