LEADING MEN AND TOP AUSSIE HOPES FOR WIMBLEDON
RAFAEL NADAL (ESP) Age: 32 Ranking: 1 Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand) Career prize money: $US100,564,598 ($A136.99 million) Career titles: 79 Grand slam titles: 17 (Australian Open 2009; French Open 2005-08, 2010-14, 2017-18; Wimbledon 2008, 2010; US Open 2010, 2013, 2017) Wimbledon win-loss record: 43-10 Best Wimbledon results: champion 2008, 2010 The King of Clay has now won twice as many matches at Roland Garros as he has at Wimbledon but no two-time champion should be dismissed from title contention. Seeded to meet Federer in another blockbuster final a decade after their all-time 2008 classic.
ROGER FEDERER (SUI) Age: 36 Ranking: 2 Plays: right-handed Career prize money: $US116,603,146 ($A158.84 million) Career titles: 98 Grand slam titles: 20 (Australian Open 2004, 2006-07, 2010, 2017-18; French Open 2009; Wimbledon 2003-07, 2009, 2012, 2017; US Open 2004-2008) Wimbledon win-loss record: 91-11 Best Wimbledon results: champion 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017 The eight-times champion continues to defy age, back as top seed in his latest title defence after making a triumphant return from his clay-court spell with success in Stuttgart before reaching a 12th final in Halle.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV (GER) Age: 21 Ranking: 3 Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand) Career prize money: $US10,869,869 ($A14.81 million) Career titles: 8 Grand slam titles: 0 Wimbledon win-loss record: 6-3 Best Wimbledon result: fourth round 2017 A brave run to the last eight in Paris should have removed doubts about the German’s grand slam credentials. Has also beaten Federer on grass so looms as a serious threat.
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO (ARG) Age: 29 Ranking: 4 Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand) Career prize money: $US21,909,092 ($A29.84 million) Career titles: 22 Grand slam titles: 1 (US Open 2009) Wimbledon win-loss record: 17-8 Best Wimbledon result: semi-finalist 2013 The resurgent Argentine is enjoying his best ranking, ensuring he’ll be seeded to reach the semi-finals as he did in Paris. A 2012 Olympic bronze medallist at The All England Club confirms his grass-court capabilities.
MARIN CILIC (CRO) Age: 29 Ranking: 6 Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand) Career prize money: $US24,054,308 ($A32.77 million) Career titles: 18 Grand slam titles: 1 (US Open 2014) Wimbledon win-loss record: 27-10 Best Wimbledon result: finalist 2017 Runner-up to Federer last year and also at Melbourne Park in January, the big-hitting former US Open champion has emerged a perennial grand slam force and completed a perfect preparation with title glory at Queen’s.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB) Age: 31 Ranking: 17 Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand) Career prize money: $US111,165,585 ($A151.43 million) Career titles: 68 Grand slam titles: 12 (Australian Open 2008, 2011-2013, 2015-16; French Open 2016; Wimbledon 2011, 2014, 2015; US Open 2011, 2015) Wimbledon win-loss record: 58-10 Best Wimbledon results: champion 2011, 2014, 2015 The superstar Serb is at his lowest seeding in a decade but shapes as a genuine contender if he sustains the vastly improved form displayed over the past month.
BEST OUTSIDER
ANDY MURRAY (SCO) Age: 31 Ranking: 156 Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand) Career prize money: $US60,824,691 ($A82.86 million) Career titles: 45 Grand slam titles: 3 (US Open 2012; Wimbledon 2013, 2016) Wimbledon win-loss record: 57-10 Best Wimbledon results: champion 2013, 2016 The perennial home hope is sure to ride a wave of emotion after making an encouraging comeback following a year out with a debilitating hip injury and will take some stopping if anything close to full health.
BEST AUSTRALIAN HOPES
NICK KYRGIOS Age: 23 Ranking: 21 Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand) Career prize money: $US6,151,098 ($A8.38 million) Career titles: 4 Grand slam titles: 0 Wimbledon win-loss record: 10-4 Best Wimbledon result: quarter-finalist 2014 In form and finally playing pain-free, the mercurial talent’s wise decision to skip the French Open to save his over-used serving elbow for tennis’s biggest stage could yield the ultimate reward.
ALEX DE MINAUR Age: 19 Ranking: 77 Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand) Career prize money: $US502,182 ($A684,078) Career titles: 0 Grand slam titles: 0 Wimbledon win-loss record: 0-0 Best Wimbledon result: yet to contest main draw The former Wimbledon junior finalist looms as a player to avoid after landing his maiden grass-court title in the Challenger event in Nottingham to surge to a career-high ranking.
