Knowledgeable picks: Predicting males’s and ladies’s winners
With Wimbledon 2019 starting on Monday in London, we gathered our ESPN tennis consultants to glean their information and get their picks for this yr’s event.
Is defending champ Novak Djokovic the boys’s favourite or can Roger Federer win Grand Slam title No. 21? Can new ladies’s world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty observe her French Open win with a Wimbledon title? Is that this the time for younger stars Stefanos Tsitsipas or Felix Auger-Aliassime to interrupt via? And is Serena Williams a favourite, a darkish horse contender or neither?
This is what our consultants should say:
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Girls’s winner | Males’s darkish horse | Girls’s darkish horse
Is defending champ Novak Djokovic the person to beat at Wimbledon once more this yr? AP Photograph/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Who will win the Wimbledon males’s title?
Patrick McEnroe: Djokovic. Too stable in each space on the grass.
Chris Evert: Djokovic is due for a big-tourney win.
Brad Gilbert: One of many Huge Three; they’ve received 10 straight Slams, and I’d be shocked if it isn’t 11 after Wimbledon. I am leaning Djoker, however Fed has to love his draw rather a lot, particularly getting bumped to the No. 2 seed. Federer is my second favourite.
Cliff Drysdale: This golden period of males’s tennis actually solely options three gamers for a technology? Actually? And it continues. I am selecting Djokovic to repeat, with Federer and Rafael Nadal within the different aspect of the draw.
Pam Shriver: Nadal. His probability of passing Federer for GOAT consideration is at its peak, and he can solely win non-hardcourt majors now given his continued points with knee accidents.
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Darren Cahill: Federer. He’s primed and prepared after a deep run in Paris and one other grass-court title in Halle. His elevation to the No. 2 seed has left him in a greater part of the draw. Federer has performed much more tennis this yr than the previous three years main into Wimbledon, so he’s match match and assured. His greatest probability to maneuver to 21 Grand Slam titles lies right here.
Rennae Stubbs: Federer. I feel after the French he has to really feel actually good about how he performed on clay. And now after profitable Halle, he’s very assured and wholesome going into Wimbledon.
Peter Bodo: Djokovic has proved he’s the participant to beat on this present period at Wimbledon. He recovered from a mediocre North American swing earlier this spring to log a wonderful season on clay, which is now simply his third-best floor. He’s merely a beast on grass or onerous courtroom.
Alyssa Roenigk: Djokovic. With eight-time Wimbledon champ Federer, and never Nadal, the No. 2 seed at All England, Federer will not meet defending champ Djokovic till the ultimate. That is additionally good for the Djoker, who wins in a memorable ultimate, taking his second Slam of the calendar yr.
D’Arcy Maine: Federer. Positive, Djokovic is the reigning Wimbledon champion, has received three of the previous 4 Grand Slams and is the top-ranked participant on the earth, however Federer has momentum on his aspect. The ageless marvel (and eight-time Wimbledon champ) simply received on the Halle Open, proving he nonetheless very a lot has it on grass, and he appears wholesome and able to avenge his disappointing quarterfinal exit from final yr’s event.
Tom Hamilton: The boys’s championship is Djokovic’s to lose. He flew underneath the radar to take the title final yr, however he would be the man to beat in SW19 in 2019. He shall be within the combine among the many ordinary suspects and the brand new batch coming via, however Djokovic ought to reign supreme once more.
Jerry Bembry: Djokovic. With three wins in his previous 4 majors, he seems to be in peak type. And Djokovic is within the aspect of the bracket reverse Federer and Nadal, that means a seemingly simpler path to the ultimate.
Simon Cambers: Djokovic. Although Philipp Kohlschreiber is a troublesome opener, Djokovic has an amazing draw. And having missed out on the French Open, he shall be smarting and further decided to win right here once more. Djokovic is motivated and absolutely match, and the possibility to win a fifth Wimbledon title ought to preserve his thoughts centered all through.
Can Ashleigh Barty change into the primary girl to tug off the French Open-Wimbledon double since Serena Williams in 2015? PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Pictures
Who will win the Wimbledon ladies’s title?
Patrick McEnroe: Barty. She has an amazing pure grass-court recreation, now with confidence because the French Open champ.
Chris Evert: Serena. She’s the very best and most skilled grass-court participant. I feel she’s labored onerous preparing for grass season.
Brad Gilbert: I believed there may be 15 who may win Paris, and possibly there are 10 who can do it at Wimbledon. Barty is on an incredible roll, though she is in a bunch of dying quarter of the draw. I feel she will be able to make it two Slams in row.
Cliff Drysdale: There are a number of “ifs” within the ladies’s draw. The No. 1 “if”: If Petra Kvitova is taking part in injury-free, she is even within the winner’s stakes with Serena Williams.
