The Wimbledon men’s singles draw has conjured up a series of potential blockbuster quarter-final clashes, with six-time champion Novak Djokovic projected to meet Carlos Alcaraz and two-time victor Rafael Nadal seeded to face Felix Auger-Aliassime.
However, there are also plenty of popcorn matches in the early rounds as heavyweights are set to meet rising stars and top players clash with unseeded threats.
ATPTour.com takes a look at five of the best matchups that are already locked in at the grass-court Grand Slam.
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[10] Jannik Sinner vs. Stan Wawrinka
One of the brightest talents on Tour will meet an experienced champion in the first round at Wimbledon when Jannik Sinner takes on Stan Wawrinka.
The 10th seed Sinner is a five-time tour-level champion and has reached at least the fourth round at all three of the other Grand Slams. However, the Italian has yet to win a tour-level match on grass and will have his work cut out when he meets former World No. 3 Wawrinka.
The 37-year-old is a three-time Grand Slam champion and is gearing up for his 16th appearance at SW19, with his best result a run to the quarter-finals in 2014 and 2015. Wawrinka will enter the clash with a 2-0 lead in their ATP Head2Head series, but both of his victories came in 2019 when the 20-year-old Sinner was outside the Top 100 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.
This standout clash should certainly provide entertainment as Sinner looks to earn a breakthrough win on grass.
[7] Hubert Hurkacz vs Alexander Davidovic Fokina
Hubert Hurkacz enjoyed a standout run to the semi-finals on the lawns at Wimbledon last season, defeating eight-time titlist Roger Federer on the way. However, the seventh seed will need to be at his very best if he is to avoid an early exit this year.
Opponent Alejandro Davidovich Fokina won the Wimbledon boys’ singles title in 2017 and has since reached a career-high No. 27 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. The Spaniard is making his second main-draw appearance at Wimbledon and holds strong recent form on the grass, having advanced to the quarter-finals at The Queen’s Club earlier this month.
Hurkacz also arrives in good shape, though, after capturing his first grass-court title in Halle last week. With the pair locked at 2-2 in their ATP Head2Head series, anything could happen.
[11] Taylor Fritz vs Lorenzo Musetti
Expect Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Musetti to put on a show when they meet for the first time in the opening round at Wimbledon.
The 11th seed Fritz enters the clash with grass-court experience in the bank, having clinched the title in Eastbourne in 2019. Three years on and the American is looking as strong as ever. The 24-year-old captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 trophy in Indian Wells earlier this season, while he has advanced to the semi-finals in Eastbourne this week.
In contrast, while #NextGenATP Italian Musetti does not have the same grass-court pedigree, having never won a tour-level match on the surface, he will cause a threat. The 20-year-old will look to cause Fritz problems with his stunning shot making as he aims to earn the third Top 20 win of his season.
[6] Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Maxime Cressy
When you watch Maxime Cressy play, it is as if you have gone back in time. The American plays an attacking brand of serve-and-volley tennis, which still is hugely effective on grass, signified by his run to the semi-finals in Eastbourne this week.
Felix Auger-Aliassime will therefore have to be ready for the challenge if he is to reach the second round once again. Last year, the sixth-seeded Canadian soared to the quarter-finals at The Championships, defeating Nick Kyrgios and Germany’s Alexander Zverev en route.
Earlier this month, Auger-Aliassime advanced to the semi-finals in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and the quarter-finals in Halle, holding a 30-15 record on the season. The 21-year-old will need to be strong on return if he is to earn a 31st win of the season on the lawns in London.
Paul Jubb vs. Nick Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios will look to maintain his strong grass-court season when he takes on British wild card Paul Jubb in the first round. The Australian, who advanced to the quarter-finals on debut at Wimbledon in 2014, reached consecutive semi-finals in Stuttgart and Halle this month, earning a Top 5 victory against Stefanos Tsitsipas along the way.
Jubb, currently No. 219 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, will have to be at his very best if he is to earn his first victory at Wimbledon. In a match that will be played in front of a vocal British crowd, Kyrgios will look to rise to the occasion to book his spot in the second round for the seventh time.
