Who’s ready for Wimbledon? A look at this year’s top contenders and storylines

Grass-court tennis is a specialist’s domain, and Wimbledon is its proving ground. As the tour shifts to the lawns of the All England Club, the numbers and narratives align to set up another fortnight of opportunity and high-stakes showdowns. Who is positioned to make the deepest run? Who could surprise? Here’s a look at the key contenders and storylines heading into Wimbledon.
The Contenders
Top Grass Performers
Among active players, these are the best career marks at Wimbledon, with three former champions in this year’s draw.
Elena Rybakina 19-3 (.864)
That’s even better than five-time champion Venus Williams 90-19 (.826). She won the title here in 2022, still the only major victory on her resume. Lost in the Queen’s Club quarterfinals to eventual champion Tatjana Maria. She failed to convert four match points in a cracking quarterfinal loss in Berlin to World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-6 (6).
Barbora Krejcikova 13-3 (.813)
The defending champion is in the process of a comeback from injury and illness that sidelined her for six months. Lost her first-round match to Rebecca Sramkova at Queen’s Club. She was 1-3 for the year coming into Eastbourne but saved a total of five match points against Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage to reach the quarterfinals, but withdrew (right thigh) ahead of that round. She opens her Wimbledon campaign against Alexandra Eala.
Petra Kvitova 38-13 (.745)
The two-time champion (2011, 2014) has announced her impending retirement and will be playing her final Wimbledon. She’s the only player in the draw with multiple titles at the All England Club.
Madison Keys 25-10 (.714)
The reigning Australian Open champion has crafted the best record among active players on grass -- 50-18 (.735) on grass, the best record among Top 10 players at Wimbledon -- 25-10 (.714) and has won 11 of 12 Grand Slam matches this year.
Ons Jabeur 19-7 (.731)
Made back-to-back finals in 2022 and 2023, but she has been challenged by a chronic knee injury. Jabeur defeated 2024 Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini in Berlin, before losing in the quarters to 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.
Victoria Azarenka 36-14 (.720)
The two-time Australian Open champion, now 35, was a two-time semifinalist (2011, 2012) and impressively reached the Round of 16 last year. She came through qualifying at Bad Homburg and defeated Laura Siegemund in her first match before falling to Iga Swiatek.
Also in the Mix
Jelena Ostapenko 20-9 (.690), Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Swiatek 11-5 (.688), Elina Svitolina 20-10 (.667), Paula Badosa 10-5 (.667), Belinda Bencic 14-8 (.636), Daria Kasatkina 12-7 (.632) and Marketa Vondrousova 8-5 (.615)
Storylines to Watch
The oh-so dangerous floater
Check out the last name in that list of those in the mix: Vondrousova came into the Berlin Tennis Open with six match wins in six months -- and left with five more in six days. The 2023 Wimbledon champion won’t be seeded, but …
“I’ll just try to enjoy a few days off now and back to hard work,” Vondrousova said. “Stay grounded, stay in your lane, focus on tennis and play these matches as if nothing happened.”
Sabalenka’s state of mind
After a crushing three-set loss to Coco Gauff in the Roland Garros final, Aryna Sabalenka headed for Mykonos, Greece with her boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis. He posted a story on Instagram that featured some terrific ocean views -- and Sabalenka sticking out her tongue.
Once in Berlin, she caught up with her good friend Paula Badosa, where they were the only Top 8 seeds to reach the quarterfinals. Sabalenka’s three-set win over Rybakina was worthy of a Wimbledon final. There was an understandable letdown in the semifinals against Vondrousova.
Sabalenka, who missed last year’s tournament with a shoulder injury, is the consensus favorite to win her first title at the All England Club.
Gauff back-to-back?
She won on the red clay at Roland Garros and now will try to navigate the grass at Wimbledon. It’s happened 12 times (seven different women), but only twice this century, Serena Williams in 2002 and 2015.
Gauff will need to find a boost of momentum after losing her first and only match on grass in straight sets to Wang Xinyu in Berlin.
Paolini’s challenge
All year long, reporters have asked the Italian star how she could possibly back up her career year of 2024, when she won a WTA 1000 title and reached consecutive Grand Slam singles finals -- she erased a 0-3 career record at the All England Club by winning six matches.
In 2025, all she’s done is respond. Back in May, Paolini became the first Italian to win the title in Rome. And while she lost to Ons Jabeur in her first match in Berlin, it’s worth remembering that Jabeur is a two-time Wimbledon finalist. Paolini then reached the semifinals in Bad Homburg.
