Nick Kyrgios has found himself on the same side as Novak Djokovic once again as the men’s and women’s singles draws for Wimbledon were unveiled on Friday.
Kyrgios, the No.30 seed in the men’s singles draw, will face Belgium’s David Goffin in the first round on Monday night AEST.
If he is able to overcome the former world No.7, the 28-year-old has potential clashes with Russian star Andrey Rublev in the third round and a repeat of last year’s men’s final with Djokovic in the quarters on deck.
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Play at the year’s third grand slam tournament begins on Monday night AEST, when No.2 seed Djokovic will open his bid for a fifth consecutive Wimbledon title — and eighth overall at the All England Club — against Pedro Cachin, a 67th-ranked Argentine making his debut.
Djokovic, who is halfway to a calendar-year grand slam after winning the Australian Open in January and Roland-Garros in June, is also seeking his 24th major title, which would set the record for most by a man or woman in the Open era.
In the women’s draw, five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams will begin her 24th appearance at the tournament against 2019 semifinalist Elina Svitolina, while Friday’s draw put two-time titleist Andy Murray up against wild-card entry Ryan Peniston in an all-British first-round match-up.
Williams, who is 43 and has played just five matches this season, and Svitolina, who returned to the tour in April after taking time off to have a baby, both were given wild cards by the All England Club.
Whoever wins that contest could face No.28 seed Elise Mertens in the second round, followed perhaps by a match-up against No.7 Coco Gauff, the American who was just 15 when she began her Grand Slam career by eliminating Williams at Wimbledon in 2019.
Williams won Wimbledon in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008, to go along with two US Open trophies.
The potential men’s quarter finals are No.1 Carlos Alcaraz vs No.6 Holger Rune, and No.3 Daniil Medvedev vs No.5 Stefanos Tsitsipas on the top half of the bracket, and Djokovic vs No.7 Andrey Rublev, and No.4 Casper Ruud vs No.8 Jannik Sinner on the bottom half.
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The possible women’s quarter finals are No.1 Iga Swiatek vs Gauff, and No.4 Jessica Pegula vs No.5 Caroline Garcia on the top half, and No.3 Elena Rybakina vs No.6 Ons Jabeur, and No.2 Aryna Sabalenka vs. No.8 Maria Sakkari on the bottom half.
Rybakina-Jabeur would be a rematch of last year’s final, won by Rybakina. She will begin her title defence against American opponent Shelby Rogers.
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