What a strange pattern of facts this female draw presents. There is one player who is absolutely dominating the sport this year…and, truly, over the last 30 months. She’s fresh out running the table in Parisher match record this year is 45-4, north of 90%. And yet she has never made it past the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
Is this the year Iga Swiatek solves the weed riddle? Especially since many of his potential opponents are injured, sick or still waking up from their torpor. Last year’s champion is hurt. The 2022 champion is struggling with his health. The 21 champion is retired. The 2019 champion is not in the draw. Your service, Iga.
1. Iga Swiatek
The undisputed No. 1 is trying to win back-to-back majors for the first time in her career. With her Roger Federer-like footwork, it’s curious why she hasn’t had more success on grass. (The conventional wisdom: She suffers from her extreme grip on a surface that costs her time.) Still, she was junior champion in 2018 and could probably be the women’s singles champion in 2024.
2. Coco Gauff
Did she really break through five years ago? Gauff lost in the first round at Wimbledon 2023… which turned out to be a pivotal moment in her career. Look for her at the end of this event. She still has to solve the Swiatek conundrum, but she enters knowing her foe lies on the opposite half of the draw. A definite contender. She could be dragged into the first round by Caroline Dolehide.
3. Aryna Sabalenka
Who is old enough to remember the days when Sabalenka was defined by erratic results? Listen carefully: it’s been several years since she lost the first week of a major tournament. Roland-Garros was more of a disappointment than a wake-up call – a quarter-final defeat due to a stomach upset. It was a hell of a year for Sabalenka. And last week, she withdrew a match – for the first time in her career – due to a shoulder injury. Still, she could easily win her second major tournament of 2024 here.
4. Elena Rybakina
Wimbledon winner in 2022 and, perhaps more importantly, Rybakina has remained at the top of the sport. There is so much to love about her, including a sneaky athleticism and a disdain for drama. Yet she is so often in suboptimal form: sick, injured, sleep-deprived. Given her poor health, it is increasingly difficult to imagine her stringing together seven winning matches.
5. Jessica Pegula
An admirable talent maximizer was in the throes of a disappointing year and missed Roland Garros. Then, Pegula showed up in Berlin, won the event, beating Gauff in the semi-final; and Anna Kalinskaya 7-6 in the third set of the final – and looked like a completely refreshed player. (Don’t read too much into a loss to Emma Raducanu this week.) Pegula’s measured game translates well onto grass. And remember, she made it to the quarters (and should have beaten the eventual champion) in 2023.
6. Marketa Vondrousova
Your – you beat us to it – reigning champion. Without a tournament victory since (and having won only 16 of 26 matches all year), there is little evidence to suggest a repeat. Here again, absolutely nothing suggested last year’s triumph. (Worryingly, she fell on the grass in Berlin, injured her hip, and is still doubtful as of this writing.)
7. Jasmine Paolini
His ranking is due to his breakthrough year, notably his participation in the Roland-Garros final. But understand this: she has never won a match at Wimbledon. It will be interesting to see how his game, his moves and his seductive spirit translate onto the turf.
8. Qin Wen Zhang
A finalist in Australia, she has not yet progressed much, but Zhang has a lot to offer… especially on a fast surface.
9. Maria Saccari
The copy and paste: “A talented, fun, athletic and versatile player. But she remains a bit of a mystery, even under a new coach. » Is she the Gauff fighter who reached the Indian Wells final? Or the uncertain player who doubts herself in big moments and who collapsed in the first round of Roland Garros?
10. Our Jabeur
Wimbledon runner-up two years in a row, one wonders if the window to win majors has closed. A fun player to be around. But only a minor threat to win big. Even when she’s healthy. Which she isn’t right now.
11. Danielle Collins
The Danimal was a little asleep in Paris. A lot of momentum came to a screeching halt when she lost an early round battle to a qualifier. During the (probable) last Wimbledon of her career, let’s see if she can’t keep a happy memory.
12. Madison Keys
Her power still makes Keys a formidable player. It’s unclear, however, where she sees herself. A legitimate threat, motivated to win majors? Or a player close to the omega of a great career, with one eye on the present and the other on the future?
