The draw for the upcoming women’s tournament at the Wimbledon championships has been officially confirmed.
Roland Garros winner Coco Gauff finds herself in the same quarter as five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.
Last year’s Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini has been given a favourable path to the quarter-final, while 2024 champion Barbora Krejcikova could struggle in her title defence, with possible bouts against Mirra Andreeva and Jessica Pegula en route to the final four.
It has also been an unfortunate draw for world number one Aryna Sabalenka, whose path to the final could prove very difficult.
Aryna Sabalenka’s difficult Wimbledon draw
Sabalenka’s first-round matchup at the tournament comes in the form of Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine, with potential second-round clashes against Lulu Sun or Marie Bouzkova.
After that, however, things get difficult for the Belarusian, as in her section are British number one Emma Raducanu and former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.
Vondrousova has missed a fair chunk of the last year due to a shoulder injury, but is back to playing her best tennis, having just won the Berlin Open.
Also in Sabalenka’s quarter is Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who defeated her in the final in Melbourne to hoist a maiden Grand Slam title.
Elina Svitolina and Paula Badosa are among the other seeded players who stand in the path of the three-time major champion.
Aryna Sabalenka’s record at Wimbledon throughout her career
Sabalenka has appeared at Wimbledon five times in her career and has made it to the semi-finals twice.
She made her debut at the All England Club in 2017, when she made the second round, before bowing out to Carina Witthoft of Germany.
After two first-round exits in 2018 and 2019, Sabalenka enjoyed her joint-best campaign in 2021.
Following wins over Elena Rybakina and Ons Jabeur, she reached the final four that season, where she met former world number one Karolina Pliskova, who beat her over three sets.
She didn’t feature at the tournament in 2022, and made the semi-final again in 2023, this time losing to Jabeur in her pursuit of the final.
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