HOW THE LEADING MEN’S CONTENDERS AND TOP AUSSIE HOPES SHAPE UP FOR WIMBLEDON:
NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB)
Age: 36
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US169,762,762
Career titles: 94
Grand slam titles: 23 (Australian Open 2008, 2011-2013, 2015-16, 2019-21, 2023; French Open 2016, 2021, 2023; Wimbledon 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022; US Open 2011, 2015, 2018)
Wimbledon win-loss file: 86-10
Best Wimbledon end result: champion 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
The most prolific males’s grand slam winner in tennis historical past. Following his newest French Open heroics, the Serb is now an odds-on favorite to match Margaret Court’s all-time tally of 24 singles majors with a mind-boggling eighth Wimbledon triumph.
CARLOS ALCARAZ (ESP)
Age: 20
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US16,734,337
Career titles: 11
Grand slam titles: 1 (US Open 2022)
Wimbledon win-loss file: 4-2
Best Wimbledon end result: fourth spherical 2022
Having as soon as once more usurped Djokovic from the highest of the world rankings along with his watershed title win at Queen’s Club in mid-June, the Spanish wunderkind seems to be the perfect positioned of a dwindling variety of gamers able to difficult the Serbian on London’s fabled grass courts.
DANIIL MEDVEDEV (RUS)
Age: 27
Ranking: 3
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US31,495,691
Career titles: 20
Grand slam titles: 1 (US Open 2021)
Wimbledon win-loss file: 8-4
Best Wimbledon end result: fourth spherical 2021
The temperamental former world No.1 is again after being controversially banned final yr due to Russia’s conflict on Ukraine. How he fares is anyone’s guess after his repeated moans about his dislike for grass-court tennis.
CASPER RUUD (NOR)
Age: 24
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US15,411,069
Career titles: 10
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss file: 1-3
Best Wimbledon end result: second spherical 2022
Nine of the Scandinavian’s 10 profession titles have come on clay, the opposite on a tough court docket, nevertheless it’s harmful to dismiss the probabilities of any participant who has made three grand slam finals in a yr. Seeded to make the semi-finals.
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS (GRE)
Age: 24
Ranking: 5
Plays: right-handed
Career prize cash: $US26,447,416
Career titles: 9
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss file: 5-5
Best Wimbledon end result: fourth spherical 2018
The Greek ace loved one other constant clay-court season however received just one match on grass getting into the championships and has but to make the quarter-finals at SW19. Gifted sufficient to go deep if he can hold his head collectively.
TAYLOR FRITZ (USA)
Age: 25
Ranking: 9
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US12,326,740
Career titles: 5
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss file: 8-6
Best Wimbledon end result: quarter-finalist 2022
Showcased his grass-court credentials with a run to the last-eight in 2022, falling in an epic five-setter to the nice Rafael Nadal after making the Eastbourne last. His large serve is a big weapon on the London lawns.
BEST OUTSIDER
SEBASTIAN KORDA (USA)
Age: 22
Ranking: 25
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US3,411,995
Career titles: 1
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss file: 3-1
Best Wimbledon end result: fourth spherical 2021
Hailing from arguably the world’s most gifted sporting household, the American beat a succession of achieved grass-courters en path to the Queen’s Club semi-finals earlier than coming unstuck in opposition to Alcaraz. Blessed with an exquisite all-round recreation, he might be harmful.
BEST AUSSIE HOPES
NICK KYRGIOS
Age: 28
Ranking: 33
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US12,486,696
Career titles: 7
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss file: 20-8
Best Wimbledon end result: finalist 2022
Remains below excessive doubt having performed just one match all yr, an underwhelming straight-sets loss to world No.64 Wibing Yu a fortnight in the past in Stuttgart earlier than complaining of knee soreness. A confirmed grass-court performer.
ALEX DE MINAUR
Age: 24
Ranking: 16
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US9,324,161
Career titles: 7
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss file: 6-4
Best Wimbledon end result: fourth spherical 2022
Riding excessive on confidence after surging to the ultimate at Queen’s, the place solely the world No.1 might cease him. Enjoyed his first foray to Wimbledon’s second week final yr and received a grass-court title at Eastbourne in 2021. Capable of a deep run.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
