2025 Wimbledon Expert Picks: Predicting the champions and surprises in store

It's time, once again, for TENNIS.com's editors and writers to give their predictions for Wimbledon.

This go around, we asked a handful of familiar faces on your Tennis Channel screens to join in. Without further ado, the group's selections for the final four fields, the champions, what to look out for from the very beginning, and the biggest surprise by Middle Sunday at the All England Club.

PRAKASH AMRITRAJ

Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?

Djokovic d. Sinner; Alcaraz d. Medvedev

Champion: Djokovic

Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?

Sabalenka d. Anisimova; Pegula d. Rybakina

Champion: Sabalenka

First-round matches that can't be missed:

Taylor Fritz vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, McCartney Kessler vs. Marketa Vondrousova

PETE BODO

Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?

Sinner d. Draper; Alcaraz d. Popyrin

Champion: Sinner

Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?

Keys d. Zheng; Gauff d. Muchova

Champion: Keys

First-round matches that can't be missed:

Taylor Fritz vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Sofia Kenin vs. Taylor Townsend

What’s the biggest surprise we’ll be talking about by Middle Sunday?

Novak Djokovic could face some competent grass-court players in the first three rounds, but nobody who is likely to hit him off the court. The 38-year old Serbian titan is well-rested, appears to be in good health, and is sure to have taken encouragement from reaching the semifinal of the French Open just weeks ago. Djokovic could catch fire early on and, given that Wimbledon is probably is his last best chance to bag that elusive 25th major, he’s capable of riding an excellent grass-court game and an emotional wave - with help from the crowd - deep into the tournament. Potentially blocking his path to the trophy: Jakub Mensik (who upset Djokovic in the Miami Masters), No. 7 seed Lorenzo Musetti, No. 4 Jack Draper - and top-ranked Jannik Sinner.

LIYA DAVIDOV

Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?

Sinner d. Bublik; Alcaraz d. Zverev

Champion: Alcaraz

Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?

Sabalenka d. Ostapenko; Gauff d. Andreeva

Champion: Sabalenka

First-round matches that can't be missed:

Learner Tien vs. Nishesh Basavareddy, Paula Badosa vs. Katie Boulter

What’s the biggest surprise we’ll be talking about by Middle Sunday?

Either Belinda Bencic or Ekaterina Alexandrova will enter the elite eight for the first time at Wimbledon. Both players reached the round of 16 in 2023, the last time they competed at the third Slam. This year, as fate would have it, they could clash in that very stage. Bencic will find her footing in the first two rounds of the tournament, setting up a third-round match against Jessica Pegula--whom she's undefeated against. Alexandrova's third-round opponent could be Karolina Muchova, a player she leads 4-1 in the head-to-head. It's been four years since Bencic and Alexandrova went head-to-head on grass, and if it happens, they may not find a greater opportunity to make a major splash with eight different women taking home the past eight Wimbledon titles.

JOEL DRUCKER

Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?

Sinner d. Djokovic; Alcaraz d. Fritz

Champion: Alcaraz

Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?

Sabalenka d. Anisimova; Andreeva d. Gauff

Champion: Sabalenka

First-round matches that can't be missed:

Taylor Fritz vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Sofia Kenin vs. Taylor Townsend

What’s the biggest surprise we’ll be talking about by Middle Sunday?

Between the first Thursday and middle Sunday, a controversy will surface regarding the rules governing The Championships. It might have to do with a chair umpire who is either too assertive or too passive. Perhaps it will involve manipulation of a trainer visit or bathroom break. Or will the controversy focus on a particular piece of clothing? Cries for reform will be issued. Tim Henman will be asked his opinion. A Parliament member might weigh in. Tabloid headlines will be generated. By the second Tuesday, it will be forgotten.

BRETT HABER

Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?

Paul d. Djokovic; Alcaraz d. Fritz

Champion: Alcaraz

Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?

Zheng d. Keys; Rybakina d. Alexandrova

Champion: Rybakina

First-round matches that can't be missed:

Taylor Fritz vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Barbora Krejcikova vs. Alexandra Eala OR Jasmine Paolini vs. Anastasija Sevastova

DAVID KANE

Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?

Draper d. Sinner; Alcaraz d. Medvedev

Champion: Alcaraz

Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?

Sabalenka d. Paolini; Andreeva d. Swiatek

Champion: Sabalenka

First-round matches that can't be missed:

Frances Tiafoe vs. Elmer Moller, Amanda Anisimova vs. Yulia Putintseva

What’s the biggest surprise we’ll be talking about by Middle Sunday?

