Pre-gaming Wimbledon 2024

[Moxie]

Could be a good time to start observing who's doing well on grass, in the tune-ups, and discuss options. If Novak really doesn't play, and I'm pretty sure he won't, this will be the first Wimbledon without any of the Big 3 since 1999. Yes, a quarter of a century. But he's still on the entry list. That said, the list of real contenders is short, with him or without him. Alcaraz and Sinner.

Here's something I found about current odds. Note that there is a big drop-off after Novak, and that Berrettini, who I was going to call a big potential spoiler, makes #6 on the list...even with Novak still in. Hell, Rafa and Kyrios are on this list. Rafa has withdrawn, and Kyrgios is not on the entry list. (Again to my point that odds makers know nothing about tennis.)

So my point is...who out there is playing good grass tennis? Who can spoil? Who's the dark horse? (I think according to this, Berrettini is the best Dark Horse, having once made a final.) I'm also asking so that you help me with my draw challenge.

If we thought Roland Garros was wide open, Wimbledon seems even more so. Or will we natter over all of this, and still get a Sinner v. Alcaraz final?

 

[El Dude]

I agree, Moxie, that this one is even more up in the air than Roland Garros, if only because grass seems to be more prone to upsets, and there's the big server floater factor.

I agree that it is Alcaraz/Sinner, then everyone else. I don't see Medvedev or Tsitsipas ever winning Wimbledon, and I'm a bit surprised Zverev hasn't done better (R16 being his best result).

Until he wins a Slam, Rune is a darkhorse at any Slam. He's a guy whose game translates across all surfaces, and I'd like to think there was a bit of maturity showing at RG. Hurkacz is probably the biggest darkhorse, though, then maybe...Fritz? Berrettini? Rublev? Hard to say, as no one stands out. Who knows, maybe Grigor could Ivanisevic-it.

So for me it is Alcaraz/Sinner, then a big gap and Hurkacz/Rune, then the rest of the gang.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Young Jack Draper, who won his first ATP title in Stuttgart today against Berrettini has a good grass game, great lefty serve, he can be dangerous on grass, as long as his body holds up,
Frenchman Adrian Mannarino has a good game on grass, another player that can be dangerous, Struff also a dangerous player
For the last time,,
Ben Shelton whose game should be good on grass, I watched him recently on grass, no idea on shot selection, he was just terrible,
Ben Shelton get yourself a 'proper coach', your father is just not up to the task.
I think we will have a clearer idea after Queens and Halle, Queens Alcaraz playing and Halle Sinner is playing, both draws in both of these tournaments are strong

 

[Moxie]

I agree, Moxie, that this one is even more up in the air than Roland Garros, if only because grass seems to be more prone to upsets, and there's the big server floater factor.

At least Novak and Rafa played at RG, and likely neither will be at Wimby, so right there it seems more up-for-grabs, to me. (Even if Rafa doesn't seem that he's much of a factor anymore. Before RG, and his crap draw (I couldn't resist that,) he was still a question mark. But I agree about the upset factor on grass, given that one break of serve can mean the set. And there are some guys who seem to do well in the grass season. I'll have my eye out for those tall Dutch and German guys. I noticed Van Rijtoven (sp?) is back. Not that I expect some rando to win Wimbledon...only to be a bad first or second round for top players.

I agree that it is Alcaraz/Sinner, then everyone else. I don't see Medvedev or Tsitsipas ever winning Wimbledon, and I'm a bit surprised Zverev hasn't done better (R16 being his best result).

I'd give Medvedev more of a chance than Tsitsipas, based on Slam records, though the Greek is not afraid of the net, and Meddie seems more disinclined. Zverev...he should have been listening to his brother, who has a good net game.

Until he wins a Slam, Rune is a darkhorse at any Slam. He's a guy whose game translates across all surfaces, and I'd like to think there was a bit of maturity showing at RG. Hurkacz is probably the biggest darkhorse, though, then maybe...Fritz? Berrettini? Rublev? Hard to say, as no one stands out. Who knows, maybe Grigor could Ivanisevic-it.

