Merely three weeks after the conclusion of this season’s French Open finals, we’re onto another surface on grass and Major tournament as SW19 gets underway proper this coming Monday. Before then, the draws for both tours was confirmed today so here’s a news round-up – one prominent player’s sad farewell and the return of a former world no. 1 – as well as my draw analysis.
Wozniacki’s return as Kontaveit prepares for her farewell
There were some rumblings as she was seen practicing more intensely than most legends do in recent months, but this news is still a surprise nonetheless.
Former world no. 1 and 2018 Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki announced Thursday, she’s making a comeback three-and-a-half years after retiring.
She plans to return in Montreal at the Canadian Open (week beginning August 7), before the US Open three weeks later. She cited Melbourne and the Paris Olympics as goals she wants to reach in 2024, and this quote said plenty on its own:
“How long will I be able to play at my highest level—a year, two years, three years? I don’t know. Five years from now, when the kids are in school, it will be too late.
I’m not going to make any bold predictions—but if I didn’t believe in myself, I wouldn’t be doing this: I’m too competitive to just show up and not feel like I’m going to be one of the best players out there.”
I’ll let her tell you the rest of a remarkable story, as it reaches the next chapter.
Contrastingly with some sad news… this will be the final Major appearance for a notable name on the women’s side through a debilitating injury.
Former world no. 2 Anett Kontaveit announced her impending retirement last week, aged 27, due to a chronic back injury troubling her for almost a year now.
On social media, the Estonian explained that her back condition – lumbar disc degeneration – has made it impossible to compete and train at the highest level.
The syndrome, usually age-related, happens when wear and tear on a spinal disc leads to lower back pain.
“Tennis has given and taught me a lot, and I am very grateful for that. It has been important to me to bring the Estonian flag to the tennis courts, to be able to play in front of my supporters and fans all over the world.
I am ready for new challenges after my last effort as a professional tennis player – to enjoy the game and compete as hard as I can at Wimbledon.”
Read more of my recent tennis coverage:
Tomljanovic remains out with knee issue, Rybakina’s virus persists
Coco Gauff adds new coach Pere Riba to her team, as grass season continues
After Nottingham triumph, Katie Boulter must now maintain her momentum
Ruud’s Halle withdrawal, Kyrgios and Berrettini’s losing returns and more
Wimbledon draw analysis: the men’s side
Projected quarterfinals, by seeding
Carlos Alcaraz [1] vs. Holger Rune [6]
Daniil Medvedev [3] vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas [5]
Jannik Sinner [8] vs. Casper Ruud [4]
Andrey Rublev [7] vs. Novak Djokovic [2]
Four-time defending champion Novak Djokovic looks to make more history, just weeks removed from a third Roland Garros triumph in Paris.
He’s attempting to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon singles titles, while also equalling the legendary Swiss’ joint record alongside Bjorn Borg on five consecutive tournament victories at SW19.
As is commonplace at a time where the ATP rankings remain in flux, two other players can secure the world no. 1 ranking by the fortnight’s end and a certain Spaniard sits top of the tree after clinching Queen’s earlier this month.
Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev as a potential R4 matchup has a tantalising ring to it, given their memorable French Open quarterfinal last season.
Alcaraz will have to play a pair of Frenchman en route there, first Jeremy Chardy [PR] and either Alexandre Muller or Arthur Rinderknech in R2.
Elsewhere in that section, an all-Italian clash between 2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini and Lorenzo Sonego feels unfair for a maiden round encounter but that’s the risk you run when you’re unseeded.
Bullish Australian talent Alex de Minaur will expect to meet the winner, but first has to progress past 29-year-old Belgian qualifier Kimmer Coppejans.
- Djokovic will regain top spot if he goes one round further than Alcaraz from R4 onwards, or surpasses him in ranking points by the previous round.
- To return to world no. 1, Medvedev needs to win the title while both Alcaraz and Djokovic fail to reach the fourth-round and quarter-finals respectively.
Daniil Medvedev [3] has never surpassed the fourth-round in five previous entries, and starts his Wimbledon return against British wildcard Arthur Fery.
Elsewhere in his section, Francisco Cerundolo [18], Jiri Lehecka and Tommy Paul [16] all lurk while 2016 runner-up Milos Raonic makes his long-awaited Major return too.
Medvedev isn’t the only high seed facing a Brit in their first match: Holger Rune [6] faces George Loffhagen in the section above, while Ryan Peniston faces the only other Wimbledon champion in this year’s draw besides Djokovic: Andy Murray.
The winner will play Dominic Thiem or Stefanos Tsitsipas in R2, as part of a loaded section featuring last year’s semifinalist Cameron Norrie as well as Australian Open quarterfinalists Sebastian Korda and Ben Shelton.
