Five Wimbledon storylines to look out for

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

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

Over nan adjacent fortnight, present are 5 of nan 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 pinch a grin connected her look connected nan backmost of immoderate encouraging form.

"It was really difficult past twelvemonth because you would locomotion done nan subordinate tunnel, spot your peers going to practice, going to play their match," said nan 2021 US Open champion.

"Being connected nan different broadside conscionable really stung. It wasn't bully and I didn't really watch immoderate of nan tennis either.

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

Raducanu missed nan clay-court French Open to attraction connected being fresh and fresh for nan British writer play - and nan move looks to person paid dividends.

Reaching nan Nottingham semi-finals was followed by a tally to nan Eastbourne quarter-finals, including a triumph complete American world number 5 Jessica Pegula.

"I deliberation I'm successful a really bully place," said Raducanu, who plays against Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova connected Monday.

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

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

There is seldom a cleanable measurement to decorativeness a master tennis profession - and Andy Murray is afloat alert of that.

But it feels particularly sadistic that Murray - a British icon who ended nan 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 he would not play overmuch past this summer, nan 37-year-old Scot has been riddled by fittingness problems.

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

If not fresh to play successful nan first information connected Tuesday, he still mightiness beryllium fresh for a rubbing swansong pinch older relative Jamie successful nan men's doubles later successful nan week.

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

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

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

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

Draper has agelong been seen arsenic nan heir to his idol. Now he is achieving results he has agelong been seen tin of.

The 22-year-old's ascension to British number 1 came connected nan backmost of his first ATP title successful Stuttgart, followed by an eye-catching triumph complete defending champion Carlos Alcaraz astatine Queen's.

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

"If I tin astonishing profession for illustration Andy I will beryllium highly proud of that."

Draper is nan only British seed successful nan men's singles, pinch Katie Boulter besides seeded for nan first clip successful nan women's singles (at 32) - 1 of respective communal threads betwixt nan nation's 2 starring players.

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

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

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

Another is nan measurement which nan 24-time awesome champion has fought done beingness issues to gain immoderate of his biggest successes.

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

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

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

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

Recently-crowned world number 1 Jannik Sinner - a semi-finalist past twelvemonth - is not acold behind, adding further credence to his chances by warming up pinch a grass-court title 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 nan past six ladies' singles champions person lifted nan Venus Rosewater Dish for nan first 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 - while location are questions marks complete different starring players.

Belarusian 3rd seed Aryna Sabalenka has been nan flimsy favourite for galore - pinch a crippled for writer and acquisition of winning awesome titles - but formed uncertainty connected her chances because of a "rare" enarthrosis injury.

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

American 2nd seed Coco Gauff, who mislaid successful nan first information past year, says nan carousel of caller champions intends it is "anybody's game".