Wimbledon | Seven stories to follow

The most prestigious major tennis tournament is upon us. What story will mark this 2024 edition of Wimbledon? A look at the leaders in the rankings ahead of what should prove to be a thrilling tournament.

Jannik Sinner, a first title at Wimbledon?

He is world number one for the first time in his career, and everything is smiling on him this season. Jannik Sinner arrives at Wimbledon full of confidence, after winning his first tournament on grass last week by defeating Hubert Hurkacz in the final in Halle. Last year, the 22-year-old tennis player reached the semi-final of Wimbledon. He was beaten by Novak Djokovic. This year, Sinner’s tennis is elsewhere. He has reached another stage. The Stage with a capital E, the one that allows you to dream of the greatest honors. Sinner already has four titles in 2024, including the Australian Open. The young Italian started the season with 24 victories in his first 25 matches. He has only lost four duels so far. Amazing figures. It will be intriguing to see the current best player on the circuit at work at the All England Club.

A 25^e Major title for Novak Djokovic ?

Before losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the final last year, Novak Djokovic had won all four previous Wimbledon titles. Will he get revenge this year? The only problem is that the Serb injured his right knee just three weeks ago at Roland Garros. He underwent surgery the following day. Last week, he was back in training at Wimbledon, his knee protected by a splint. His participation in the tournament is almost a miracle. Djokovic has triumphed at Wimbledon seven times since 2011. He is looking for his 25^e major title; it still seems entirely possible that he could reach that remarkable plateau… if his knee holds up, of course. We wouldn’t be against a take two of the Alcaraz-Djokovic rivalry.

Carlos Alcaraz, again?

“I was beaten by someone better than me today,” Djokovic said after Alcaraz’s sensational victory in the final last year. Can the Spaniard do it again? We wouldn’t bet against the 21-year-old who won his third major title just three weeks ago. Nothing, and especially no one, can stop Alcaraz when he’s at 100%. A clash with Jannik Sinner, the world’s number one racquet, would certainly be captivating. On his Instagram page, the young prodigy has pinned three photos at the very top of his profile; those of his three Grand Slam victories. The platform doesn’t allow you to pin four, however…

Can Iga Świątek excel on grass?

Iga Świątek has nothing left to prove to anyone, but she has never won a Wimbledon title. The one nicknamed the queen of clay has not yet been able to translate her excellence onto grass. This is its worst surface. She has yet to do better than participate in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. Świątek is not spectacular, but she can do anything. At 23, she has just won her fourth title in her sixth appearance at Roland-Garros. The Pole still dominates the WTA rankings. She should win a title at the All England Club one day or another. Will that day be in 2024?

A second major title for Coco Gauff?

Can the reigning US Open champion become the Wimbledon champion? Not so long ago, the 15-year-old Gauff was the player of the hour at Wimbledon. Applauded by all, the teenager had a prodigious run until the fourth round of the major tournament. Five years later, this same athlete is 20 years old and ranks second in the world. She has gained maturity. Last September, she won her first Grand Slam title at home at the United States Open. Wimbledon is the only major tournament where she has never reached the semi-finals or even the quarter-finals – last year, her run ended in the first round. At this point, nothing is impossible for the young American sensation.

Aryna Sabalenka, the favorite

Aryna Sabalenka is, in a way, the favorite to win Wimbledon this year. The Belarusian has had excellent performances at Grand Slams since 2023, winning the Australian Open twice, reaching the final of the US Open and the semifinals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. While she is better on hard and clay, her style is perfect for grass. If she plays to her full potential, she is very difficult to beat on this surface. Sabalenka, explosive and aggressive as can be, has what it takes to triumph. The only downside: she retired in the quarterfinals in Berlin last week, due to shoulder pain. Will she be at her best in England? We hope so for her. And we hope so for ourselves.

And the Canadians?

Canadians Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, Leylah Fernandez, Marina Stakusic and Bianca Andreescu will all be in action at Wimbledon. Auger-Aliassime, 17^e world champion, was forced to withdraw from the Halle tournament due to injury; let’s see if he will be fit when he arrives at the All England Club. As for Fernandez, 30^e in the world, she has only reached the quarter-finals of a tournament three times this season. The Quebecer has never been able to get past the second round at Wimbledon.

Auger-Aliassime will face Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first round, while Shapovalov will face Chilean Nicolas Jarry, 19th seed. On the women’s side, Fernandez will face the Italian Lucia Bronzetti, Bianca Andreescu will face the Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, while Marina Stakusic will make her Grand Slam debut against the Czech Katerina Siniakova (27th).

Singles matches will begin this Monday at the All England Club.