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Novak Djokovic might be aiming to increase his document variety of Grand Slam titles to 24 when Wimbledon will get underway on July 3, however a brand new crop of gamers have shone in current months to point out they are often darkish horses on the grasscourt main.
The 36-year-old Djokovic has in recent times dominated on the All England Membership the place he has received seven instances, together with the final 4 titles, whereas Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz is coming to phrases with grass after conquering hardcourts and clay.
Whereas a number of high seeds could have their say, the next are rising gamers who may very well be critical contenders:
TAYLOR FRITZ (UNITED STATES)
World rating: 8
Having misplaced 5 of his first six ATP finals, Fritz turned issues round in March 2022 when he received the Indian Wells Masters regardless of being the twentieth seed.
Out within the desert, Fritz confirmed indicators that American tennis lastly had a males’s contender for Grand Slams after the golden period of Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick — the final American to win a serious again in 2003.
Fritz, who reached a profession excessive of world quantity 5 earlier this 12 months, has received his final 4 ATP finals and has underlined his grasscourt credentials previously having received the Eastbourne tune-up match twice within the final 4 years.
He has additionally reached six semi-finals this 12 months and, whereas he didn’t convert them into finals appearances like in 2022, he mentioned: “I am seeing myself fairly deep in tournaments, constantly taking part in rather a lot higher.”
HOLGER RUNE (DENMARK)
World rating: 6
Having burst onto the scene on the Paris Masters final 12 months, Rune has been on an upward trajectory regardless of the ‘dangerous boy’ picture he has cultivated in current tournaments.
The fiery Dane shocked the tennis world when he bought previous 5 top-10 gamers en path to his first Masters title at 19 and has not appeared again as he sits on the sting of the highest 5.
Rune tends to lose his cool, nevertheless, even taking his frustration out by clashing with the followers, however the 20-year-old mentioned he was not afraid to point out his feelings on courtroom as he fights for his final objective – the world primary spot.
“I am not going to cover it,” he mentioned on the French Open. “I consider in myself, and likewise being able to beating these form of gamers, not just one time but in addition in a Grand Slam the place everyone knows that they wish to carry out at their finest.”
KAREN KHACHANOV (RUSSIA)
World rating: 10
Khachanov had his breakthrough on grass in 2021 when he reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the primary time and narrowly missed out on his maiden Grand Slam semis look after a marathon five-set defeat by Denis Shapovalov.
The large-serving Khachanov appeared set to be a serious menace in 2022 however was not in a position to play on the All England Membership as a consequence of Wimbledon’s ban on Russian and Belarusian gamers after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which Russia calls a ‘particular operation’.
Nonetheless, this 12 months Wimbledon lifted its ban on Russian and Belarusian gamers and can enable them to compete within the grasscourt Grand Slam as “impartial” athletes.
The 6-foot 6-inch Khachanov has since reached two Grand Slam semis whereas he additionally gave Djokovic a scare at Roland Garros when he took a set off the Serbian in a quarter-final loss en path to breaking into the highest 10 for the primary time since 2019.
{Photograph}: Reuters
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