Where Roland-Garros lets the electronics deliver its verdict in a few seconds to make the draw, Wimbledon still uses nominative tokens and the more or less heavy human hand for the actors and actresses of the London fortnight. Here’s what to remember from the tables revealed on Friday.
The path strewn with pitfalls of Carlos Alcaraz
In Paris, these two had found themselves in the semi-finals in an aborted clash due to the Spaniard’s cramps. At Wimbledon, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, ranked No. 1 and 2 in the world, were sure to avoid each other before a hypothetical final. And the path until Sunday July 16 is perhaps a little more difficult for the youngest who, after an introduction against Jérémy Chardy, could find in his path Alexander Zverev (from the eighth), Holger Rune and Daniil Medvedev or Stefanos Tsitsipas (who enters the running against Dominic Thiem). The Serb will come into play against Pedro Cachin before being able to gain momentum at his own pace in his quest for a 24th Grand Slam and an eighth title on English turf. He inherited in his part of the table from the fourth world Casper Ruud, who has never hidden his aversion to the surface. Fate could reserve him a quarter-final against Nick Kyrgios, whom he beat in the final last year, but the Australian is in more than uncertain form and has only played one match this season.
Swiatek-Gauff, the reunion after Roland-Garros?
For the second year in a row, Iga Swiatek will land in England crowned with her Roland-Garros crown. Last year, the world No. 1 jumped on the third lap on a turf that she has not yet fully tamed. She found good marks in Bad Hombourg this week but, ill, preferred to forfeit her semi-final. Her part of the table, where the meeting Venus Williams – Elina Svitolina will be the match to follow in the first round, is rather open and she could find Coco Gauff in the quarters before a half against Jessica Pegula or Caroline Garcia, if fate smiles on the Habs who will start against the American Katie Volynets. Defending champion, Elena Rybakina fell in a particularly strong quarter of the table with Ons Jabeur, finalist in 2022, Jelena Ostapenko, who has just won a title and a half on grass, or even Petra Kvitova, double winner of Wimbledon (2011 and 2014). At the bottom of the table is world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, who the Kazakh could find in the semi-finals.
Three Franco-French duels in the first round
The fate was mischievous for Arthur Fils who will face, as at Roland-Garros, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the first round. The Spaniard had got the better of the Frenchman before offering himself another young hope of tricolor tennis in stride, Luca Van Assche. The latter will launch his first Wimbledon against Aslan Karatsev. It will also be necessary to follow the three fratricidal duels with Alexandre Muller – Arthur Rinderknech, Benjamin Bonzi – Harold Mayot and Corentin Moutet – Richard Gasquet on the menu. French No. 1 Adrian Mannarino, who loves grass, will find Alexander Shevchenko. Ugo Humbert, he will rub shoulders with Jason Kubler. Coming from qualifying, Laurent Lokoli may have a shot to play against Casper Ruud. Among the women, in addition to Caroline Garcia, Varvara Gracheva will begin her first Grand Slam under the French colors against the Italian Camila Giorgi.
