3 minute read
A number of the world's best players have arrived in London under an injury cloud including defending Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.
HOW THE LEADING WOMEN'S CONTENDERS AND BEST AUSSIE HOPE SHAPE UP FOR WIMBLEDON:
IGA SWIATEK (POL)
Age: 23
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US31,276,512
Career titles: 22
Grand slam titles: 5 (French Open 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024; US Open 2022)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 9-4
Best Wimbledon result: quarter-finalist 2023
The game's dominant force has yet to make her mark on the All England Club's grass courts but arrives this year riding a 19-match winning streak and on the back of her best run yet in 2023.
COCO GAUFF (USA)
Age: 20
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US14,854,767
Career titles: 7
Grand slam titles: 1 (US Open 2023)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 9-4
Best Wimbledon results: fourth round 2019, 2021
Five years after bursting on to the world stage with a stunning Wimbledon win over five-times champion Venus Williams, the world No.2 is truly a force to be reckoned with and confirmed her credentials with a run to the Berlin grass-court semi-final.
ARYNA SABALENKA (BLR)
Age: 26
Ranking: 3
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US24,114,054
Career titles: 14
Grand slam titles: 2 (Australian Open 2023, 2024)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 11-5
Best Wimbledon results: semi-finalist 2021, 2023
The once erratic Belarusian has morphed into a grand slam champion and one of the most consistent performers on tour but is under a fitness cloud after withdrawing from Berlin with a shoulder problem.
ELENA RYBAKINA (KAZ)
Age: 25
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US14,149,000
Career titles: 8
Grand slam titles: 1 (Wimbledon 2022)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 14-2
Best Wimbledon result: champion 2022
The former champ has already proven she has the explosive game and booming serve to conquer SW19 but comes in injured after pulling out of Berlin with an abdominal strain.
MARKETA VONDROUSOVA (CZE)
Age: 24
Ranking: 6
Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US10,378,026
Career titles: 2
Grand slam titles: 1 (Wimbledon 2023)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 8-4
Best Wimbledon result: champion 2023
The Czech titleholder is yet another with an injury question mark after she slipped over during her second round clash in Berlin and retired two games later.
ONS JABEUR (TUN)
Age: 29
Ranking: 10
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US13,267,780
Career titles: 5
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 17-6
Best Wimbledon results: finalist 2022, 2023
The Tunisian won't be lacking in motivation after last year's heart-breaking, second straight finals defeat. But she is yet another Berlin casualty, retiring from her quarter-final through illness.
BEST OUTSIDER
MADISON KEYS (USA)
Age: 29
Ranking: 13
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US18,254,600
Career titles: 8
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 22-9
Best Wimbledon results: quarter-finalist 2015, 2023
The big-hitting American warmed up nicely with a charge to the Eastbourne semi-finals and has long been a proven threat on the hallowed London grass courts.
BEST AUSSIE HOPE
AJLA TOMLJANOVIC
Age: 31
Ranking: 136
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US6,173,054
Career titles: 1
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 10-7
4-8
Best Wimbledon results: quarter-finalist 2021, 2022
The unseeded two-time quarter-finalist finally believes again after putting an 18- month injury-run behind her and making the title match at Eastbourne to place her rivals on notice.
