Grand Slam Wimbledon 2023

[Drummond]

Almost upon us!

Qualifying has been going on last few days. Kokkinakis lost Q1, pretty disappointing. Polmans plays Otte for a spot in the MD, the only Aussie male remaining. Seyboth Wild is in the final round, Machac plays Pouille which is a good match-up, and Maroszan, Alcaraz conquerer, is also through to the final round.

On the women’s side, top seed Avanesyan lost to Aussie Storm Hunter. I should be happy but I’m not. Hunter plays Hibino for a MD slot. Siegmund vs Wickmayer is an interesting match, as is Mirra Andreeva vs Korpatsch. All American clash with AO champ Kenin vs Townsend. Another 16 y/o Fruhvirtova plays Yuan, and Gadecki is also in the final round.

As for the main event, draw not out yet. But I guess not as much riding on it like the French, with Carlos #1 and Djokovic #2 on separate halves, and with very few grass court specialists the draw doesn’t feel as critical. The big guns will just want to avoid the servebots, especially early on the fresh grass. Hopefully defending champion Rybakina is fit and can give it her best shot.

 

[BobbyMorri]

Well put Drummond.

Honestly, if you get rid of the Joker, you would have a very very very even men's side. Carlos is elite and I know he won a title last week but it is unsure how he will go on Grass. I would also say he has played a lot of tennis recently for a young man. Others, like Rune are in the same boat. Then you have Stefo and Medvedev, who just can't play grass at all. Would be very very open and ripe for an unexpected winner. I just said a lot of words that don't mean much, as Joker is playing and he will probably win. I think Sinner will finally win a close one against a big player and break through to a semi. I also expect heaps of upsets.

Girls' side, It is open. Rybakina, if fit, should be fav. Sabelnkea made the semis the last time she played the tournament. Swiatek, despite being a Wimbledon Junior Champ, doesn't feel comfy on grass. I feel if she gets some hard-fought wins early on and starts to play in the tournament, she could deep but would need a favourable draw (etc, someone beating Rybakina) to win in the end. Kvitova and Ostapenko winning warm-up tournaments make them dark horses, especially if they can keep the ball in the court. Big if. Ostapenko hits the ball so flat(a big plus), she just can't go all Ostapenko if she wants to go deep. Look out for Alexandrova(hits the ball hard), who has the best form outside the big names. Vekic is always good on grass and a stylish player. Muchova hasn't played since the French. I think, unless you are Nole, you need to play one warm-up tournament before Wimbledon.

 

[Alex_RMN]

It's so unpredictable... Not like it was before with Federer in prime years. Now everyone from top 10 can be knock out at the first stage

 

[danstar]

Toss a coin for winners of both mens and womens. I would have had Rybakina as favourite in womens by a mile but shes had a virus or some other illness for the last month or so. So you cant really pick a winner comfortably.

Ill throw a dart at a board for both

Mens - Sinner, i just cant see Nole going back to back slams at his age
Womens - Alexandrova (she has played some good tournaments just not sure she can back it up for 2 weeks)

I have no confidence at all in my picks but as i said nothing really stands out

 

[FreoRicci]

Kokkinakis didn’t make it. Bugger.

 

[FreoRicci]

Kyrgios with a tough one first up- Goffin. Don’t think Nick is fit enough.

Kubler v Humbert.
O’Connell favourable draw.

Novak is still the favourite. This is his surface.
Primed for a Alcaraz Novak final, finally seeded opposite sides of the draw.

 

[danstar]

Aussies will all be out round 1 this year from the looks, at least that means we get to see the better players earlier in the draw

 

[lizard man]

Aussies will all be out round 1 this year from the looks, at least that means we get to see the better players earlier in the draw

You don’t think de minaur will get passed first round? Don’t think it’s a tough match up?

 

[Alex_RMN]

Toss a coin for winners of both mens and womens. I would have had Rybakina as favourite in womens by a mile but shes had a virus or some other illness for the last month or so. So you cant really pick a winner comfortably.

Ill throw a dart at a board for both

Mens - Sinner, i just cant see Nole going back to back slams at his age
Womens - Alexandrova (she has played some good tournaments just not sure she can back it up for 2 weeks)

I have no confidence at all in my picks but as i said nothing really stands out

Sinner? Don't think he wins, but he can get up to the quarters or semifinals. His draw is not bad

 

[Blue Arrow]

Death, taxes & Djokovic crushing next gen pretenders.

 

[Purpleheart_56]

It's so unpredictable... Not like it was before with Federer in prime years. Now everyone from top 10 can be knock out at the first stage

DJoker not coming?

 

[BobbyMorri]

Be interesting how Murray goes.

Tough draw but reckon he should beat Stefo.

 

[Brad Goodman]

Anyone shocked?

