WIMBLEDON Q&A: Is the SW19 title really Novak Djokovic's to lose?

WIMBLEDON Q&A: Is the SW19 title really Novak Djokovic’s to lose? Who are his biggest challengers for the crown alongside Carlos Alcaraz? And how far can Andy Murray go?

• Novak Djokovic will aim to retain his Wimbledon crown and win his eighth title
• Andy Murray could have a deep run in a tournament he hasn’t won since 2016
• Carlos Alcaraz is Djokovic’s biggest headache following a decent clay season

The clay season has officially come to a close with Novak Djokovic and Iga Switaek crowned as this year’s French Open champions.

Now, the tennis world turns its attention to the oldest tournament in the sport, Wimbledon. 

Djokovic will be hoping to defend his title and it’s hard to bet against him with the form he’s in.

But there are a whole host of names snapping at his heels.  

Mail Sport’s Mike Dickson is on hand to give you a run down of everything you need to know before the qualifiers commence on Monday, including the biggest threats to the Serbian legend.

Novak Djokovic is the defending Wimbledon champion and has seven titles to his name

The men’s title is Djokovic’s to lose, right? 

He has certainly taken a relaxed approach so far, having a family holiday in Portugal before arriving in Wimbledon this weekend to begin his preparations in earnest. He will play an exhibition match in London this week versus Frances Tiafoe, and a similar build-up worked for him last year. 

Certainly he looks to merit his odds-on status and, as he showed at the French Open, nobody navigates the pressures of best-of-five like the Serb. 

Plus he is now released from the pressure of his duel with Rafael Nadal, having overtaken in him in Grand Slam titles. Grass can, however, produce surprises, especially in the first week.

What sort of shape are his challengers in?

Carlos Alcaraz will be delighted with his week, and if he were to meet Djokovic at SW19 is sure to have learned from Roland Garros, where the tension caused him to cramp. Otherwise not good. 

Two of Djokovic’s biggest headaches from recent years, Matteo Berrettini and Nick Kyrgios, are unlikely to much of a threat. Kyrgios is still struggling after his long lay-off with knee issues and the Italian pulled out of Queen’s with a stomach injury. 

Both are far from certain to play at Wimbledon, and of course Nadal is already a long-term absentee.

Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz is Djokovic’s biggest threat and is ranked No2 in the world by the ATP 

The story of the grass so far?

The sport’s most idiosyncratic (and hardest to prepare) surface continues to defy the doom-mongers, and tournaments have been going on around Europe, from northern Germany to Mallorca, financially supported by Wimbledon. 

As ever, the results show that while some players very much like it, there are plenty who view it with suspicion. And again true to form, some of the Brits have been taking advantage of this and notched some decent wins. Nobody has yet to emerge from left field, although Alex de Minaur was impressive at Queen’s.

 Nick Kyrgios isn’t expected to pose much of a threat to Djokovic but shouldn’t be written off 

How far can Andy Murray realistically go?

The heart says that, given his experience and know-how on grass, he could make a deep run. Barring a flurry of late withdrawals he will not enjoy a seeding and so will be at the mercy of the draw. 

The hard evidence of the season is that at 36 Murray will struggle to string together a prolonged series of wins against top opposition. Still capable of big one-off victories, that scenario is more likely these days. No player will relish having their name near him when the draw is made on Friday morning.

Is Norrie Britain’s only prospect of getting into the second week?

In the absence of Jack Draper, the GB men’s number one is probably the best, but not the only, hope. He knows he can do it after making the semis last year. Following a strong start to the season he has been no more than solid in the regular tour events, but as he pointed out at Queen’s he is a serious handful over best-of-five.

Dan Evans has the capability to do well on grass, but the best thing that can be said is that he has less pressure on him this year after a poor 2023 to date.

Andy Murray is a two-time Wimbledon champion and could make a deep run in this year

With Raducanu absent, who will bring the British star power to the women’s side?

Some decent results on the grass (the real test is on other surfaces) sees an interesting clutch of six GB women now back in the world’s top 150. Of these the most potent ball striker is GB number one Katie Boulter, capable of beating virtually anyone on her day. 

Sometimes this group seem rather too preoccupied with their Instagram feeds, and it would be great if someone could emerge to really back that up with some serious wins. On the grass it is not impossible.

Does women’s tennis now have a big three – Swiatek, Rybakina and Sabalenka?

That has definitely looked the case this year, and if Rybakina was awarded points for her 2022 title the trio would be way ahead of the rest, rankingwise. The big question is whether Swiatek believes she can do it on the grass. 

Sabalenka is a formidable athlete and very watchable (if unlistenable), while Rybakina has the best pure game for grass. In the best of three format all can be vulnerable and Coco Gauff, arguably the most recognisable face in the WTA right now, will be among the dangers.

French Open champion Iga Swiatek is the favourite to dethrone Elena Rybakina in London 

Who’s gone under the radar but can make a big impression – in the men’s and women’s?

Now 33, twice champion Petra Kvitova, a southpaw, has unobtrusively got back into the top ten and there are few who can match her easy power in these conditions.

Kazakh Alexander Bublik is a crowdpleasing Kyrgios-type performer with bags of talent and is in form. Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff has had a great year and looks an absolute bargain with the bookies.

Elena Rybakina is the defending Wimbledon women’s singles champion and world No3

Any clouds on the horizon?

The participation of the many good players from Russia and Belarus does not sit well with many, and it is entirely feasible that one of them will reach a singles final or even win it. The women’s locker room has been a fractious place all year, and the Ukrainian female players have been desperately unhappy. The geopolitical situation continues to be a tinderbox, and its highest profile sporting expression is in tennis. Expect to hear plenty about it.

The All England Club, which has to manage more than 500,000 spectators over the fortnight, is also on high alert for disruption from climate change activists.

Source: Read Full Article