As far as injury doubts are concerned, keep an eye on Jannik Sinner [8] and Felix Auger-Aliassime [12]. Both would naturally aspire for a deep run, having reached the quarterfinals here in the past, but their draws seem deceptively difficult.
If they don’t manage to navigate the early rounds without minimal fuss and preferably in straight-sets – easier said than done, of course – you could see a few surprise results headlining their sections: opening up opportunities for others.
First-round matches to watch out for
Matteo Berrettini vs. Lorenzo Sonego
Dominic Stricker [Q] vs. Alexei Popyrin
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina [31] vs. Arthur Fils [WC]
Zhang Zhizhen vs. Botic van de Zandschulp
Jiri Lehecka vs. Sebastian Ofner [WC]
Cameron Norrie [12] vs. Tomas Machac [Q]
Ben Shelton [32] vs. Taro Daniel [LL]
Ryan Peniston [WC] vs. Andy Murray
Dominic Thiem vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas [5]
David Goffin vs. Nick Kyrgios [30]
Wimbledon draw analysis: the women’s side
Projected quarterfinals, by seeding
Iga Swiatek [1] vs. Coco Gauff [7]
Jessica Pegula [4] vs. Caroline Garcia [5]
Ons Jabeur [6] vs. Elena Rybakina [3]
Maria Sakkari [8] vs. Aryna Sabalenka [2]
It speaks to the depth of women’s tennis that two of the last five Major final matchups could repeat themselves at the quarterfinal stage here, yet something – recent form and injury doubts – tells me this sadly won’t be the case.
French Open champion Iga Swiatek withdrew from Bad Homburg before her semi-final match against Lucia Bronzetti with fever and possible food poisioning.
It’ll be interesting to see how a less-than-100% world no. 1 manages that situation where everyone will look to beat her – like Alize Cornet did twelve months ago.
Lin Zhu isn’t a favourable R1 matchup, especially seeing how the Chinese gave Maria Sakkari and Victoria Azarenka fits earlier in the year at the Australian Open.
The Martina Trevisan vs. Sara Sorribes Tormo winner in R2 could be another difficult assignment, while Petra Martic [30], her compatriot Magda Linette [23] and Olympic champion Belinda Bencic [14] are scattered across a talent-rich section.
Speaking of… Coco Gauff was doing well at Eastbourne this week, but finished with a whimper as her serving struggles returned in a big way to give Madison Keys free points aplenty during their semifinal today.
2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin awaits her in R1 after coming through qualifying, as the 24-year-old’s ranking has quietly been building from #300-odd to just outside the world’s top 100 again.
Elina Svitolina, Elise Mertens, Azarenka and Daria Kasatkina [11] are all featured in that section too and can cause varying degrees of damage if you don’t start well.
Gauff’s doubles partner Jessica Pegula is in the section below and should fancy her chances of a deep run, with a modest third-round finish last season the best achievement in six attempts.
Qinwen Zheng [24] and Liudmila Samsonova [15] lurk nearby too, while a section with WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia [5] and Donna Vekic [20] looks the most open for potential surprise results.
After all, you have to consider both 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez and 2017 champion Sloane Stephens are unseeded there…
Jabeur’s struggles with injury and form have been well-documented so far this season – her Charleston clay title aside – having lost three of the last four matches, all of which an in-form Tunisian would have little problem prevailing in.
Some say she wanted the Wimbledon title too badly last season and maybe that’s true, but will her body hold up for another fortnight’s play given how this draw is?
We’ll have to wait and see. The same sentiment can be said for the defending champion Rybakina, who starts off against Shelby Rogers – who loves an upset – as does the aforementioned Cornet, who faces Japanese lucky loser Nao Hibino in R1.
Birmingham champion Jelena Ostapenko and French Open semifinalist Beatriz Haddad Maia in the section too? Good luck.
Maria Sakkari is inconsistent at the best of times, while Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka can’t afford to look too far ahead – she’s not immune to early defeats.
First-round matches to watch out for
Iga Swiatek [1] vs. Lin Zhu
Linda Fruhvirtova vs. Petra Martic [30]
Katie Swan [WC] vs. Belinda Bencic [14]
Jodie Burrage [WC] vs. Caty McNally
Sofia Kenin [Q] vs. Coco Gauff [7]
Veronika Kudermetova [12] vs. Kaia Kanepi
Beatriz Haddad Maia [13] vs. Yulia Putintseva
Shelby Rogers vs. Elena Rybakina [3]
Maria Sakkari [8] vs. Marta Kostyuk
Karolina Muchova [16] vs. Jule Niemeier
As usual, I’ll be producing daily pieces across the fortnight, so make sure you stay tuned to moandsports.com for the latest coverage.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes hyperlinked
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