The China Mail - Sinner, Djokovic set to start Wimbledon title charge

Twelve months after Sinner and women's champion Iga Swiatek captivated Wimbledon with their respective triumphs, the All England Club storylines are richer and more varied than ever.

From Serena Williams' astonishing return after four years in retirement to Djokovic's relentless pursuit of Grand Slam history, not forgetting Sabalenka's challenge for her first Wimbledon crown, the stars will be firmly in the spotlight over the next fortnight.

The first ball hadn't even been hit on Monday when Wimbledon's prize money protestors ended their media boycott.

A group of leading players planned to limit their press conferences to 15 minutes for the first week of Wimbledon, after a similar protest at the French Open in May.

Players claim they are currently paid 15 percent of the revenue from the Slams and want an increase to 22 percent.

Wimbledon had raised its prize money by 20 percent for this year's event and, after reducing their media activities ahead of the tournament, the protesting players said they "will resume normal tournament media duties" after "constructive meetings" with officials.

Sinner, who was among the protestors, ended Carlos Alcaraz's two-year reign as champion with a dynamic display of power hitting in the 2025 final.

With Alcaraz still sidelined by a wrist injury sustained in Barcelona in April, Sinner is the clear favourite to become the 10th man in the Open era to retain the Wimbledon trophy.

The world number one is bidding for his fifth Grand Slam title and his first since his maiden victory at the All England Club last year.

But the 24-year-old Italian arrives in south-west London with a few concerns to banish.

He hasn't reached a Grand Slam final this year and crashed out of the French Open in the second round, blowing a two-set lead against Juan Manuel Cerundolo as he wilted in the stifling Paris heat.

"I feel good. I think grass is very different surface obviously. If you play a tournament before here, maybe it's not going the way you would like to, you come here with some doubts. If you don't play any tournament, you don't have these doubts, you just go and play," said Sinner, who faces Serbian world number 51 Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round.

- 'Truly inspirational' -

In Alcaraz's absence, seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic will be one of Sinner's main rivals.

Djokovic, who opens against Chinese world number 102 Wu Yibing, is taking inspiration from fellow veteran Serena as he targets another slice of tennis history.

The 39-year-old Serb is chasing an all-time record of 25 Grand Slam singles titles among men and women.

Williams' remarkable comeback aged 44 -- motivated by a desire to play in front of her two young daughters -- prompted him to seek out the American legend this week.

"I told her that whatever happens, what she's doing is truly inspirational for me personally, I'm sure for millions around the world," Djokovic said.

Djokovic's most recent Wimbledon triumph came four years ago, he hasn't won any Grand Slam since 2023 and no man of his age has won a major title in the Open era.

"I was planning to peak at Wimbledon. I have a very good score here, some history," he said.

"That gives me, of course, a higher dose of confidence."

American fourth seed Jessica Pegula was among Monday's first winners with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Darja Vidmanova.

Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar lived up to his billing as the sport's rising star with a straight sets rout of Britain's Felix Gill.

Belinda Bencic, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, crushed 17-year-old Mika Stojsavljevic 6-2, 6-1.

Elsewhere on opening day, women's world number one Sabalenka faces Serbia's Teodora Kostovic.

Sabalenka is a four-time Grand Slam winner but the Belarusian has never reached the Wimbledon final.

Serena's eagerly-anticipated first match at Wimbledon in four years comes against Australia's Maya Joint on Tuesday.

A.Kwok--ThChM