Wimbledon 2024 Preview: ATP, WTA Males’s and Girls’s Draw Evaluation
Within the Wimbledon 2024 preview, the primary tennis males’s and ladies’s gamers on the planet have tumbled right into a sticky draw, whereas tennis icons Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray caught some luck.
Coming out: World primary Jannik Sinner might need to face former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini. Matteo’s rating in all probability belies his precise type. The nation of Italy doesn’t approve.
In the meantime, girls’s present chief Iga Swiatek has plunged right into a pint of former Grand Slam winners, together with final yr’s Wimbledon champ Marketa Vondrousova. Not straightforward for Iga.
However that’s the way in which the Wimbledon 2024 draw preview shakes out.
To the evaluation…
Wimbledon 2024 Preview: Djokovic, Murray Draw Tuesday Begin
Former Wimbledon Champions Djokovic and Murray are each coming off surgical procedure. Neither have formally confirmed participation, however each allowed themselves to be within the draw. Luckily, they fell into the underside half, giving them an additional day to check their match health.
Therapeutic from a torn meniscus, Djokovic has stated he gained’t compete until he thinks he can win his eighth Wimbledon.
Murray, who had a cyst faraway from his again final week, needs to place a laced-up sneaker onto the sacred grass of Wimbledon yet one more time earlier than he retires.
Each these iconic gamers have landed within the backside quarter. The Djokovic draw is pretty easy, starting with Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva, till the closing arguments of the event.
Holger Rune and Alex DeMinaur are gamers who’ve overwhelmed Djokovic in latest months– solely to have the GOAT avenge these contests.
Extra troublesome– you’d assume– can be Hubert Hurkacz, who famously took out Roger Federer in his final Wimbledon. Hubi is on the bookend of this part. However look once more. Djokovic instructions a 7-0 file vs Hurkacz, together with a Spherical of 16 defeat final yr. Nonetheless, Hurkacz isn’t intimidated by GOATs.
The true query is whether or not Novak actually needs to play. His said aim is the Olympics. Does it make sense to do that on slippery grass so quickly after surgical procedure? The last word competitor, it have to be such a tricky name inside his head.
In an eerie accident, Murray will tackle Tomas Machac. Hardcore tennis followers will recall that Murray’s final actually nice match was towards Machac at this yr’s Miami Open. It was traditional Andy. He gave it every part and continued to grind after twisting his ankle. That harm set off a cascade of well being issues. And right here we’re. If he can’t handle singles, Murray has stated doubles along with his brother Jamie might be a particular Wimbledon finale for him.
Wimbledon 2024 Preview: Sinner Quarter
Again up on the prime of the draw, the Wimbledon 2024 preview options the potential all-Italian conflict in Spherical 2. However Sinner additionally drew what I name the next-best– the best seed that isn’t a High 4. That’s Daniil Medvedev. In line with scouts watching observe, Meddy is experimenting with a close-in return place for this Wimbledon. He does that generally, however to persistently do that will be a departure from his way-back methods. It is smart for this floor.
Different names of notice on this part: Nicolas Jarry, a giant server with good grass expertise, lefty Ben Shelton and Grigor Dimitrov.
Sinner vs Medvedev, a rematch of this yr’s Australian Open last, wouldn’t be a straightforward quarterfinal for Jannik. The H2H is 6-5 in favor of Meddy, however Sinner has gained the final 5. Daniil will likely be seeking to halt that one-way site visitors.
That match is a robust chance, and I actually wished to choose Medvedev to win that match, as a result of I consider what goes up should come down. However trying on the stats, Medvedev’s serving numbers have plummeted. The ATP’s total metric places him at #37 on the planet, whereas Sinner has risen to #3. Meddy is beneath 50% on second serve factors gained. He wants to repair that. So for now, the stats compel me to go together with Sinner, who simply gained Halle, to come back by way of.
Carlos Alcaraz Quarter
Roland Garros 2024 champion Carlos Alcaraz has the simplest draw of the Wimbledon 2024 preview. Final yr’s Wimby champ will get Casper Ruud, a notoriously poor grass court docket participant, as a possible quarterfinalist. However who’re we kidding? Casper has by no means made it previous the 2nd spherical of Wimbledon.
For my part, probably the most troublesome participant on this part for Carlitos is Tommy Paul, who simply gained Queen’s. However successful each Queen’s and Wimbledon is uncommon. Tommy’s obtained loads swirling round him currently because the newly top-ranked American. Knocking off Alcaraz is a giant ask. It might be an incredible match, although, as a result of Carlitos likes to hit the drop shot, and no person can run ‘em down like Tommy Paul.
Zverev Quarter
Alexander Zverev has actually developed into an all-surface participant. He has a surprisingly good 66% success charge on grass. His serve, proper now, is otherworldly. His court docket case drama is behind him. All he appears to lack is the arrogance to recover from the Grand Slam end line. His defeat by the hands of Alcaraz within the French Open last was his newest stumbling block. On this quarter, lefty Brit Jack Draper would appear an upset particular, however unfavorable crowds don’t appear to hassle Alex.
On the different finish of this quarter is Andrey Rublev, who has been emotionally challenged of late. Stefanos Tsitsipas, along with his lack of slice on the backhand wing, doesn’t play properly at Wimbledon. Alejandro Tabilo is on the come-up, however that is better of 5. He’s younger. The one different actual risk is Taylor Fritz. This big-serving American loves grass, and I sense he’s hungry.
Zverev leads the Fritz H2H 5-3, but it surely’s gone Zverev-Fritz-Zverev-Fritz, and now it’s Taylor’s flip. (That’s a little bit of a joke.) Truthfully, when doubtful at Wimbledon, I give the sting to the higher volleyer, and that’s Alex.
Gamers to observe:
QF: Sinner, Alcaraz, Zverev, Hurkacz
SF: Alcaraz, Hurkacz
F: Alcaraz
*****
Wimbledon Preview 2024: Girls’s Draw
As talked about, Iga Swiatek has some crackerjacks in her quarter, together with former Australian Open champ Sofia Kenin within the first spherical. Iga has additionally drawn Jelena Ostapenko in her part. That’s an issue. The go-for-broke Latvian has a 4-0 file towards the world primary. And he or she bounced Iga from final yr’s U.S. Open.
As well as, Swiatek might probably face nothing-to-lose Danielle Collins and adept spot-server Barbora Krejikova earlier than a possible matchup with Vondrousova within the quarterfinals. Phew. On condition that grass is her worst floor, that’s a problem for Iga. If she makes it by way of that, Elena Rybakina awaits.
Rybakina gained Wimbledon in 2022. Her drawback this yr appears to be sickness and fatigue, not essentially harm. However she loves the grass, and the factors are quick right here. She will unload on her massive serve and forehand.
Ons Jabeur is on this quarter, however she’s nonetheless shaking off the ghosts of final yr’s Wimbledon meltdown. Elina Svitolina, Katie Boulter and Jessica Pegula are different notable names right here.
Aryna Sabalenka has a reasonably easy draw. Her big-babe serve ought to play properly right here. Mirra Andreeva might be a problem, however aside from that, it needs to be hopscotch chalk for Aryna.
Lastly, together with her hard-earned quantity two seed, Coco Gauff is on the other facet of the draw from her albatross Swiatek. That would free her up a bit. Coco might need to take care of Madison Keys, Marta Kostyuk and human spark plug Jasmine Paolini, however she has grass-court expertise to go together with her youthful motion.
Gamers to observe:
The Massive 4
QF: Swiatek, Rybakina, Sabalenka, Gauff
SF: Rybakina, Sabalenka
F: Sabalenka
