The most prestigious event on the tennis calendar will kick off at The Championships at Wimbledon. Novak Djokovic is the favorite to collect his eighth Wimbledon title and extend his all-time Grand Slam record to 24. Djokovic is also looking to pick up the third leg of the calendar Grand Slam after winning the first two majors at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
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With a very young and inexperienced field around him, the chances of Djokovic losing a match (barring an injury or other unforeseen circumstance) are low. The arguments for the Serb winning are nearly endless. Djokovic is on a 21-match win streak in majors and hasn’t lost a completed match at Wimbledon since 2016.Djokovic has mastered grass-court tennis like nobody else on tour today. His ability to turn defense into offense and find free points on serve make him a nearly impossible opponent to topple on the quick courts of Wimbledon.
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Djokovic also got a very favorable draw for this year’s Championships in London. He likely won’t face off against anyone who can threaten him until the semifinals. If Hubert Hurkacz and his big first serve can reach the round of 16, he could push Djokovic but shouldn’t be a problem for the Serb’s unmatched return game. Australian Nick Kyrgios, a possible quarter final opponent, pushed Djokovic in last year’s Wimbledon final but is returning from a knee injury and has only played one match in 2023. Overall, Djokovic avoided many of his potential threats before the semis.
Jannik Sinner, who could meet the Serb in the semifinals, is seemingly the threat in Djokovic’s half but has been out of form and banged up as of late. If healthy, Sinner is one of the most dangerous players in the draw with his aggressive ground game from both wings. In last year’s quarterfinals, Sinner won the first two sets against Djokovic before losing in a decisive fifth.
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Many threats to Djokovic landed in the top half of the draw and would not see the seven-time champion until the final. Carlos Alcaraz enters as the top seed. He’s the favorite to make it out of the top half of the draw. But he was beaten by Djokovic on a clay court that suits his game better. Daniil Medvedev, the No. 3 seed, can make some noise but has never made a Wimbledon quarterfinal.
Holger Rune has also emerged as a threat to win any Grand Slam and has had some success against Djokovic. Rune owns two wins over the Serb, one at the Rolex Paris Masters last November and one in Rome just last month. However, Rune’s inexperience on grass (won his first tour-level grass match just over a week ago) makes him an underdog in a potential final against Djokovic.
The top half of the draw also has a few players that could have a breakout tournament at this year’s Championships. Americans Frances Tiafoe (No. 10 seed) and Sebastian Korda (No. 22 seed) have big grass court games and have shown what it takes to make a run. Korda is a lesser-known name, but his effortless power and fluid movement skills on grass courts make him an outside contender this year.
He looked good in reaching the Queens semi final two weeks ago before losing to Alcaraz. Korda’s draw is also very favorable, with the out-of-form Cameron Norrie in round three and No. 5 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas (who struggles mightily on grass) in round four. Tiafoe burst onto the scene last September during his run to the US Open semifinals and excels on grass courts.
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He is a flat hitter from the baseline and an excellent volleyer at the net, two skills will make him an extremely tough out in the next few weeks in London. Regardless of how the draw shakes out, Djokovic will be tough to beat, and it will take a historic effort to beat him. His quest to conquer the grass for the eighth time begins Monday against Argentinian Pedro Cachin.
