WIMBLEDON 2014 PREVIEW
by Anudeep Bhattacharyya
The Favourites
Defending Champion and British number one Andy Murray will see himself as one of the favourites as he looks to replicate last year's performance and win his home Grand Slam once again. Murray's form has been patchy at best this year, but there were signs during his Rome and French Open campaigns that the Brit could be finding his best form, more than half a year after his back surgery last year. Murray has Mauresmo instead of Lendl as a coach this year, and it will be interesting to see how the partnership can work as Murray aims to defend his title. The Brit has a relatively kind draw, and is drawn to meet Novak Djokovic (who he beat in last year's final) in the semis.
Meanwhile Novak Djokovic will look to break his Slam duck by winning his second Wimbledon title. The Serb last won a Grand Slam title in the Australian Open in 2013, and has lost 3 Grand Slam finals since then. Djokovic has won Wimbledon before, during his incredible 2011, and has reached the semis and then the finals respectively in 2012 and 2013. Djokvoic will be hoping to go one step further this year, and has been installed as favourite by the bookmakers. He is drawn to face Berdych, or possible Gulbis, in the quarter finals, while Murray may await for him in the semi-final.
World Number One Rafael Nadal is fresh from winning his
ninth French Open title, and will look to add to his Grand Slam
tally here at Wimbledon. Nadal reached consecutive finals
everytime he played at Wimbledon from 2006 to 2011, but in the
last few years he has struggled physically on grass. In 2012 he
was knocked out by a surreal performance by Rosol, while in
2013 he was hampered by knee injury as he limped out in
straight sets in the first round against Darcis. After losing to
Dustin Brown early on in Halle this year, Nadal will be
vulnerable in the early rounds once again. He is likely to face
Rosol in the 2nd round in a repeat of their 2012 clash, and could
also meet Karlovic in the 3rd round. Another big server in the
form of Raonic could oppose Nadal in the quarter finals, while Nadal could play Federer in the semis. This is a tough draw for Nadal, and without much practice on grass he could be in danger early on. Nevertheless the Spaniard has proved people wrong before, and it would be foolish to rule him out here too.
7 times Wimbledon Champion Roger Federer has lost his aura of invincibility at Wimbledon with an early exit last year, but will look to bounce back by winning the tournament this time around. Federer won a warm up tournament in Halle, and looks in good shape. His results so far this year has been solid, with good performances in Dubai and Indian Wells, but had a disappointing clay season which was interrupted by the birth of twin sons. Federer's biggest possible obstacle would be Rafael Nadal, and he will be hoping the Spaniard exits early once again, which would exponentially improve the Swiss' chance of reaching the finals. Federer's draw is relatively kind, with Janowicz and Wawrinka the biggest dangers in his quarter.