13. Jelena Ostapenko
Lil Wayne’s Latvia’s biggest supporter is now on the grass. Say what you want, but she dances to her own beat. She is dangerous on any day and is also capable of losing to anyone on any day. And able to do ThisIt’s been more than seven years since her major title, which is a testament to her staying among the top 15 players.
14. Daria Kasatkina
Kasatinka is a player who fully deserves your admiration and support. But she’ll be lucky if she plays up to her seed. His power deficit is not easy to mask on grass.
15. Liudmila Samsonova
After a mediocre start to the year (a negative record up until Roland Garros), the athletic Russian wins Hertogenbosch and suddenly becomes a player to watch at SW19.
16. Victoria Azarenka
It’s been over a decade since her last major title. Yet she’s still dangerous, still fighting.
17. Anna Kalinskaya
The Berlin finalist made her debut in 2024. Hopefully, she attracts more attention on the pitch than in the players’ dressing room.
18. Marta Kostyuk
Much respect: with so much instability at home, the Ukrainian managed to climb into the top 20.
19. Emma Navarro
She played at Wimbledon for the first time last year – and lost in the first round – which gives you an idea of the pace of that rise.
20. Beatriz Haddad Maia
The Brazilian has been both quiet and loud in recent years. She has many victories but has struggled in major tournaments, notably in Paris where she was beaten in the first round. Between her power and left-handed looks, she would be a good candidate for a deep run. But that doesn’t happen often in the majors.
21. Elina Svitolina
Svitolina was a semifinalist last year and has fallen off a bit, but her attack-defense combo can be devastatingly effective.
24. Mirra Andreeva
For the first time, she will be seeded in a major tournament. And it will be a long time before it is unseeded again.
26. Linda Noskova
Who is the only player to beat Swiatek at a major tournament in 2024?
27. Katerina Siniakova
The French Open doubles winner (with Gauff) has the game to be one of the best singles players. (And now ranked higher than her former doubles partner.)
31. Barbora Krejcikova
You know the rules, the recent major champions (French Open 2021) are mentioned.
32. Katie Boulter
Besides the inevitable British hype, she A) has the game for this surface and B) has become a thoroughly professional player.
Sonia Ken’s: The former major champion beat Gauff last year and opens against Swiatek.
Karolina Muchova: We’ll see if she’s healthy and fit, she suffered another setback this week. But at this point last year, she was a wonderfully athletic player who had just performed in a major final. Now she would be ready to “To damage.”
Yulia Puntseva: Your Birmingham grass-court winner would be seeded if the draw deadline was today.
Raducanu: His latest run of results is his best since his extraordinary 2021.
Bianca Andreescu: She is still searching for the magic of 2019, but the early signs, including a win over Naomi Osaka on grass last month, are encouraging.
Osaka: Her record on grass is modest. But so was her record on clay… and she nearly beat the winner of Roland Garros last month.
Donna Vekić: She’s too good a player to barely be ranked in the top 50.
Karoline Pliskova: In the fall – or even the winter – of a great career. Yet she serves balls and was a finalist only four years ago.
Angelique Kerber: He lost in the first round in Berlin and Hamburg, but all former champions deserve mention.
Alicia Parks: It’s been a crazy year. But she qualified and her service should require a concealed carry license.
Swiatek versus Swiatek Sophie Kenin: Two former major champions (albeit at different stages of their careers).
Collins vs. Clara Tauson: A difficult draw for both.
Sloane Stephens vs. Azarenka: For the 10th time.
Paula Badosa v. Muchova: Two former high-level players, often injured, face each other.
Andreeva vs. Brenda Fruhvirtova: The 17-year-olds compete on grass.
Ajla Tomljanovic vs. Ostapenko: You remember it ?
I can’t pull the trigger on Ashlyn Krueger d. Pegula, so Tomljanovic d. Ostapenko?
Swiatek d. Lucy Bronzetti (why not!)
Gauff d. Sabalenka
Gauff d.