3 minute read
With a question mark over seven-time champion Novak Djokovic, titleholder Carlos Alcaraz and world No.1 Jannik Sinner could steal the Wimbledon headlines.
HOW THE LEADING MEN'S CONTENDERS AND BEST AUSSIE HOPE SHAPE UP FOR WIMBLEDON:
JANNIK SINNER (ITA)
Age: 22
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US22,667,036
Career titles: 14
Grand slam titles: 1 (Australian Open 2024)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 9-3
Best Wimbledon result: semi-finalist 2023
After breaking his grand slam duck in Melbourne, the world No.1 confirmed his Wimbledon title favouritism with a fourth title of the year in Halle, a tournament Roger Federer made his own during his long grass-court reign.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB)
Age: 37
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US182,494,969
Career titles: 98
Grand slam titles: 24 (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, 2023)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 92-11
Best Wimbledon results: champion 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022; finalist 2013, 2023
The seven-times champion and nine-times finalist has been under an injury cloud since withdrawing from the French Open quarter-finals but, if fit, will again take a power of stopping.
CARLOS ALCARAZ (ESP)
Age: 21
Ranking: 3
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US31,578,625
Career titles: 14
Grand slam titles: 3 (US Open 2022; Wimbledon 2023; French Open 2024)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 11-2
Best Wimbledon result: champion 2023
The defending champion is the youngest player ever to win slams on three different surfaces after adding the Roland Garros trophy to his growing collection. A huge threat.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV (GER)
Age: 27
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US43,315,987
Career titles: 22
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 13-7
Best Wimbledon results: fourth round 2017, 2021
The best player without a major continues edging closer. Runner-up at Roland Garros, the German made a successful transition to grass with a run to the semi-finals at Halle after twice making the last four at Wimbledon.
DANIIL MEDVEDEV (RUS)
Age: 28
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US41,047,137
Career titles: 20
Grand slam titles: 1 (US Open 2021)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 13-5
Best Wimbledon result: semi-finalist 2023
The Russian used to reckon grass was for cows but a charge to last year's semis has changed his mind. Went within a set of winning the Australian Open and can never be counted out at the slams.
HUBERT HURKACZ (POL)
Age: 27
Ranking: 7
Plays: right-handed
Career prize money: $US15,712,181
Career titles: 8
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 10-5
Best Wimbledon result: semi-finalist 2021
The man who ended Federer's storied Wimbledon career warmed up nicely for the grass-court major with a run to the final at Halle. Seeded to make at least the quarter-finals.
BEST OUTSIDER
TAYLOR FRITZ (USA)
Age: 26
Ranking: 13
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US15,976,068
Career titles: 7
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 9-7
Best Wimbledon result: quarter-finalist 2022
Almost ended Rafael Nadal's grand slam streak at the All England Club two years ago and arrives for his latest tilt on the back of a charge to the Eastbourne title decider.
BEST AUSSIE HOPE
ALEX DE MINAUR
Age: 25
Ranking: 9
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US13,640,460
Career titles: 9
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 7-5
Best Wimbledon result: fourth round 2022
A different player these days following a series of victories over top-10 stars and his own foray to a career-high seventh in the rankings. Has the grass-court game to go very deep.
