Defending Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner arrives at the All England Club this week with something to prove, after a string of physical problems derailed what had been a remarkable run of dominance heading into the French Open last month.
The world number one had been virtually unstoppable, racking up 30 consecutive victories dating back to February, before that streak came to an abrupt end in the second round at Roland Garros. Now, at 24 years old, Sinner skipped warm-up tournaments leading into Wimbledon, which begins Monday, leaving rivals and analysts wondering what to expect from him on the grass.
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander offered some reassurance, pointing to fatigue rather than a deeper problem as the cause of Sinner’s Paris collapse. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Wilander said, “It’s just a physical issue. He played a lot in the two months leading up to Roland Garros with little recovery and little opportunity to train hard, so he found himself without energy.”
Wilander added that he expects Sinner to return refreshed, though he acknowledged the surface itself introduces uncertainty. “Now I see he is rested, so we will see him in great shape when he returns … but at Roland Garros, I think that he had a better chance. Grass can always be tricky,” Wilander said.
Even with those concerns, Wilander maintained that Sinner remains the favorite — particularly with Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, who won Wimbledon in both 2023 and 2024, sitting out this year’s tournament due to injury.
Looming large in the challenger’s corner is Novak Djokovic, the 39-year-old Serbian great who is chasing his eighth Wimbledon title — a feat that would tie him with Swiss legend Roger Federer’s record at the tournament. Djokovic is also still pursuing his 25th Grand Slam title overall, a milestone that would give him sole possession of the all-time record.
Like Sinner, Djokovic also exited the French Open early. But three-time Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick argued on his podcast that the Serb’s struggles on clay should not overshadow what could be a serious run at the All England Club, where he last lifted the trophy four years ago.
“This is a real shot. I don’t hate that he didn’t make the semi-finals of Roland Garros. I guarantee you, he knows this is his shot,” Roddick said. “He’s taken a picture of the landscape of tennis. Obviously, Sinner is still going to be Sinner, but Djokovic’s going ‘Hmmm, I could be the best grasscourt player at this tournament. Am I in my prime? Probably not. Am I good enough?’ I don’t know, if I’m in Team Novak, I can convince myself of that reality pretty easily.”
Meanwhile, 29-year-old Alexander Zverev enters Wimbledon riding a wave of momentum after finally breaking through for his first Grand Slam title at the French Open. Fellow German and six-time major champion Boris Becker said on Eurosport that the victory could make Zverev the man to beat on grass as well.
“Is he suddenly the favourite at Wimbledon? For me, yes,” Becker said. “Alcaraz is injured, and with Sinner, no one knows how he’ll return. Sascha has the serve for grasscourt tennis and with that you’re already in the semi-finals. Of course, he has to adapt … but he has what it takes to triumph at Wimbledon.”
With Alcaraz’s absence creating a more open field than usual, a broader group of contenders sees opportunity. Americans Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, and Frances Tiafoe all possess the firepower to challenge the top seeds, while French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli leads a next wave of players looking to make their mark on the sport’s most storied grass court stage.
