As tennis turns to Wimbledon, there’s been a bit of a throwback feel to this Grand Slam season so far.
At the year’s first major tournament, the Australian Open in January, Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal for the men’s title, and Serena Williams defeated her sister, Venus, for the women’s title.
Matchups from a decade ago or more, right?
Then, at the French Open in May and June, Nadal reached a second consecutive major final for the first time since 2014, and won one for the first time since that year.
And now, when play begins at the All England Club, so many of the key story lines will involve those same four players: Federer and Nadal because of their recent resurgence; Serena Williams because of her absence (she’s expecting a baby in September); Venus Williams because she is one of only two past champions in the women’s draw.
Here is what to watch on the grass courts of the year’s third Grand Slam tournament, which starts Monday:
Wasn’t all that long ago that folks were figuring Federer’s best days were long behind him. He hadn’t won a Grand Slam title since 2012, and as he entered his mid-30s, he was missing Grand Slam tournaments for the first time in more than 15 years because of injury. And now? He extended his record with an 18th major championship in Australia, opened the year 19-1, took some time off and then won a grass title at Halle, Germany. With defending champion Andy Murray off-form this season, Federer is a popular pick to win Wimbledon for what would be a record eighth time.
There was a time that Nadal excelled on any surface, winning Wimbledon twice and reaching the final on three other occasions while marching his way toward 10 French Open titles and completing a career Grand Slam, too. But then his knees became a real problem on grass and he not only started losing early at the All England Club, he started losing to players ranked 100th or worse. “When Rafael is good with his knees,” said Nadal’s uncle and coach, Toni, “he can play well on the grass.”
Not only is seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams absent, but so is 2004 champ Maria Sharapova, who was forced to sit out last year’s tournament during a 15-month doping ban. She would have needed to qualify this time around but is now sidelined by a left thigh injury. Their absences lend the same sort of wide-open feel to the women’s draw that the French Open had.
The two past winners in the women’s field are Venus Williams, a five-time champion, and Petra Kvitova, a two-time champ. Both will get plenty of attention, for very different, non-tennis reasons. Williams was sued Friday by the estate of a Florida man who died after a car crash police say she caused. The lawsuit came one day after Palm Beach Gardens police released a report saying Williams caused the June 9 crash that left the man with a fractured spine and numerous internal injuries (he died June 22). Kvitova, meanwhile, was attacked by a knife-wielding intruder at her home in the Czech Republic in December. Kvitova wound up with cuts to her left hand — the one she uses to swing a racket — and needed surgery. Wimbledon will be the third tournament of her comeback; she won the second, last week on grass. Another two-time major champion to keep an eye on: former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka. This will be her first Grand Slam tournament in more than a year; she returned to the tour in June after giving birth to a son.
Novak Djokovic has won three Wimbledon titles and normally would be considered a real likely candidate for a fourth, but he has not played up to his usual standards over the past year. He went from winning four consecutive Grand Slam titles, something no man had done in nearly a half-century, to failing to defend any of those championships; he lost in the third round at Wimbledon in 2016. He tried to look on the bright side recently, saying: “It is liberating a bit. I was very fortunate and privileged to have so much success in the last eight, nine years, and kind of entered most of the tournaments as one of the biggest favorites. So for a change, it’s good to not be one of the top favorites. It releases a bit of the pressure.”
After coming out of nowhere to win the French Open, what will Jelena Ostapenko do for an encore? She arrived in Paris unseeded, ranked only 47th and without a title of any sort on tour, then used a fearless brand of high-risk tennis to win the championship. Now there are new expectations, and no opponent will overlook her, but consider this: Grass is her favorite surface; she was the junior champion at Wimbledon in 2014.
Both Murray and women’s No. 1 Angelique Kerber could lose their spots atop the rankings after the tournament. Murray, Djokovic, Nadal or Stan Wawrinka could all leave the All England Club with the top spot. Kerber is one of several women who could be No. 1 on July 17; among the others are Karolina Pliskova and Simona Halep.
Murray eyes 3rd title; Williams won’t defend
A glance at Wimbledon, the year’s third Grand Slam tennis tournament:
SURFACE: Grass courts.
