2016 ATP WIMBLEDON PREVIEW

This Week In Tennis
​Vol. 25b

​Novak Djokovic is the runaway favourite to capture his third successive title at the 2016 Wimbledon. He's won the last four Grand Slams and has nearly twice as many ranking points as does Andy Murray at #2. His stranglehold at the top of the ATP Tour is hard to believe at times; such has been the nature of his dominance. Let's take a look at the rest of the top eight seeds and who has a fighting chance of dethroning Djokovic at Wimbledon. 

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​(1) Novak Djokovic

Best Result: W - 2011, 2014, 2015

At this point, any result outside of a Djokovic victory at Wimbledon would be considered a big upset. The Serbian #1 has dominated men's tennis for the last 18 months to the extent that if an opponent is able to win a set it should be considered a Pyrrhic victory. Holder of the last four Grand Slam titles, Djokovic is half way to a calendar year Grand Slam, owns a 44-3 record in 2016, and has already won six titles. He is the unquestioned favourite to win, period. 
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(2) Andy Murray

Best Result: W - 2013

Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal all own more Wimbledon titles than Andy Murray. However, Murray has demonstrated his own grass court pedigree throughout his career: eight consecutive appearances in the quarterfinals or better at Wimbledon, plus five titles in London at the Queen's Club, and an Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Games. Yes, Djokovic has Murray's and everyone else's number at the moment, but Centre Court Wimbledon could be the neutralizing factor that gives Murray the elusive edge over the world #1. 

(3) Roger Federer

Best Result: W - 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Federer's grass court pedigree and history of success at Wimbledon make him one of only a handful of players who can be considered legitimate pre-tournament favourites. However, Federer enters this year's event having battled injury for an extended period for the first time in his career. At age 34, one wonders if he has had enough match play to cope with the demands of best-of-five tennis over seven rounds at a Grand Slam, especially when Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are likely awaiting him at tournament's end.

​(4) Stan Wawrinka

Best Result: QF - 2014, 2015

Wawrinka has cultivated a reputation as one of the more inconsistent elite performers on the ATP Tour. While his performances at ATP tour events align with that reputation, Wawrinka has actually been one of the most consistent performers at the Grand Slam events over the last three seasons. Wawrinka has made the quarterfinals at the last two Wimbledons, and at least the final eight in 10 of his last 13 Slam events. Seeing him still in action on the final weekend should come as no surprise. 

(5) Kei Nishikori

Best Result: 4R - 2014

Nishikori has advanced to the fourth round only once in his seven appearances at Wimbledon. His prowess on all other surfaces simply have not translated to grass courts to date. The gap between his best on grass and the likes of Djokovic, Murray, and Federer is wide enough to make him a difficult choice to hoist the trophy at tournament's end. 

(6) Milos Raonic

Best Result: SF - 2014

Raonic has made a point of improving his net game in 2016. He's also added John McEnroe to his coaching staff in the lead-up to Wimbledon. All signs point to a targeting of Wimbledon as the Slam that the Canadian feels is his best chance of winning during this age of Djokovic dominance. If he is able to protect his serve in pressure moments, he could score some big upsets. 

(7) Richard Gasquet

​Best Result: SF - 2007, 2015

Gasquet, ranked #10 in the official ATP rankings, gets a seeding boost to #7 courtesy of Wimbledon's seeding formula for the men's draw. Last year's semifinalist at the All England Club followed up with quarterfinals at the U.S. Open and again at the recently concluded French Open in Paris. Another quarterfinal showing is possible with only Isner and Tsonga as the high seeds in his section. 

(8) Dominic Thiem

​Best Result: 2R - 2015
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Dubbed the "hardest working man in tennis," Dominic Thiem enters Wimbledon fresh off his first Grand Slam semifinal at the French Open, and in the midst of a breakout season that has seen the Austrian crack the ATP top 10 for the first time. He's translated that hot start into results on grass courts too, winning Stuttgart and reaching the semifinals at Halle. His upward trajectory will be tested by Florian Mayer in the first round (who beat him at Halle), and the 59 matches he's already played in 2016. 
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FIVE TO WATCH
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• Bernard Tomic - now a top 20 player, a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist, and semifinalist at the Queen's Club this year. The time might be right for a breakout tournament. 
• Nick Kyrgios - winning his first Grand Slam title will likely require Kyrgios beating Murray in the fourth round, a tough ask in front of the world #2's home crowd. 
• Alexander Zverev - the Halle semifinalist may face Thiem for the fourth time this year in the fourth round. The Austrian holds a 3-0 advantage, including a four-set win in the French Open third round. 
• ​Dustin Brown - grass is Brown's favourite surface and his court wizardry can prove challenging anybody when he's at his best. A second round match with Kyrgios could be the highlight of week one. 
• Sergiy Stakhovsky - if he's able to get by Cilic in the second round, his section of the draw is wide open for a run to his first ever Slam fourth round. 

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​EARLY ROUND INTRIGUE

(4) Wawrinka vs Fritz
(7) Gasquet vs Bedene
(8) Thiem vs Mayer
(19) Tomic vs Verdasco
​(23 Karlovic vs Coric

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​TOURNAMENT NOTES
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• Three former champions will vie for the 2016 title: Federer (7), Djokovic (3), and Murray.
• 2002 was the last time (Lleyton Hewitt) someone outside of the so-called "Big Four" won Wimbledon. 

2015 Champions:

• Singles - Djokovic
• Doubles - Roger/Tecau
• Mixed Doubles - Paes/Hingis

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Withdrawals: Rafael Nadal

I'm officially a Londoner. Best way to avoid the traffic :) pic.twitter.com/3aVtYDKvO7

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) June 20, 2016

#EndOfDayWimbledonEdition□ #DreddySeason□□□ #SummerSixteen□□□ #TheBigW□□ pic.twitter.com/ZBH5sCDzWY

— Dustin Brown (@DreddyTennis) June 21, 2016

And who forgot the white shirt??? :):) @Wimbledon https://t.co/Wv9PNgfSoY pic.twitter.com/pPhYdK4Lhr

— Kei Nishikori (@keinishikori) June 22, 2016

Today with my friend @JackSock in @Tennis_Classic ! pic.twitter.com/7mFK9Ptl39

— Richard Gasquet (@richardgasquet1) June 22, 2016

I believe so https://t.co/okJSl2AQ9s

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) June 22, 2016

#Wimbledon, i'm coming !!!! #PrepaPhysique #GetReady □□□□ pic.twitter.com/izEXG1ceSB

— Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (@tsonga7) June 20, 2016

Someone tried to photobomb me ?? pic.twitter.com/V3wyFqWTWv

— Fernando Verdasco (@FerVerdasco) June 21, 2016