2013 Wimbledon: Men's singles: Who's going to conquer the grass?

It is that time of the year when tennis fans throughout the world get to witness pure class on green grass. SW19 will be the most happening place on the planet for the next two weeks as the big four of the sport play a Grand Slam together, for the first time in 12 months. At the start of this year’s Wimbledon, the heart of every topic of discussion is ‘Who of the big four will win?’, as this is no more the era in which an unknown name comes out of the blue to lift the most coveted crown of the game. It is an era in which the big four of the game are dominating and adding to the spice of rivalries among their fan base and eventually making the atmosphere livelier. Here is the scene of the big guns from the eyes of a passionate fan with the obvious presumptions that any fan would have.

The man of the moment, Rafael Nadal, who has had a dream comeback after winning seven of the nine tournaments he has participated in since his seven month lay-off and reaching the finals of the other two, is a definite contender for the Wimbledon title which he has already lifted two times. His 43-2 season record is close to the best ever the game has ever seen; that of Novak Djokovic in 2011, who had a legendary winning streak of 43 matches, put to an end by the legend himself, Roger Federer, at the 2011 French Open semifinals. While considering the Mallorcan’s shot at the title, one should simultaneously discuss the all-time great and king of grass, Roger Federer‘s chances as well, not just because the two greats are scheduled for a possible quarterfinal meeting, but because they have provided to the game the greatest rivalry over different surfaces while continuing to outperform the other contenders in every surface. Djokovic came, dominated and conquered but it was these two whose names ruled the game for a half a decade. While Djokovic-Nadal encounters at Australian Open 2012 final and this year’s French Open semifinal were a treat to the fans, providing all the thrill, entertainment, twists and turns that one can ask from a match, it is the 2008 Wimbledon final where Nadal lifted the trophy in literal darkness that is etched in the minds of the fans as the greatest match ever.

While the debate on the best match ever is an never ending one, the point to take from here is that the Nadal and Federer epic match was the last time the two met on grass and the expectations from fans from their possible quarterfinal clash will definitely be sky high. This will be one of the last of their legendary matches as both the players are aging with time. Though Rafael Nadal has had the best of the seasons among the big 4, he chose to withdraw from Halle in order to rest his tired body which he says is still not 100% recovered, and the fact that he comes to Wimbledon without any match practice on grass, combine to raise concern over whether he can lift the title here.

Meanwhile, Federer wouldn’t complain as he had the best possible preparation coming into Wimbledon after lifting the trophy at Halle. His bid for a record-breaking eighth Wimbledon crown this year comes ten years after this place gave him his first taste of Grand Slam glory. While Federer is seeded third, holds the World No.3 position and is the defending champion here, he has got the toughest draw he could have asked for, which would make it tough for him to repeat his last year’s feat, given that he would have to scrape through his most feared rival, Nadal, in the quarterfinals to meet Murray or Tsonga, who have both won their last meeting against him. And if this is not enough already, the biggest obstacle awaits him in the final in the form of Dr. Nole, who would have comfortably made it there through an easy draw. Too many assumptions have been made here that no new faces will come up, that Ferrer wouldn’t have broken through his mental block when up against the top four and that the very capable Berdych wouldn’t tame Djoker, but most tennis enthusiasts would agree to these assumptions, for it has been a long time since the thirst of the tennis world for fresh faces was quenched.

One man who has been out of recent Grand Slam action is Mr. Murray, who missed this year’s French Open owing to a back injury. He can never be put out of this equation; after all, he is last year’s finalist, Olympic gold medalist at the very same courts of The All England Lawn Tennis Club and the current World No.2 and second seed here. The recent win at the Queen’s club will be a boost to the hopes of the determined Murray and the millions of British supporters, whose wait for another home champion at the coveted Wimbledon was almost put to an end last year before Federer fought back from a set down to lift his seventh Wimbledon title at the age of 30, shocking many of the experts.

Novak Djokovic, the reigning World no.1 and 2011 Wimbledon champion, is definitely the favorite to win and the easy draw only adds to his already bright chances. 2013 hasn’t been all that bad for him. Though he might be second in the race to London, it is only because the really long clay court season has just completed and Rafa has thoroughly dominated that and put himself at a comfortable 2000 points in the lead. There are so many tournaments to go, so many masters to go, enough for him to ensure that he retains the top spot, but at the moment his focus is on winning the coveted Wimbledon in which he is placed in the easier draw, with all three of his main rivals in the other half. His most probable challenger to the title will be Andy Murray, but that’s going too far, for the Slam has just started and is sure to provide the fans with all the excitement, thrill, fun, entertainment that we can ask for, especially from the usual crowd entertainers Tsonga, Monfils, Djoker and Co.

Whoever be the winner at the end of the day, we are set for great matches, showcase of pure skill, grace, class, drive, will, determination and dreams; yes, dreams, for this is the dream of every person who lifts his racket.