Serena Williams will make her return to grand slam tennis with a first-round match against Australian Maya Joint at Wimbledon.
Having launched a comeback this month in doubles at the age of 44, it was announced last weekend that Williams had taken the final wild card into the women’s singles.
The 23-time grand slam singles champion last played a singles match nearly four years ago at the US Open in what had appeared to be her farewell to the sport.
Both world number one Aryna Sabalenka and reigning champion Iga Swiatek, neither of whom are in good form, have been handed tough paths.
As well as Briton Emma Raducanu and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in her section, Sabalenka could meet Naomi Osaka in the fourth round and Roland Garros winner Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals.
Swiatek, meanwhile, opens against American Taylor Townsend, could play former finalist Karolina Pliskova in the second round and Williams or rising Filipino star Alexandra Eala in round three.
Defending men’s champion Jannik Sinner takes on Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic first up in his first match since since a shock second-round exit at the French Open.
He is in the same half as Novak Djokovic, who meets China’s Wu Yibing.
French Open champion Alexander Zverev faces a potentially tricky opener against young Belgian Alexander Blockx, while two standout draws were Stan Wawrinka, in his final Wimbledon, playing Matteo Berrettini and Daniil Medvedev taking on another former finalist in Marin Cilic.
Cameron Norrie is Britain’s only seed in the men’s draw at 26th and he faces American qualifier Michael Zheng, with third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime a potential third-round opponent.
Jack Draper was at the mercy of the draw after dropping well down the rankings and the former world number four faces a blockbuster opener against sixth seed Taylor Fritz, who reached the semi-finals last year.
It was generally a tough draw for the home players, with five others meeting seeds.
Oliver Tarvet faced Carlos Alcaraz on Centre Court last year and his reward for coming through qualifying again is a clash with 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech, while fellow qualifier Billy Harris meets 19th seed Karen Khachanov.
Toby Samuel, who plays in the semi-finals at Eastbourne later on Friday, has drawn 15th seed and French Open semi-finalist Jakub Mensik, and fellow debutant Felix Gill meets rising Spanish star Rafael Jodar, the 23rd seed.
Hannah Klugman, 17 has an eye-catching first match against former champion Barbora Krejcikova.
Another 17-year-old, Mika Stojsavljevic, takes on 11th seed and last year’s semi-finalist Belinda Bencic, with Harriet Dart facing Ostapenko.
