Five Wimbledon storylines to look out for

Strawberries. Pimm's. The Hill. The Queue. And, astir importantly, the world's finest players battling it retired connected the eventual trial of grass-court tennis.

Wimbledon, 1 of the crown jewels of the British sporting calendar, returns erstwhile the Championships statesman connected Monday.

Over the adjacent fortnight, present are 5 of the cardinal storylines to support an oculus on...

Twelve months ago, Emma Raducanu's Wimbledon acquisition consisted of making hospitality appearances for her sponsors.

The 21-year-old Briton missed her location Grand Slam aft surgeries connected some wrists and an ankle, but returns this twelvemonth with a grin connected her look connected the backmost of immoderate encouraging form.

"It was truly hard past twelvemonth due to the fact that you would locomotion done the subordinate tunnel, spot your peers going to practice, going to play their match," said the 2021 US Open champion.

"Being connected the different broadside conscionable truly stung. It wasn't bully and I didn't truly ticker immoderate of the tennis either.

"For maine to beryllium connected this broadside of it this twelvemonth is conscionable ace special."

Raducanu missed the clay-court French Open to absorption connected being acceptable and acceptable for the British writer play - and the determination looks to person paid dividends.

Reaching the Nottingham semi-finals was followed by a tally to the Eastbourne quarter-finals, including a triumph implicit American satellite fig 5 Jessica Pegula.

"I deliberation I'm successful a truly bully place," said Raducanu, who plays against Mexican fortunate loser Renata Zarazua connected Monday.

"I did a bully chunk of enactment astatine the extremity of the twelvemonth to get backmost and healthy. I've continued that enactment passim this year.

"I consciousness bully successful my body. There are nary doubts."

There is seldom a cleanable mode to decorativeness a nonrecreational tennis vocation - and Andy Murray is afloat alert of that.

But it feels particularly cruel that Murray - a British icon who ended the nation's 77-year hold for a location men's singles champion successful 2013 - has seen his hopes of a Wimbledon farewell hindered by injury.

Since suggesting successful March helium would not play overmuch past this summer, the 37-year-old Scot has been riddled by fittingness problems.

The latest is simply a backmost occupation that required country connected a spinal cyst, leaving two-time champion Murray doubtful of playing singles 1 last time.

If not acceptable to play successful the archetypal circular connected Tuesday, helium inactive mightiness beryllium acceptable for a touching swansong with older member Jamie successful the men's doubles aboriginal successful the week.

"I'm conscionable trying to bash what I can, trying to support progressing each day," said Murray, who has been drawn against Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic.

"Whether there’s capable clip oregon not, I don’t know, but I’m trying."

At the commencement of his career, Murray emerged to prime up the baton from Tim Henman arsenic Britain's starring men's subordinate - and transportation the nation's hopes astatine Wimbledon.

There is simply a parallel to beryllium drawn with Murray and Jack Draper.

Draper has agelong been seen arsenic the heir to his idol. Now helium is achieving results helium has agelong been seen susceptible of.

The 22-year-old's ascension to British fig 1 came connected the backmost of his archetypal ATP rubric successful Stuttgart, followed by an eye-catching triumph implicit defending champion Carlos Alcaraz astatine Queen's.

"Andy has been a immense inspiration to me. It started disconnected with maine watching him connected TV, and connected the bigger stages here," said Draper, who is seeded 28th.

"If I tin person an astonishing vocation similar Andy I volition beryllium highly arrogant of that."

Draper is the lone British effect successful the men's singles, with Katie Boulter besides seeded for the archetypal clip successful the women's singles (at 32) - 1 of respective communal threads betwixt the nation's 2 starring players.

The brace caput a database of 19 location singles players astatine Wimbledon - the highest fig this century.

Defying each expectations, and proving doubters wrong, is the substance that fires Novak Djokovic.

Coming from a immense shortage to overtake some Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal successful presumption of full Grand Slam victories is the top example.

Another is the mode which the 24-time large champion has fought done carnal issues to gain immoderate of his biggest successes.

Winning a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon men's title, aft having country connected a genu wounded connected 5 June, would arguably beryllium his astir confounding feat.

"I didn't travel present to play a fewer rounds," said the 37-year-old Serb. "I truly privation to spell for the title. I don't spot myself holding back."

It goes without saying you tin ne'er regularisation retired Djokovic, who has been described arsenic "superhuman" by defending champion Alcaraz.

But, fixed Djokovic's caller surgery, the 21-year-old Spaniard would person to beryllium considered the rubric favourite.

Recently crowned satellite fig 1 Jannik Sinner - a Wimbledon semi-finalist past twelvemonth - is not acold behind, adding further credence to his chances by warming up with a grass-court rubric successful Halle.

The void near by seven-time champion Serena Williams has led to a revolving formed of Wimbledon winners successful caller years.

Each of the past six women's singles champions has lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish for the archetypal time.

It would not beryllium a astonishment if that inclination continued this year.

Only 2 erstwhile winners are seeded - defending champion Marketa Vondrousova, who has been an wounded doubt, and 2022 victor Elena Rybakina - portion determination are questions marks implicit different starring players.

Belarusian 3rd effect Aryna Sabalenka has been the flimsy favourite for galore - with a crippled for writer and acquisition of winning large titles - but she formed uncertainty connected her chances because of a "rare" enarthrosis injury.

Poland's Iga Swiatek's reign arsenic the 'Queen of Clay' continued astatine the French Open past month. But the apical effect has ne'er gone past the quarter-finals and says she inactive has "to absorption connected being a amended player" astatine Wimbledon.

American 2nd effect Coco Gauff, who mislaid successful the archetypal circular past year, says the carousel of caller champions means it is "anybody's game".