The grass-court season hits its excessive level at Wimbledon, the place the world’s greatest gamers can earn as many as 2,000 PIF ATP Rankings factors.
One 12 months in the past, Carlos Alcaraz received the title in an exciting closing in opposition to Novak Djokovic, and present World No. 1 Jannik Sinner reached the semi-finals. Alcaraz (2,000), Djokovic (1,200) and Sinner (720) are defending an enormous chunk of factors, which doesn’t make them superb choices for the PIF ATP Rankings Predictor.
Who could possibly be good decisions to your crew? ATPTour.com takes a take a look at three gamers to contemplate.
Casper Ruud — dropping 45 factors
The Norwegian star would be the first to inform you grass is just not his favorite floor. The 25-year-old has solely performed 10 tour-level matches on the floor in his profession.
However Ruud enters The Championships with essentially the most wins of anybody on the ATP Tour this 12 months (39) in accordance with the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. With solely 45 factors to defend, he has loads of web factors to realize. If he might oust qualifier Alex Bolt, a grass-court standout, within the first spherical, his path might open.
The primary seeded opponent in eighth seed Ruud’s path is thirty first seed Mariano Navone, who has by no means beforehand competed in a Wimbledon major draw.
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Alex de Minaur — dropping 45 factors
Few rivals in skilled tennis are as powerful to beat match in and match out as De Minaur. The Australian not solely brings an indefatigable preventing spirit to the court docket, however his top-tier velocity additionally forces opponents to make further balls. That would show particularly beneficial at Wimbledon, the place De Minaur is the ninth seed.
In 2022, he made the fourth spherical on the occasion and the Aussie has additionally claimed two of his 9 ATP Tour titles on grass. Opening in opposition to fortunate loser James Duckworth, the 25-year-old will attempt to outperform his second-round exhibiting from 2023.
Taylor Fritz — dropping 45 factors
Fritz owns one of many greatest serves within the sport and loves enjoying aggressively, which makes him a harmful opponent on grass. That has proven in his outcomes on the floor, on which he has claimed two titles (each in Eastbourne). Fritz can add one other Saturday when he performs for the trophy once more on the Rothesay Worldwide.
Two years in the past, Fritz made the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and Rafael Nadal wanted a final-set tie-break in opposition to him to advance. The American will probably be hungry to make it again to that stage and even deeper at SW19.
Bonus Ball — Taylor Fritz
Of the three gamers featured on this version of PIF ATP Rankings Predictor Picks, Fritz is likely to be essentially the most harmful at The Championships. When at his greatest, the American can management play in opposition to practically anybody on the ATP Tour.
Fritz confirmed good kind to start the grass-court season at Queen’s Membership, the place he made the quarter-finals. Together with his run to the championship match at Eastbourne, win or lose, the 26-year-old will arrive in London with loads of confidence. The thirteenth seed will start his match in opposition to Aussie Christopher O’Connell.
Double the factors you earn for selecting Fritz by inserting your ‘Bonus Ball’ on the in-form American.
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