Wimbledon Men’s Preview: Djokovic With Nice Road To 24, Alcaraz Faced With Many Landmines

The Wimbledon draws were released earlier today and it looks quite favorable for the top pick Novak Djokovic as he continues his assault on the history.

The Serb, seeded second, will bid for a 24th career Grand Slam title and an 8th Wimbledon which would tie him with Roger Federer. And his draw looks great.

Meanwhile, top seed Carlos Alcaraz will have his hands full as many threats loom in the Spaniard’s path.

Top seeds 16 seeds are: 1 Carlos Alcaraz, 2 Novak Djokovic, 3 Daniil Medvedev, 4 Casper Ruud, 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6 Holger Rune, 7 Andrey Rublev, 8 Jannik Sinner, 9 Taylor Fritz, 10 Frances Tiafoe, 11 Felix Auger Aliassime, 12 Cameron Norrie, 13 Borna Coric, 14 Lorenzo Musetti, 15 Alex De Minaur, 16 Tommy Paul.

CARLOS ALCARAZ QUARTER
Seeds: 1 Alcaraz, 6 Rune, 10 Tiafoe, 15 De Minaur, 19 Zverev, 21 Dimitrov, 25 Jarry, 31 Davidovich Fokina
Floaters: Berrettini, Humbert, Sonego, Van De Zandschulp, Zhang, Fils, Rinderknech
Notable openers: Matteo Berrettini-Lorenzo Sonego, Frances Tiafoe-Yibing Wu, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina-Arthur Fils, Zhizhen Zhang-Botic Van De Zandschulp
Projected 3R matches: 1 Alcaraz – 25 Jarry, 19 Zverev – 15 De Minaur, 10 Tiafoe – 21 Dimitrov, 31 Davidovich Fokina – 6 Rune
Notes: The top seeded Alcaraz anchors arguably the toughest section. Alcaraz, who just won Queen’s, opens against veteran Jeremy Chardy, then could see another Frenchman in the big-serving Arthur Rinderknech followed by the 6-foot-6 Chilean Nicolas Jarry. That’s just to the fourth round when he could face either Alexander Zverev, Matteo Berrettini or Alex De Minaur. Then in the quarters Holger Rune or Frances Tiafoe. A brutal draw!

DANIIL MEDVEDEV QUARTER
Seeds: 3 Medvedev, 5 Tsitsipas, 12 Norrie, 16 Paul, 18 Cerundolo, 22 Korda, 28 Griekspoor, 32 Shelton,
Floaters: Lehecka, Murray, Mannarino, Cressy,Fucsovics, Ofner, Eubanks, Thiem, Vesely
Notable openers: Marton Fucsovics-Tallon Griekspoor, Jiri Lehecka-Sebastian Ofner, Maxime Cressy-Laslo Djere, Ryan Peniston-Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem-Stefanos Tsitsipas
Projected 3R matches: 3 Medvedev – 28 Griekspoor, 18 Cerundolo – 16 Paul, 12 Norrie – 22 Korda, 32 Shelton – 5 Tsitsipas
Notes: Another tough opener for Stefanos Tsitsipas who will face his rival Dominic Thiem. But Andy Murray could and likely will await the winner in what should be an incredible second round match on Thursday. Daniil Medvedev is the high seed but the Russian has been struggling. Adrian Mannarino could upset Medvedev once again. Tallon Griekspoor and Milos Raonic also lurk and in the bottom section which also has big serving Americans Ben Shelton and Maxime Cressy, who could both meet in just the second round. Sebastian Korda and Cameron Norrie could also surprise in a section filled with opportunity, and one Murray could take advantage of.

CASPER RUUD QUARTER
Seeds: 4 Ruud, 8 Sinner, 9 Fritz, 13 Coric, 20 Bautista Agut, 24 Nishioka, 26 Shapovalov, 27 Evans
Floaters: Kecmanovic, Hanfmann, Gasquet,Altmaier, Schwartzman, Otte
Notable openers: Jannik Sinner-Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Quentin Halys-Daniel Evans, Yannick Hanfmann-Taylor Fritz
Projected 3R matches: 8 Sinner – 27 Evans, 24 Nishioka – 9 Fritz, 13 Coric – 20 Bautista Agut, 26 Shapovalov – 4 Ruud
Notes: It’s Casper Ruud’s quarter but the nice guy Norwegian won’t be the favorite. That label could go to Jannik Sinner or Taylor Fritz would are projected to collide in the fourth round. Ruud, who has one career Wimbledon match win, does have good draw before a possible third round against former semifinalist but slumping Denis Shapovalov.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC QUARTER
Seeds: 7 Rublev, 11 Auger Aliassime, 14 Musetti, 17 Hurkacz, 23 Bublik, 29 Etcheverry, 30 Kyrgios,
Floaters: Baez, Ruusuvuori, Wolf, Karatsev, Nakashima, McDonald, Van Assche, Wawrinka, Isner, Goffin, Krajinovic
Notable openers: David Goffin-Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Bublik-Mackenzie Mcdonald, Albert Ramos Vinolas-Hubert Hurkacz, Tomas Martin Etcheverry-Bernabe Zapata Miralles
Projected 3R matches: 7 Rublev – 30 Kyrgios, 23 Bublik – 11 Auger Aliassime, 14 Musetti – 17 Hurkacz, 29 Etcheverry – 2 Djokovic
Notes: With an ailing knee and virtually no match play, it’s hard to see another deep run for Nick Krgios, especially when he would have to face the buzz saw that is Novak Djokovic in the quarters. The Serb has a great draw with only Brandon Nakashima in the second round, Hubuert Hurkacz in the fourth and maybe Andrey Rublev, Alexander Bublik or Kyrgios in the quarters. Otherwise, the draw couldn’t be any more favorable for Djokovic.

The projected quarterfinals:
1 Alcaraz – 6 Rune
3 Medvedev – 5 Tsitsipas
8 Sinner – 4 Ruud
7 Rublev – 2 Djokovic

The projected R16 looks like:
1 Alcaraz – 15 De Minaur
10 Tiafoe – 6 Rune
3 Medvedev – 16 Paul
12 Norrie – 5 Tsitsipas
8 Sinner – 9 Fritz
13 Coric – 4 Ruud
7 Rublev – 11 Auger Aliassime
14 Musetti – 2 Djokovic

Former champions: Murray(2), Djokovic(7)
Former finalists: Berrettini, Kyrgios

Last year, (1) Novak Djokovic defeated Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3).

LAST 10 WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONS/FINALS
2022 Novak Djokovic d Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3)
2021 Novak Djokovic d Matteo Berrettini 6-7(4), 6-4,, 6-4 6-3
2019 Novak Djokovic d Roger Federer 7-6(5) 1-6, 7-6(4), 4-6, 13-12
2018 Novak Djokovic d Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(3)
2017 Roger Federer d Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1 ,6-4
2016 Andy Murray d Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2)
2015 Novak Djokovic d Roger Federer 7-6(1), 6-7(10), 6-4, 6-3
2014 Novak Djokovic d Roger Federer 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4
2013 Andy Murray d Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 6-4
2012 Roger Federer d Andy Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4

Matches start of Monday with Djokovic, Ruud, Sinner and Kyrgios in action.