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Wimbledon favorites and participants: who's playing
In short
Seeding at Wimbledon mainly follows current ATP/WTA ranking. Jannik Sinner (ATP) and Aryna Sabalenka (WTA) currently sit on top. In 2026, Sinner successfully defended his title while Linda Noskóva provided the surprise on the women's side. The 2027 entry list won't be known until close to the tournament.
How seeding works at Wimbledon
Seeds at Wimbledon are determined mainly by current ATP and WTA ranking at the time of the tournament. On the men's side, the organizers still historically apply a small, much-reduced adjustment that accounts for past grass-court results, but ranking remains by far the biggest factor. That system doesn't just decide who's the top seed, it also shapes the entire draw of 128 players per gender: the highest seeds are spread out so they can only meet in a later round, which keeps the tournament more appealing for fans.
Seeding basis
Mainly current ATP/WTA ranking, topped up on the men's side by a small, much-reduced adjustment for past grass-court results.
Beyond the seeds, the field also includes players who get direct entry through their ranking, players who earn a spot through qualifying, and a limited number of wildcards handed out by the organizers themselves. Those often go to local British talents or to players just returning from injury.
The current top of the ATP and WTA tours
On the men's side, Jannik Sinner currently sits atop the ATP rankings. The Italian reclaimed the top spot in April 2026 after winning the Monte Carlo Masters, his first Masters 1000 title on clay. Carlos Alcaraz follows in second place. Both names have consistently reached the closing stages of the biggest tournaments in recent years, grass included.
On the women's side, Aryna Sabalenka leads the WTA rankings, with Elena Rybakina in second place, followed by Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff. Rybakina is traditionally seen as one of the stronger grass-court players in the current field, thanks to her powerful serve.
| # | Name | Tour |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jannik Sinner | ATP |
| 2 | Carlos Alcaraz | ATP |
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka | WTA |
| 2 | Elena Rybakina | WTA |
| 3 | Jessica Pegula | WTA |
| 4 | Coco Gauff | WTA |
Rankings shift constantly after every major tournament, so this is only a snapshot. For the current standings, check the official ATP and WTA rankings closer to the start of Wimbledon 2027.
Who has dominated Wimbledon recently
The last few editions of Wimbledon give a good picture of who feels at home on the London grass. In 2025, Jannik Sinner won the men's title by beating Carlos Alcaraz in four sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4), his fourth Grand Slam title and the first Wimbledon title ever for an Italian man. On the women's side, Iga Świątek claimed her first Wimbledon title in 2025, with a strikingly one-sided final against Amanda Anisimova: 6-0, 6-0, only the second time in Grand Slam final history a final has gone that way.
In 2026, the most recent edition, Sinner successfully defended his title by beating Alexander Zverev in a four-set thriller (6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4): his second consecutive Wimbledon title and fifth Grand Slam title overall. On the women's side, Linda Nosková provided the surprise of the tournament by beating Karolína Muchová in an all-Czech final (6-2, 5-7, 6-3). It was her first-ever Grand Slam title, and at 21 years and 236 days she became the youngest Wimbledon champion since Petra Kvitová in 2011.
| Edition | Men's champion | Women's champion |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sinner beat Alcaraz (4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4) | Świątek beat Anisimova (6-0, 6-0) |
| 2026 | Sinner beat Zverev (6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4) | Nosková beat Muchová (6-2, 5-7, 6-3) |
For the full honours list and the tournament's biggest records, see the page on Wimbledon champions throughout history.
What makes a grass-court specialist
Not every top player performs as well on grass as on hard court or clay. Grass-court specialists typically have a powerful, precise serve and a strong net game, because the low, fast bounce leaves little time to build long rallies from the baseline. Names like Sinner, Alcaraz and Zverev have shown in recent years that they adapt extremely well to grass, even if none of them started out as pure "grass-court players".
Men
Sinner, Alcaraz, Zverev
Have adapted extremely well to fast grass-court tennis, even though none started out as pure grass-court players.
Women
Rybakina, Muchová
Rybakina thanks to her serving power, Muchová thanks to a versatile game with a strong net presence.
That said, players performing well doesn't make the outcome of the next tournament predictable: form, the draw and health all play a big role each edition.
Qualifying and wildcards
Qualifying tournament
Players outside direct ranking access get a last chance at a spot the week before the main draw.
Wildcards
A limited number of spots handed out by the organizers, often to British players or names returning from injury.
Players who reach the main draw through qualifying often start with less rest than those who entered directly, but it regularly produces surprising names in the first round. Wildcards don't count towards seeding, but they can certainly cause upsets against higher-ranked opponents.
Why favorites don't always win
Despite a clear top tier in the rankings, Wimbledon delivers its share of surprises every year. Lower seeds or unseeded players who happen to be in form can knock out a top favorite in a single day, especially in the early rounds where fatigue from a long season or trouble adjusting to grass can play a role. Linda Nosková's title in 2026 is a good example: she wasn't among the first names mentioned before the tournament began, and yet she went on to win the title.
No prediction: this page deliberately doesn't make any prediction about who will win Wimbledon 2027. Rankings and past grass-court results give an indication, but the outcome of a two-week knockout tournament remains uncertain by definition.
Who's playing Wimbledon 2027
The exact entry list for Wimbledon 2027 won't be confirmed until close to the tournament, based on rankings at that point, qualifying results and any wildcards. If you want to know who's playing, the official Wimbledon website is the best source just before the tournament, along with the live tennis page, where you'll find the current betting offer and the draw once it's known.
The Napoleon Sports app
Follow the Wimbledon favorites on the go with the Napoleon Sports app: check the latest info and browse the tennis betting markets from your smartphone. Available features and markets may vary by device or app version.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the current world No. 1 on the men's and women's side?
On the men's side, Jannik Sinner is the current ATP No. 1; on the women's side, that's Aryna Sabalenka. Rankings shift constantly, so check the current standings close to the tournament.
Who won the most recent edition of Wimbledon?
Wimbledon 2026 was won by Jannik Sinner on the men's side, who beat Alexander Zverev in the final. On the women's side, Linda Nosková won, beating Karolína Muchová in an all-Czech final.
How is seeding determined at Wimbledon?
Mainly based on current ATP and WTA ranking. On the men's side, a small historical adjustment for past grass-court results still plays a limited role, but ranking is the biggest factor.
When will I know who's playing Wimbledon 2027?
The full entry list won't be confirmed until close to the tournament, based on rankings, qualifying results and any wildcards.