Novak Djokovic will likely be aiming to increase his document variety of Grand Slam titles to 24 when Wimbledon will get underway on July 3, however a brand new crop of gamers have shone in current months to indicate they are often darkish horses on the grasscourt main.
The 36-year-old Djokovic has lately dominated on the All England Club the place he has received seven instances, together with the final 4 titles, whereas Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz is coming to phrases with grass after conquering hardcourts and clay.
While a number of high seeds may have their say, the next are emerging gamers who could possibly be critical contenders:
TAYLOR FRITZ (UNITED STATES)
World rating: 8
Having misplaced 5 of his first six ATP finals, Fritz turned issues round in March 2022 when he received the Indian Wells Masters regardless of being the twentieth seed.
Out within the desert, Fritz confirmed indicators that American tennis lastly had a men’s contender for Grand Slams after the golden period of Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick — the final American to win a serious again in 2003.
Fritz, who reached a profession excessive of world quantity 5 earlier this yr, has received his final 4 ATP finals and has underlined his grasscourt credentials up to now having received the Eastbourne tune-up event twice within the final 4 years.
He has additionally reached six semi-finals this yr and, whereas he didn’t convert them into finals appearances like in 2022, he stated: “I’m seeing myself fairly deep in tournaments, constantly taking part in loads higher.”
HOLGER RUNE (DENMARK)
World rating: 6
Having burst onto the scene on the Paris Masters final yr, Rune has been on an upward trajectory regardless of the ‘unhealthy boy’ picture he has cultivated in current tournaments.
The fiery Dane shocked the tennis world when he received previous 5 top-10 gamers en path to his first Masters title at 19 and has not appeared again as he sits on the sting of the highest 5.
Rune tends to lose his cool, nonetheless, even taking his frustration out by clashing with the followers, however the 20-year-old stated he was not afraid to indicate his feelings on courtroom as he fights for his final purpose – the world primary spot.
“I’m not going to cover it,” he stated on the French Open. “I imagine in myself, and in addition being able to beating these type of gamers, not just one time but additionally in a Grand Slam the place everyone knows that they need to carry out at their finest.”
KAREN KHACHANOV (RUSSIA)
World rating: 10
Khachanov had his breakthrough on grass in 2021 when he reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the primary time and narrowly missed out on his maiden Grand Slam semis look after a marathon five-set defeat by Denis Shapovalov.
The big-serving Khachanov appeared set to be a serious menace in 2022 however was not capable of play on the All England Club as a consequence of Wimbledon’s ban on Russian and Belarusian gamers after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which Russia calls a ‘particular operation’.
However, this yr Wimbledon lifted its ban on Russian and Belarusian gamers and can permit them to compete within the grasscourt Grand Slam as “impartial” athletes.
The 6-foot 6-inch Khachanov has since reached two Grand Slam semis whereas he additionally gave Djokovic a scare at Roland Garros when he took a set off the Serbian in a quarter-final loss en path to breaking into the highest 10 for the primary time since 2019.
Photograph: Reuters
