Episode 31

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Published on:

27th Jun 2026

Ep 31: Wimbledon 2026 Draw Preview & Our Predictions- Sinner and Djokovic on a Collision Course plus Serena Williams Returns to Wimbledon - How Far Will She Go?

Wimbledon 2026 is days away and the draw has landed. Adam and Adrian break down every quarter of the Wimbledon men's and women's draws, flag the match-ups they cannot wait to see, and make their picks for who lifts the trophies at the All England Club.

On the men's side of the Wimbledon 2026 draw, defending champion Jannik Sinner headlines as the top seed and clear favourite despite his shock exit at Roland Garros. Sinner opens against Miomir Kecmanovic and is projected to navigate a quarter that also includes Casper Ruud, Hubert Hurkacz, Daniil Medvedev and teenage sensation Rafael Jodar in his first Wimbledon. Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic sits in the second quarter chasing a record 25th Grand Slam and an eighth Wimbledon title to equal Roger Federer, with a mouth-watering potential fourth-round rematch against Roland Garros giant-killer Joao Fonseca on the cards. Felix Auger-Aliassime is the nominal top seed in Djokovic's quarter and is projected to meet him in the last eight. Ben Shelton anchors the third quarter as a genuine grass court threat after winning Stuttgart earlier this month, with Alex de Minaur carrying Australian hopes alongside him and Roland Garros finalist Flavio Cobolli lurking as the danger seed. The fourth quarter is the one everyone is talking about. Freshly crowned Roland Garros champion Alexander Zverev, who has never been past the fourth round at Wimbledon, opens against Alexander Blockx and is projected to meet Taylor Fritz in the quarters. Fritz, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year and back-to-back finalist on grass this month, opens against home favourite Jack Draper in one of the most brutal first-round draws of the tournament. Halle champion Frances Tiafoe and Queen's Club winner Francisco Cerundolo also land in this quarter, making it the most loaded section of the Wimbledon 2026 men's draw.

On the women's side of Wimbledon 2026, world number one Aryna Sabalenka headlines the first quarter alongside Barbora Krejcikova, Naomi Osaka, Karolina Muchova, Emma Raducanu and Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva, who is projected as Sabalenka's last-eight opponent in what is already the toughest quarter on paper. Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff are set to collide in the second quarter, with Gauff arriving cold on a four-match grass losing streak and Dayana Yastremska, the player who dumped her out at Wimbledon last year, lurking in the same section again. Iga Swiatek defends her Wimbledon title in the third quarter and could face the tournament's biggest storyline as early as the third round. Serena Williams returns to Wimbledon on a singles wildcard, nearly four years after her last competitive match, and the seven-time Wimbledon champion opens against Australian Maya Joint with Swiatek a possible third-round opponent. Alexandra Eala, fresh off a run to the Berlin semi-finals, is the likely second-round test for Serena and is no easy draw. Elena Rybakina anchors the fourth quarter as the 2022 Wimbledon champion, with defending runner-up Amanda Anisimova, Berlin champion Linda Noskova and 2025 Australian Open winner Madison Keys all in the same section, making it arguably the deepest quarter in the women's draw.

Adam and Adrian make their picks for Wimbledon 2026, with Sinner the consensus men's favourite and Andreeva the pick to go deep on the women's side.

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About the Podcast

Talkn Tennis
Talkn Tennis is a weekly Australian tennis podcast with three mates breaking down ATP, WTA and Grand Slam drama over a drink or three
Talkn Tennis is an Australian tennis podcast recorded in Melbourne, hosted by Chris alongside Adam and Adrian, where they break down the biggest stories from the ATP and WTA tours, occasionally with a drink in hand.

Expect informed tennis discussion with more trash talk than Medvedev versus Tsitsipas.

There are no PR-approved answers or overly polite commentary here, just honest opinions, questionable predictions and the conversations tennis fans are already having in the deep dark corners of Reddit or X.

Each week, they unpack the latest results, tournament draws and major talking points from around the tour. From the Australian Open in Melbourne to Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open, plus the Masters 1000 events, the United Cup and the Davis Cup. Talkn Tennis covers every stop on the jam-packed tennis calendar.

The boys discuss who will dethrone Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, and bandwagon the latest up-and-comers from Joao Fonseca to Arthur Fils.

Chris continues to try and convince the boys that Elena Rybakina is actually the best player on the WTA, not Aryna Sabalenka. Meanwhile, Adrian remains hopeful of an Iga Swiatek resurgence. They also keep close watch on the Australian contingent, from Alex de Minaur and Maya Joint to the party boy Nick Kyrgios and all his antics.

Each episode features:
• Honest reactions to the latest ATP and WTA action
• Grand Slam storylines, dark-horse selections and confident, sometimes correct predictions
• Discussion of players, rivalries and the moments everyone is talking about
• Tournament previews, recaps, listener questions and regular games
• Bad jokes, the occasional drink and debates that may permanently damage their friendship

From five-set classics and first-round disasters to coaching controversies, umpire blow-ups and unexpected breakout runs, Talkn Tennis covers the serious, strange and entertaining sides of professional tennis.

Talkn Tennis is not affiliated with the ATP or WTA and is almost certainly not approved by your local tennis club committee.

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About your hosts

Adrian Purgaric

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Adrian "Gluten Free" Varjoss

Adam "The Animal" Blundetto

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Undefeated against his little brother in all-time matches
Took out Phils kid brother in one shot
Fils is a future World Number 1

Chris Anthony

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Adams brother