WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Get ready for Wimbledon before the game starts on Monday with a guide that tells you everything you need to know about the look of the pitch Grand Slam Tennis Tournament, what the betting odds are, what the schedule looks like, who the defending champions are and more:
How to watch Wimbledon on TV
— In the US: Tennis Channel, ESPN
— Other countries are listed Here.
Betting favourites for Wimbledon
Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz are considered favourites to win the singles championships at the All England Club, according to BetMGM Sports Betting. Swiatek — who has never made it past the quarterfinals at Wimbledon — is a -175 moneyline bet; she was +275 immediately after her French Open victory just 2 1/2 weeks ago. Aryna Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion and two-time Wimbledon semifinalist, is the next contender for the women’s title at +400, followed by 2022 winner Elena Rybakina (+650) and reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff (+700). Defending champion Alcaraz is listed at +150, ahead of Jannik Sinner (+275) and Novak Djokovic (+350), a long way behind No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev (+700).
Basic facts about Wimbledon
The venue is the All England Club. The surface is grass courts. The women play best-of-three-set matches, the men best-of-five-set matches. Unlike the other three Grand Slam tennis tournaments, there are no night sessions; a curfew prevents play after 11 p.m. The event lasts 14 days, including matches on the middle Sunday, which has only been used for competition four times until 2022, when rain led to a backlog of matches. There are retractable roofs on Centre Court and Court No. 1.
When is the Wimbledon draw?
The individual tables for this year’s tournament will be determined on Friday.
The Wimbledon schedule
— Monday-Tuesday: 1st round (women and men)
— 3–4 July: Second round (women and men)
— 5–6 July: Third round (women and men)
— 7-8 July: Fourth round (women and men)
— 9–10 July: Quarterfinals (women and men)
— 11 July: Women’s semi-final
— 12 July: Men’s semi-final
— 13 July: Women’s final
— 14 July: Men’s final
A quiz about Wimbledon
Try your luck in AP’s Wimbledon Quiz.
Find out before Wimbledon
What to read:
— Who are the top women in this field?
— Who are the top men in this field?
— Andy Murray is still trying to decide if he can play at Wimbledon
— Rafael Nadal skips Wimbledon to prepare for the Olympic Games in Paris
— According to an external investigation, the US Tennis Association can do more to protect its players
Wimbledon defending champion
Marketa Vondrousova won her first Grand Slam title at the All England Club a year ago when she defeated Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-4 to become the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon. Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to win his first Wimbledon title and second major title (he recently took his total to three with his victory at the French Open). Djokovic had won four consecutive titles at the All England Club and seven in total.
The top seeds at Wimbledon
Iga Swiatek is the best-seeded woman. Jannik Sinner is the best-seeded man.
Will Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray play at Wimbledon?
It was not entirely clear as of Thursday whether former champions Djokovic or Murray would end up playing in the tournament. Both are 37 and have recently undergone surgeries. Djokovic, who owns 24 Grand Slam titles, tore a meniscus in his right knee during the French Open and underwent surgery on June 5. He has been testing the knee at the All England Club, including during a centre court practice session with Jannik Sinner on Thursday; Djokovic wore a grey bandage on his right leg. Murray, who has won three major trophies, wants to take more time to find out if he can play at Wimbledon after undergoing surgery last week to remove a cyst on his spinal cord. Murray said he had planned to retire after competing at Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics.
Prize money at Wimbledon
The total prize money at Wimbledon will rise to a record £50 million, or about $64 million, in 2024 – an increase of almost 12% from last year. The two singles winners will each receive £2.7 million, or about $3.45 million.
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