LONDON—Is it possible to have a dominant Big 4, and a void at the top of the game? That’s what it feels like as the men head to Wimbledon this year. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, and Roger Federer are seeded No. 1 through No. 4, have collectively won virtually every Grand Slam played over the last decade, and seem to be in at least passable physical condition. But would you put your money on any one of them individually to win the tournament?
Djokovic is coming off a tough defeat in Paris, and has lost his last five Grand Slam finals outside of Melbourne. Nadal hasn’t been past the second round at Wimbledon since 2011. Murray has a new coach and hasn’t reached a final, let alone won a tournament, all season. And Roger Federer is going to be 33 in a little more than a month. In a way, a win by any of them individually would be a surprise.
Here’s a look at the roads that the Big 4 will take to get to that title, and which blades of grass in the draw might trip them up along the way.