By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
Five Key Storylines to Follow at Wimbledon
Strawberries Pimm's The Hill. The Queue And, most importantly, the world's finest players battling it out on the ultimate test of grass court tennis. Wimbledon, one of the crown jewels of the British sporting calendar, returns when the Championships begin on Monday.
Raducanu Returns
A year ago, Emma Raducanu's Wimbledon experience was limited to making hospitality appearances for her sponsors. The 21 year old Briton missed her home Grand Slam due to surgeries on both wrists and an ankle but returns this year with a smile on her face and some promising form.
"It was really hard last year because you would walk through the player tunnel, see your peers going to practice, going to play their match," said the 2021 US Open champion. "Being on the other side just really stung. It wasn't nice and I didn't really watch any of the tennis either."
Raducanu skipped the French Open to focus on being fit and ready for the British grass season, a move that appears to have paid off. She reached the semi-finals in Nottingham and the quarter finals in Eastbourne, including a win over American world number five Jessica Pegula. "I think I'm in a really good place," Raducanu said. "I did a good chunk of work at the end of the year to get back and healthy. I've continued that work throughout this year. I feel good in my body. There are no doubts."
Murray Prepares to Say Farewell
Ending a professional tennis career is rarely perfect, and Andy Murray knows this well. The British icon, who ended the nation's 77 year wait for a home men's singles champion in 2013, has seen his hopes of a Wimbledon farewell hindered by injury.
Since suggesting in March he would not play much past this summer, the 37 year old Scot has faced numerous fitness problems. The latest is a back problem requiring surgery on a spinal cyst, casting doubt on his ability to play singles one final time.
If not fit to play in the first round on Tuesday, he might still have a touching swansong with his older brother Jamie in the men's doubles later in the week. "I'm just trying to do what I can, trying to keep progressing each day," said Murray, who has been drawn against Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic. "Whether there’s enough time or not, I don’t know, but I’m trying."
Draper Picking Up the Baton
At the start of his career, Murray emerged to pick up the baton from Tim Henman as Britain's leading men's player and carry the nation's hopes at Wimbledon. There is a parallel to be drawn with Murray and Jack Draper.
Draper has long been seen as Murray's heir and is now achieving the results many expected of him. The 22 year old's rise to British number one came after his first ATP title in Stuttgart and a notable victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz at Queen's.
"Andy has been a huge inspiration to me," said Draper, who is seeded 28th. "It started off with me watching him on TV, and on the bigger stages here. If I can have an amazing career like Andy, I will be extremely proud of that." Draper and Katie Boulter, the only British seeds in the men's and women's singles, head a list of 19 home singles players at Wimbledon, the highest number this century.
'Superhuman' Djokovic Ready to Defy Expectations
Defying expectations and proving doubters wrong is Novak Djokovic's fuel. His greatest example is coming from behind to surpass both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in total Grand Slam victories. Winning a record equalling eighth Wimbledon men's title after having knee surgery on June 5 would be another astonishing feat.
"I didn't come here to play a few rounds," said the 37 year old Serb. "I really want to go for the title. I don't see myself holding back."
Despite his recent surgery, Djokovic remains a strong contender, described as "superhuman" by defending champion Alcaraz. However, the 21 year old Spaniard is still considered the title favorite, with recent Wimbledon semi finalist Jannik Sinner not far behind.
'Anybody's Game' in the Women's Draw
The absence of seven time champion Serena Williams has led to a rotating cast of Wimbledon winners in recent years. Each of the past six women's singles champions has lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish for the first time, and it wouldn't be surprising if that trend continued this year.
Only two previous winners are seeded, defending champion Marketa Vondrousova, who has been an injury doubt, and 2022 winner Elena Rybakina. Other leading players also face uncertainties. Belarusian third seed Aryna Sabalenka, favored by many, has cast doubt on her chances due to a "rare" shoulder injury. Poland's Iga Swiatek, reigning as the 'Queen of Clay,' has never gone past the quarter finals at Wimbledon and admits she still needs to improve on grass.
American second seed Coco Gauff, who lost in the first round last year, notes that the carousel of recent champions means it is "anybody's game."