Challengers, comebacks and home hopes
Eyes on the Brits
No. 40: Emma Raducanu: The 22-year-old 2021 US Open champion started 2024 at No. 61 as she worked to return from injuries and surgeries. A strong grass-court season has moved her up to No. 40, 43 points ahead of Katie Boulter. Raducanu has won seven career matches at Wimbledon and aims to join Ann Jones (1969) and Virginia Wade (1977) as British champions at the All England Club.
No. 42: Katie Boulter: The 27-year-old began 2024 as the top-ranked British player at No. 56, well ahead of Raducanu. She climbed to No. 24 in January before Raducanu closed the gap with her grass-court results. Boulter, who also has seven career Wimbledon wins, is looking to join Jones and Wade as a British champion on home soil.
What to expect from …
No. 9 Paula Badosa, 27, Spain: Has a sprightly 10-5 (.667) record at Wimbledon, but comes in with injury concerns. After defeating fellow Top 10 player Emma Navarro in the Round of 16 in Berlin, retired with a right hip injury against eventual champion Wang Xinyu with a right hip injury. She withdrew from Bad Homburg.
No. 45 Tatjana Maria, 37, Germany: Won seven matches in nine days at Queen’s Club, including four straight against Top 15 players to take the most prestigious title of her career. A semifinalist at Wimbledon three years ago. Lost her first match as a wild card in Bad Homburg to Leylah Fernandez.
No. 74 Alexandra Eala, 20, Philippines: Began the season ranked No. 136 and was a revelation at the Miami Open, defeating Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, Paula Badosa and Iga Swiatek to reach the semifinals before falling to Jessica Pegula. She current is ranking is No. 74. Eala qualified in Nottingham but lost her first round to Magda Linette -- but qualified again in Eastbourne and has reached her first career final with wins over Dayana Yastremska and Varvara Gracheva.
No. 56 Naomi Osaka, 27, Japan: The four-time Grand Slam champion has an uneasy relationship with grass. Her Wimbledon record is 5-4 and her two third-round appearances came in 2017 and 2018. She lost her first-round match to Liudmila Samsonova in Berlin. Osaka split two matches in Bad Homburg, beating qualifier Olga Danilovic and losing to No. 5 seed Emma Navarro.
Wimbledon draw at a glance
For the full breakdown of the 2025 Wimbledon draw, read here.
First Quarter
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka opens against qualifier Carson Branstine in a section stacked with grass-court threats, including 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova, Emma Raducanu and Madison Keys. Elina Svitolina and Paula Badosa also lurk as potential obstacles.
Second Quarter
Last year’s finalist Jasmine Paolini and No. 5 seed Zheng Qinwen headline a quarter featuring Naomi Osaka, Amanda Anisimova and Jelena Ostapenko. Paolini starts against comeback player Anastasija Sevastova, while Zheng faces Katerina Siniakova, who has beaten her twice on grass.
Third Quarter
Jessica Pegula and Dubai champion Mirra Andreeva lead a competitive section featuring Petra Kvitova in her Wimbledon farewell, defending champion Barbora Krejcikova and Alexandra Eala. Tatjana Maria and Belinda Bencic add to a draw rich with experienced grass-court players.
Fourth Quarter
Coco Gauff opens against Dayana Yastremska, with potential tests from Victoria Azarenka, Sofia Kenin and big-serving Liudmila Samsonova before a possible blockbuster quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek. Swiatek, coming off her first grass-court final in Bad Homburg, could face 2022 champion Elena Rybakina in the fourth round.
Quizzes and Polls for Wimbledon Week
Test your Wimbledon IQ
The grass season’s final and most iconic stop is here: Wimbledon. As 128 players chase history on the lawns of SW19, how well do you know the facts, figures and players in the mix? Take our quiz and find out.
The grass-court season is wrapping up, and the final stop is the most iconic of them all: Wimbledon. As the oldest tennis tournament in the world prepares for its 138th edition, 128 players are set to chase history -- and a £3 million winner’s check -- on the lawns of SW19.
Barbora Krejcikova returns as defending champion after a fairytale run in 2024, while World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is still chasing her first Slam title off hard courts. Coco Gauff, now a two-time major winner, is back where her rise began in 2019 -- but has never reached the quarters here. Madison Keys, Petra Kvitova, Elena Rybakina and Marketa Vondrousova add even more Grand Slam flair to the mix.
Think you’re up to speed? Test your Wimbledon IQ with our quiz and see how well you know the facts, figures and players heading into The Championships.
Your Pick: Who goes deep?
Some Top 10 names have limited Wimbledon experience, but that doesn’t mean they can’t break through. Who do you think will make the deepest run this year?