'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The tennis experts of Sportskeeda look ahead at the 2014 Wimbledon Championships by making picks for the men’s draw in four categories: dark horse, early exit, dangerous floater, and champion.
1. Dark horse
Adnan Akhtar: Grigor Dimitrov would be my choice for the dark horse at this year’s championships. Despite a lacklustre display at Roland Garros, Dimitrov looks in good shape on grass after a title-winning performance at the traditional Wimbledon warm-up event at Queen’s.
Anand Datla: Grigor Dimitrov has long been touted as a successor to Roger Federer, with some even branding him as ‘Baby Federer’. While Dimitrov himself has taken exception to the moniker, the comparison itself is a reminder for the Bulgarian to produce the game that befits his immense talent. Victory at Queen’s Club was ideal preparation and if anyone can emerge as a breakthrough winner this fortnight, it has to be this gentleman.
Ball N Racquet: Feliciano Lopez and Grigor Dimitrov seem to be the best bets here. Seeded 19th and 11th respectively, the two could potentially spoil a few players’ Wimbledon hopes. But the draw seems more favourable to Lopez, who has John Isner and Stanislas Wawrinka in his section. He could be tired from two full weeks of tennis (he reached the final at Queen’s and won Eastbourne), but Lopez knows his way on grass and could well be due a breakthrough.
Jai Prakash: Based on recent form and the sheer talent that he has, I have to go with Grigor Dimitrov. The Bulgarian is capable of upsetting the apple cart and it’s time for the world to take note of this youngster.
Kaushik Narayanan: Spaniard Fernando Verdasco gave the defending champion a scare at last year’s Wimbledon. He has a complete game, and could go deep into the tournament once again.
Musab Abid: Milos Raonic hasn’t done anything on note on grass thus far in his career, but one look at that titanic serve and you have to wonder why. If Goran Ivanisevic could ride a big serve all the way to the title, I see no reason why Raonic shouldn’t be able to do the same. The Canadian seems destined to win Wimbledon some day, and considering where he’s placed in the draw, I like his chances this year.
Roh: Grigor Dimitrov’s recent win at Queen’s over Feliciano Lopez says a lot about his form. Consistency has been an important factor in the Bulgarian’s season so far and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be able to extend his run at the Championships as well.
2. Early exit
Adnan Akhtar: The short grasscourt season makes it difficult to figure out which player would be an early casualty at Wimbledon. I’ll go with the bold choice of choosing Rafael Nadal as the player who would be leaving SW19 early. The Spaniard has not had a great outing on grass, losing in Halle this year and failing to go past the initial few rounds in his last two campaigns. That, together with a tough draw, could well spell an early doom for the world number 1’s campaign.
Anand Datla: It is a toss-up between David Ferrer and Stan Wawrinka. Wawrinka has struggled mightily at Wimbledon in recent times, making first round exits the past two years. The Swiss has also struggled with his game ever since his glorious triumph in Melbourne. But Ferrer is in even more trouble, if that was even possible; he is coming off an injury that has deprived him of time on the court, and he hasn’t played since his loss to Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals of the French Open.
Ball N Racquet: After failing to cross the first round hurdle at the French Open, Stan Wawrinka could very much be the first of the top eight seeds to exit.
Jai Prakash: I can’t think beyond Rafael Nadal for this one. He’s had a woeful time on grass over the last three years. To add to that, he’s got a tough draw this year. I don’t see him making it to the second week.
Kaushik Narayanan: No surprises on selecting Rafael Nadal to bow out early at this year’s Wimbledon. The World No. 1 is saddled with a recurring back problem, and his potentially difficult draw doesn’t help matters. It is almost inevitable for the reigning French Open champion to depart early.
Musab Abid: John Isner is seeded ninth here for some reason, and is slated to meet Eastbourne champion and grass lover Feliciano Lopez in the third round. I wouldn’t even bet on Isner getting that far.
Roh: Although Ernests Gulbis made it to the semifinals at the French Open, he’s never been good at carrying his momentum forward. Look for the Latvian to falter early at the Championships.