SITE: The All England Lawn Tennis Club.
SCHEDULE: Main-draw play begins Monday. The 14-day tournament closes with the women’s singles final July 15, and the men’s singles final July 16. There are no matches scheduled for the two-week tournament’s middle Sunday, July 9.
2016 MEN’S SINGLES CHAMPION: Andy Murray of Britain.
2016 WOMEN’S SINGLES CHAMPION: Serena Williams of the United States.
LAST YEAR: Murray beat Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) for his second Wimbledon trophy and third Grand Slam title overall. Raonic, the first man from Canada to play in a major singles final, came in averaging 25½ aces per match but wound up with only eight against the terrific-returning Murray. Back in 2013, Murray’s first Wimbledon championship ended Britain’s 77-year wait for one of its own to win the men’s final. Williams defeated Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-3 for her seventh Wimbledon title and 22nd Grand Slam singles championship overall, pulling even with Steffi Graf for most in the Open era, which began in 1968. Williams then surpassed Graf at this year’s Australian Open with No. 23.
MISSING FROM THE FIELD: Williams is pregnant and taking the rest of this season off, so she will not defend her title. Also absent: 2004 champion Maria Sharapova, who is sitting out the tournament for the second straight year. She missed the 2017 grass-court circuit with an injured left thigh; the Russian would have needed to try to qualify because her ranking was too low to get into the main draw after her return from a 15-month doping suspension that sidelined her during Wimbledon a year ago.
BACK IN THE FIELD: Rafael Nadal, fresh off his record 10th championship at the French Open, returns to Wimbledon after being out last year with an injured left wrist. Two of his 15 major titles came at Wimbledon. Former No. 1 and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka sat out Wimbledon last year with an injured right knee and missed time more recently while pregnant. Now a mom to son Leo, Azarenka will be participating in her first Grand Slam tournament since the 2016 French Open.
KEY STATISTIC I: 14 — Consecutive Wimbledon men’s titles won by Roger Federer (7), Novak Djokovic (3), Nadal (2) or Andy Murray (2).
KEY STATISTIC II: 2 — Number of past Wimbledon champions in the women’s field, Venus Williams (5) and Petra Kvitova (2).
PRIZE MONEY: Total is 31.6 million pounds (about $40 million), with 2.2 million pounds (about $2.8 million) each to the men’s and women’s singles champions.
Kvitova, Venus Williams past champs in field
Women to watch at Wimbledon, where play begins Monday:
ANGELIQUE KERBER
Seeded: 1
Ranked: 1
Age: 29
Country: Germany
2017 Match Record: 21-14
2017 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 10
Major Titles: 2 — Australian Open (‘16), U.S. Open (‘16)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-Runner-Up, ‘15-Lost in 3rd Round, ‘14-QF, ‘13-2nd, ‘12-SF
Aces: Still trying to find her way in 2017 after reaching her first three major finals last season, including at the All England Club. ... She is 0-8 vs. top-20 opponents this year, after going 24-9 last year. Could lose No. 1 ranking after Wimbledon.
Topspin: Became first woman seeded No. 1 to lose in the French Open’s first round in the professional era, emblematic of a real step back this season.
KAROLINA PLISKOVA
Seeded: 3
Ranked: 3
Age: 25
Country: Czech Republic
2017 Match Record: 36-9
2017 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 9
Major Titles: 0 — Best: RU, U.S. Open (‘16)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-2nd, ‘15-2nd, ‘14-2nd, ‘13-2nd, ‘12-1st
Aces: Leads WTA in aces this season (her twin sister, Kristyna, ranks second). ... Only 4-5 for her career at Wimbledon, where the surface should suit her game. ... Has a chance to reach No. 1 for first time.
Topspin: With a terrific serve, and confidence from winning title at Eastbourne on grass, could be ready for a strong showing at Wimbledon. ... Victory over Serena Williams in the U.S. Open semifinals last year showed what sort of potential Pliskova has.
