2017 ATP WIMBLEDON PREVIEW

This Week In Tennis
Season 2, Vol 19b

Welcome to the ATP Wimbledon preview edition of  "This Week in Tennis." Below you will be given a rundown of the top eight seeds, players to watch, and suggested some intriguing first round matches at SW19. This preview also features a collection of tennis writing and podcasts from the past week. 

The 2017 edition of The Championships at Wimbledon features myriad storylines to watch over the next fortnight of tennis: can Andy Murray defend his title and/or hold off Nadal, Djokovic, and Wawrinka for the number one ranking? Will Milos Raonic build on his finals appearance last year and capture his first major title? What can we expect from Rafael Nadal on grass this season, especially after winning a 10th French Open weeks ago? ​Is a 19th Slam title in the cards for Federer, or will this be the first Wimbledon since 2002 to be won by someone other than the "Big Four?"

Click here for the WTA Wimbledon preview

Photo credit: Associated Press

ATP SINGLES DRAW​

(1)  Andy Murray
​​
Best Result: W - 2013, 2016
2016 Result: W

A semifinal run in Paris seemed to quell concerns over Murray's inconsistent form in 2017. However, he will begin his title defence at the AELTC with only one match on grass, an opening loss to Jordan Thompson at Queens. His number one ranking is also up for grabs this fortnight with Nadal, Djokovic, and Wawrinka all defending few points from one year ago. A current hip injury is potentially another hindrance to his title defence. 

(2) Novak Djokovic

Best Result: W - 2011, 2014, 2015
2016 Result: 3R

The good news for Djokovic: he has only second round points to defend from one year ago, putting him in position to potentially reclaim the world #1 rankings at the end of Wimbledon. He is also, as of this writing, slated to face Monfils in the Eastbourne final, a potentially last-minute boost of confidence heading into the tournament. The bad news: he is still nowhere near the player he was one year ago, and his last appearance at a Slam saw him lose in straight sets to Dominic Thiem, including a third set bagel.

(3) Roger Federer

Best Result: W - 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
2016 Result: SF

After taking the clay season off, Federer returned to the tour in Stuttgart with a surprising loss to Tommy Haas in his opening match. He recovered on the familiar lawns in Halle to claim his ninth title there, positioning him as a top favourite for an eighth Wimbledon crown. Ranked fifth in the world, Federer enters as the third seed due to Wimbledon's unique seeding formula. 

​(4) Rafael Nadal

Best Result: W - 2008, 2010
2016 Result: ​DNP

Nadal enters Wimbledon on the heels of a monumental clay court season, having won his tenth title at Roland Garros and rising again to the #2 world ranking. However, whatever confidence the Spaniard may carry with him into Wimbledon is mitigated by the fact he hasn't advanced past the fourth round at the AELTC since 2011. Still, he enters Wimbledon the healthiest he has been in years and is a two-time former champion and five-time finalist. 

​(5) Stan Wawrinka

Best Result: QF - 2014, 2015, 
2016 Result: 2R

Wawrinka has failed to make at least the quarterfinals of a major only four times in his last 17 starts. However, two of those failures have come at Wimbledon, including a second round exit last year to del Potro. In an effort to boost his grass fortunes, and perhaps complete his career Grand Slam, this year's French Open finalist added Paul Annacone to his coaching staff ahead of these Championships. Wawrinka could also snare the number one ranking at tournament's end depending on the fortunes of Murray, Nadal, and Djokovic.

(6) Milos Raonic

Best Result: F - 2016
2016 Result: F

Last year's finalist isn't as popular a pick as he should be this time around due to injuries and inconsistent results in 2017. He's recently added Mark Knowles to the coaching staff post-Roland Garros, and still possesses the game to trouble anybody on grass. Seeded sixth at Wimbledon, a case could be made for Raonic as a top four favourite alongside Federer, Murray, and Djokovic. The Canadian will likely play Alex Zverev in the fourth round before a possible rematch of last year's semifinal with Federer in the quarterfinals. 

(7) Marin Cilic

​Best Result: QF - 2014, 2015, 2016
2016 Result: QF

Cilic has quietly put together a solid season, including deep runs at two grass lead up events: a quarterfinal at s-Hertogenbosch and a final at Queens. ​Consider too that Cilic has made the quarterfinals at Wimbledon each of the past three years and he becomes a quick contender to upset the string of wins at Wimbledon by the "Big Four" dating back to 2002. To do so, however, he will have to navigate a tough first round opponent in Phillipp Kohlschreiber. 
​
(8) Dominic Thiem

​Best Result: 2R - 2015, 2016
​2016 Result: 2R
 
Dominic Thiem enters the 2017 Championships much like he did last year: one of the hottest players in the first half of the season as well as a current French Open semifinalist. Unlike last year where he entered Wimbledon with a grass title in Stuttgart and seven match wins on grass under his belt, Thiem has a solitary match win from two events this go around. Thiem also draws a resurgent former quarterfinalist in Vasek Pospisil in the first round. 

