You don’t normally get matches like this in Round 1 of a Grand Slam.
Former World No. 4 Jack Draper will take on No. 7 seed Taylor Fritz at the All England Club on Tuesday morning (approx. 10 a.m. ET).
Fritz is a -175 favorite to win the match.
Wimbledon: Fritz vs. Draper odds, picks
At their best, these are two of the best players in the world. That said, there are significant questions for both combatants to answer over the backstretch of the 2026 campaign.
Thanks to inconsistent form and injuries, Fritz has meandered through 2026, as off-court drama has overshadowed on-court results for the most part.
He started the campaign on decent footing, reaching the Round of 16 at the Australian Open and then going to the finals of ATP Dallas, but he essentially traded wins and losses for the next three months, and he barely played during the clay-court season. He was eliminated at first asking in Roland Garros by World No. 148 Nishesh Basavareddy.
The 28-year-old has found some form on the grass, a surface that really suits him, but he’ll be up against another smooth operator on the lawn in Draper on Tuesday.
While Fritz has dealt with inconsistency on the court, Draper’s issue is the same as it’s always been in his career. He just can’t stay healthy.
It looked like the Englishman turned a corner last year when he won the Indian Wells Masters, but more injuries plagued him in 2026. He played just one match during the clay-court season, retiring in the third set of his first match in Barcelona.
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Draper has looked more like himself recently, though.
The 24-year-old won three matches to reach the semifinals of ATP Eastbourne, sweeping all three opponents until he fell to Ugo Humbert in just under two hours.
Most importantly, Draper looks fully healthy ahead of the fortnight at the All England Club.
Fritz’s serve will be the best weapon on display in this match, but it’s Draper’s all-around game that’s worth backing here. He’s quick on his feet and able to adapt to the conditions of a match much better than the Californian.
He’ll also have the backing of the crowd, as he represents England’s best chance in this tournament.
In a match like this, where you can see it going in a million different directions, it’s best to back the underdog. Especially when they have a ceiling as high as Draper’s.
The Play: Draper moneyline (+138, DraftKings)
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
