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It’s greatly hoped that US Open champion Emma Raducanu will be gracing this year’s Wimbledon tennis championships, but as we go to press, injury may yet prevent the 19-year-old from participating. However, BBC expert Annabel Croft, who competed at the tournament six times, says there is another Brit we can pin our hopes on this summer – Cameron Norrie, the nation’s top male player. ‘He’s had a phenomenal past 12 months, climbing to 10th in the world rankings,’ she says. ‘He’s never been past the third round at Wimbledon, but I think that could mean he’s due a good tournament.’
While Annabel believes that Norrie can go deep into this year’s tournament, she thinks six-time champion Novak Djokovic has to be the favourite for the men’s title. ‘With Rafael Nadal unlikely to play, this is a big opportunity for Djokovic, and he’ll be hugely motivated to win his 21st Grand Slam title, which would take him just one behind Nadal’s record total of 22.’
In the women’s singles, meanwhile, Annabel is backing Poland’s Iga Świątek. ‘The French Open was the sixth successive tournament she’s won this year, and she seems to be a level above everyone else. She’s so talented, with an amazing tactical brain.’ Annabel also feels Coca Gauff, the player beaten by Świątek in the recent French Open final, will be one to watch in SW19. ‘Three years ago, as a 15-year-old, she burst on to the scene at Wimbledon, beating Venus Williams in the first round before going out to eventual winner Simona Halep in the fourth. Now she’s reached her first Grand Slam final, that could propel her to do well in the tournament.’
