By The Wimbledon first-round draw has set the stage for some compelling matchups. Emma Raducanu is poised to return to the grass courts against the 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, marking her first match at Wimbledon in two years. Andy Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion, has been paired with Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac, though his participation hinges on his recovery from surgery.
Raducanu, the former US Open champion, is looking to make a strong comeback after missing last year’s event due to surgeries. Murray, on the other hand, is racing against time to be fit for the Championships starting July 1.
In other notable draws, British No 1 Katie Boulter will face former semi-finalist Tatjana Maria. Boulter could potentially meet fellow Brit Harriet Dart in the second round. The women’s draw also features top seed Iga Swiatek against Sofia Kenin, a matchup reminiscent of the 2020 French Open final. The draw places Swiatek in the same half as defending champion Marketa Vondrousova and former winner Elena Rybakina, with Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff in the opposite half.
For the men, British No 1 and 28th seed Jack Draper is set to play Sweden’s Elias Ymer. A victory could lead to a second-round clash with Cameron Norrie, provided Norrie overcomes Argentina’s Facuna Diaz Acosta.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz will start his campaign against Estonia’s Mark Lajal, while Novak Djokovic, now recovered from knee surgery, will face Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva as the second seed.
The draw was not without its hiccups, as tournament referee Denise Parnell experienced a mix-up with the seed placements, leading to a brief moment of confusion before the error was rectified. Despite this, the draw has been completed, and players now know their paths as they prepare for the prestigious tournament.
