Wimbledon 2024 men's singles draw: Biggest winner and loser ft. Novak Djokovic
The much-awaited draw for the 2024 Wimbledon Championships was released earlier today. Fans can count themselves in for a fortnight of enthralling action as they have often done in the past at the Grasscourt Major, with plenty of mouth-watering first-round clashes in store. The main draw is slated to commence on Monday, June 1.
It will be a fierce fight for the crown with the likes of Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and others, all in contention for arguably the biggest prize in men's tennis. The draw, however, hasn't been as kind to all of them. Some have been blessed with an easy route through to the business end, but the same cannot be said for others.
While the top seeds aren't slated to lock horns in the opening round, several lower-ranked players and grasscourt specialists lurk around in the draw, posing a serious threat early in the tournament.
So, without further ado, he's a look at the biggest winner and biggest loser from the men's singles draw at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.
Jannik Sinner handed nightmare run to the final with a potential blockbuster second-round clash
Jannik Sinner has not by any means been offered an easy path to a first final at SW19 with a potential blockbuster semi-final clash against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz awaiting him.
The new No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Sinner enters Wimbledon in a rich vein of form on the grass. He picked up his first grasscourt title ever in Halle a couple of weeks ago, seeing off Hubert Hurkacz in two tie-breakers 7-6 (8), 7-6 (2).
Sinner is slated to begin his campaign in the British capital against Yannick Hanfmann in the opening round. Compatriot and 2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini could very likely lock horns with him in the second round should he beat Marton Fucsovics in his first-round encounter.
The older Italian has been marred with injuries over the last couple of years but has been in great touch on the grass in the lead-up to the Wimbledon Championships.
A possible third-round encounter against 27th seed Tallon Griekspoor awaits Sinner, should both players navigate their way safely through. He could then cross paths with American World No. 14 Ben Shelton in the fourth round, and potentially last year's semifinalist Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals.
Medvedev opens his campaign against Aleksandar Kovacevic and is set to possibly face a real test in the fourth round with Grigor Dimitrov lurking close.
Carlos Alcaraz potentially awaits him in the semifinals in what could very likely be the most highly anticipated match of the Championships. It could be the tenth meeting in their budding rivalry, with the Spaniard currently edging it 5-4.
Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev headline the bottom half of the draw as the top seeds and could be potential finals opponents for Sinner.
Novak Djokovic handed favorable draw as he chases a record eighth crown
Novak Djokovic on the contrary was at the receiving end of great news upon the release of the draw as he was handed a relatively easy path to the finals.
The seven-time champion will open his quest for a record eight title in SW19 against Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva in the first round. He will then play the winner between WC Jacob Fearnley and qualifier Alejandro Moro Canas in the subsequent round.
Djokovic could lock horns with world No. 31 Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the third round, before a projected fourth-round clash against Holger Rune, who has the likes of Christopher Eubanks and Karen Khachanov in his bracket.
A blockbuster quarterfinal encounter against seventh seed and Halle finalist Hubert could very well be on the cards for the Serb. The Pole stamped his authority in the hallowed corridors of the Wimbledon Championships in 2021 when he beat the legendary Roger Federer en route to the semi-finals.
Fourth seed Alexander Zverev could be his semifinal opponent should both of them make it that far. Zverev has never been beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon and will be eager to break that barrier come the next few weeks. Taylor Fritz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Andrey Rublev are other possible last-four opponents for the Serb.
A final against Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner could very likely be on the cards for Djokovic.