TOP 32 SEEDS

​1. Murray
2. Djokovic
3. Federer
4. Nadal
5. Wawrinka
6. Raonic
7. Cilic
8. Thiem

​9.   Nishikori
10. A Zverev
11. Berdych
​12. Tsonga
13. Dimitrov
14. Pouille
15. Monfils
16. Muller

​17. Sock
18. Bautista Agut
19. Lopez
20. Kyrgios
21. Karlovic
22. Gasquet
23. Isner
​24. Querrey

​25. Ramos-Vinolas
26. Johnson
27. M Zverev
​28. Fognini
29. del Potro
30. Khachanov
31. Verdasco
​32. Lorenzi

​FIVE TO WATCH
​

• Nick Kyrgios - A danger to any player on any given day, but is he healthy enough this go around to go deep into the tournament. 
• Alexander Zverev - Strong results in the lead up tournaments, but is faced with a tough draw.
• ​Dustin Brown - Once felled Nadal at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, and might get a crack at Murray in round two.
• Gilles Muller - Playing the best tennis of his career at 34, and seeded ten spots ahead of his actual ranking of 26. 
• ​Feliciano Lopez​​ - Coming off the biggest win of his career two weeks ago at Queens, Lopez has the game to be a serious darkhorse on grass. 

​
​
​​EARLY ROUND INTRIGUE

(23) Isner vs Fritz
(3) Federer vs Dolgopolov
(8) Thiem vs Pospisil
Coric vs Harrison
(29) del Potro vs Kokkinakis
(20) Kyrgios vs Herbert
Shapovalov vs Janowicz
(31) Verdasco vs Anderson
(7) Cilic vs Kohlschreiber
Haas vs Bemelmans 
​
​TOURNAMENT NOTES
​

• Four former champions will vie for the 2016 title: Federer (7), Djokovic (3), Nadal (2), and Murray (2).
• 2002 was the last time (Lleyton Hewitt) someone outside of the so-called "Big Four" won Wimbledon. 
• Federer, Mahut, Monfils, Chardy, Young, Dimitrov, Kuznetsov, Fucsovics, and Shapovalov are the former Wimbledon Boys champions playing in this year's Men's Singles main draw.

2016 Champions:
​

• Singles - Murray
• Doubles - Herbert/Mahut
• Mixed Doubles - Kontinen/Watson ​

☁️9⃣□ pic.twitter.com/5oaW0jGcCo

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) June 25, 2017

Had fun beating my friend @stanwawrinka at the water pong game at the @evianwater lounge in @Wimbledon today haha □□□□ #LiveYoung #FunGame pic.twitter.com/aV9VMgj4lu

— Lucas Pouille (@la_pouille) June 28, 2017

Good morning ☀️□□ @antalyaopen

A post shared by Fernando Verdasco (@ferverdasco) on Jun 26, 2017 at 1:53am PDT

A post shared by ^Nicholas Kyrgios^ (@k1ngkyrg1os) on Jun 29, 2017 at 11:23am PDT

Training at #Wimbledon! pic.twitter.com/BSVBOa7AyT

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 28, 2017

Now I have Career Grand Slam of qualifications □□□#grandslam #wimbledon #8times #maindraw #byebyeroehampton

— Illya Marchenko (@imarchello) June 29, 2017

Up on The Champions Board. #Queens

A post shared by Jamie Murray (@jamie__murray) on Jun 25, 2017 at 12:49pm PDT

Throwback Thursday to last Sunday @aegonchampionships @thequeensclub. I will treasure this moment forever!

A post shared by Feliciano Lopez (@felilopezoficial) on Jun 29, 2017 at 6:06am PDT

And we are back! #wimbledon @wimbledon

A post shared by Grigor Dimitrov (@grigordimitrov) on Jun 25, 2017 at 5:44am PDT

ON THE WEB

Kyrgios and Tomic: Contrasting contenders at Wimbledon
​$62,000 to train like Rafa, but are tennis academies worth it?
​Why You Should Experience the Beauty (and Agony) of Grass Court Tennis
​What to Watch at Wimbledon, from Roger to Rafa to Venus
Wimbledon's Qualifying Tournament is 3 1/2 Miles and a World Away
​Rafal Nadal Hopes to Regain Past Success on Wimbledon Grass
​Gilbert: Nadal Shatters Major Myth
Feliciano Lopez Enjoying Benefits of Experience on Tour
​Is Felix Auger-Aliassime Canada's newest tennis sensation?
​New York City Settles with Former Tennis Star Roughed up by Cop

PODCASTS

The Body Serve - ​Hello Grass, BYE J Mac: Don’t Come For Serena Unless She Sends For You
Beyond The Baseline - ​Kim Clijsters on Wimbledon, Motherhood, Hall of Fame Induction
​Realz Tenis Fanz - ​Cutting through the Grass with Maria and Federer
​Tennis.com - Turf Talk: Considering the Tours as Wimbledon Begins
Thirty Love - Tumaini Carayol on Vika and Petra's comebacks
Top Spin Tennis Pod - ​Up Yours! Feminist Critiques on The Gross Grass​
​Tennis Nerd Podcast - The State of Tennis/French Open Review and Wimbledon Sneak Peak!
Lucky Loser Tennis Podcast - Wimbledon Draw Preview
Tennis Connected - Previewing the 2017 Wimbledon Championships​
​The Main Draw - We're All Living a Lie