Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays during his match against Frances Tiafoe of the USA at The Hurlingham Club on June 29, 2023 in London, England. | Image Credit: Getty Images
Novak Djokovic will begin his quest for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title against Argentina’s Pedro Cachin, with a potential rematch of last year’s final against Nick Kyrgios looming in the quarterfinals.
Djokovic could face either Andrey Rublev or Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last eight if Kyrgios misses out, whose semifinal is expected to pit him against either Jannik Sinner or Casper Ruud, whom he defeated in the French Open final last month.
The top seed and World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz has yet to get past the fourth round at Wimbledon in two appearances, but stepped onto the grass after winning at Queen’s Club last week.
Alcaraz starts against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, but has a difficult path to the latter stages with the prospect of a Queen’s final rematch against Alex de Minaur in the fourth round and World No. 6 Holger Rune in the quarter-finals.
Tsitsipas met Thiem
Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas will face former US Open champion Dominic Thiem in the men’s first round tie where the winner could possibly face two-time champion Andy Murray, who will take on Ryan Peniston.
Top seed Iga Swiatek was given the kinder side of the women’s draw. The Pole will start against China’s Zhu Lin and is expected to face Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals and Jessica Pegula or Caroline Garcia in the last four.
Heavy on the bottom half
The bottom half of the draw is stacked with defending champion Elena Rybakina, World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka and last year’s finalist Ons Jabeur.
Five-time winner Venus Williams will face fellow wild card Elina Svitolina in one of the first-round ties.
The third Grand Slam of the season begins on Monday, July 3.
Interesting first-round match-ups
Man
Tsitsipas vs Thiem
Berrettini vs Sonego
Goffin against Kyrgios
Rublev against Purcell
Fritz against Hanfmann
woman
Swiatek vs Lin
Venus against Svitolina
Kenin vs Gauff
Rybakina vs Rogers
Sabalenka vs Udvardy
