Pablo Carreño Busta Faces Denis Shapovalov in Wimbledon 2026 First Round
Pablo Carreño Busta will face Denis Shapovalov in the first round of the Wimbledon Championships on Monday, June 29, 2026, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. The Spaniard enters the Grass-Court Grand Slam following a fourth-round exit at the French Open, where he lost to Rafael Jodar in five sets on June 5.
Carreño Busta holds a 6-2 lead in the head-to-head record against Shapovalov, including a straight-sets win at the Dubai Tennis Championships on February 12, 2026. The 35-year-old Spaniard seeks his first Wimbledon main-draw victory since 2021, having skipped the 2025 edition due to injury.
Shapovalov, 28, has struggled on grass this season, posting a 1-2 record in 2026. Carreño Busta, meanwhile, will play his first grass-court match of the year at Wimbledon. Their most recent clash on grass came at Wimbledon 2021, where Carreño Busta won in four sets.
Oddsmakers favor Shapovalov at 2.30 to 2.80, despite Carreño Busta’s historical edge. Analysts predict a five-set thriller, citing both players’ endurance and inconsistent serving. Tipsters recommend betting on at least one tie-breaker and over 40 total games.
The 2026 Wimbledon singles champion will earn £3,600,000, with the first-round match broadcast live on ESPN (USA), BBC (UK), and Star Sports (India). Carreño Busta, ranked 18th globally, aims to improve his 24-12 win-loss record this season and reach his third Wimbledon quarterfinal.