Wimbledon women's draw: Rybakina, Jabeur in same quarter; Venus, Svitolina to clash
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek opens against Zhu Lin, while Coco Gauff meets fellow American Sofia Kenin.
There will be no chance of a Wimbledon women’s final rematch on Centre Court this year after defending champion Elena Rybakina and finalist Ons Jabeur were drawn in the same quarter Friday morning.
Rybakina and Jabeur are among a packed section set to unfold at the London-based major that also features two-time champion Petra Kvitova (who triumphed in Berlin last week), 2021 runner-up Karolina Pliskova, incoming Birmingham title holder Jelena Ostapenko, Roland Garros semifinalist Beatriz Haddad Maia and returning semifinalist Tatjana Maria. Rybakina, the No. 3 seed, opens her title defense against American Shelby Rogers, while the sixth-seeded Jabeur starts with Magdalena Frech.
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek launches her bid against world No. 33 Zhu Lin, who just missed out on being seeded. The Pole, a former junior winner here, is bidding to get beyond the fourth round for the first time. The four-time major winner pulled out ahead of her semifinal in Bad Homburg Friday, citing "fever and possible food poisoning."
Landing in Swiatek’s quarter, seventh seed Coco Gauff battles qualifier Sofia Kenin in one of the field’s notable openers. Kenin defeated Gauff on her way to the 2020 Australian Open crown.
Five-time champion Venus Williams and former semifinalist Elina Svitolina, both wild card entrants, also face off in the top quarter to begin proceedings. Williams is making her 24th appearance at the All England Club, where she has racked up 90 singles wins.
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka takes on Panna Udvardy, fourth seed Jessica Pegula opens with countrywoman Lauren Davis and fifth seed Caroline Garcia plays Katie Volynets. Former world No. 2 Anett Kontaveit, who announced in June she would retire after this event due to an ongoing back condition, drew Italy's Lucrezia Stefanini.