No tournament marries old world charm with new age freshness quite like Wimbledon. This will be on display yet again when the year’s third Major gets underway on Monday. If the pristine grass courts and all-white attire are reminders of tennis’s origins and traditions, the introduction of video review technology from 2026 is the latest example of the event marching with the times. Another throwback to the old days will be the return of Serena Williams, a seven-time singles champion at the All England Club. She is 44, and has not played competitively in nearly four years, but appears leaner and fitter, thanks in large measure to modern-day weight-reduction medication. The legendary American is a wildcard entrant in doubles as well, where she will partner her illustrious sister and five-time Wimbledon singles winner Venus, with the duo looking for their seventh doubles crown at SW19. But unranked as Serena is, the probability of meeting high-profile opponents from the get-go is high. Women’s tennis is also a crowded market-place, with as many as five Slam champions and three others with runner-up finishes among the top-10 seeds. Chief among them are World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, 2022 winner Elena Rybakina, defending champion Iga Swiatek and the teenaged Mirra Andreeva, who clinched her maiden Major at Roland-Garros recently.
The men’s section will be equally intriguing. Carlos Alcaraz, a two-time Wimbledon titlist and a fan-favourite in south-west London, is absent because of a wrist injury. Reigning champion Jannik Sinner suffered a dispiriting second-round loss at the French Open and has had no competitive matches since then. The defeat in Paris came under extremely hot conditions, and with western Europe in the midst of a heatwave, it will be interesting to see how the Italian World No. 1 copes. Second seed Alexander Zverev will look to cash in, like he did at Roland-Garros, but grass is his weakest surface. This presents Novak Djokovic with his best chance to claim a record-extending 25th Slam. At 39, the lush green lawn is where the Serb is most comfortable. With four trophies, two finals and one semifinal appearance in his last seven visits to Wimbledon, he is also the most pedigreed. However, for a second straight Major, there is likely to be an unpleasant backdrop with leading players set to expand their protest at what they deem as an inadequate increase in prize money (less than 22% of the tournament revenue). Actions at the biggest competitions do garner attention but they also benefit the elite players more than the rank and file. Tennis needs an equitable solution for the betterment of all. If the argument of the top players is that the organisers keep most of the revenue, then it can also be said that they earn disproportionately more than their lower-ranked peers. The gap between the haves and have-nots is only widening.
Published – June 27, 2026 12:10 am IST