So for me it is Alcaraz/Sinner, then a big gap and Hurkacz/Rune, then the rest of the gang.

I'm confident that Rune will surprise us one of these days and begin to pull it all together. Or, I want to be confident, anyway. And, like you, I like to think he's showing more maturity. I'd give him Dark Horse status.

I am rather allergic to Hurkacz, and I thought of him. Must have willfully left him off of the poll. But he could go deep. Personally, I don't see him as a Slam winner. Big spoiler, perhaps.

Dimitrov: I still have him in the category with Tsitsipas and Zverev, as Clown Princes. Though, unless I'm wrong? he's never made a Slam final. He does seem to have taken on a new seriousness, late career, rather like Monfils. But, just because he has some of the tools of Federer, I don't seem him winning Wimbledon, or any other Major, for that matter. I think his ship has sailed.

I still like Berrettini as a Dark Horse. He HAS made a Wimby final, after all. He's back, he's healthy, and playing himself back into form. Also, Draper is very interesting, as @MargaretMcAleer, mentioned above. He's young, and a bit unseasoned, partially due to injuries in the past. He's 6'4", big lefty serve. Just won Stuttgart, and served 31 aces in his SF match. Plus, he's English, so will enjoy a lot of crowd support. Should be very dangerous.

 

[Moxie]

Young Jack Draper, who won his first ATP title in Stuttgart today against Berrettini has a good grass game, great lefty serve, he can be dangerous on grass, as long as his body holds up,
Frenchman Adrian Mannarino has a good game on grass, another player that can be dangerous, Struff also a dangerous player
For the last time,,
Ben Shelton whose game should be good on grass, I watched him recently on grass, no idea on shot selection, he was just terrible,
Ben Shelton get yourself a 'proper coach', your father is just not up to the task.
I think we will have a clearer idea after Queens and Halle, Queens Alcaraz playing and Halle Sinner is playing, both draws in both of these tournaments are strong

Agreed on Draper, as per above. Mannarino, however, is trending downward. I think he's nearing the end. Shelton is a bit like Shapovalov, I feel...big game, but wildly undisciplined. You're surely right about his coaching.

I know it will all start to become clearer with the tune-ups to come, but that's why I started this thread. Rather than have the next tournaments just on the ATP General news thread, we can talk about them here, if people want to. For me, it's about consolidating opinions for my draw challenge. (And for @don_fabio, too, since he always plays.)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Agreed on Draper, as per above. Mannarino, however, is trending downward. I think he's nearing the end. Shelton is a bit like Shapovalov, I feel...big game, but wildly undisciplined. You're surely right about his coaching.

I know it will all start to become clearer with the tune-ups to come, but that's why I started this thread. Rather than have the next tournaments just on the ATP General news thread, we can talk about them here, if people want to. For me, it's about consolidating opinions for my draw challenge. (And for @don_fabio, too, since he always plays.)

I also forgot, I also will add FAA as a dangerous player he can play on grass

 

[don_fabio]

Maybe also to add Griekspoor to do well, he's having a good season so far. I'd put him in a same category as Struff, can beat a lot of guys on a day, but also lose to worse players.

I'd put a healthy Berrettini above Hurkacz. Agree about Rune, he can do well on grass.

Not sure where to put Dimitrov, what's his best result on Wimbledon? Let's see how this week goes, to get a clearer picture.

 

[Moxie]

Maybe also to add Griekspoor to do well, he's having a good season so far. I'd put him in a same category as Struff, can beat a lot of guys on a day, but also lose to worse players.

I'd put a healthy Berrettini above Hurkacz. Agree about Rune, he can do well on grass.

Not sure where to put Dimitrov, what's his best result on Wimbledon? Let's see how this week goes, to get a clearer picture.

Yeah, Griekspoor...one of those Dutch fellas. Those guys seem to feature this time of year. I agree with Berrettini over Hurkacz.

