Wimbledon 2012: Power Ranking Contenders' Chances at Men's Crown

Since the 2005 French Open, only once has a person not named Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic won a Grand Slam event.

So, logically a discussion of contenders for the 2012 Wimbledon title has to start with those three. That said, this power ranking will not be limited to those three. Andy Murray has proven that he also belongs in the discussion.  

While he has yet to win a Grand Slam event, Murray has proven he deserves to be in this discussion with his solid play and his epic 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 7-5 loss to Novak Djokovic in the semis of this year's Australian Open. 

So with all that in mind, let's power rank these four players' chances at claiming the 2012 Wimbledon title. 

4. Roger Federer

Federer's game is best suited for the grass courts featured at Wimbledon, and he enters this event looking for a record-setting seventh title. 

Still, he falls to fourth on this list because it is looking increasingly more likely that his days of winning majors are over. Federer is zero for his last nine in Grand Slam events. While he has been playing some fantastic tennis this year, his age makes him as the longest shot of the favorites to win this year's title. 

3. Andy Murray 

Murray has been struggling with his back, but recent workouts suggest he is in fine form for this event. 

Murray's game is well-suited for the grass courts, and he has made the semifinals three straight years at this historic tournament. 

Murray went a long way towards erasing any mental block he had in competing against Djokovic with that epic match at the Australian Open, and he is now poised to cross that final hurdle and claim his first major win. And, as always, he will have the crowd fully behind him. 

2. Rafael Nadal 

Nadal looked completely unbeatable at the French, but that is what Nadal does at Roland Garros. His dominance on clay does not mean he should be the favorite on grass. 

While Nadal has crossed the mental hurdle and proven he can beat the new and improved Djokovic, he is still at a disadvantage should these two meet on the grass court. 

Nadal will have to be at the absolute top of his game, and hope Djokovic is not, if he wants to beat the world's No. 1 at Wimbledon. 

1. Novak Djokovic 

If Djokovic plays his best tennis, he will not be beat at Wimbledon. Djokovic will be going for an unprecedented fifth win in seven majors, and he has an excellent shot to do just that. 

His return game will be key. There is an emphasis on serving on the fast grass courts, and Djokovic's amazing return game goes a long way towards neutralizing his opponents serve. 

Djokovic has all the shots and athleticism to take this massive title.