Andy Murray’s final hurrah – injury permitting – Novak Djokovic testing his limits again less than a month after knee surgery, new world no. 1 Jannik Sinner looking to unseat defending champion Carlos Alcaraz while Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter fly the Brits’ flag in an intriguing women’s draw. Will any Americans make some noise? How about youngsters with little to lose?
Will they play or not? Injury doubts still linger for many
Wimbledon 2024, main draw singles matches start on July 1
Defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz opens Centre Court at 1.30pm BST
Seven Brits in action on Monday, including Arthur Fery and Emma Raducanu
EYEBROWS were raised when she opted against featuring in French Open qualifying, but 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu believes that decision has helped her settle back on grass at a much quicker rate than had she gone through with play on clay courts last month. The draw hasn’t been kind to the 21-year-old, mind.
“If I get through my first round, I’d be over the moon. She’s got great weapons – this surface only amplifies big weapons – I’m expecting a really difficult match, I’m actually the complete underdog because she’s a lot older, more experienced and ranked a lot higher. It’s just a great opportunity to get a good scalp, enjoy playing how I have the last few weeks, get back into it.”
Raducanu, sandwiched between Carlos Alcaraz and US Open titleholder Coco Gauff for Centre Court play on opening Monday, will play Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova [22] as the Brit marks her return to the first tournament where many of the world’s sporting public first got a glimpse of the then-teenage sensation.
Alexandrova, eight years her senior, has struggled for consistent form this season – especially after reaching the Miami semis, where eventual champion Danielle Collins beat her on March 29. She’s lost nine of 15 matches played since, across seven countries and two surfaces, most notably early exits in Rome and Roland Garros.
Raducanu has an intriguing section, and the winner of Monday’s encounter will play either Japan’s Nao Hibino or doubles specialist Elise Mertens on Wednesday.
Australian Open finalist Qinwen Zheng [8] and Maria Sakkari [9] headline this section, though neither has reached the second week at SW19 in their careers just yet.
Sitting just below that section is a dark horse in Eastbourne champion Daria Kasatkina [14], an assertion amplified by the unknown status of Aryna Sabalenka’s shoulder pain. Mirra Andreeva [24] beat the Belarusian in Paris and after a humbling defeat by Madison Keys at this juncture last season, will fancy her chances.
Keys vs. Martina Trevisan is a tasty first-round matchup in the section below, where Bianca Andreescu’s latest return from injury continues while French Open runner-up Jasmine Paolini [7] will be looking to make some long-awaited noise on grass – she still hasn’t surpassed the first-round in any of her six Wimbledon appearances.
Gauff hopes to avoid another alarming early exit against a compatriot when Caroline Dolehide awaits in an all-American affair on Centre, while four-time Major winner Naomi Osaka is one of three other Grand Slam champions featuring at the foot of this year’s draw. Depth and jeopardy in the women’s game is never an issue.
They say top billing can often be a poisoned chalice and new world no. 1 Jannik Sinner will feel hard done by, seeing his projected route if the Australian Open champ is to make it to next Sunday’s showpiece event for the first time in south London.
Twelve months ago, he broke new ground before losing to Novak Djokovic – wrestling top spot from him last month – and a semifinal meeting with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz will whet the appetite of many, with both in the same half.
Before then, he faces Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann on Day 1 and will hope to utilise as little energy as possible during another arduous fortnight where best-of-five set matches again take their toll, the longer (and more difficult) top players make them.
Daniil Medvedev (2023), Felix Auger-Aliassime and 2021 semifinalist Denis Shapovalov are all prime examples of players who burned themselves out trying to reach the summit on hallowed grass in previous seasons and well, Sinner has a better understanding of how to win ugly after a whirlwind year for the Italian.
The proof is in the pudding, but with increased pressure and expectation on him to perform as one of the bonafide title contenders, how will he do?
Arthur Fery (vs. Daniel Altmaier) and Charles Broom (vs. Stan Wawrinka) are two of the home hopefuls looking to make noise against tough opposition on Day 1, while wildcard recipient Liam Broady – who expertly downed three-time Major finalist Casper Ruud early last year – always promises to be an interesting watch.
Botic van de Zandschulp stands in his way, but with a good start and partisan crowd pumping him up, who knows what happens?
The same applies to wildcard duo Heather Watson and Lily Miyazaki, neither enjoying encouraging form, but momentum can often go out of the window at a Major tournament, especially on home turf among familiar surroundings.
Last year we had Gauff-Kenin and this year it’s no different with Victoria Azarenka vs. Sloane Stephens. Another first-round matchup belonging deep in the second week with primetime viewing, but alas, the draw has shaken out unkind to both.
Stephens is usually the unseeded weapon most are keen to avoid when she misses the top-32 cut, again around ten positions below the cut-off area here, and while Azarenka’s form has been volatile this term, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see her embark on another inspired deep Major run like in Melbourne two years ago.
Osaka returns to grass half-a-decade since her last Wimbledon foray, having been prematurely stung into a R1 loss by Yulia Putintseva – who this year, starts against 2018 champion Angelique Kerber [WC] in world no. 1 Iga Swiatek’s section.
What to watch on Day 1
ATP
Matteo Arnaldi vs. Frances Tiafoe [29]
Grigor Dimitrov [10] vs. Dusan Lajovic
Nicolas Jarry [19] vs. Denis Shapovalov
Matteo Berrettini vs. Marton Fucsovics
Botic van de Zandschulp vs. Liam Broady [WC]
WTA
Karolina Pliskova vs. Diana Shnaider
Martina Trevisan vs. Madison Keys [12]
Naomi Osaka vs. Diane Parry
Victoria Azarenka [16] vs. Sloane Stephens
Paula Badosa vs. Karolina Muchova
Picture source: Getty Images
Mo and Sports 