VENUS WILLIAMS
Seeded: 10
Ranked: 11
Age: 37
Country: United States
2017 Match Record: 20-7
2017 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 49
Major Titles: 7 — Wimbledon (‘00, ‘01, ‘05, ‘07, ‘08), U.S. Open (‘00, ‘01)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-SF, ‘15-4th, ‘14-3rd, ‘13-Did Not Play, ‘12-1st
Aces: Sued Friday by the estate of a Florida man who died after a car crash police say Williams caused. A day earlier, police released a report saying Williams caused the June 9 crash that left the man with a fractured spine and numerous internal injuries. He died June 22.
Topspin: Showed she’s still got game by reaching semifinals at All England Club last year for first time since 2008, then getting to Australian Open final in January.
PETRA KVITOVA
Seeded: 11
Ranked: 12
Age: 27
Country: Czech Republic
2017 Match Record: 6-1
2017 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 20
Major Titles: 2 — Wimbledon (‘11, ‘14)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-2nd, ‘15-3rd, ‘14-Won Championship, ‘13-QF, ‘12-QF
Aces: Wimbledon is third tournament of comeback after getting cut by a knife-wielding intruder at her home in December.
Topspin: Many consider her the favorite for what would be her third Wimbledon title. Best news, though, is simply that she is back in competition.
JELENA OSTAPENKO
Seeded: 13
Ranked: 14
Age: 20
Country: Latvia
2017 Match Record: 30-12
2017 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 1
Major Titles: 1 — French Open (‘17)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-1st, ‘15-2nd, ‘14-DNP, ‘13-DNP, ‘12-DNP
Aces: Surprised everyone, including herself, by winning first career tour-level title at French Open. ... 2014 junior Wimbledon champion.
Topspin: With big strokes and confidence to spare, no reason she can’t go far. After all, grass — not clay — is her favorite surface.
GARBINE MUGURUZA
Seeded: 14
Ranked: 15
Age: 23
Country: Spain
2017 Match Record: 23-13
2017 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 3
Major Titles: 1 — French Open (‘16)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-2nd Rd, ‘15-RU, ‘14-1st, ‘13-2nd, ‘12-DNP
Aces: Reached first major final at Wimbledon in 2015; the next year, won first major title at French Open.
Topspin: Has struggled all season and does not look ready to contend at the All England Club. In most recent match, lost 6-1, 6-0 on grass at Eastbourne.
VICTORIA AZARENKA
Seeded: Unseeded
Ranked: 678
Age: 27
Country: Belarus
2017 Match Record: 1-1
2017 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 20
Major Titles: 2 — Australian Open (‘12, ‘13)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-DNP, ‘15-QF, ‘14-2nd, ‘13-2nd, ‘12-SF
Aces: Recently returned to the tour after giving birth to a son. Wimbledon will be her second tournament back and first Grand Slam event in more than a year. ... Enters Wimbledon via a protected ranking.
Topspin: She’s twice made the semifinals at Wimbledon and has the muscle memory of two runs to Grand Slam titles. Has missed the past four majors, though, so there is accumulated rust. Still, she said Saturday that she thinks she eventually can “play better than I ever (did) before.”
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Roger Federer seeks record 8th championship
Men to watch at Wimbledon, where play begins Monday:
ANDY MURRAY
Seeded: 1
Ranked: 1
Age: 30
Country: Britain
2017 Match Record: 21-9
2017 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 45
Major Titles: 3 — Wimbledon (‘13, ‘16), U.S. Open (‘12)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-Won Championship, ‘15-Lost in Semifinals, ‘14-QF, ‘13-W, ‘12-Runner-Up
Aces: After run to French Open semifinals, lost opener at Queen’s Club grass-court tuneup, then withdrew from exhibition matches in England, citing a sore left hip. ... Made at least QFs in each of last nine appearances at All England Club.
