Sky Sports takes a look at the outside contenders, rising stars and 30-plus hopefuls looking to go far – or the distance – at Wimbledon as the tournament kicks off.
Wimbledon starts today, with Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek the bookies’ favourites to win the men’s and women’s singles.
Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina are seen as their nearest challengers, but could a surprise be in store at SW19 this year?
Wimbledon has become increasingly elusive for those chasing a first-ever Grand Slam, particularly with Djokovic’s presence looming large in the men’s draw.
The Serbian, who is going for a record-extending 24th Grand Slam title, has won the past four Wimbledons, while no player beyond Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal has lifted the trophy since Lleyton Hewitt in 2002.
That is the task that awaits Alcaraz and others, while in the women’s singles the draw remains as open as it has done since Serena Williams won her last of seven Wimbledon titles in 2016.
Since then, there have been five different winners, with Rybakina the reigning champion and Swiatek so far unable to translate her dominance elsewhere on to the grass.
Nevertheless, Swiatek is still being backed to come good on the surface, but names throughout the draw threaten to challenge the world number one and ensure her wait at Wimbledon goes on.
Sky Sports has picked out six players to look out for at Wimbledon, from the outside contenders to the rising stars, and a couple of 30-plus hopefuls too.
Outside contenders
Taylor Fritz
First round v Yannick Hanfmann | Possible fourth-round meeting v Jannik Sinner
Arguably the best known among the men’s names listed here, Taylor Fritz dared to shush the crowd at the French Open and will hope to silence a few favourites when he gets to Wimbledon too.
The American has the game to go far on grass, and came painfully close to reaching his first-ever Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon last year, denied in five sets by an embattled Rafael Nadal who would go on to withdraw before a last-four showdown with Nick Kyrgios.
This time, Fritz aims to go at least one better, but with a possible Djokovic semi-final meeting, the prospect of the 25-year-old reaching the final are slim.
Beatriz Haddad Maia
First round vs Yulia Putintseva | Possible fourth-round meeting vs Elena Rybakina
Form can change with the wind at this time of year, as Beatriz Haddad Maia proved recently having lost in the opening round of the Nottingham Open just days after reaching the French Open semi-finals.
Nevertheless, once the 27-year-old finds her feet on grass she is capable of challenging the very best, with titles in Nottingham and Birmingham to prove it from last year.
The Brazilian was unable to sustain that form come Wimbledon, but the player – who broke into the top 10 for the first time in June – is more than capable of reaching the second week of a slam for the second time in a row.
Young hopefuls
Sebastian Korda
First round v Jiri Vesely | Possible third-round meeting v Cameron Norrie
Another American harbouring hopes of a deep Wimbledon run is Sebastian Korda, the number 22 seed who reached the fourth round in 2021 before a foot problem ruled him out of last year’s edition.
At 22, Korda is battling to stand out among an impressive young crop of players, and at 6ft 5in tall, he has the serve-and-volley game that often bears fruit at Wimbledon.
This was also evident on the hard courts when beating Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open earlier this year, and following a clay-court season to forget, Korda showcased his potential when reaching the Queen’s semi-final, where he lost to eventual winner Alcaraz.
Marta Kostyuk
First round v Maria Sakkari | Possible third-round meeting v Madison Keys
Only three female players since 2010 have gone on to taste Grand Slam glory after winning a major as a junior: Ash Barty, Jelena Ostapenko and Swiatek.
Others have come close, including Coco Gauff and Leylah Fernandez, but success is far from guaranteed, with making the leap from the ‘next big thing’ to Grand Slam champion evidently no easy feat.
So step forward Marta Kostyuk, who was 15 when winning the Australian Open girls’ title in 2017 and now at 20 is looking to progress beyond the second round of Wimbledon for the first time.
Having reached a career-high ranking of 35 in June, she is on the up, and the Ukrainian will be hoping that trajectory continues in London.
She will be tested immediately, however, against the number eight seed Maria Sakkari, although there is the chance of an upset given the Greek has never progressed beyond the third round at Wimbledon.