Pam Shriver: Barty. Her athleticism and recreation type are excellent for grass. On the heels of Naomi Osaka’s stunning back-to-back majors on the US Open and Australian Open, Barty will preserve the sample going throughout essentially the most unpredictable and balanced 1 via 15 seeds in WTA historical past at Wimbledon.
Darren Cahill: Serena. We’ll see the very best of Serena this yr at The Championships. She is in a brutal quarter of the draw, however that is simply how she likes it. Grand Slam title No. 24 is ready, and Serena will convey it from the opening spherical to ship a message to the sector.
Rennae Stubbs: I HAVE NO IDEA. However I’m going to go together with Serena. I feel it may be her final stand to interrupt the document for all-time slams. (Williams has 23, one behind Margaret Court docket.)
Peter Bodo: It is a huge ask of Barty, who has performed an terrible lot of tennis currently, however she is a troublesome younger participant and he or she has a refreshing, no-nonsense, old-school Aussie method about her. No drama, no issues, no overthinking any side of it. Simply what the WTA tour wants at this second.
Alyssa Roenigk: Barty stands as much as the strain of her first Grand Slam because the No. 1 seed (and No. 1 participant on the earth) and delivers.
D’Arcy Maine: Barty. Other than that complete profitable her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros only a few brief weeks in the past and turning into the brand new world No. 1, the 23-year-old Australian simply received a grass title at Birmingham and believes herself to be stronger and extra harmful on the floor than she is on clay. She seems nearly unstoppable proper now, so I am banking on the Barty Get together persevering with at Wimbledon and into the hard-court season.
Tom Hamilton: Barty has had a nagging arm damage, however she is greatest positioned to make it two Slams in a row to proceed her outstanding run of type after profitable the French Open. With damage doubts clouding Serena Williams and Kvitova, Barty may dominate the ladies’s draw.
Jerry Bembry: With 9 completely different winners prior to now 10 Grand Slam occasions, the query among the many ladies is much less “who will win?” and extra “who’s subsequent?” I am going to go together with the girl who has had essentially the most success at Wimbledon: Serena Williams, even with the robust draw.
Simon Cambers: Barty. Her win on the French Open was a pleasure to see, a participant with actual selection capable of blunt the facility video games of a few of the huge hitters to win her first Grand Slam. A former junior champion at Wimbledon, Barty’s recreation is much more suited to grass. If she will be able to deal with the strain, she is the girl to beat.
Younger stars Stefanos Tsitsipas, left, and Felix Auger-Aliassime each have the potential to interrupt via at Wimbledon. GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Pictures
Who’s your males’s darkish horse contender?
Patrick McEnroe: Auger-Aliassime is the true deal on each floor. He shall be first to interrupt via in a serious.
Chris Evert: Stan Wawrinka. Why not?
Brad Gilbert: As soon as once more hoping for somebody 21-and-under to make a deep run — FAA or an American, or possibly even Matteo Berrettini — however going with Milos Raonic for some cause.
Cliff Drysdale: Tsitsipas has the sport, the persona and the pleasure to make a dent within the Huge Three domination. The potential Djokovic-Tsitsipas battle within the fourth spherical may have Brad Gilbert handing out the popcorn.
Pam Shriver: Tsitsipas. He’ll play calmer at Wimbledon and his serve and forehand can dominate one-to-three-shot rallies.
Darren Cahill: Wawrinka. He’s in an amazing part of the draw the place he can go deep. He continues to look a bit higher each time we have seen him this yr, and he’s not far-off from his greatest. Second-week Stan sees him strolling taller and ripping groundies, however rather a lot rests together with his first serve. Get that firing and he’s a risk to anybody.
Rennae Stubbs: Tsitsipas. He has a giant recreation and loves coming into the online when he has a possibility.
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Peter Bodo: I might like to go together with Auger-Aliassime as a result of he’s a part of such a beautiful story, however he is in all probability a yr away. The opposite man who pursuits me is Karen Khachanov, whose large serve and punishing forehand can punch via anybody’s defenses.
Alyssa Roenigk: Exterior of the Huge Three, everybody seems like a protracted shot. However Kevin Anderson, seeded No. four (4 spots above his world rating) and in possession of a whomping serve that makes him robust on grass, is primed to enhance upon final yr’s runner-up efficiency.
