Sky Sports' Gigi Salmon previewed Wimbledon, noting a record 21 Britons entered the singles draws. She highlighted the return of 23‑time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams and offered her own picks for the tournament. Salmon wrote the column from 3,500 miles away after watching a former champion play on New York’s Central Park grass, setting a festive tone for the Championships.

The British men’s draw features a striking first‑round clash: Jack Draper faces world No 7 Taylor Fritz, who reached last year’s semi‑final and has recent finals appearances in Stuttgart and Halle. Draper, fresh from an Eastbourne semi‑final and coached by Andy Murray, leads their head‑to‑head 3‑2, but the matchup still favours the experienced Fritz.

British No 1 Cam Norrie, seeded 26th, opens against qualifier Michael Zheng, while other home players—including Jan Choinski, Max Basing, Billy Harris and Ollie Tarvet—navigate tough first‑round opponents ranging from seeded veterans to rising qualifiers. On the women’s side, Emma Raducanu carries a 30th seed, and Katie Boulter returns from a Queen’s semi‑final run. The depth of British entries makes Wimbledon a pivotal test for the nation’s next generation.