HOW THE LEADING WOMEN AND AUSSIE HOPES SHAPE UP FOR WIMBLEDON STARTING ON MONDAY:
ASHLEIGH BARTY (AUS)
Age: 23
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US10,322,723 ($A14.84 million)
Career titles: 6
Grand slam titles: 1 (French Open 2019)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 2-3
Best Wimbledon result: third round 2018
Australia’s new world No.1 is the hottest player on the planet after joining greats Serena Williams, Justine Henin, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Margaret Court as the only players to win the French Open and then the next tournament played on British grass.
NAOMI OSAKA (JPN)
Age: 21
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US11,366,358 ($A16.34 million)
Career titles: 3
Grand slam titles: 2 (US Open 2018; Australian Open 2019)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 4-2
Best Wimbledon results: third round 2017, 2018
After winning back-to-back grand slam crowns, the Japanese superstar has gone off the boil and has only modest expectations for the grass-court season.
KAROLINA PLISKOVA (CZE)
Age: 27
Ranking: 3
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US17,083,579 ($A24.55 million)
Career titles: 13
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 8-7
Best Wimbledon result: fourth round 2018
The big-serving Czech enjoyed her best run yet on the London lawns last year and is second only behind Barty for titles and matches won in 2019.
ANGELIQUE KERBER (GER)
Age: 31
Ranking: 5
Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US28,328,327 ($A40.71 million)
Career titles: 12
Grand slam titles: 3 (Australian Open 2016; US Open 2016; Wimbledon 2018)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 30-10
Best Wimbledon results: champion 2018; runner-up 2016
The defending champion and two-time finalist once again looms as a serious threat after rediscovering her grass-court touch with charges to the semi-finals in Majorca and Eastbourne.
PETRA KVITOVA (CZE)
Age: 29
Ranking: 6
Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US29,909,556 ($A42.99 million)
Career titles: 27
Grand slam titles: 2 (Wimbledon 2011, 2014)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 30-9
Best Wimbledon results: champion 2011, 2014
The dual winner had been title favourite after a blistering start to 2019 but is now in grave doubt having not played since last month’s Italian Open because of a forearm tear.
SERENA WILLIAMS (USA)
Age: 37
Ranking: 11
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US88,856,834 ($A127.70 million)
Career titles: 72
Grand slam titles: 23 (Australian Open 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017; French Open 2002, 2013, 2015; Wimbledon 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016; US Open 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 92-11
Best Wimbledon results: champion 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016; runner-up 2004, 2008, 2018
The American superstar remains desperate to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 grand slam singles crowns and reached last year’s final but remains without a trophy anywhere since the 2017 Australian Open, before she had her first child.
BEST OUTSIDER
VENUS WILLIAMS (USA)
Age: 39
Ranking: 55
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US41,415,498 ($A60.18 million)
Career titles: 49
Grand slam titles: 7 (Wimbledon 2000-01, 2005, 2007-08; 2014; US Open 2000-01)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 89-16
Best Wimbledon results: champion 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008; runner-up 2002, 2003, 2009, 2017
Even at 38, it’s dangerous to write off a nine-times finalist and five-times winner’s prospect of becoming the oldest champion ever, especially when she came within one match of glory in 2017.
BEST AUSTRALIAN OUTSIDER
AJLA TOMLJANOVIC
Age: 26
Ranking: 49
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US2,469,220 ($A3.55 million)
Career titles: 0
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 1-4
Best Wimbledon result: second round 2015
Finally free of injury, the 26-year-old has climbed to a career-high ranking after one of the most consistent seasons of her career and could make a run to the second week with a touch of luck in the draw.