BRAD GILBERT’S CONTENDERS
The former coach of Andy Murray and Andre Agassi
SIMONA HALEP (ROM) AGE: 26 LAST YEAR: QF
SHE has led the surge of the counter-punchers and nobody does it better. a tremendous mover who covers the court very well. She had a rough quarterfinal loss to Jo Konta last year and it is difficult to know how she will react to winning the French Open at last. It could lead to her immediately kicking on, but her lack of grass preparation will not help.
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI (DEN) AGE: 27 LAST YEAR: 4TH RND
ANOTHER counter-puncher who has got the Grand Slam monkey off her back by taking the title in australia. Her backhand down the line is an outstanding shot, while tinkering with her serve has brought improvements. after winning at Eastbourne, Wozniacki (below) will hope for quicker conditions that can help generate power.
GARBINE MUGURUZA (SPA) AGE: 24 LAST YEAR: WINNER
WHAT surprised me last year was that from the fourth round onwards she was really solid. It was a remarkable midtournament transformation and incredibly effective. a big returner with huge power off both sides, she needs to find that great balance again between aggression and consistency. When she gets on a roll, she’s trouble.
SLOANE STEPHENS (US) AGE: 25 LAST YEAR: 1ST RND
ANOTHER counter-attacker, but has more effortless power than any other player and the ability to strike from wider positions. Her game is not unlike that of andy Murray in a way, and like him in his prime she is a fantastic mover. She has tended to be all or nothing at tournaments since winning the US Open.
ELINA SVITOLINA (UKR) AGE: 23 LAST YEAR: 4TH RND
A BIT like alex Zverev in the men’s, her results have been underwhelming in the Slams. but she is one of the most solid players out there off both wings and very good at manoeuvring the ball. I hope the disappointment at the French Open, which some thought she might win, has not affected her.
CAROLINE GARCIA (FR) AGE: 24 LAST YEAR: 4TH RND
FRANCE’S best hope of a champion. She is a fun player to watch who gets consistently good results. Her aggressive game is quite flashy and she’s not afraid to take risks. Her whole game is elevated when her serve is on.
KAROLINA PLISKOVA (CZ) AGE: 26 LAST YEAR: 2ND RND
IT’S a mystery that she has not done better at Wimbledon, especially as she has a high ace count from a first serve that is both powerful and accurate. She is not a great defender but you would think the rest of her game, with her aggressive returns, would translate well to grass. This will be the year it happens.
PETRA KVITOVA (CZ) AGE: 28 LAST YEAR: 2ND RND
HER resurgence has been amazing after the events of 2016 (when she was attacked in her home). Her lefty serve is very effective on grass and she has the second best slice serve after Serena. She likes to take defence out of the equation. a tremendous natural ball-striker and two-time champion (she won at birmingham a week ago), she may be the only player capable of beating Serena at her peak.
SERENA WILLIAMS (US) AGE: 36 LAST YEAR: N/A
PART of the key to her having the best serve in the history of tennis is that she can toss the ball up in the same place and find all the different spots she wants from there. She also has a great return off both wings. She was improving as she went on at the French Open before her withdrawal, but we cannot be sure of what we’ll get here.
JO KONTA (GB) AGE: 27 LAST YEAR: SF
I AM surprised she has fallen away since making the semifinals here last year. She has a good serve, is a strong athlete and plays aggressively, but that does not work as well when your confidence is not so high. I feel she needs to rein in her natural game sometimes so we wait to see if she can do that.