Wimbledon 2026 Favourites Named by ESPN Analysts Patrick McEnroe and Mary Joe Fernandez

With Wimbledon 2026 fast approaching, ESPN tennis analysts Patrick McEnroe and Mary Joe Fernandez have identified their leading contenders for glory at the All England Club, with defending champion Jannik Sinner emerging as the standout pick on the men's side.

Sinner heads to SW19 as the reigning Wimbledon champion and world No. 1, having further strengthened his credentials over the past 12 months. 

Sinner the Man to Beat 

For McEnroe, the Italian is the clear man to beat.

“On the men, I mean, there's no doubt who the favourite is at Sinner,” said McEnroe in a one-on-one interview with SportsBoom.com.

“I mean, he's the clear favourite. I would probably put Djokovic at the moment as a second favourite because I thought he, you know, played pretty well in Paris even though he lost early. But I thought he played three quality matches, so that's going to give him confidence.”

While recent French Open champion Alexander Zverev arrives in London with momentum after securing his maiden Grand Slam title and defeating compatriot Yannick Hanfmann at the Halle Open, McEnroe is not convinced the German should be among the leading favourites on grass.

“Zverev, I would not put as a favourite. I would put [Taylor] Fritz ahead of him. Fritz just beat him in a close match. I would probably put [Ben] Shelton slightly ahead of him. Other than that, as favourites go, it's hard to find. Felix [Auger-Aliassime], I don't think I would put him as a favourite. He'll be seeded high; he's ranked high. I don't think he's that comfortable on grass. He's had some decent results. It's Sinner, and then it's everyone else is the bottom line.”

McEnroe also highlighted a potential dark horse capable of making a deep run at Wimbledon. 

The former world No. 3 believes Czech youngster Jakub Mensik possesses all the attributes needed to thrive on grass.

“On the men's side, someone who could make a run outside, I look at someone like, He beat Fonseca. He lost to Zverev in the semis [at the 2026 French Open]. Mensik, I think, could be a heck of a player on grass with the way he serves, his athleticism, and hits the ball huge,” he told SportsBoom.com.

Rybakina Gets McEnroe's Vote on Women's Side

On the women's side, McEnroe believes former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina is the player best suited to lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish this year.

“Rybakina would be my favourite, although Sabalenka may be the odds maker favourite, I don't know. I've mentioned a couple of times [Iva] Jovic as an outsider.”

Fernandez’s Predictions

The women's draw has often produced surprises on grass, with nine different champions crowned in the last nine editions of Wimbledon. 

That unpredictability is one reason why Fernandez believes several players could emerge as genuine contenders.

“I think [American Jessica] Pegula could do really well. If Madison Keys gets hot, she can do well. [Filipina Alexandra]Eala hits the ball early, hits the ball flat, and moves well. She could be dangerous," Fernandez told SportsBoom.com. 

Fernandez also pointed to several in-form players who could make their presence felt during the fortnight.

“We'll see. [Czech Republic’s Linda] Noskova, who won the [Berlin Open] tournament. [Ukrainian Marta] Kostyuk played really well the last few months, and could do some damage. There are a lot of possibilities. Even though Rybakina and Sabalenka didn't win a title going into Wimbledon, I still think you put them ahead of the field.”

Adding further intrigue to this year's championships is the return of Serena Williams. 

The former world No. 1 has accepted a wildcard into the singles draw and is also set to compete in doubles alongside sister Venus Williams.

With 23 Grand Slam singles titles to her name, including seven Wimbledon crowns, Serena's return gives the tournament another fascinating storyline, even as a new generation battles for the sport's most prestigious title.

As Wimbledon 2026 gets underway, McEnroe and Fernandez agree that Sinner and Rybakina enter the tournament among the leading favourites. 

However, with grass courts traditionally producing shocks and breakthrough performances, both draws appear packed with dangerous challengers capable of upsetting the established order.