3 minute read
Penpix of leading men's Wimbledon contenders for the grasscourt grand slam starting on Monday.
HOW THE LEADING MEN'S CONTENDERS SHAPE UP FOR WIMBLEDON STARTING ON MONDAY:
NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB)
Age: 34
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US149,798,813
Career titles: 84
Grand slam titles: 19 (Australian Open 2008, 2011-2013, 2015-16, 2019-21; French Open 2016, 2021; Wimbledon 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019; US Open 2011, 2015, 2018)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 72-10
Best Wimbledon results: champion 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019
The newly crowned French Open champion is an odds-on favourite to take the third leg of what could be the first men's calendar year grand slam since Rod Laver in 1969 and join Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 career majors.
DANIIL MEDVEDEV (RUS)
Age: 25
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US16,287,454
Career titles: 10
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 5-3
Best Wimbledon result: third round 2018, 2019
Hasn't enjoyed much success on grass but showed his class with a run to the Roland Garros quarter-finals despite having never previously won a match on clay in Paris and is seeded to make a third grand slam final.
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS (GRE)
Age: 22
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed
Career prize money: $US15,050,627
Career titles: 7
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 3-3
Best Wimbledon result: fourth round 2018
The Greek trailblazer will be stewing over his loss to Djokovic from two sets up in the French Open final but will again take a power of stopping after proving himself as the real deal with grand slam wins over Federer and Nadal.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV (GER)
Age: 24
Ranking: 6
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US24,952,416
Career titles: 15
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 8-5
Best Wimbledon result: fourth round 2017
For all his talent, Germany's big hope has yet to make his mark on London's hallowed lawns but broke through to reach his maiden grand slam final last year in New York to suggest he's getting closer.
ROGER FEDERER (SUI)
Age: 39
Ranking: 8
Plays: right-handed
Career prize money: $US130,230,769
Career titles: 103
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: 101-13
Best Wimbledon results: champion 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017
Even a month shy of 40 and with only eight matches in 18 months entering his favourite slam, the ageless marvel is rated fourth favourite and it would be foolish to back against him making a 12th final.
MATTEO BERRETTINI (ITA)
Age: 25
Ranking: 9
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US6,514,992
Career titles: 5
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 4-2
Best Wimbledon result: fourth round 2019
Triple Wimbledon champion John Newcombe saw enough in the Italian's charge to the Queen's Club title to nominate the 25-year-old as Djokovic's biggest threat but he'll have to improve on the five games he amassed in his last match at SW19 against Federer in 2019.
BEST OUTSIDER
NICK KYRGIOS (AUS)
Age: 26
Ranking: 61
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US8,727,182
Career titles: 6
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 13-6
Best Wimbledon result: quarter-finalist 2014
The temperamental talent will be playing for the first time since the Australian Open in February but has a proven ability to hit the ground running, especially on grass, and boasts a 2-0 winning record over Djokovic.
