Wimbledon 2013: Eight alternate plot lines to follow at SW19

Wimbledon, the world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament gets underway at the All-England Club on Monday. And while a majority of the pre-event talk has centred on which of the Big Four men is the favourite to win and whether Serena Williams can win her 17th Grand Slam title, there are plenty of other story lines to follow over the next two weeks at SW19.

Here are a few of them:

Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan of United States of America pose with the French Open trophy after victory in the mens’ doubles final against Michael Llorda and Nicolas Mahut of Franceat Roland Garros on June 8, 2013 in Paris, France. (Getty Images)

Bryans aiming for non-calendar Grand Slam:

The American Bryan Brothers have more Grand Slams and ATP titles than any other team in tennis history. And while they are still only 35, the brothers continue to add to their legacy. The Bryans have won the last three grand slams in a row and will be aiming to complete a non-calendar year grand slam (holding all four slams at the same time), which would be the first in the sport since Serena Williams’ in 2002-2003.

And should Bob and Mike win at Wimbledon, the Bryans would then go for a calendar year grand slam at the US Open, something which has been done only once men’s doubles history – way back in 1951 by the Australians Ken McGregor and Frank Sedgman. The noise will get louder as the matches proceed and this is one story to keep an eye on.

Will the young brigade breakthrough?

The men have been waiting for a while for someone from the Next-Gen to make a breakthrough at a major. The most likely candidates are 23-year-old Milos Roanic, seeded no. 17, and 22-year-old Grigor Dimitrov, seeded no. 29. Both these players are in the same quarter as fourth seed David Ferrer and seventh seed Juan Martin del Potro and could meet in the quarters if they get there.

There’s also 23-year-old Kei Nishikori, who is on the verge of breaking into the top 10, and 21-year-old Bernard Tomic, who is still making headlines for issues with his father rather than his tennis.

The women seemed to be better placed when it comes to rising stars. With nearly a dozen teenagers in the top 100, the women seem to have a better pipeline of rising stars than the men. 19-year-old Laura Robson, 18-year-old Madison Keys and 17-year-old Donna Vekic (already earning comparisons to Maria Sharapova), should be at the forefront this fortnight.

Donna Vekic of Croatia celebrates winning a point in the women’s singles final against Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia at the AEGON Classic Tennis Tournament in the Edgbaston Priory Club on June 16, 2013 in Birmingham, England. (Getty Images)

The British hopes beside Andy Murray:

While Andy Murray will be hoping to end a 77-year British drought in the men’s singles, two British women will be hoping to become the first home player since Virginia Wade in 1977 to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish. 19-year-old Laura Robson is currently the highest ranked teenager in the world and meets 10th seeded Maria Kirilenko in the first round while 21-year-old Heather Watson, back after missing two months due to glandular fever, takes on the much-touted American teen Madison Keys. While neither Robson nor Watson are expected to challenge for the title this year, a few wins in the early rounds will send the fans and the media into overdrive.

Veterans’ fortnight?

Nearly a quarter of the men in the ATP 100 are over 30 years. There’s 35-year-old German Tommy Haas, who is seeded no. 11 this year and could give world no. 1 Djokovic a tough time in the fourth round.

The other players in the 30+ brigade include third seed Roger Federer, fourth seed David Ferrer, American James Blake, Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo, Frenchmen Michael Llodra, Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut, Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen, former world no. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, Radek Stepanek, Austrian Jurgen Melzer and Belgian Xavier Malisse.

Among the women 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm and 33-year-old Francesca Schiavone lead the way. Also batting for the 30+ brigade are top seed Serena Williams, sixth seed Li Na, 11th seed Roberta Vinci and former world no. 5 Daniela Hantuchova.

The press room:

Ernests Gulbis recently complained that the top men give really boring interviews. But the press conferences in London, home to some of the sleaziest tabloids in the world, sure promises to be fun.

The on-going cat-fight between world no. 1 Serena Williams and no. 2 Maria Sharapova will only spill over to the press conferences of Grigor Dimitrov, the Russian’s boyfriend. Former champion Petra Kvitova and Radek Stepaenk will be grilled on their recent affair and his divorce from former WTA player Nicole Vaidisova.

As always Li Na and Gulbis will always have something interesting to say. Add in the on-court drama over two weeks and many would pay just to watch the press conferences in London as well.

Sloane Stephens serves during her Women’s Singles match against Maria Sharapova at the French Open in Roland Garros on June 3, 2013 in Paris, France. (Getty Images)

Serena’s successor:

While Serena Williams does not look she is going anywhere, the race for her heir continues and the two highest ranked American women in the rankings after Serena will clash in the first round at Wimbledon.

20-year-old Sloane Stephens, ranked no. 17 in the world, will meet 23-year-old Jamie Hampton, ranked no. 25 after reaching the finals in Eastbourne. While Stephens has been earmarked for success even before her breakthrough in Melbourne, Hampton has sprung out of the blue following her near-upset over Victoria Azarenka in the Australian Open third round.

This race is going to go well beyond the first round match and should make for some interesting narrative in the coming months; maybe even years.

Simona Halep:

The 21-year-old Romanian Simona Halep’s claim to fame so far has been that she was the first known tennis player to opt for breast reduction surgery. Slowly and surely, Halep is beginning to get noticed for her game as well.

The Romanian is on a ten-match winning streak, having won titles in the last two weeks, and is scheduled to meet world no.6 Li Na in the second round. If she can win that, the Romanian could find herself in the second week at a slam for the first time.

Indias Sania Mirza (L) talks tactics during her women’s doubles match with Liezel Huber (R) against Heather Watson and Darija Jurak on the fourth day of the AEGON International tournament in Eastbourne, England on June 18, 2013. (Getty Images)

No Singles, only Doubles for India:

With Somdev Devvarman bowing out in the singles qualifying, India’s hopes rest on the doubles as usual. Leander Paes re-unites with Radek Stepanek, with whom he won the Australian Open last year, while Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna are playing with different partners for reasons still not disclosed.

There’s also Divij Sharan and Purav Raja, the only all-Indian pair in the draw, who had to come through the qualifying draw. Sharan and Raja have been toiling their way on the ATP Challenger circuit for months now and will be competing in their first ever Grand Slam main draw. A couple of wins at SW19 will help them establish themselves firmly inside the top 100, which means they could graduate from the Challenger circuit to the ATP World Tour circuit.

On the women’s side, Sania Mirza is playing with veteran Liezel Huber as regular partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands has decided to play only singles. And then there’s also the mixed doubles draw, but details of who is playing with whom are yet to emerge.

All in all, it promises to be one exciting fortnight on and off the court. Wimbledon gets underway on Monday in London and it promises to be one helluva ride.