Gauff has left her teenage years behind and returns to the scene of her breakthrough as a grand slam champion having lifted the US Open trophy last year. She followed that up with semi-final appearances at the Australian Open and in Paris, losing to the eventual champion each time. The 20-year-old suffered a shock first-round loss at Wimbledon last year.
Swiatek has already proved herself as this generation’s clay court master, winning her fourth French Open title in five years. Grass, though, remains a work in progress for the 23-year-old Pole, despite her success at junior level. Swiatek showed promising signs last year before a quarter-final loss to Elina Svitolina and will look to continue a 19-match winning streak.
The world’s best tennis players are descending on SW19 hoping for success at Wimbledon.
Rafael Nadal is missing and Novak Djokovic battling to recover from knee surgery in time but a host of contenders remain.
Here, the PA news agency picks out 10 hopefuls trying to follow in the footsteps of Carlos Alcaraz and Marketa Vondrousova.
this Sabalenka’s year to go all the way at the All England Club? The big-hitting Belarusian has a game built for grass but has fallen just short of reaching the final on her last two appearances. The 26-year-old powered her way to a second successive Australian Open title in January without dropping a set but is nursing a shoulder problem.
only turned 17 in April but she has already racked up two grand slam fourth-round appearances and a semi-final, having beaten a poorly Sabalenka in the last eight at Roland Garros. The Russian, whose game is mature well beyond her years, will be seeded at a slam for the first time and will look to go further than last year’s run to the last 16. only turned 17 in April but she has already racked up two grand slam fourth-round appearances and a semi-final, having beaten a poorly Sabalenka in the last eight at Roland Garros. The Russian, whose game is mature well beyond her years, will be seeded at a slam for the first time and will look to go further than last year’s run to the last 16.