Fever Tree Championships 2018 preview: 4 things to watch out for

With the Fever Tree Championships starting on the 18th June, this is a good time to analyse some of the players taking part, as the grass court season gets underway. The success of players in tournaments preceding majors provides a good indicator of how they will do at tournaments such as Wimbledon. Past Wimbledon champions such as Boris Becker, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have won at SW19 after winning at Queen's, highlighting the importance of the event. The transition from the clay court to grass court is very difficult, as the ball moves very differently on both the surfaces. It will, therefore, be interesting to see how each player copes with this. This tournament will be pivotal for these players involved. For Andy Murray, this will signal a return to competitive action after his long-term absence. Kyle Edmund will, therefore, have to deal with the burden of being British No.1, heading into the grass-court swing. Grigor Dimitrov and Novak Djokovic will also be aiming for encouraging runs at the Queen's Club, as all players hope to get in the best form possible before the third major of the year.

Will Grigor Dimitrov fulfil his potential?

The 2014 Queen’s Club champion is capable of succeeding on grass. The Bulgarian’s fluid groundstrokes and his ability to move elegantly on the surface, make him a threat on all grass- courts. Since his victory at Queen’s four years ago, Dimitrov has not won a grass court title, failing to fulfil the early promise.

Wimbledon provides the 26-year-old with a huge opportunity to progress far into the tournament. Rafael Nadal’s recent failures at the All – England Club, do not make him a threat on grass, as Novak Djokovic still searches for his best form. The Serb however, is showing signs of improvement and is still a major force at both Queen’s and Wimbledon. Two-time champion Andy Murray is on course to return for his first tournament since last year’s Wimbledon, where he limped out of the competition with a hip injury.

The uncertain nature of some of the top seeds opens the draw for a new Wimbledon winner, like Dimitrov. However, there are dangerous players in both tournaments, with 2012 Queen's Club champion Marin Cilic and former Wimbledon semi-finalist Juan Martin Del Potro at both competitions. Furthermore, the straight sets defeat against Roger Federer at Wimbledon 2017 proved that he was a long way behind. The world No.6 must make significant improvements to his game if he is to win another title on grass.

How will Andy Murray fare on his return to competitive tennis?

Andy Murray lifting the Queen's Club title in 2016

Nearly a year has passed since Murray last competed on the ATP Tour, with the former world No.1 sidelined due to a major hip injury. It will be interesting to see how the hip copes, given the severity of the injury and the arduous nature of his recovery process. He had planned to play at last year’s US Open and practised at the event, until a last-minute withdrawal. He hoped to play in Brisbane and Melbourne this year but pulled out claiming his hip had not fully healed. The setbacks continued, as the Scot recently withdrew from the Libema Open grass-court tournament, which should have been his return to the men’s game. These continual delays show the injury is delicate and so we might not see Murray at his best until later in the year.

Another interesting thing to look out for is the five-time Queen's champion’s style of play. During his career, Murray had a strategy of engaging in long and tiring rallies, attempting to wear the opponents down. This style of tennis has consequently affected his body, resulting in the hip injury. We could, therefore, see a change in Murray’s playing methods for the remainder of his career, with shorter and more aggressive points. The double Wimbledon champion could be on the hunt for a coach too, as he is yet to replace Ivan Lendl.

Is Novak Djokovic ready for the grass-court season?

Djokovic at Eastbourne 2017

The once all-conquering Serb has gone two years without a Grand Slam and has looked a shadow of his former self during that time. Even this year, after a loss to Taro Daniel at the BNP Paribas Open, Djokovic said, “it felt like the first match I ever played on the tour”, as he looked lethargic and uninspired. However, there were signs of the former World No.1 returning to his ominous best during the clay court season. Victories against Kei Nishikori and Borna Coric in Monte Carlo and Madrid respectively showed signs of promise. Even though he suffered a shock quarter-final defeat to Macio Cecchinato at the French Open, there was an added energy and fire to his game and body language throughout that tournament. In the post-match press conferences, Djokovic showed frustration at his own performance during the match. These are the signs of someone ready to return to the summit of the game.

Djokovic is one of few players who is comfortable on all surfaces, meaning the transition from the red-dirt to grass should not be a problem. This is the second year in a row where Djokovic has chosen to play a build tournament before Wimbledon, competing at Eastbourne last year. In his three victories at the All England Club in 2011, 2014, and 2015, Novak chose not to play a tournament preceding Wimbledon. The key for the former Queen's Club finalist is momentum and getting a string of match wins under his belt. A good showing at the Fever-Tree Championships would certainly help him towards a fourth Wimbledon title.

How will Kyle Edmund cope with being British No.1 at Queen's and Wimbledon?

Kyle Edmund at Queen's 2017

For British tennis fans, there is always a rise in expectations when the grass-court season arrives. Expectations will be high for Kyle Edmund, who will enter Wimbledon as the British No.1 for the first time. A significant turning point for the Brit was the 2018 Australian Open where he reached the semi-finals, beating the likes of Grigor Dimitrov and Kevin Anderson along the way. He also secured an important win over Novak Djokovic, at this year’s Madrid Open, showing he can beat the top players.

However, there are some factors that work against Edmund. Kyle generally prefers the slow clay courts, which favour his hard-hitting style of play. In contrast, the grass is the fastest of all the surfaces, making it Kyle's least favourite surface. Furthermore, he does not have an amazing serve and is not confident at the net, both of which are very important on grass. Something else to consider is that the 23-year-old is yet to win a title ATP level. Could he end the wait for a title at Queens or Wimbledon?