The 2025 Wimbledon kicks off on Monday, June 30, and can run by means of Sunday, July 13. Carlos Alcaraz is attempting to turn into the fourth man within the Open Period to three-peat at the Championships, and the primary since Bjorn Borg to finish the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double in consecutive years.
Since all eyes will likely be on the Spaniard, listed here are 5 non-Alcaraz storylines to observe over the subsequent few weeks:
Is the GOAT getting into his last Wimbledon?
Novak Djokovic has misplaced 4 matches at majors to Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz over the previous 18 months, proving he is unable to maintain tempo with the game’s dominant new duo. Following his loss to Sinner at Roland-Garros, he despatched shockwaves by means of the tennis world by hinting he may have played his final French Open. Figuring out Djokovic, he isn’t the kind to make such statements except he genuinely believes the top is nigh.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion — and indeniable GOAT (biggest of all time) of males’s tennis — has nothing left to show, however it’d be a disgrace to see him not attain no less than another main last. Even followers on the All England’s Tennis Membership, with whom he is had a rocky relationship for years, would welcome one last hurrah. Because the sixth seed — his lowest since 2018 — Djokovic may have a challenging path, with potential clashes towards Jack Draper within the QF, Sinner within the SF and Alcaraz within the last.
Can Coco Gauff break by means of on grass?
The 21-year-old American has been dominant on arduous and clay courts, however her issues on grass persist. Recent off her maiden French Open title, she misplaced within the first spherical to Xinyu Wang at Berlin, her solely grass-court occasion in preparation for The Championships.
Final yr, Gauff misplaced within the fourth spherical at Wimbledon, a yr after being ousted within the opening tie by fellow American Sofia Kenin. She has by no means superior previous the fourth spherical at SW19. Many consider she’ll must make changes to her sport, particularly utilizing much less topspin and incorporating extra volley strokes, to enhance her probabilities on grass. She is slated to run into Iga Swiatek within the quarters if the 2 girls make it that far.
The identical query applies to Sinner…
The World No. 1 has received three of the final six majors — two Australian and one U.S. Open — all on arduous courts, however his performances on grass depart loads to be desired. Current outcomes embody a second-round loss at Halle final week and a QF loss ultimately yr’s Wimbledon. If the Italian really desires to proceed on his trajectory as an all-time nice, he should make a deeper run at Wimbledon, or else threat being labeled a one-court specialist.
The likes of Djokovic and Rafael Nadal struggled on the grass-court main of their early years however ultimately captured a number of titles at SW19. He has a comparatively simple path earlier than doubtlessly dealing with Ben Shelton or Lorenzo Musetti within the QF, and both Draper or Djokovic within the SF.
Is Bublik’s Cinderella run for actual?
No participant is an even bigger wild card at Wimbledon than World No. 30 Alexander Bublik, who had a shedding report on the Tour earlier than profitable the latest Halle title, the place he shocked Sinner and Daniil Medvedev, shortly after reaching the ultimate eight on the French Open. He has the serve and shot-making to problem anybody on grass.
Some have questioned his drive to be nice. At 28, he is seemingly beginning to understand it is now or by no means. In 2023, he pushed Andrey Rublev to 5 units within the fourth spherical, his finest end at SW19. He has the momentum to go additional this yr. Be careful for a possible Bublik vs. Draper match within the third spherical, probably the most anticipated males’s tie of the primary week.
Put up or shut up time for Taylor Fritz
Amongst top-ranked gamers, the World No. 5 performed probably the most occasions on this yr’s grass-court swing, besting Alexander Zverev within the Stuttgart Open last, going three rounds at Queen’s Membership, and making one other deep run at Eastbourne. Will his preparation meet the chance on the largest stage? Despite his affinity for grass, he has by no means superior previous the ultimate eight on the Championships.
The American is probably going nonetheless haunted by painful recollections of his QF defeat to Mussetti final yr, when he did not convert on three set factors earlier than shedding in 5 units. He proved naysayers mistaken by reaching the ultimate of final yr’s U.S. Open. The stage is about for him to shock the world once more. At 27, he will not get many extra probabilities.
