This year’s Wimbledon draw has delivered a handful of blockbuster first-round matches that you simply cannot miss.
Jack Draper and Taylor Fritz will headline the first round, as the home favourite, returning from injury, takes on last year’s semi-finalist.
Now that the draw is out, which British player do you think will do the best at Wimbledon?
They will play their match on Tuesday, June 30, but if that somehow doesn’t excite you, here are four more Wimbledon first-round ties to look forward to.
The matches you must watch in the first round of Wimbledon this year
Serena Williams vs Maya Joint
The return of the 23-time Grand Slam champion is undoubtedly the story of Wimbledon this year.
Williams hasn’t played a singles match in almost four years, but has a golden opportunity to make a winning return at SW19.
She will play Australia’s Maya Joint, in the first round, a player who has struggled immensely in 2026.
After a strong 2025 campaign, the Aussie has only won one of her last 14 WTA Tour matches.
Walking onto Centre Court in bad form, taking on a legend of the sport, you can only imagine the pressure Joint will be under.
There are, however, still question marks over Williams‘ ability to compete in singles, having only played two doubles matches since returning to tennis.
Whatever happens, this is one match you don’t want to miss!
Daniil Medvedev vs Marin Cilic
Over on the men’s side, you’ll want to keep an eye on Daniil Medvedev and Marin Cilic, with the two former US Open champions set to face off in round one.
Cilic impressed at Wimbledon 12 months ago, knocking out Draper, and is a former finalist at the All England Club.
Medvedev, on the other hand, lost his opening match in 2025, but reached the semi-finals in 2023 and 2024.
If both players bring their A-game, they could produce an instant classic on the grass.
Stan Wawrinka vs Matteo Berrettini
Stan Wawrinka and Matteo Berrettini could also produce some magic at Wimbledon.
The three-time Grand Slam champion received a wild card into the main draw, and will be keen to make a lasting impression on his final visit to SW19.
Berrettini won’t want to give him the dream send-off, though, as he looks to build on his impressive run to the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
The Italian may have too much for a 41-year-old Wawrinka, but regardless of the result, you won’t want to miss seeing one of the game’s greatest one-handed backhands, one last time.
Iga Swiatek vs Taylor Townsend
The defending champion, Iga Swiatek, will begin her Wimbledon campaign against Taylor Townsend.
Townsend is always one of the most entertaining players on tour, and Swiatek has garnered plenty of attention ahead of her title defence.
The Pole lost the only match she played on grass before Wimbledon, exiting the Bad Homburg Open at the hands of Townsend’s countrywoman, Emma Navarro.
Will she fare any better in London? Only time will tell.
Is Jack Draper the favourite to beat Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon?
Before this week, you would have said no.
Draper hadn’t played a match since April, while Fritz had reached back-to-back grass-court finals in Stuttgart and Halle.
However, now that the British star has made a successful return in Eastbourne, reaching the semi-finals without dropping a set, it’s not quite so clear-cut.
When fit and healthy, Draper can cause problems for anyone in men’s tennis, and that includes Fritz.
If you need any evidence of that, just take a look at their head-to-head record.
Jack Draper and Taylor Fritz’s head-to-head record (3-2)
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2025 Indian Wells – 4R | Jack Draper | Taylor Fritz | 7-5, 6-4 |
| 2024 Paris Masters – 2R | Jack Draper | Taylor Fritz | 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 |
| 2024 Olympics – 2R | Taylor Fritz | Jack Draper | 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2024 Munich Open – QF | Taylor Fritz | Jack Draper | 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 |
| 2022 Queen’s – 1R | Jack Draper | Taylor Fritz | 6-3, 6-2 |
Draper leads their head-to-head 3-2, and has won their last two career meetings.
He also won the one match they played on grass, at the Queen’s Club four years ago.
The 24-year-old will need to be at his best if he is to extend his winning record over Fritz, but if he can do that, you wouldn’t want to bet against him.
