Wimbledon 2026: Sinner and Djokovic same half, no Alcaraz

The draw has been made for Wimbledon, the year's third Grand Slam, and the men's singles has thrown up some eye-catching matchups. At the tournament starting on June 29, defending champion and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner is placed in the top half of the draw, while the biggest absence is two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz. The Spanish star withdrew from the tournament with a wrist injury, a situation that significantly altered the balance of the draw.Alcaraz's absence reshaped the top of the draw. Alexander Zverev, who won Roland Garros last month, is placed as the No. 2 seed in the half directly opposite Sinner's. Sinner, who beat Alcaraz in last year's final, begins the defense of his title against Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round. The most talked-about pairing of the draw is hidden in the top half: seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic, the No. 7 seed, landed in the same half as Sinner, and the two stars can only meet in the semifinals.The seeds' matchups also offer clues about how the tournament may unfold. Felix Auger-Aliassime (3) and Ben Shelton (4) are in the top four, while Alex de Minaur (5), Taylor Fritz (6), Djokovic (7) and Daniil Medvedev (8) complete the top eight. Sinner opens against Kecmanovic, while Zverev begins against Belgium's Alexander Blockx. Djokovic starts his bid for an eighth Wimbledon title against China's Wu Yibing.Breathtaking matchups stand out from the first round. No. 6 Taylor Fritz drew home favorite Jack Draper, returning from injury, in one of the tournament's most anticipated openers. 2017 finalist Marin Cilic faces No. 8 Daniil Medvedev in the first round for a tough test on grass. Stan Wawrinka, who is set to end his career, will play his final match against 2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini in an emotional occasion. The Casper Ruud–Hubert Hurkacz pairing also stands out as one of the first round's strong contests. While Sinner is expected to defend his title in the absence of the withdrawn Alcaraz, Djokovic will be on court chasing a record 25th Grand Slam.