NEW DELHI: As Wimbledon 2026 is approaching, the Indian doubles veteran Rohan Bopanna he picked defending champion Jannik Sinner and Elena Rybakina as his favorites to win the men’s and women’s titles. Despite calling the field highly competitive, the 46-year-old backed Sinner to retain her crown and believes former champion Rybakina has what it takes to come out on top in the women’s draw.“It’s such a tough question; the field is so open. But I’m going to go with defending champion Jannik Sinner for the men’s tournament. Among the women, I’d pick Elena Rybakina,” Bopanna told JioStar.Apart from sharing his predictions, Bopanna also opened up about his emotional connection with Wimbledon, saying that the tournament has been a dream since childhood.“Wimbledon is a magical dream because I grew up watching only this. Back home, we used to only watch Wimbledon. In fact, the television only broadcasts Wimbledon. So, for me to go there and not only be present, but also play on those courts was absolutely amazing,” added Bopanna.“I also played in an era when the three greatest tennis players of our generation, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadaland Novak Djokovicthey were competing. Sharing a locker room with them and just being there was better than a dream, actually.”This year’s tournament promises a lot of intrigue. Novak Djokovic is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title and an eighth Wimbledon crown, while players such as Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz and Jack Draper are among the contenders.The women’s competition also remains open after six different winners have emerged in the last six Grand Slams. Iga Swiatek returns hoping to become the first woman since Serena Williams to successfully defend the Wimbledon title, while Serena, who also received a wildcard in the signs after her return to competitive tennis, and Venus Williams are willing to meet in double.
