Novak Djokovic seeks 2024 answers for Alcaraz and Sinner after great effort: 4 ATP Wimbledon takeaways

Matthew Fitzgerald—Andy Murray: Difficult to predict how his body will hold up in best of five, but the prospects of Sir Andy’s draw are much better than say, facing Stan Wawrinka to start at Roland Garros.

Cale Hammond—Pierre-Hugues Herbert: The Frenchman showed an insanely high level against Jannik Sinner in Paris. If Herbert can summon even half of that same ball-striking, he has a realistic chance to reach his first major quarterfinal.

David Kane—Sebastian Korda: The young American enjoyed a credible run to the Halle quarterfinals, and is likely due for a Grand Slam run after solid tour results in 2021.

Ed McGrogan—Kei Nishikori: He's made quarters at the last two Wimbledons, and his health shouldn't be in question after two five-set comebacks at Roland Garros. He also has a nice draw.

Jordaan Sanford—Sebastian Korda: He will have to battle against Alex de Minaur in his opener, but the 20-year-old just seamlessly beat Roberto Bautista Agut in Halle. His great season will continue regardless if a number sits next to his name.

Stephen Tignor—Jan-Lennard Struff: Struff upset a Top 10 Russian, Andrey Rublev, in the first round at Roland Garros. He’ll be equally dangerous when he faces Daniil Medvedev in the first round at Wimbledon.

Andy Murray will hope to rekindle some Centre Court magic as a wild card.

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Women's Unseeded Sleeper

Matthew Fitzgerald—Liudmila Samsonova: The Berlin champ has already shown how to win seven successive matches on grass, in nine days no less. Kaia Kanepi should be a great opening test.

Cale Hammond—Ann Li: There are plenty of options, but the American gets hot, she could make a run to the second week and beyond. Luckily for Li, who turns 21 on Saturday, Karolina Pliskova is the highest seed in her quarter.

David Kane—Jelena Ostapenko: Bet on her at your peril, but the 2018 semifinalist is playing good ball in Eastbourne, and at her best can out-hit almost anyone.

Ed McGrogan—Clara Tauson: More of a gut feeling than anything. But the 18-year-old on the rise could take advantage of Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova—who has never played a singles match at SW19—and go from there.

Jordaan Sanford—CoCo Vandeweghe: The American made an impressive run from qualifying to the semifinals of Birmingham last week. She's a two-time quarterfinalist at the major and could be peaking just in time.

Stephen Tignor—Camila Giorgi: As well as the Italian can play, it’s hard to believe she’s only ranked 75th. Giorgi reached the semis in Eastbourne, and could bring that momentum to SW19.

Bet on her at your peril, but the 2018 semifinalist is playing good ball in Eastbourne, and at her best can out-hit almost anyone. David Kane on Jelena Ostapenko

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Men's Disappointment

Matthew Fitzgerald—Stefanos Tsitsipas: He hasn’t played since losing the Roland Garros final from two sets up. While a mental reset could prove advantageous, unseeded Frances Tiafoe and Vasek Pospisil will be chomping at the bit.

Cale Hammond—Karen Khachanov: I’m not sure what happened to the Russian's confidence, but with his extreme western-grip and extended take-back on his forehand, look for Mackenzie McDonald and his crisp, concise strokes to pull the upset.

David Kane—Daniil Medvedev: The enigmatic Russian pleasantly surprised many in Paris, but grass may be one specialty surface too many for the hard-court wizard.

Ed McGrogan—Pablo Carreno Busta: Sam Querrey, PCB's huge-serving, first-round opponent, has played on grass for three consecutive weeks. Two semifinal runs could signal fatigue, but I see it as a warning to the 11th seed.

Jordaan Sanford—Gael Monfils: Unfortunately, the Frenchman has only picked up two wins this year. His biggest opponent right now appears to be the man in the mirror.

Stephen Tignor—Roberto Bautista Agut: He’s the No. 8 seed and has been to the semis before, but a big server, Reilly Opelka, awaits in the third round.

Iga Swiatek has played down her chances on grass, and could be ripe for an early exit.

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Women's Disappointment

Matthew Fitzgerald—Ashleigh Barty: I’m not buying the 7 to 1 odds to win. There are too many question marks surrounding the world No. 1.

Cale Hammond—Iga Swiatek: The talented Pole experienced an incredible collapse against Daria Kasatkina in Eastbourne. The 20-year-old, who is probably the best in the world on clay, does not get to excel on grass just yet.

David Kane—Bianca Andreescu: The Canadian managed one match win on grass and has yet to channel her hard-court confidence. Her ability to peak without match-practice has abandoned her since Miami.

Ed McGrogan—Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova: Her breakthrough in Paris may have sapped her strength, and she was routed by Jelena Ostapenko in Eastbourne. I sense a letdown for the 16 seed.

Jordaan Sanford—Serena Williams: She's a 23-time Grand Slam champion and can undoubtably do anything, but with her lackluster Round of 16 performance in Paris she enters the event with little momentum.