I feel like we already saw the most surprising thing when Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka teamed up for an instantly-iconic TikTok, but on the court, I think we could see a surprise or two from the veteran set at SW19. With fewer tournaments on grass and the field’s substantial post-COVID turnover, most top players have played only a handful of matches on grass, giving a distinct advantage to the likes of Elina Svitolina, Madison Keys, and certainly Novak Djokovic.

JON LEVEY

Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?

Draper d. Sinner; Alcaraz d. Medvedev

Champion: Alcaraz

Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?

Zheng d. Vekic; Andreeva d. Rybakina

Champion: Andreeva

First-round matches that can't be missed:

Jacob Fearnley vs. Joao Fonseca, Barbora Krejcikova vs. Alexandra Eala

What’s the biggest surprise we’ll be talking about by Middle Sunday?

Wimbledon has a legacy of multi-time champions. Grass court tennis doesn’t come naturally for many players, and those with a knack for it often rack up titles. (See: Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Steffi Graf). However, the women’s game currently doesn’t have any grass alphas. Of the last seven Wimbledon champs, none have made it back to a final. Not only will that trend continue this year, many of the top seeds will be booking early flights home. By the second week upsets will be rampant and madness will reign in the women’s draw.

ED MCGROGAN

Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?

Sinner d. Djokovic; Alcaraz d. Fritz

Champion: Alcaraz

Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?

Shnaider d. Keys; Swiatek d. Pegula

Champion: Swiatek

First-round matches that can't be missed:

Ethan Quinn vs. Henry Searle, Petra Kvitova vs. Emma Navarro

What’s the biggest surprise we’ll be talking about by Middle Sunday?

The second quarter of the men's draw features the Indian Wells and Miami champions, the player who just beat Jannik Sinner, and the consensus GOAT. Not to mention hard-hitters like Tomas Machac and Alex Michelsen, who can upend things any given day. I think Jack Draper's story will end earlier than expected, in the third round against Alexander Bublik. I have Novak Djokovic emerging, but Jakub Mensik, Wimbledon semifinalist doesn't sound far-fetched either.

MARTINA NAVRATILOVA

Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?

Sinner, Draper, Fritz, Alcaraz

Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?

Sabalenka, Paolini, Muchova, Gauff

First-round matches that can't be missed:

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. Brandon Holt, Barbora Krejcikova vs. Alexandra Eala

EMMA STOREY

Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?

Bublik d. Sinner; Zverev d. Alcaraz

Champion: Zverev

Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?

Paolini d. Sabalenka; Andreeva d. Gauff

Champion: Paolini

First-round matches that can't be missed:

Jacob Fearnley vs. Joao Fonseca, Paula Badosa vs. Katie Boulter

What’s the biggest surprise we’ll be talking about by Middle Sunday?

It'll be an unpopular opinion among the home fans at SW19, but I don't think Jack Draper will make a deep run this year, despite his No. 4 seeding. Marin Cilic awaits in the second round and looks a man revitalised after his recent successes on the Challenger Tour - including winning the title in Nottingham to become the Tour's oldest champion. His form coupled with the weight of home expectation on Draper's shoulders means I'm predicting an early exit for the Brit.

STEVE TIGNOR

Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?

Sinner d. Bublik; Alcaraz d. Medvedev

Champion: Alcaraz

Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?

Sabalenka d. Paolini; Swiatek d. Pegula

Champion: Swiatek

First-round matches that can't be missed:

Jenson Brooksby vs. Tallon Griekspoor, Barbora Krejcikova vs. Alexandra Eala

What’s the biggest surprise we’ll be talking about by Middle Sunday?

Daniil Medvedev has had his worst year in nearly a decade, and dropped out of the Top 10 for the first time since 2018. At 29, with a labor-intensive, defensive-minded game, he could be in permanent decline. But last week he nearly won a title on grass in Halle, and last year he beat Sinner to make the semis at Wimbledon. More important, he's in an ideal spot in the draw, in a quarter where Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev are the top seeds. Now that he's fully under the radar, let's see if the former No. 1 can put together his first deep Slam run of 2025.

JON WERTHEIM

Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?

Draper d. Sinner; Alcaraz d. Medvedev

Champion: Alcaraz

Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?

Champion: Sabalenka

First-round matches that can't be missed:

Taylor Fritz vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, McCartney Kessler vs. Marketa Vondrousova