D’Arcy Maine: Auger-Aliassime. The 18-year-old Canadian has had a formidable grass season coming into Wimbledon, with a ultimate look at Stuttgart and a semifinal bid at Queen’s Membership that included victories over Tsitsipas and Grigor Dimitrov. Whereas Auger-Aliassime has but to win a title on any floor up to now in his younger profession and shall be making his senior debut on the All England Membership, he has proved he can play past his years and stay as much as the massive moments as of late. A teenage man hasn’t received a serious since Nadal in 2005, but when anybody has an opportunity, it is Auger-Aliassime. (And if all of this does not make you are feeling previous but, please be aware he’s simply three years faraway from dropping within the junior doubles championship match at Wimbledon in 2016.)
Tom Hamilton: Alexander Zverev already has confirmed his boundless potential with final yr’s ATP Finals win, however he nonetheless wants that Slam alongside his title. If he makes a storming early begin to Wimbledon, then anticipate to see him within the ultimate matchups. And from there, if he can harness that psychological energy, he may win his maiden Wimbledon title.
Jerry Bembry: Tsitsipas. You simply really feel he’s going to interrupt via ultimately. Why not now?
Simon Cambers: I am going for an actual lengthy shot and selecting Berrettini. The Italian has been making huge strikes on the tour this yr, and in contrast to most of his compatriots, he appears to essentially take pleasure in taking part in on grass. Profitable Stuttgart put him on the map, then he reached the semis at Halle. Assured and younger, Berrettini may give a number of folks a scare.
It may appear bizarre to name 23-time Grand Slam champ Serena Williams a dark-horse contender, however that is precisely what she is that this yr. Peter Klaunzer/Keystone by way of AP
Who’s your ladies’s darkish horse contender?
Patrick McEnroe: Coco Gauff at age 15 makes Week 2.
Chris Evert: Aryna Sabalenka. Her energy is a plus on grass, and he or she’s trying extra comfy on grass and taking part in a bit extra constant.
Brad Gilbert: After the success of the younger People in Paris, why not go the identical route? Hoping for Amanda Anisimova, however pondering Sofia Kenin.
Cliff Drysdale: The second “if” on the ladies’s aspect: If Sloane Stephens is in a great psychological state of mind, she has the motion and recreation to go undefeated. (P.S. Stephens and Kvitova, my ladies’s title choose, are seeded to satisfy within the fourth spherical.)
Pam Shriver: Serena, solely as a result of she is within the draw. Clearly her motion, health and match toughness isn’t there now, however nobody — particularly on grass — can get match robust faster than Serena. It additionally would not shock me is she withdrew or retired injured early.
Darren Cahill: Anastasija Sevastova. She is a good creative participant on all surfaces and at all times across the mark. Sevastova made the semifinals in Mallorca on grass and is in a great part of the Wimbledon draw. She has a recreation ok to go all the best way, however she finally ends up taking part in in opposition to herself in addition to her opponent at instances. She’s at all times harmful in opposition to the very best gamers.
Rennae Stubbs: Angelique Kerber. How will you not choose the defending champ, who loves grass as a lot as any participant within the draw?
Peter Bodo: Given that you’ve got a Williams right here, a Garbine Muguruza and a Maria Sharapova there, I’m assuming it is OK to select Kiki Bertens. She is ranked and seeded No. four, positive, however lots of people haven’t heard a lot — if something in any respect — about her. Search for her to experience that huge serve to the title.
Alyssa Roenigk: The ladies’s subject feels as vast open as ever, opening the door for a first-time winner at Wimbledon. Stephens has a brand new coach, is coming off a great run at Roland Garros and extends her success at All England.
D’Arcy Maine: It feels bizarre to name Serena Williams — a 23-time Grand Slam champion — a “darkish horse contender,” however right here we’re. Sure, 2019 hasn’t precisely been form to her, and he or she has struggled with accidents and solely superior previous the third spherical at any event as soon as this season (a quarterfinal run on the Australian Open). Nevertheless it’s Serena Williams at Wimbledon. With seven singles titles on the All England Membership, and a finals look final yr, she is at all times a contender.
Tom Hamilton: With Andy Murray sidelined within the males’s singles draw, Johanna Konta will put on the house expectation and likewise harness the Wimbledon assist. She is taking part in some good tennis, having made the semifinals at Roland Garros. And in case you’re in search of an out of doors shot for the title, then group Konta alongside Bertens and Caroline Wozniacki.
Jerry Bembry: I am going to stick to my darkish horse from the French, Garbine Muguruza. Simply because she has received right here just lately (2017).
Simon Cambers: It has been 15 years since a 17-year-old Maria Sharapova received the title, and it might be time for an additional 17-year-old to make a giant title for herself at Wimbledon. Anisimova reached the semis in Paris, and there’s no cause she will be able to’t go properly at Wimbledon. The American is groomed for stardom and backs it up with a sensible, all-court recreation. Sharapova was Anisimova’s hero, so it will be enjoyable if she emulates the Russian’s gorgeous win.