Indian tennis icon Vijay Amritraj has shared his insights on the upcoming Wimbledon 2026 tournament, touching upon the prospects of Novak Djokovic, the expected return of Serena Williams, and the competitive landscape in both men’s and women’s tennis. Amritraj, who reached the quarterfinals of the grass-court major in 1973 and 1981, offered his views during a media interaction ahead of the tournament, which is scheduled to commence on Monday.
Regarding Serena Williams‘ return to tennis at the age of 44, Amritraj believes that a major victory is improbable, though not impossible. He drew an analogy to Muhammad Ali‘s comeback, suggesting that while Serena has achieved unparalleled success, time is a significant factor. Amritraj speculated that her motivation might stem from the joy of playing and the desire for her daughters to see her compete, possibly in doubles.
Djokovic’s Wimbledon prospects and physical challenges
Novak Djokovic, at 39 years old, has arrived at the All England Club to prepare for Wimbledon, seeking a record 25th Grand Slam title. His training sessions have included practice with Jannik Sinner on Court No. 1 and a reunion with Marin Cilic. Amritraj highlighted Djokovic’s mental fortitude and temperament as key assets, stating that he should always be considered a favourite in tight matches.
Djokovic’s 2026 season has demonstrated his high level of play, including a strong performance at the Australian Open where he defeated Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals before losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the final. However, his subsequent five months have been challenging due to health issues, leading to limited tournament play and early exits in Indian Wells and Rome. Keeping his body healthy through a demanding two-week Grand Slam or an entire season is seen as his greatest challenge at his age. The shorter points on grass courts at Wimbledon are expected to suit his game, allowing him to leverage his serve and aggressive first-strike tennis.
Amritraj noted that while younger players now feel they have a chance against top contenders like Djokovic, his ability to recover from long five-set matches remains a concern. Despite this, he is considered a spectacular athlete who meticulously cares for his body.
Women’s competition and Sinner’s title defence
In women’s tennis, no player has won Wimbledon consecutively since 2016, a trend Amritraj attributes to the increased parity among players since the departure of the Williams sisters. He mentioned Iga Swiatek‘s previous dominant run but observed that the current field is closely matched in standard, performance, and temperament. Aryna Sabalenka is considered a strong contender on grass, with an improved serve and a more varied game, though other players have identified weaknesses in her play. Amritraj believes the women’s competition is wide open, with potential for upsets, especially in the early stages.
For Jannik Sinner, the defending champion, the absence of Carlos Alcaraz due to a right-wrist injury could simplify his path, but Amritraj cautioned that winning seven matches against top-quality opponents is always demanding. Sinner’s recent performance at Roland Garros, where he experienced a significant defeat, highlighted physical frailties that he has reportedly been addressing. He will aim to demonstrate resilience in his title defence at Wimbledon. Alongside Djokovic and Sinner, Matteo Berrettini is another player in the bottom half of the draw who has reached a Wimbledon final, with other strong grass-court players like Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Alex de Minaur also hoping for a breakthrough.
Wimbledon 2026 is scheduled to run from June 29 to July 12.
Read Also
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com
