This year's men to watch at Wimbledon
Keep an eye on these potential winners, says Tim Henman
Getty Images
- Caroline Frost
Add Wimbledon to your watchlist
Ad
After 148 years, Wimbledon can easily lay claim to being the oldest tennis tournament in the world. Equally impressive, says former UK number one Annabel Croft, is the exacting standard set by the event organisers: “There’s never a blade of grass out of place.”
Tim Henman
For British players, it has the advantage of being on home turf. “When you’re travelling for 30 weeks of the year, it’s great to sleep in your own bed,” says four-time semi-finalist Tim Henman, who highlights the men to keep an eye on this year. For competitors from further afield, the idea of adding their names to those who have come before remains irresistible. But Croft, who gives RT her pick of the women, says, “Grass doesn’t suit everyone, which only adds to the prestige of winning here.”
Jannik Sinner
Jannick Sinner.
Country: Italy
Age: 23
Ranking: 1
He’ll be hurting from his defeat at the French Open final when he had three championship points against Alcaraz and still lost. He’s also extremely fit, as we saw in Paris, and his skill in striking the ball — whether it be serve, forehand or backhand — gives him three formidable weapons.
Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz. Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images
Country: Spain
Age: 22
Ranking: 2
He’s the defending champion with two previous titles here — plus he just stole the recent French Open [from Jannik Sinner], so he knows how to win. Alcaraz’s greatest asset is his variation — he can play many different ways. He has a big service, his forehand and backhand are amazing, and his athletic ability is second to none.
Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic. Getty
Country: Serbia
Age: 38
Ranking: 5
Even at the age of 38 with probably his best years behind him, you can’t count Djokovic out, with him having won the tournament seven times. Very few players are at their most comfortable on grass because they don’t play on it so much, but Djokovic has made it his home.
Taylor Fritz
Taylor Fritz. Getty
Country: USA
Age: 27
Ranking: 4
He’s played well at Wimbledon before. He has won grass court titles, including at Eastbourne a few times. He’s not been playing so well on clay, so I would guess he’s been busy practising on grass and that choice may well pay off in the coming fortnight.
Jack Draper
Jack Draper. Alamy
Country: GB
Age: 23
Ranking: 6
He’s played very well going into the tournament, he’s at a career high and it’s going to be his first time as British number one at Wimbledon. There will be a lot of expectation on his shoulders, but he’ll have the crowd with him all the way, and that will make a difference.
Ben Shelton
Ben Shelton. Getty
Country: USA
Age: 22
Ranking: 10
Ad
Another player with a big, powerful game. A former semi-finalist at the US and Australian Opens and still only 22, he’s confident, and his strongest weapon is his left-handed serve.
Authors
Caroline Frost
Ad
Ad
Get the Christmas double issue
Too much to watch at Christmas? Let Radio Times do the choosing to find something the whole family will enjoy.
Loading...
Ad
Loading...