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After an intriguing clay court season, the attention of the tennis world shifts to the much anticipated Wimbledon Championships in London. The third Grand Slam of the season is set to be one of the best in recent years, with the younger generation stepping up to the big stage.
Carlos Alcaraz is the defending champion at SW19 having defeated Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller in the final last year. The 21-year-old has added the 2024 French Open to his trophy cabinet as well and will be the favourite to replicate his triumph at Wimbledon.
However, Jannik Sinner could be a potential threat to the Spanish star as the Italian has enjoyed a rapid rise in his tennis career after winning the Australian Open in 2024.
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Last year's finalist, Novak Djokovic is still unsure about his participation as he nurtures an injured knee but could potentially be a threat if he decides to participate in the tournament. Along with these three favourites, there are a few other players who could leave their mark at All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Here is a list of four dark horses who could mount a potential title challenge at Wimbledon.
#4. Jack Draper
Jack Draper is Britain's biggest hope of Wimbledon success in 2024. The 22-year-old has impressed during the grass season so far, winning the title in Stuttgart. The Brit displayed his resilience throughout the tournament, winning three of his five matches in deciding sets.
Draper followed up on his Stuttgart win by getting the biggest win of his career against Carlos Alcaraz. The 22-year-old defeated the Wimbledon champion at the Cinch Championships at The Queen's Club in London before losing out to Tommy Paul in the third round.
With former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray yet to confirm his participation due to a back injury, the onus has now shifted onto Draper to deliver for Britain. With a vocal home support behind him, the 22-year-old could be the player to watch out for.
#3. Ben Shelton
American star Ben Shelton is rapidly becoming a fan favourite. The southpaw has seen a rise in stock after impressing in the last months of 2023. Shelton reached the semifinal of the US Open before losing out to eventual winner Novak Djokovic. However, his performances were enough for the tennis world to take note.
Shelton's record at Wimbledon, however, is far from ideal. The 21-year-old has only participated in the tournament once in 2023, when he lost in the second round. But the American has a game that suits the grass court.
Shelton has a big serve and strong forehand that could be an important weapon on the grass court. The American also has a strong mentality which plays a huge factor in winning Grand Slam titles. With the younger generation of players on the rise, Shelton could be a potential threat at Wimbledon.
#2. Hubert Hurkacz
Hubert Hurkacz is a man in fine form coming into Wimbledon. The Polish star reached the final in Halle but was beaten by World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. However, his performance had a lot of positives, involving a semifinal win against Alexander Zverev.
Hurkacz showed off his strong mentality throughout the semifinal run in Halle, winning a tie-break in every match. Before the grass season, Hurkacz impressed on clay courts too with a quarterfinal run at the French Open.
Hurkacz reached the semifinal at Wimbledon 2021 but has failed to replicate that form at SW19 again. The big-serving Pole has a game that suits the grass court and could be a player to watch out for.
#1. Grigor Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov has impressed in the last 12 months. The Bulgarian star has managed to return to the Top 10 on the world rankings and looks like his former self.
Hurkacz's best performance at Wimbledon came in 2014 when the then-youngster reached the semifinal at the All England Club. However, he has since failed to make any real impact at the Grand Slam stage.
Now 33, time is running out for Dimitrov to register a Grand Slam title to his name. Wimbledon 2024 could be the last real chance for the Bulgarian to claim a win at the British Slam.
