Alcaraz opens Wimbledon title defence against Fognini, Djokovic handed tricky Draper test

Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic (Pic: AFP)

Reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz will open his campaign for a third consecutive Wimbledon title against the unpredictable Fabio Fognini on Centre Court as the grass-court Grand Slam gets underway Monday. Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spaniard and current World No. 2, is eyeing his sixth major title and a successful defence at the All England Club.

Elsewhere in the men's singles draw, several mouth-watering matchups have been set. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is drawn to face fellow Italian and No. 7 seed Lorenzo Musetti. British No. 1 and fourth seed Jack Draper has a challenging opening week ahead, as he could meet six-time Wimbledon champion and No. 6 seed Novak Djokovic. The Serbian legend has won seven of his 24 Grand Slam titles on the London grass. Meanwhile, No. 3 Alexander Zverev is in the same quarter as No. 5 Taylor Fritz, setting up another potential blockbuster.

Alcaraz and Sinner are placed in opposite halves of the draw, meaning a rematch of their thrilling 2024 French Open final could only occur in the Wimbledon championship match on July 13.

Fognini, Alcaraz's first-round opponent, is a 38-year-old veteran who once peaked at World No. 9 and reached the French Open quarterfinals in 2011. Currently ranked No. 130, the Italian has never advanced past the third round in his 14 previous appearances at Wimbledon.

The top half of the men's draw is particularly stacked. Alongside Sinner, Djokovic, Draper, and Musetti are American talents Ben Shelton (No. 10) and Tommy Paul (No. 13), as well as Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik. Bublik, who defeated Draper en route to his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Roland-Garros, recently claimed his second Halle Open title by beating Sinner.

In the women's draw, potential quarterfinal clashes include World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka versus No. 6 Madison Keys, and No. 4 Jasmine Paolini against No. 5 Zheng Qinwen in the top half. The bottom half could see No. 2 Coco Gauff take on No. 8 Iga Swiatek or 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, while No. 3 Jessica Pegula may meet rising star Mirra Andreeva (No. 7).

Gauff, fresh off her French Open triumph, opens her Wimbledon campaign on Tuesday against Dayana Yastremska, a semifinalist at this year's Australian Open. A victory could set up a second-round clash with two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka and a possible third-round rematch with No. 28 Sofia Kenin, who eliminated Gauff in the first round at Wimbledon in 2022.

Sabalenka, a three-time major winner and runner-up to Gauff at Roland-Garros, begins her title bid against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine. She could face 2024 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Lulu Sun in round two, followed by a potential third-round duel with either 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu or 2023 Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova.

Defending women's champion Barbora Krejcikova opens Centre Court play on Tuesday against Alexandra Eala, the first Filipino woman ranked inside the WTA top 100, who famously defeated Swiatek en route to the Miami Open semifinals earlier this year.

Veteran Petra Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion who has announced plans to retire later this year, faces No. 10 seed Emma Navarro in a compelling first-round showdown.

(With AP inputs)