Can there be a champion at Wimbledon 2026 who is not Sinner or Djokovic?

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Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic. The Serbian and the Italian are the clear favorites to win the title at Wimbledon 2026, especially with the absence of Carlos Alcaraz, who remains sidelined due to his wrist injury. However, they were also the main contenders at Roland Garros, and both exited in the early rounds without reaching the second week. Therefore, there may be other alternatives.

Despite what happened in Paris, where Sinner suffered a physical collapse due to the heat in the second round against Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, and Djokovic arrived without much preparation and fell in the third round to Joao Fonseca, if both players are at 100% and their physical condition holds up, they are the top candidates to succeed in London.

The world number one is the defending champion after defeating Alcaraz last year. His aggressive and effective game, especially with his serve and forehand, adapt perfectly to a surface as technical and whimsical as grass. Additionally, he will be eager to make up for what happened at Roland Garros and also to win his first Grand Slam of the year.

Meanwhile, the Serbian has triumphed at Wimbledon a remarkable seven times and since 2018 has reached at least the semifinals in every edition. Grass is the surface where he has the best chance of securing his coveted 25th Grand Slam: less rallies, emphasis on serve and net play, elements he handles perfectly. However, a drawback is that, due to his ranking, he will be the seventh seed, meaning he could potentially meet Sinner in the quarterfinals.

These are the other players to consider for Wimbledon 2026

After the events at Roland Garros, where Alexander Zverev claimed his first Grand Slam title, opportunities arise for certain players who might surprise. One of them could be the German. Even though his best result in London has been reaching the third round, the burden lifted off his shoulders by winning in Paris could give him a mental boost and confidence in his game. He will undoubtedly be one of the contenders.

Another contender is Zverev's conqueror in Halle and his true kryptonite: Taylor Fritz. Despite being sidelined for most of the clay-court season and dealing with knee issues since the beginning of the year, his best version always emerges on grass. In the two tournaments he played in this season, he reached the final in both Stuttgart and Halle. Furthermore, he defends semifinal points at Wimbledon, where the effectiveness and power of his serve make him one of the most dangerous players in London.

The third candidate could be a player who came within one set of causing a major upset in Paris: Flavio Cobolli. The Italian is currently enjoying the peak of his career, with experience in playing on big stages and prestigious matches, having reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon last year. Like Fritz and other players aiming for success on the grass of London, his serve is his greatest weapon, and when he is on a roll and confident, he can defeat anyone.

It is not the first time that the name Ben Shelton appears on the list of potential candidates. There is no better surface for his strong serves and powerful forehands to inflict more damage. Moreover, he will arrive in London with sky-high confidence after winning the title in Stuttgart, where he also demonstrated resilience by turning around three out of four matches played, a crucial trait on grass where seizing opportunities and staying focused are essential to achieve great things. Shelton possesses both qualities.

Last but not least in terms of chances is the name of Frances Tiafoe. Despite lacking the consistency he once had for over two years, the American clinched his first title since 2024 in Halle and typically displays a dominant and unsettling version of his game at Wimbledon, as seen when he almost defeated Alcaraz in the 2024 third round. A possible title win for Tiafoe would be a significant surprise, but he has the necessary tools to pull it off.

Now, it remains to be seen if Sinner and Djokovic leave space for any of these candidates. The precedent set by Roland Garros shows that another Grand Slam with surprises is possible, and the grass of Wimbledon has witnessed numerous shocking defeats and unlikely champions. All doubts will be cleared on the upcoming Sunday, July 12.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¿Puede haber un campeón en Wimbledon 2026 que no sea Sinner o Djokovic?