Wimbledon - Men's contenders

Eurosport - Mon, 22 Jun 07:04:00 2009

A look at the strengths and weaknesses of the leading contenders for the men's title at Wimbledon which begins on Monday (prefix number denotes seeding):

TENNIS 2008 Wimbledon Murray - 0

2-Roger Federer (Switzerland)

Will be high on confidence after finally conquering Roland Garros. Aiming to win a record 15th Grand Slam title, on his favourite surface, and snatch back the crown Rafael Nadal took from him in an epic five setter 12 months ago. After reaching 20 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals, finding any chinks in his armour might be a difficult task.

3-Andy Murray (Britain)

As well as being a supreme tactician, he trips up many opponents with his excellent court coverage. After winning his first grasscourt title at Queen's Club last week, he is being backed to end Britain's 73-year wait for a men's champion. All the hype and expectation could lead to his downfall.

4-Novak Djokovic (Serbia)

Boasts an attractive all-court game with his backhand being his strongest weapon. His fitness, though, has been called into question time and again as he has quit mid-match four times in 18 Grand Slam tournaments.

5-Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina)

Can adapt to playing on many different surfaces as he proved by winning back-to-back titles on clay and hardcourt in 2008. His swift coverage around the court helps him to run opponents ragged. Has made major strides this year by reaching his first Grand Slam semi-final in Paris. Since he has never progressed beyond round two at Wimbledon, has yet to find his comfort zone on grass .

6-Andy Roddick (US)

His thunderbolt serve is once again proving to be a weapon on grass but he has slipped under the radar over the last couple of years. Had to retire from his semi-final at Queen's Club after spraining his ankle. If he is a step slower than usual, he could be heading home early for the second year running.

7-Fernando Verdasco (Spain)

Spain's Davis Cup hero has an ominous forehand and has proved to be a supreme athlete after keeping Nadal on court for more than five hours in a battle of wills and stamina in the Australian Open semi-finals. The gifted left-hander could face an uphill struggle to find his footing on the slick surface.

9-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France)

Federer picked him as a threat on grass and he definitely favours the faster surfaces. In his only previous appearance at Wimbledon, the 2008 Australian Open finalist got to the fourth round and has the potential go further but failed to impress in Halle.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 14 of 14

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  1. Djoko didn't take a set off Nadal last year at­ Queen's but you got a point. Hard to say something­ like "Federer's gonna win, 100% sure".­ How many said the same very words before RG about­ Rafa?
    Nobody's talking about Djokovic but I­ remember his performances at Queen's against Hewitt­ and then against Nalbandian, that was just amazing... A­ Djokovic playing with confidence can beat anyone.

    From teapsky, on Mon 22 Jun 11:12AM

  2. Winning seven consecutive matches is really tough and­ Nadal and Federer have monopolised this exploit. The­ new contenders for the crown are Murray and Del Potro.­ With Del Potro never making it passed the second round­ it is starting to look like a Murray-Federer­ final.

    But what am I doing, this is way too early to­ predict the winner. Federer has not played a grass­ court tournament beforehand. Tsonga is a very strong­ contender. Djokovic took a set off Nadal at Queens last­ year. Who knows what could happen!

    From Steve G, on Mon 22 Jun 10:12AM

  3. You seem to forget that Del Po will have to beat Hewitt­ in round 2 and that won't be a piece of cake. And­ it's not because Verdasco lots 2 matches on grass­ this year that he's uncomfortable with the surface.­ Before his AO campaign, his best appearances in Grand­ Slam were at Wimb'. Tsonga will be a major threat­ to all favourites. Cheers

    From teapsky, on Mon 22 Jun 9:21AM

  4. Murray and Federer will easily dispatch all their­ opponents in best of five set matches here on grass and­ will meet in the final. Murrays record against Federer­ is excellent but beating him at Wimbeldon in a final is­ another thing, can he do it?

    From mgh0302, on Mon 22 Jun 9:18AM

  5. I'm not sure Verdasco has problems moving on grass.­ He's been to the last 16 of Wimbledon twice in the­ last three years and has described it as his favourite­ Slam. Hardly the track record or comment of a guy­ who's struggling to stay on his feet. Take Care

    From rhymes450, on Mon 22 Jun 9:01AM

  6. Federer will cruise to victory. I have to say,­ Wimbledon will not be the same this year without Nadal.­ He will be sadly missed. With Wimbledon won,­ Federer's legacy as the Greatest of All-Time will­ be sealed. History only remembers how many Grand Slams­ you win, not who you beat to get them.

    From Mark V, on Mon 22 Jun 8:11AM

  7. Federer sure makes me sick just give me thumbs down if­ you agree

    From barcelona_sure_kicked_your_arse, on Sun 21 Jun 3:26PM

  8. Roger to crush out in round two in a flood of tears I­ hope!!!

    From barcelona_sure_kicked_your_arse, on Sun 21 Jun 3:18PM

  9. With no pressure on him and the only person who could­ have beaten him out, Federer to win his 15th. Murray­ will choke like he did in US open with the weight of­ expectancy

    From jjmalone, on Sun 21 Jun 2:59PM

  10. I think Murray has a chance of getting to the finals if­ he can get past Fernando Gonzalaz but will be­ tough.Good luck to all the guys.Can't wait now for­ wimbledon to start.

    From AJ, on Sun 21 Jun 2:00PM

  11. Federer has no obstacle with Nadal out.But then­ again,it's sports,anything can happen.

    From somieibi, on Sun 21 Jun 1:22PM

  12. Every one seems to be forgeting about Djokovic who will­ play with no presure at all for the simple fact that­ nobody is expecting him to win .looking at the draw he­ too has a open road rigt up to the semifinal where­ anything is posible

    From kirovrtanoski, on Sun 21 Jun 1:21PM

  13. Verdasco is a contender? LMAO. The guy cant play on­ grass and his record for the year on grass is 0-2.

    From FergusO, on Sun 21 Jun 12:49PM

  14. I think that with Rafa out, it will be easy for Federer­ to win. The only obstacles on his way are definitively­ Murray, who shows great stamina on grass, but also Del­ Potro, whom Federer had trouble beating. If Del Potro­ regains the confidence he had against Robredo in the­ Roland-Garros quarter-finals,he might just have a­ chance of beating the grass champion

    From bfiorina2001, on Sun 21 Jun 12:10PM
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