Novak Djokovic withdrew from an exhibition match against Karen Khachanov at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, without providing any explanation. The 24-time Grand Slam champion, seeded No. 7 at Wimbledon, has not played since losing to Joao Fonseca in the third round of Roland Garros. Despite the withdrawal, Djokovic was seen training at Wimbledon on Wednesday morning, indicating he still plans to compete in the tournament starting June 29.
Djokovic's Preparation Concerns
The Serbian legend typically uses the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic as a warm-up for Wimbledon. His last-minute pullout has raised questions about his fitness and form. Khachanov faced American Martin Damm instead, losing the match. Djokovic has been managing his schedule to preserve his body for major events, and his absence from the exhibition suggests a cautious approach ahead of the Grand Slam.
Sinner Returns Wimbledon Trophy
Defending champion Jannik Sinner symbolically returned the Wimbledon men's singles trophy to the All England Club. The 24-year-old Italian won the title last year but, under club rules, cannot keep the original silver-gilt cup, which has been in use since 1887. The All England Club purchased the trophy for 100 guineas in 1887 and mandated that the cup remain club property. Winners receive a replica, introduced in 1949, which stands 13.5 inches tall compared to the 18-inch original. The real trophy is displayed at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum after the tournament.
Player Protest Over Prize Money
A group of top tennis stars, including Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff, and Aryna Sabalenka, have announced they will limit their media duties during the first week of Wimbledon as a protest. The action runs from Monday, June 29, to Sunday, July 5. The players are demanding a larger share of revenue, seeking 22% of total revenue in prize money and welfare contributions. The All England Club recently increased the prize money pot by £10.7 million (20%) to £64.2 million, but the players argue this represents only 14.4% of revenue, far below their target. They will restrict contractual media commitments to 15 minutes per player for the first week, reflecting the current prize money share of under 15%.
Wimbledon 2026 Overview
Wimbledon runs from June 29 to July 12, 2026. Defending champions are Jannik Sinner (men's) and Iga Swiatek (women's). Last year's runner-up Carlos Alcaraz will miss the tournament due to a persistent wrist injury. Serena Williams is set to make a blockbuster return to singles action. The main draw for both singles events takes place on Friday, June 26.
