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🏆 Wimbledon outright picks card

Luc LeBlanc's outright picks

• Outright: Taylor Fritz (+1329): Outside of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, it may be Fritz with the most impressive grass court pedigree, with half of the 28-year-old's 10 ATP titles coming on grass despite the short season. He's made the final of both grass tournaments he's played in 2026 and has reached QFs or better in three of the last four Wimbledons — his 12 wins on grass in the last year pace the Tour. With Sinner's well-documented heat struggles and Djokovic staring down Father Time, this may be the best chance at a Slam for the 2024 US Open finalist.

🎾 Wimbledon 2026: Key takeaways

• Weather: Unseasonably hot to begin the fortnight, and even warmer temperatures are expected through the final weekend.

• Storyline: Serena Williams returns to the tour after a four-year absence. She's a seven-time Wimbledon champion and seeks her 24th Grand Slam title. She opens her 2026 campaign against unseeded Australian Maya Joint.

🎾 Surface breakdown: Slippery when wet!

Grass is the fastest surface in tennis and often produces results that differ dramatically from the rest of the season. The low, skidding bounce rewards players with big serves like Jannik Sinner's, aggressive first-strike tennis like Taylor Fritz's, and the ability to finish points quickly at the net like Novak Djokovic's.

Conversely, heavy topspin baseliners like Casper Ruud and defensive specialists like Francisco Cerundolo often have less time to set up their shots, making Wimbledon one of the most unpredictable Grand Slams.

Experience also plays a significant role on grass because the surface rewards precise movement and positioning. Players like Barbora Krejicova, who have consistently performed well at Wimbledon or other grass-court events, typically enjoy an advantage over opponents with stronger overall rankings but limited success on the surface.

For bettors and fans alike, recent form should always be viewed through the lens of surface specialization. Strong clay-court or hard-court results don't always translate to grass, where a dominant serve, efficient crush-and-rush tennis, and comfort on the slick footing often separate champions from the rest of the field.

Player profiles to target

• Big servers: With London experiencing a heat wave, the serve is the most important weapon in a player's arsenal.

• Return of serve: The return of serve is the second-most important shot on grass, and a 45% or better win rate is ideal.

📢 Did Serena Williams Play?

Yes, Serena Williams played, and she lost 3-6, 7-6, 3-6 to Australian Maya Joint. She was scheduled to play doubles with sister Venus Williams, but was forced to withdraw following a knee injury suffered in her loss to Joint. Her status for the rest of the season is now in jeopardy.

🏥 Why is Carlos Alcaraz not participating in Wimbledon?

Carlos Alcaraz will not defend his Wimbledon title after withdrawing because of a lingering right wrist injury suffered during the clay-court season. The injury also forced him to miss the Madrid Open, the Italian Open, the French Open, and the entire grass-court swing as he continues his recovery.