From the favorites to the underdogs: Ranking the W...
Key takeaways
- The 2026 edition of the Wimbledon Championships has arrived at a very strange time.
- This is a weird time in the tennis world, but it should make for a fascinating fortnight.
- First potential top-10 opponent: No. 8 Daniil Medvedev (quarterfinals)
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Defending Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner was upset in the second round at the French Open just a few weeks ago. Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Bill Connelly Jun 26, 2026, 12:22 PM ETClose Bill Connelly is a writer for ESPN. He covers college football, soccer and tennis. He has been at ESPN since 2019.Follow on XMultiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions Most of the favorites are battling either funks or physical issues (or both). The marquee player in the field is 44 years old. We're coming off maybe the most chaotic Grand Slam tournament in ages.
The 2026 edition of the Wimbledon Championships has arrived at a very strange time. (Well, it arrived at the same time as always, but you get the idea.) With Carlos Alcaraz still out with an injury, Jannik Sinner is an overwhelming favorite in any men's tournament he enters, but his body betrayed him -- and not for the first time -- at the French Open, cracking open the door for a first-time Slam champ. And on the women's side, the best player by far has been bageled in deciding sets multiple times over the last month or so, the defending champion can't stay in fifth gear for very long, and the quickest-rising players haven't won a Slam before.
This is a weird time in the tennis world, but it should make for a fascinating fortnight. Let's talk about 20 favorites (or simply fascinating figures) you'd be well-served to follow.