The unseeded men aiming to cause Wimbledon shocks

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Matteo Berrettini celebrates winning a pointImage source, Getty Images

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Matteo Berrettini reached nan 2021 Wimbledon last but is now 60th successful nan world rankings

Michael Emons

BBC Sport journalist

At immoderate Grand Slam, location are definite names that everyone looks retired for.

And for nan seeded men - nan apical 32 players from nan world rankings - location are ever those they want to debar successful nan early rounds.

So, erstwhile it comes to Wimbledon, who are nan men who could outpouring early surprises?

BBC Sport looks astatine 5 unseeded players that could beryllium a fistful astatine SW19.

Matteo Berrettini (Italy, world number 60)

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Matteo Berrettini eliminated seeds Alex de Minaur and Alexander Zverev earlier losing to eventual victor Carlos Alcaraz successful information 4 astatine Wimbledon past year

Berrettini, 28, is 1 of nan astir vulnerable unseeded players successful nan men's tie arsenic he continues his return from injury.

The Italian is simply a erstwhile finalist astatine Wimbledon, having mislaid successful 4 sets to Novak Djokovic successful 2021, and possesses a thumping forehand and powerful serve.

Berrettini ended his 2023 play early aft suffering an ankle wounded astatine nan US Open - a problem that kept him retired of action for six months and dropped him down nan rankings.

However, 4 of his 8 profession titles person travel connected grass, including 2 astatine Queen's Club. He reached nan last of nan caller Stuttgart Open successful nan build-up to Wimbledon, losing to caller British number 1 Jack Draper.

Gael Monfils (France, world number 40)

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Gael Monfils' champion tally astatine Wimbledon was successful 2018, erstwhile he reached nan past 16

Regarded arsenic 1 of nan sport's awesome entertainers, Monfils is backmost astatine Wimbledon aft 2 years distant for what could beryllium his past appearance.

A wrist wounded kept nan 37-year-old retired of past year's tourney and his world ranking plummeted to 394. He considered retiring earlier being talked retired of it by his squad and woman Elina Svitolina, nan erstwhile world number 3 and a semi-finalist astatine SW19 past year.

Monfils is now nan oldest antheral subordinate successful nan sport's apical 90 and past twelvemonth he became nan fourth-oldest to triumph an ATP title since 1990 pinch his triumph astatine nan Stockholm Open.

Known for his athleticism and stunning shot-making, Monfils won nan boys' singles title astatine Wimbledon successful 2004 and has been arsenic acold arsenic nan past 16 successful nan men's event.

Cameron Norrie (Great Britain, world number 44)

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Cameron Norrie reached nan Wimbledon semi-finals successful 2022

It has been a reliable 2024 for Cameron Norrie. He has fallen retired of nan world's apical 20 and been displaced arsenic nan apical British man by 22-year-old Draper.

Nevertheless, Norrie is different unseeded subordinate to beryllium feared, pinch this tourney coming only 2 years aft he reached nan Wimbledon semi-finals - his champion capacity astatine a Grand Slam.

With Andy Murray a uncertainty for Wimbledon pinch injury, tin 28-year-old Norrie springiness nan British fans thing to cheer about?

The powerful left-hander has been arsenic precocious arsenic 8 successful nan world and, if he tin regain his apical form, will beryllium 1 to watch.

Denis Shapovalov (Canada, world number 120)

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Denis Shapovalov hit Liam Broady - who was nan past British man opinionated successful singles - successful nan 3rd information astatine Wimbledon past year

Shapovalov, 25, is different erstwhile Wimbledon semi-finalist who finds himself good down nan rankings aft an injury-hit 12 months.

He reached nan 4th information past twelvemonth but was severely hampered by a knee injury, yet limping disconnected tribunal aft his nonaccomplishment to Roman Safiullin.

Shapovalov did not play again successful 2023, but he has secured notable wins this twelvemonth complete Stefanos Tsitsipas astatine nan Miami Open and Frances Tiafoe successful nan 2nd information of nan French Open.

The left-hander, renowned for his attacking, fierce style of play, hit Murray and eighth seed Roberto Bautista Agut connected his measurement to nan semi-finals astatine Wimbledon successful 2021 earlier losing to Djokovic.

A erstwhile world number 10, Shapovalov is presently classed 120th, but he qualified for Wimbledon this twelvemonth pinch his protected ranking of 27th.

Jordan Thompson (Australia, world number 39)

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Jordan Thompson sewage to play connected Centre Court astatine Wimbledon past twelvemonth for his nonaccomplishment to Novak Djokovic successful nan 2nd round

Thompson comes to Wimbledon successful good form, having reached nan semi-finals astatine Queen's - his first quality successful nan last 4 of an ATP 500 event.

He hit 2 of nan world's apical 15 successful Denmark's Holger Rune and American Taylor Fritz and was besides starring against Murray erstwhile nan Briton had to propulsion retired because of injury.

Thompson helped Australia to nan Davis Cup last successful 2022 and 2023 and has reached nan last of 2 ATP Tour 250 events connected grass. He besides won nan first singles title of his profession this twelvemonth successful Mexico, connected a difficult court, beating Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud successful doing so.

The 30-year-old is nary alien to causing a Wimbledon shock. In 2021 he defeated Norwegian 12th seed Ruud successful 5 sets and followed that pinch a triumph complete erstwhile world number 4 Kei Nishikori connected his measurement to nan 3rd round.

Can an unseeded subordinate triumph Wimbledon?

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Goran Ivanisevic hit 3rd seed Pat Rafter successful nan last to go Wimbledon champion successful 2001

There has been immoderate shape of seeding astatine Wimbledon since 1927.

In each that time, only 2 unseeded men person go singles champions - Germany's Boris Becker, aged 17, successful 1985 and Croatia's Goran Ivanisevic, who was classed 125th successful nan world and competing arsenic a wildcard erstwhile he triumphed successful 2001.

Eleven unseeded players person reached nan men's final, pinch Australia's Nick Kyrgios nan past to do truthful 2 years ago.

You only person to look backmost 12 months to spot caller grounds a Wimbledon singles champion could travel from beyond nan favourites - Marketa Vondrousova became nan first and truthful acold only unseeded subordinate to triumph nan women's title.

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Source Sport BBC
Sport BBC