Topspin: Murray’s comfort level, and crowd support, at Wimbledon are both so strong that he can’t be ruled out as a serious title contender.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Seeded: 2
Ranked: 4
Age: 30
Country: Serbia
2017 Match Record: 28-7
2017 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 68
Major Titles: 12 — French Open (‘16), Australian Open (‘08, ‘11, ‘12, ‘13, ‘15, ‘16), Wimbledon (‘11, ‘14, ‘15), U.S. Open (‘11, ‘15)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-3rd, ‘15-W, ‘14-W, ‘13-RU, ‘12-SF
Aces: After losing in French Open quarterfinals, entered grass-court tuneup for first time since 2010 — and won title at Eastbourne on Saturday. ... Since 2016 French Open made him first man since Rod Laver in 1969 with four consecutive major championships, failed to defend any of those titles.
Topspin: Djokovic’s once-impervious aura has disappeared. Will unusual part-time coaching arrangement with Andre Agassi pay more dividends in London than it did in Paris? Djokovic also has added former player Mario Ancic to his team.
ROGER FEDERER
Seeded: 3
Ranked: 5
Age: 35
Country: Switzerland
2017 Match Record: 24-2
2017 Singles Titles: 4
Career Singles Titles: 92
Major Titles: 18 — Wimbledon (‘03, ‘04, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘09, ‘12), U.S. Open (‘04, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘08), Australian Open (‘04, ‘06, ‘07, ‘10, ‘17), French Open (‘09)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-SF, ‘15-RU, ‘14-RU, ‘13-2nd, ‘12-W
Aces: After skipping clay-court season, then losing first match on grass, looked back at his best in winning title at Halle, Germany. ... Seeks record-breaking eighth Wimbledon men’s title.
Topspin: Simply can’t count Federer out, as his Australian Open championship in January proved after missing last half of 2016. Time off does him good, clearly.
RAFAEL NADAL
Seeded: 4
Ranked: 2
Age: 31
Country: Spain
2017 Match Record: 43-6
2017 Singles Titles: 4
Career Singles Titles: 73
Major Titles: 15 — French Open (‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘08, ‘10, ‘11, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘17), Wimbledon (‘08, ‘10), U.S. Open (‘10, ‘13), Australian Open (‘09)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-Did Not Play, ‘15-2nd, ‘14-4th, ‘13-1st, ‘12-2nd
Aces: Enters Wimbledon on a three-week break from competition since winning record 10th French Open title. ... Has won a total of five Wimbledon matches over past five years. ... One of his coaches, Carlos Moya, is taking a break and is not at Wimbledon.
Topspin: If his knees hold up, could return to the form that carried him to the final in five consecutive appearances, including two trophies, from 2006-11. “My legs are fine,” Nadal said Saturday. “My week of training has been positive.”
STAN WAWRINKA
Seeded: 5
Ranked: 3
Age: 32
Country: Switzerland
2017 Match Record: 26-10
2017 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 16
Major Titles: 3 — French Open (‘15), Australian Open (‘14), U.S. Open (‘16)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-2nd, ‘15-QF, ‘14-QF, 13-1st, ‘12-1st
Aces: A Wimbledon championship would make him the ninth man with a career Grand Slam, although he insisted Saturday: “For me, it’s not something I think about.”... After run to Roland Garros final, lost opener on grass at Queen’s Club.
Topspin: Never past quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 12 appearances, needs to stick to an attacking style to try to make a breakthrough.
MILOS RAONIC
Seeded: 6
Ranked: 7
Age: 26
Country: Canada
2017 Match Record: 22-8
2017 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 8
Major Titles: 0 — Best: RU, Wimbledon (‘16)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-RU, ‘15-3rd, ‘14-SF, ‘13-2nd, ‘12-2nd
Aces: One of four men with 400 aces this season. ... First major semifinal and final appearances came at Wimbledon.
Topspin: Big serve carried him to 2016 final and could bring him far again — as long as his body holds up.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV
Seeded: 10
Ranked: 12
Age: 20
Country: Germany
2017 Match Record: 33-12
2017 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 4
Major Titles: 0 — Best: 3rd, French Open (‘16), Australian Open (‘17), Wimbledon (‘16)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-3rd, ‘15-2nd, ‘14-DNP, ‘13-DNP, ‘12-DNP
Aces: Recently made top-10 ranking debut. ... Slid out after first-round French Open exit.
Topspin: By reaching final at grass tuneup, showed his game translates to the slick surface. Now needs to get to second week of a major.
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