Wimbledon 2013: Experts' picks for the men's draw

Lleyton Hewitt of Australia celebrates victory during the Men’s Singles quarter final round match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina on day five of the AEGON Championships at Queens Club

3. Dangerous floater

Haresh Ramchandani: Lukas Rosol! The Czech player defeated Nadal here last year and could meet Federer in the third round this time. If Rosol gets trigger-happy and trigger-lucky, Federer could be in trouble.

Anand Datla: It has got to be Ernests Gulbis. The 24-year-old is ranked 38th, but the Latvian is one man that could cause some serious damage. He is slated to meet Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the first round before earning a shot at Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round. Anything is possible in that match, which is possibly the most exciting second round match on offer.

Roh: Feliciano Lopez has made it to the Wimbledon quarterfinals thrice before – in 2005, 2008 and 2011. Though he’s not exactly been at the top of his game recently, Lopez is one Spaniard who has always been considered to be quite competent on grass. He will be a player to watch out for.

Varun Jog: Ernests Gulbis has blown hot and cold this year, but he has finally managed to show at least some glimpses of his tremendous potential. He has jumped more than 100 spots in the rankings this year and has run Rafael Nadal close on clay twice so far, at Monte Carlo this year and in Rome a few years ago. His temperament has always been an issue, especially at the Grand Slams, but he has the potential to upset a few big names during the first week.

Ram Narayanan: The manner in which former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt overcame the stiff challenge of Juan Martin del Potro in Queen’s last week proves that there is still some tennis left in the Australian. He may be ranked No. 70 in the world right now but he is still good enough to beat some of the players inside the top thirty, at least on grass. He faces Stanislas Wawrinka in the first round and I am quite confident of him registering an upset.

Sudeshna Banerjee: I am putting my faith in the talented yet temperamental Ernests Gulbis once again. He was heavily expected to outlast a weary Gael Monfils in Paris but he failed to pass that test. The fast surface at SW19 will aid Gulbis more and I am picking him to upset Monfils’s compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round. And with Gulbis around, perhaps the post-match press conferences won’t be as ‘boring’.

Musab Abid: I’m tempted to go with Bernard Tomic (is it still fashionable to predict great things for him?), but I’ll go with his senior countryman instead. Lleyton Hewitt showed plenty of spunk during his semifinal run at Queen’s last week, and his supremely competent grasscourt game should help him put in yet another sterling performance at his favourite Slam. Stanislas Wawrinka has been the unlucky one to draw the unseeded Hewitt in the first round, and that match has ‘danger’ written all over it for the Swiss.