 

[Cleavy]

No, he should take 4 months off and look to return (and retire) after 1 final Aust Open. Then he can move on and enjoy his life, charity work, cars, basketball etc.

 

[matt_897]

No, he should take 4 months off and look to return (and retire) after 1 final Aust Open. Then he can move on and enjoy his life, charity work, cars, basketball etc.

I suspect we won't see him till then now.

He looked so unfit at that match in Stuttgart, not surprised at all. The fact that he has torn a ligament in his wrist now probably rules out any chance of the US hardcourt swing.

 

[JackNah_8]

Anyone shocked?

No surprise.

He doesn't seem fit enough.

 

[FreoRicci]

Draw impacted all Australians, far out.
Kubler gets through first two rough rounds, Alcaraz potentially in the third.

O’Connell has qualifier Medjedovic then potentially Korda in second round.

 

[BobbyMorri]

Starts tonight.

Ashes and Wimbledon. Dream Summer/Winter

 

[Drummond]

I suppose it’s a case of can anyone beat Djokovic? Hasn’t lost at Wimbledon since 2017, quite a remarkable statistic. Not convinced on Alcaraz on grass yet, sure he won Queens, but this is different. However as so few are actually competent on grass, it’s hard to see him losing before the latter stages. Zverev is in his section, but statistically grass is his worst surface. ADM might set up a Queens rematch, but not sure he’s got it in him. Medvedev and Tsitsipas are awful on grass and I don’t expect either to go far. Murray will probably beat Stef in R2. Rune could be his QF opponent which would be fascinating, but they’re developing a habit of avoiding each other. If Korda can get past the streaky Vesely, then I don’t see why he couldn’t reach the semis.

Bottom half is all about whether anyone can beat Novak. Sinner was up 2-0 last year so he’s probably the most likely, but his form is getting worse and his body seems to be fragile. Hurkacz is a threat with that serve, and Bublik and FAA have shown potential on grass, but Bublik is a headcase who could lose first up.

Some matchups I’m interested in: Wawrinka/Ruusuvuori, Fils/ADF (2 slams for Fils, vs ADF in both), Alcaraz/Chardy (last match of career), Berrettini/Sonego, Tiafoe/Wu. I’d tip Alcaraz vs Djokovic again, but can’t help but feel that top half could spring some major surprises with seeds falling everywhere.

 

[Drummond]

Women’s draw seems lopsided, as Q3 has last years years winner and finalist in Rybakina and Jabeur, as well as former champion Kvitova, former finalist Pliskova, and former slam champions in Ostapenko and Andreescu. Has Rybakina recovered from her illness? I sure hope so, because I want to see if she can defend her title which is a hard thing to do.

Swiatek’s grass pedigree is suspect, but she does have a very favourable draw. You get the sense if she progresses through the first couple of rounds, she will likely make it very deep. I would say Bencic in R4 would be a danger but Belinda’s form/fitness seems to be like Sinner on the men’s. She hasn’t played since the FO where she lost R1. Going downhill every week. I just don’t see Swiatek winning Wimbledon at this stage of her career. Maybe one day, but not yet. Wouldn’t have a clue who will come from the top half of Swiatek doesn’t, it could realistically be anyone. Biased sure but I would say Kudermetova but her draw is pretty brutal. I actually think Alexandrova on the bottom half is due for a big run and she always looks good on grass.

Matches I’m excited for: Gauff/Kenin, Williams/Svitolina, Martic/L.Fruhvirtova, Cirstea/Maria (a Cirstea win would plummet Maria to where she belongs), Sakkari/Kostyuk, Muchova/Niemeier.

Predictions: Rybakina from the bottom if fit, and some random finalist for the top. Samsonova.

 

[BobbyMorri]

I was shocked to see Matteo Berrettini in the draw.

He can't be fit.

 

[JamisonRun40]

I'm so excited for the next two weeks and first up is Rublev v Purcell awesome start. Can't see Purcell taking a set of Rublev who is decent on grass. Djorko for me on the men's side not sure of his opponent as I don't look at the draw. I'm going Sabalenk for women's not sure on Rybakina and her virus situation. I think Bublik has got a different attitude which I noticed in Halle he didn't lose hsi cool and was really focus. Zverev can play on grass also.
And welcome back to Daria Saville at Wimbledon.

 

[JamisonRun40]

On Krygios as we all know he doesn't keep himself fit when he is injured. I don't know how bad the wrist injury is and how did he get that. I couldn't imagine footballers coming back into a team being totally unfit and unprepared. Krygios won't retire he likes the money and the drama, he will probably turn up in the Middle East grabbing all the cash.

 

[BobbyMorri]

Think Kenin will beat Gauff. Her form was improving before the injury.

I also think getting through qualies is a great warm-up.

think Jule Niemeier will beat a rusty Muchova

 

[JamisonRun40]

Bobby was thinking the same thing about Kenin I think she is going to cause an upset.