10 players that we are curious to watch at Wimbledon, and why

Holger Rune: Denmark | 20 years Old | Ranked 6th

Best result at Wimbledon: 1st round in 2022 (beaten by Giron).
Relationship with grass: He has won three matches in his career on it, all three last week to reach the semi-finals at Queen’s.

Why we can’t wait to see him: Because behind the big favorite Novak Djokovic and the big challenger Carlos Alcaraz, he is one of, if not the best placed of the rest of the field. With his complete tennis, his ability to take the ball on the rise and power it for winners, his taste for the net and his silky touch, we do not see him having too many technical restrictions for the grass. The only thing he lacks is experience.
His opponent in the 1st round: George Loffhagen.

Alexander Bublik: Kazakhstan | 26 years old | Ranked 26th

Best result at Wimbledon: 3rd round in 2021 (beaten by Hurkacz) and 2022 (Tiafoe).
Relationship with grass: Bublik has just won the most important title of his career in Halle – need we say more? With his velvety hands, his appetite for serve and volley and his touch of madness, we can consider him more than properly suited for the hallowed lawns of SW19.
Why we can’t wait to see him: To see him break this strange curse in Halle. Did you know that since 2011, all the winners of the tournament not named Roger Federer have been beaten in their opening match at Wimbledon (Kohlschreiber in 2011, Haas in 2012, F. Mayer in 2016, Coric in 2018, Humbert in 2021 and Hurkacz in 2022). Bublik put the odds on his side by withdrawing from Mallorca to arrive fresh and available in London.
His opponent in the 1st round: Mackenzie McDonald.

Tallon Griekspoor: Netherlands | 26 years old | Ranked 31st

Best result at Wimbledon: 2nd round in 2022 (beaten by Alcaraz).
His relationship with grass: It is a thrivinv business since it is the surface on which he has his best win ratio on the main circuit (63.2%).
Why we can’t wait to see him: Because he is playing the best tennis of his career in this 2023 season during which he has already won two titles, including one last week at home in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. With his flat backhand that he really likes to slice, he is a classic grass player, who now deserves to be a little better known to the general public. If he passes his (dreadful) first round, it could become the case.
His first-round opponent: Marton Fucsovics.

Ben Shelton: USA | 20 years old | Ranked 35th

Best result at Wimbledon: Never played.
His relationship with grass: He has just played on the first two tournaments of his career, first at Queen’s (victory against Wolf, defeat against Musetti) then in Mallorca (first-round defeat against Eubanks).
Why we can’t wait to see him: Like his father Bryan, who reached the round of 16 at Wimbledon in 1994 and took out some quality talent in the process (Bruguera, Curren, Stich, Krajicek, etc.), Shelton has what it takes to be a formidable player on the surface. It all starts with the serve and ends with the aggression and swagger. But he is a raw talent and probably won’t find his prime for a few years. Nevertheless, enjoy him now…
His first-round opponent: Taro Daniel.

Adrian Mannarino: France | 35 years old | Ranked 43rd

Best result at Wimbledon: Round of 16 in 2013 (beaten by Kubot), 2017 (Djokovic) and 2018 (Federer).
His relationship with grass: Almost a love story. It’s the surface on which the Frenchman won his first title in 2019, played three of his four Grand Slam Round of 16s and built much of his confidence, ATP points and bank account. His atypical game, cutting, shaving and shimmering, expresses itself better on grass than anywhere else.
Why we can’t wait to see him: Because at 35, he’s having an even stronger grass season than usual with wins over Medvedev at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Fritz at Queens and this week a final in Mallorca (results pending).
His opponent in the 1st round: Alexander Shevchenko.

THE WOMEN

Karolina Muchova: Czech Republic | 26 years old | Ranked 16th

Best result at Wimbledon: Quarter-finals in 2019 (beaten by Svitolina) and 2021 (Kerber).
Her relationship with grass: Muchova has been kept largely quiet during the grass-court tournaments disputed between Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, but the All England Club has been a proving ground for her. She reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final in 2019, before doing it again two years later. Everyone says it: his attacking and varied tennis is cut for the grass…
Why we can’t wait to see her: Doesn’t matter which surface, we can’t wait to the talented Muchova again after her enchanting journey at Roland-Garros where she reached the final playing sublime tennis (she hasn’t played since). When you are nicknamed the “Roger Federer of women’s tennis”, you are inevitably eagerly awaited at the All England Club…
His opponent in the 1st round: Jule Niemeier.

Donna Vekic: Croatia | 27 years old | Ranked 20th

Best result at Wimbledon: Round of 16 in 2018 (beaten by Goerges).
Her relationship with grass: She is an excellent grass player, a surface on which she won a title in Nottingham in 2017 and played three other finals, including one very recently in Berlin against Kvitova.
Why we can’t wait to see her: Because behind the trio of players who now lead women’s tennis (Swiatek, Sabalenka and Rybakina), she quietly emerges as one of the most in-form players in competition, on a surface where, as we have said, she excels. The Croatian, who is having a great season, has quite the kind of profile that can do damage on Wimbledon’s grass.
His opponent in the 1st round: Shuai Zhang.

Alycia Parks: USA | 22 years old | Ranked 37th

Best result at Wimbledon: Never played in the main draw.
Her relationship with grass: There are still very few reference poings in singles (note that she had spent a round in Berlin last year before resisting well to Ons Jabeur), but has just reached the final in doubles in Birmingham alongside her Australian partner Storm Hunter.
Why we can’t wait to see her: Since she revealed herself at the start of the season by winning her first title in Lyon at the expense of Caroline Garcia, we say to ourselves that her enormous serve (recorded at 207 km/h) and her tennis à la Serena Williams can and should wreak havoc at SW19. From this year? It may be a bit early, but we’re curious to see what she can offer…
Her opponent in the 1st round: Anna-Lena Friedsam.

Varvara Gracheva: France | 22 years old | Ranked 43rd

Best result at Wimbledon: 1st round in 2021 (beaten by Martic).
Her relationship with grass: Her young age means that Gracheva still has very little experience there, but she has just shown in Bad Homburg, where she reached the quarter-finals, that she is not a “cow on ice.”
Why we can’t wait to see her: Because it will be her first Grand Slam played under the French flag (of Russian origin, she was naturalized last month). And she may be the best hope for the French if Caroline Garcia, forced to retire to Bad Homburg due to shoulder pain, does not recover sufficiently. But her 1st round is complicated…
His opponent in the 1st round: Camila Giorgi.

Venus Williams: USA | 43 years old | Ranked 554

Best result at Wimbledon: Winner in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008.
Her relationship with grass: Is it necessary to talk about it? She is a legend of the game and more particularly a Wimbledon legend, her most prolific Grand Slam, where she won her five titles on grass out of the 49 that make up her immense record. She’s reached nine finals at Wimbledon, overall.
Why we can’t wait to see her: Because when we thought she was more or less retired, she made an inspiring comeback on her favorite surface with a victory against Giorgi followed by a big match against Ostapenko, despite the defeat. Holder of a wild card at Wimbledon, she has proven that she could be up to it and perhaps win a few matches there. Which, at 43, would be historic (she would be the third oldest woman to ever win a singles match at SW19 if she wins), especially given his opponent in the 1st round…
His first-round opponent: Elina Svitolina.