By Tony Fairbairn
- Rafael Nadal looks to continue calendar grand slam dream while Novak Djokovic looks to defend title
- Top Seeds: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas
- British Interest: Cameron Norrie [9], Dan Evans [28], Andy Murray, Jack Draper, Jay Clarke [WC], Ryan Peniston [WC], Liam Broady [WC], Paul Jubb [WC], Alastair Gray [WC]
LONDON, ENGLAND – Rafael Nadal will look to continue his calendar grand slam dream at Wimbledon while world number one Novak Djokovic will look to stop him and successfully defend his title.
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[1] Novak Djokovic
Best Result: Title (2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021)
The world number one is looking to win his fourth Wimbledon in a row but enters this year’s tournament having only won one title all season.
Djokovic’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Soonwoo Kwon | H2H: Djokovic leads 1-0
- R2: Thanasi Kokkinakis | H2H: Djokovic leads 1-0
- R3: Miomir Kecmanovic [25] | H2H: Djokovic leads 2-0
- R4: Reilly Opelka [15] | H2H: First Meeting
- QF: Carlos Alcaraz [5] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 1-0
- SF: Casper Ruud [3] | H2H: Djokovic leads 3-0
- F: Rafael Nadal [2] | H2H: Nadal leads 31-30
Djokovic will be fairly pleased with this draw but will face a couple of sticky opponents in Thanasi Kokkinakis and Carlos Alcaraz. Even those matches Djokovic will believe he is the favourite in a best of five set scenario and will look forward to a potential date with destiny against Rafael Nadal in the final where history will be on the line.
[2] Rafael Nadal
Best Results: Title (2008, 2010)
After winning the opening two grand slams of the season, Nadal will believe that the calendar grand slam is in his sights.
Nadal’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Francisco Cerundolo | First Meeting
- R2: Sam Querrey | H2H: Nadal leads 5-1
- R3: Lorenzo Sonego [27] | H2H: First Meeting
- R4: Marin Cilic [14] | H2H: Nadal leads 7-2
- QF: Felix Auger-Aliassime [6] | H2H: Nadal leads 4-0
- SF: Stefanos Tsitsipas [4] | H2H: Nadal leads 7-2
- F: Novak Djokovic [1] | H2H: Nadal leads 31-30
Nadal has been dealt with quite a few of the big servers with Sam Querrey, Marin Cilic and Felix Auger-Aliassime all in his route to the final. This means that we should know early on where Nadal’s game is at. The Spaniard’s confidence will be at an all-time high but whether he can conserve enough energy for the potential final showdown with Djokovic is another question which we will find the answer to over the next fortnight.
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[3] Casper Ruud
Best Result: First Round (2019, 2021)
It’s credit to Ruud’s consistency on hard and clay courts that he is in a position where he is a top four seed on what is his worst grand slam.
Ruud’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Albert Ramos-Vinolas | H2H: Ramos-Vinolas leads 3-1
- R2: Tomas Martin Etcheverry | H2H: First Meeting
- R3: Sebastian Baez [31] | H2H: First Meeting
- R4: Pablo Carreno Busta [16] | H2H: Tied at 2-2
- QF: Hubert Hurkacz [7] | H2H: Ruud leads 3-0
- SF: Novak Djokovic [1] | H2H: Djokovic leads 3-0
- F: Rafael Nadal [2] | H2H: Nadal leads 3-0
Considering how poor he has been on grass, the first week is doable given the circumstances. However with Frances Tiafoe, Grigor Dimitrov and Cameron Norrie all potentially awaiting in the second week as well as the above list, the Norwegian is unlikely to make it past the last 16.
[4] Stefanos Tsitsipas
Best Result: Fourth Round (2018)
After an early exit at Roland Garros, Tsitsipas will be hoping to prove a point on the grass courts and manufacture a deep Wimbledon run.
Tsitsipas’s Path to the Final
- R1: Alexander Ritschard [Q] | H2H: First Meeting
- R2: Jordan Thompson | H2H: Tsitsipas leads 1-0
- R3: Filip Krajinovic [26] | H2H: Tsitsipas leads 2-1
- R4: Denis Shapovalov [13] | H2H: Shapovalov leads 3-1
- QF: Matteo Berrettini [8] | H2H: Tsitsipas leads 2-0
- SF: Rafael Nadal [2] | H2H: Nadal leads 7-2
- F: Novak Djokovic [1] | H2H: Djokovic leads 7-2
Tsitsipas has been given a very tough draw with Jordan Thompson and potentially Nick Kyrgios providing tricky early tests. Should he get through that then Denis Shapovalov and Matteo Berrettini will give him tricky late round encounters. Tsitsipas will do well to reach the second week given current form.
Wimbledon takes place from 27 June – 10 July.
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