Back at Wimbledon and the focus of the photographers: Carlos Alcaraz.
Image: Keystone
After reaching the semi-finals last year, he is now aiming for more: world number 1 Jannik Sinner.
Image: Keystone
His health is the big unknown, but he was happy in training: seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic.
Image: Keystone
Never really got into his stride on grass: Alexander Zverev.
Image: Keystone
The queen in Paris, never better than the quarter-finals at Wimbledon: Iga Swiatek, the women's No. 1
Image: Keystone
Back at Wimbledon and the focus of the photographers: Carlos Alcaraz.
Image: Keystone
After reaching the semi-finals last year, he is now aiming for more: world number 1 Jannik Sinner.
Image: Keystone
His health is the big unknown, but he was happy in training: seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic.
Image: Keystone
Never really got into his stride on grass: Alexander Zverev.
Image: Keystone
The queen in Paris, never better than the quarter-finals at Wimbledon: Iga Swiatek, the women's No. 1
Image: Keystone
Just three weeks after his triumphant victory in Paris, Carlos Alcaraz returns to Wimbledon as defending champion. At just over 21 years of age, he is already competing against the greats of history.
No time? blue Sport summarizes for you
- The grass court tournament in Wimbledon is coming up.
- The top favorites for the title are defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, world number 1 Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, who recently had to withdraw from the French Open due to knee problems.
- In the women's tournament, there is a lot to be said for the superior world No. 1 Iga Swiatek - but she has never been able to impress on the Wimbledon grass so far. A victory by an outsider would come as no surprise.
Only the very greatest have managed the French Open-Wimbledon double with a quick switch from clay to grass: in the professional era, this was Björn Borg three times, Rafael Nadal twice and Rod Laver, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic once each. So Carlos Alcaraz is about to follow in some very big footsteps.
A year ago, the exceptional talent from Murcia showed what he can do on grass by winning the preparatory tournament at Queen's and confirmed this with a magnificent five-set victory over Novak Djokovic in the final at Wimbledon. This time, however, he failed in the 2nd round at Queen's.
Perhaps this is why Alcaraz is only ranked No. 2 by the bookmakers. In Paris, shortly after his 21st birthday, he became the youngest player to win Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces. At Wimbledon, he could become the third youngest player to win four titles - only just older than Mats Wilander and Björn Borg, one year younger than Rafael Nadal, two younger than Roger Federer and three younger than Novak Djokovic.
Number 1 and challenger
The top favorite with the bookmakers is world number 1 Jannik Sinner. Last year, the Australian Open champion reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon for the first time, and last week he won a tournament on grass for the first time in Halle. The parallels to Alcaraz last year are obvious.
The two fought a high-class duel in the semi-finals in Paris, and now Sinner is looking for revenge. As additional motivation, he would love to be the first Italian to triumph on the hallowed turf. In any case, he remains number 1 in the ATP ranking.
The big question mark
The biggest unknown is Novak Djokovic. After his knee operation, which forced him to withdraw from the French Open, he won the race against time, even seeking advice from Stan Wawrinka. Last week, the 24-time Grand Slam champion practiced on Centre Court with his successor as number 1, Jannik Sinner, among others - and decided to make a start.
Djokovic made it clear that he "will only compete at Wimbledon if he can at least fight for victory". He has now come to the conclusion that he is capable of doing so. But the real test will come on the court, the first time on Tuesday against qualifier Vit Kopriva.
The big rest
A win by anyone other than Sinner, Alcaraz and Djokovic would be a surprise. Alexander Zverev, the finalist at the Frech Open, is most likely to win, even though he has always struggled on grass so far.
In contrast, the good server Hubert Hurkacz is a real specialist on the green surface. The Pole ended Roger Federer's career in the quarter-finals in 2021.
Swiatek's hour?
In the women's singles, everything actually speaks in favor of the superior world number 1 Iga Swiatek - except for her pronounced grass allergy. Last year's quarter-final - after fending off match point in the round of 16 against Belinda Bencic - is by far her best result to date. Her closest rivals Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka have also never reached the final at Wimbledon.
Ashleigh Barty, who has since retired, was the last top seeded winner in 2021. An outsider as champion like Yelena Rybakina and Marketa Vondrousova in the last two years would therefore come as no surprise.
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