Djokovic could face Kyrgios again at Wimbledon

Saturday, 1 July 2023 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

LONDON, AFP: Novak Djokovic will begin his quest for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title against Argentina’s Pedro Cachin, with a potential rematch of last year’s final against Nick Kyrgios looming in the quarter-finals.

Djokovic could face Andrey Rublev or Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last eight should Kyrgios not make it, with his projected semi-final to come against Jannik Sinner or Casper Ruud, who he beat in the French Open final earlier this month.

Top seed and world number one Carlos Alcaraz has not been beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon in two appearances, but is finding his feet on the grass after winning at Queen’s Club last week.

Alcaraz starts against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, but has a tricky path through to the latter stages with the prospect for a rematch of the Queen’s final against Alex de Minaur in the fourth round and world number six Holger Rune in the quarter-finals.

Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas takes on former US Open champion Dominic Thiem in the tie of the men’s first round with the winner potentially facing two-time champion Andy Murray, who takes on wild card Ryan Peniston.

Top seed Iga Swiatek – who had to withdraw from the Bad Homburg semi-finals on Friday due to suspected food poisoning – has been handed the kinder side of the women’s draw.

Swiatek begins against China’s Zhu Lin and is projected to face Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals and Jessica Pegula or Caroline Garcia in the last four.

The bottom half of the draw is stacked with defending champion Elena Rybakina, world number two Aryna Sabalenka and last year’s finalist Ons Jabeur.

Five-time winner Venus Williams will take on a fellow wild card Elina Svitolina in one of the ties of the first round.

The third Grand Slam of the season gets underway on Monday, 3 July.