The third major of the 2026 tennis season is set to take place on Monday. Here are the top eight matches to be played in the first round at Wimbledon.
(5) Mirra Andreeva–RUS vs. Magda Linette–POL
Andreeva of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, became a grand slam champion this year when she won the 2026 French Open. Linette of Poznan, Poland is a grand slam semifinalist, as she made the final four of the 2023 Australian Open. Andreeva has won three of four matches head-to-head. Andreeva won their only meeting this year, 7-6, 6-1, in the second round of Doha.
(6) Taylor Fritz–USA vs. Jack Draper–GB
Fritz of Rancho Santa Fe, California reached the United States Open final in 2024. Draper of London, England reached the 2024 United States Open semifinals. Draper has won three of five meetings including their only prior match in England–first roumd of Queen’s in 2022, 6-3, 6-2.
(8) Daniil Medvedev–RUS vs. Marin Cilic–CRO
This is a battle of former United States Open champions. Cilic won in 2014 and Medvedev of Moscow, Russia, won in 2021. Medvedev has won four of five meetings, including the third round of Wimbledon in 2021 (6-7, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2) and the quarterfinals of s’Hertogenbosch in 2026 (6-2, 3-6, 6-1).
(11) Casper Ruud–NOR vs. Hubert Hurkacz–POL
Ruud of Oslo, Norway, is a three-time grand slam finalist (2022 United States Open, 2022 and 2023 French Open). Hurkacz of Wroclaw, Poland reached the 2021 Wimbledon semifinal. Ruud has won three of four meetings, including one match at a major–fourth round of the 2022 French Open (6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
(12) Marta Kostyuk–UKR vs. Nadia Podoroska–ARG
Kostyuk of Kyiv, Ukraine reached the semifinals of the 2026 French Open. Podorska reached the semifinals of the 2020 French Open. This is their first meeting head-to-head.
(23) Emma Navarro–USA vs. Paula Badosa–ESP
Navarro of New York City, reached the semifinals of the 2024 United States Open. Badosa of Barcelona, Spain, reached the semifinals of the 2025 Australian Open. Badosa is 2-1 all-time versus Navarro. Their last meeting was the second round of Berlin last year, which Badosa won 7-6, 6-3.
Stanislas Wawrinka–SUI vs. Matteo Berrettini–ITA
Wawrinka of Lausanne, Switzerland won the 2014 Australian Open, 2015 French Open, and 2016 United States Open. Berrettini of Rome, Italy, reached the 2021 Wimbledon final. Head-to-head, this is their first ever meeting. That is stunning when their combined age is 71.
Denis Shapovalov–CAN vs. Pablo Carreno-Busta–ESP
Shapovalov of Toronto, Ontario, reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2021. Carreno Busta of Gijon, Spain, reached the semifinals of the United States Open in 2017 and 2020. Head-to-head, Carreno Busta has won six of eight meetings, including the first round of Dubai this year, 6-2-6-4.
