Serena Williams to face France’s Harmony Tan in Wimbledon opener, Djokovic plays Kwon
- Men’s top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic, chasing a 21st grand slam title after a troubled year, will open his campaign against Kwon Soon-woo
- Women’s top seed Iga Swiatek, who is on a 35-match winning run, opens against Croatian qualifier Jana Fett
Serena Williams’ eagerly-awaited return to Wimbledon will begin in the first round against France’s Harmony Tan as the 23-times grand slam champion resumes singles action after a year out next week.
The 40-year-old American, avoided any of the big names in Friday’s draw and will get the chance to ease into the tournament against world number 113 Tan as she targets an unlikely eighth title.
Wild card Williams, notionally ranked down at 1,204, has not played a singles match since retiring injured and in tears in the first round a year ago against Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
Men’s top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic, chasing a 21st grand slam title after a troubled year, will open his campaign against South Korea’s Kwon Soon-woo.
Second seed Rafa Nadal, who is halfway to a calendar year grand slam, plays Argentina’s world number 42 Francisco Cerundolo in the first round while compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, the man predicted to one day fill Nadal’s shoes, takes on Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
Women’s top seed Iga Swiatek, who is on a 35-match winning run, opens against Croatian qualifier Jana Fett while second seed Anett Kontaveit takes on American Bernarda Pera.
American teenager Coco Gauff, who reached the French Open final and is seeded 11th, plays Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
Britain’s US Open champion Emma Raducanu, who will hog the spotlight among the home contingent, faces a tricky opener against experienced Belgian Alison van Uytvanck.