Dimitrov's best finish at W was a SF, but that was 10 years ago, in 2014. Last year 4th round, but in-between those, lost of 1st round losses.

 

[mrzz]

I am rooting for a T Rex to enter the center court, bite the head off some royal, vomit, and then devour some players.

Having said that, I will still watch it. I am still on the Struff band wagon. I watched the match he lost in RG, he can play big but he still lacks a lot of consistency. This might not be such a problem in W. Not that I root for him, far from that. I only do realize he can play really good tennis.

I do not agree that it is more open than RG. But grass is indeed more random than clay.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

After watching the SF at Halle today I am putting forward Zhang,Chinese player, who has the weapons and his results do not match his ability
He will be dangerous on the grass

 

[El Dude]

After watching the SF at Halle today I am putting forward Zhang,Chinese player, who has the weapons and his results do not match his ability
He will be dangerous on the grass

Are you saying that he'll be the Cerundolo of grass?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Are you saying that he'll be the Cerundolo of grass?

LOl! I am just saying after watching him in Halle in the SF against Sinner, he has a good game on the grass, he has good weapons, I am surprised his ranking does not show his true ability, a good serve and a clean striker of the ball. He played close to Sinner in their SF match

 

[nehmeth]

Jordan Thompson played some excellent tennis at Queen’s Club. If he is healthy going in to SW19, he could upset seeded players. Giron and Struff both played well, winning at Halle.

Detective Jack Draper will hopefully have good success at Wimbledon. Voted for him.

I realize the list could get very long. The first three guys each have their merits. I’m looking forward to the weeks ahead.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Jordan Thompson played some excellent tennis at Queen’s Club. If he is healthy going in to SW19, he could upset seeded players. Giron and Struff both played well, winning at Halle.

Detective Jack Draper will hopefully have good success at Wimbledon. Voted for him.

I realize the list could get very long. The first three guys each have their merits. I’m looking forward to the weeks ahead.

Rob Hi

I did mention Jack Draper at the beginning of this post, his game suits the grass, and I think at Queens he just ran out of puff, he did say his body felt good but mentally he was stuffed lol !it is a learning curve going forward, hopefully his injuries issues are behind him now which plagued him for most of last year

 

[Front242]

Jordan Thompson played some excellent tennis at Queen’s Club. If he is healthy going in to SW19, he could upset seeded players. Giron and Struff both played well, winning at Halle.

Detective Jack Draper will hopefully have good success at Wimbledon. Voted for him.

I realize the list could get very long. The first three guys each have their merits. I’m looking forward to the weeks ahead.

Well, if not the seeded players, Jordan Thompson will at least upset the spectators with that porn tache

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Can Hurkacz perform presently at GS level? because he has to be one of the contenders for Wimbledon based on form

 

[El Dude]

Not really anything new after the warm-ups. I'd still go with Alcaraz and Sinner as 1-2, in that order, then Novak if he plays, then a group of Zverev, Hurkacz, Medvedev, etc in some order. I think the true dark-horses would be Struff and Draper, at least among non-big title winners.

I think what is becoming more and more clear as we go deeper into the season is that Alcaraz and Sinner are really separating themselves from the pack -- at least unless Novak can muster an Indian Summer and/or Rune puts it all together.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Can Hurkacz finally perform at Grand Slam level? because he has to be one of the contenders for Wimbledon based on form

Did you forget about 2021 Wimbledon? I remember Hurkacz sending Federer into retirement with a straight-set win, and a 6-0 final set. If that isn't performing at Grand Slam level, I don't know what is.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Did you forget about 2021 Wimbledon? I remember Hurkacz sending Federer into retirement with a straight-set win, and a 6-0 final set. If that isn't performing at Grand Slam level, I don't know what is.

I am talking about present okay I remember that win, what has he done after that? I will re word my post to make it clearer for you

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Jack Draper will be seeded at Wimbledon this year, which will help his cause.