3. Dangerous floater
Adnan Akhtar: The seeded players would want to avoid facing Dustin Brown in their Wimbledon campaign. With a shock win over Rafael Nadal in Halle and a third round appearance last year at Wimbledon, the German’s game is very suited to grass and he could very well cause a few upsets at the Championships.
Anand Datla: Dominic Thiem and Jiri Vesely could be the men to watch out for at this edition. Vesely is a young player with a bright future, and there is no knowing how far he could go if he can manage to get past Gael Monfils in the second round. But the bigger newsmaker has been Thiem, who could face Dimitrov in the second round, offering an interesting peek into a rivalry that could blossom well into the future.
Ball N Racquet: Old warhorse Radek Stepanek seems like a good pick here. With a semifinal finish at Queen’s Club and a string of recent good performances, he could certainly pose a threat to Novak Djokovic in the second round with his volleying skills.
Jai Prakash: It’s a tough choice given the unpredictability of Wimbledon; I will pick Frenchman Kenny De Schepper, who made it to the fourth round last year. He has a tough opener against Kei Nishikori, but you know what happened to Kei at the French Open!
Kaushik Narayanan: Though this former No. 1 is well past his prime, Lleyton Hewitt brings out his best when no one expects him to. Except for a possible second round clash with Jerzy Janowicz, he has a reasonable draw, and if he plays some good tennis, he could slay a couple of seeds.
Musab Abid: Remember Sam Querrey? The player who was once thought to be USA’s next big hope has found himself in injury-induced wilderness a little too often lately. But he’s supposedly healthy again, and his big serve is a threat on any surface, but most of all on grass. He could face the slumping Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round; the Frenchman better watch out.
Roh: Former champion Lleyton Hewitt has been out of sorts for quite a while now, but on grass his game is nothing short of impressive. The Aussie usually brings his best to Wimbledon, and I expect him to do the same this year.
4. Champion
Adnan Akhtar: Roger Federer would be my pick to be the champion at this year’s Wimbledon. The Swiss maestro has always been a force to reckon with on grass and a title in Halle only justifies his form. I believe he can go the distance this time to win an eighth title at SW19.
Anand Datla: I am going out on a limb here, knowing that Roger Federer may not have another chance to clinch his 18th Grand Slam title. Federer has made a quick adaptation to grass after his fourth round loss to Ernests Gulbis at the French Open. The draw has been kind to him too – if Wawrinka loses early, it could open his passage through to the semifinals. It is only two matches from there and this being grass, Federer has a real chance at his first Major title since Wimbledon 2012.
Ball N Racquet: The King of Clay has lived up to the title bestowed upon him and it is now the King of Grass’ turn. Roger Federer can never be discounted at a Grand Slam as a contender. And this year, he is one of the players with the strongest chances to win the Championships. With Nadal’s weak knees, Federer seems to have a sure path to the finals, where he could face Novak Djokovic.
Jai Prakash: He’s been the most consistent player on all surfaces for a few years now. I see Novak Djokovic winning his second title here, despite being in the same half as defending champion Andy Murray.
Kaushik Narayanan: This is one of the most open Wimbledons in recent times, but I’ll go with Andy Murray to successfully defend his trophy. Not only does he have the game to defend it, but Djokovic’s wrist injury scare and Federer’s waning powers also seem to be pointing to the possibility of the Scot emerging as the winner for the second year running.
Musab Abid: Andy Murray is the form pick, Rafael Nadal the sentimental pick and Roger Federer the trendy pick, but I’m going to stick with Novak Djokovic. Assuming he can keep his wrist injury at bay, the Serb will be raring to prove a point; moreover, this will be the first time that erstwhile grasscourt master Boris Becker will be on hand to help him at Wimbledon. If that partnership is going to pay dividends anywhere, it has to be here.
Roh: Rafael Nadal. Simply because he’s slowly but surely regaining his form, and the similarities between the time when Federer eclipsed Pete Sampras’ tally of 14 Majors nearly five years ago and the present are too uncanny to overlook.
