The defending champion has not lost for… ten years on Center Court at Wimbledon. Who could trip him up on the London green carpet? Workforce review.
The current world number one (ranking here) has not passed the round of 16 in two appearances. But the prodigy learns quickly. The El Palmar native won the prestigious Queen’s ATP 500 losing just one set of the week. Proof that it can perform on all surfaces. And unlike Roland-Garros, which he had approached as a favorite, the 20-year-old phenomenon will have nothing to lose if he were to find Novak Djokovic for a dream final. Barred in the semi-final Porte d’Auteuil by the Serb, victim of generalized cramps, the Spaniard will not however present himself as an expiatory victim in the event of possible revenge: “For me, facing Novak in the final, it would probably be the more difficult. On grass, he does things easily, he moves really well, he hits clearly. I would say he’s not doing anything wrong. Obviously, the big favorite remains Djokovic, but my expectations are high. I will be able to put pressure on everyone, including Djokovic.
His immense talent and his escapades will have marked the fortnight in 2022. The tortured showman, who will have yelled a lot at the referee and at his clan in the final against Djokovic, recalled above all that he could be a hell of a tennis player, especially on grass. But the whimsical Australian has only played one game this season in Stuttgart in June… and lost it (against Wu Yibing). It would therefore be a small miracle to find him in the final this year, especially since he seems to be handicapped again by his knee injury. But with the unpredictable Nick Kyrgios, you never know…
The Russian, 3rd player in the world and the German, 21st, have never passed the milestone of the round of 16 at Wimbledon, respectively in four and six appearances. Uncomfortable on clay, Medvedev, the king of tough, does not have a green thumb either. “I feel like I can play well on grass. Last year, I made two finals out of the three tournaments I played (his first title in Mallorca), I just need to find my rhythm”. The German Zverev loves clay, less grass. Illustration: “I’m too big for this surface (..) I’m taking this tournament as a week of training.” Both Next Gen executives have proven in the recent past, however, that he can perform in big games.
The Briton had failed in the last four last year against Novak Djokovic. He does not approach the London Grand Slam, a priori, in the best conditions. Beaten by American Sebastian Korda in the quarter-finals at Queen’s, the left-hander is not at the height of his confidence. But playing at home could transcend this very good grass player. But from there, to succeeding Andy Murray, winner in 2013 and 2016, there is only one step..
Wimbledon remains the least successful Grand Slam tournament in the 7th world (round of 16 as the best result). And it would be surprising if he reached the last four of a Major in London for the first time. But the Russian comes out of a lost final in Halle (Germany) against Kazakh Alexander Bublik (6-3, 3-6, 6-3). The latter can play the spoilsports, even if the whimsical 26-year-old Kazakh has never passed the 3rd round of a major tournament…
And also… In big trouble in recent months, Stefanos Tsitsipas has never done better than an 8th final at Wimbledon. Holger Rune, 6th in the world, has never won a match at Church Road, but the Danish phenomenon is progressing quickly. As evidenced by his recent semi-final at Queen’s. Frances Tiafoe, who has just entered the top 10 thanks to her title in Stuttgart, is a choice outsider, like Taylor Fritz, quarter-finalist last year or Hubert Hurckacz, semi-finalist in 2021, who could create the sensation. At the Blues we do not dream too high. Even if Adrian Mannarino and Ugo Humbert, very comfortable on grass, can dream… of a second week.