Stephen Tignor—Iga Swiatek: She’s coming off a close win over Heather Watson and a not-so-close loss to Kasatkina. And she plays Hsieh Su-Wei in the first round.

2021 Wimbledon: Featured first-round match-ups

Ranked 61st but always a threat at SW19, Nick Kyrgios—whose last Wimbledon match was a four-set loss to Rafael Nadal—will face talented youngster Ugo Humbert.

Roger Federer returns to the All England Club seeking his ninth Wimbledon title—and trying to wipe away the sting of the 2019 final. After pulling out of Roland Garros as a precautionary measure, the 39-year-old will face Adrian Mannarino in the first round. (He's also away from Djokovic's half of the draw.)

Iga Swiatek has never won a main-draw match at Wimbledon. She'll get another chance when she faces the crafty Hsieh-Su Wei.

If Novak Djokovic is to win his 20th Grand Slam title—and continue on his quest for a calendar-year Slam—he'll first need to get by 19-year-old Brit Jack Draper.

Sebastian Korda will play in the main draw for the first time, with the 20-year-old American drawing Alex de Minaur.

Daniil Medvedev said he didn't like clay, but he did pretty well at Roland Garros. How about grass? He's currently doing well in Mallorca; at Wimbledon, he'll face Jan-Lennard Struff in the first round.

Coco Gauff's last first-round match at Wimbledon was her coming-out party, having defeated Venus Williams. This year's opening-rounder won't be as star-studded, but it will still receive plenty of attention, as Britain's Fran Jones opposes the talented teen.

Sloane Stephens got one of the most difficult draws an unseeded player could ask for at the All England Club: a date with two-time champion Petra Kvitova.

For all Andreescu has already achieved, she's never won a main-draw match at Wimbledon. The 21-year-old Canadian will be asked to do plenty against veteran Alize Cornet.

Serena Williams has Grand Slam singles title No. 24 on her mind; before that, though, she'll only be thinking about her first-round opponent, Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Andy Murray needed a wild card to get into Wimbledon, and his last memorable moment at the tournament came when he played mixed doubles with Serena. But the beloved two-time champion will try and rekindle great Centre Court memories when he faces Nikoloz Basilashvili.

French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova is 1-3 at Wimbledon—all in qualifying matches. Her first-rounder against 18-year-old Dane Clara Tauson won't be an easy introduction to the main draw.

Like Murray, iconic former champion Venus Williams needed a wild card into Wimbledon. But Mihaela Buzarnescu will try to make the most of her opportunity, as well.

Fresh off a runner-up finish at the French Open, Stefanos Tsitsipas will try to take the final step towards his first major at Wimbledon. In the first round, though, he gets a tough test in Frances Tiafoe.

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Men's Champion

Matthew Fitzgerald—Novak Djokovic: He was in this very position five years ago. He’s consistently shown how to enter uncharted territory. Mark down piece No. 3 of 5 for Novak’s Golden Calendar Slam puzzle.

Cale Hammond—Novak Djokovic: Not only is the Serb light years better than anyone in the draw, his all-time best return only becomes more dangerous on a quick surface. Health permitting, Djokovic is the only logical pick to win the title.

David Kane—Roger Federer: While Djokovic is the obvious choice, the No. 1 endured a dip in form after winning Roland Garros in 2016; Federer should be fresher and more focused.

Ed McGrogan—Novak Djokovic: It's hard to imagine anyone seriously challenging the calendar-Slam contender until the semifinals, and by that point, there could be even more big-name attrition.

Jordaan Sanford—Novak Djokovic: It's hard to pick anyone not named Nole. Can this guy be stopped when locked in mentally and physically?

Stephen Tignor—Roger Federer: He didn’t show much in Halle, but his draw could help him shed the rust. Despite what happened in 2019, no one knows how to close at Wimbledon like Federer.

Despite what happened in 2019, no one knows how to close at Wimbledon like Roger Federer. Stephen Tignor

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Women's Champion

Matthew Fitzgerald—Elena Rybakina: I don’t have an explanation other than I like the fact she’s returned to her pre-pandemic winning ways.

Cale Hammond—Ashleigh Barty: At some point in the very near future, Barty will win Wimbledon. Will it be this year? If she’s healthy, I think so.

David Kane—Ashleigh Barty: If the top seed is recovered from her clay-court ailments, the Aussie's game is best suited to grass of the big names, and is a former junior champ.

Ed McGrogan—Garbine Muguruza: You can talk yourself into a lot of potential champs in the top half of the draw, so I'm venturing to the bottom. Muguruza is hardly a sure thing, but on the right fortnight, she can stand alone.

Jordaan Sanford—Coco Gauff: The teen is known to pull off the unexpected, she did at the All England Club in 2019 with a breakout fourth-round run. Why not win the whole thing in 2021?

Stephen Tignor—Serena Williams: This is the one Serena has been waiting for. With Naomi Osaka out, and Ash Barty returning from injury, there’s no one she won’t be favored to beat.

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