Early Storylines to Follow Ahead of Wimbledon 2015
The brief, yet jam-packed grass-court season is finally upon us.
Wimbledon is a mere two weeks away, but plenty will be decided while the top men and women prepare for their pilgrimage to London.
In England, Germany and even the Netherlands, Europe will be the setting as players adapt their games to the lush lawns. How they perform at key warm-up events could well shape their fortunes at the most hallowed stop on the tennis calendar.
Before it’s time to break out the all-white gear and strawberries and cream, here is a look at key plot points already emerging ahead of Wimbledon.
Madison Keys' Title Defense in Eastbourne
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Madison Keys may have lost in the third round at Roland Garros, but her stock remains firmly on the rise.
And she may soon be ready to cash in on all that potential.
The 20-year-old had her breakthrough moment at this year's Australian Open, reaching her first Grand Slam quarterfinal and semifinal in the same tournament. Though she fell to eventual champion Serena Williams, Keys solidified her status as one of the top young stars in women's tennis.
Blessed with a cannon of a serve and a booming forehand, Keys' best shot to take that next step will be at Wimbledon. The fast, low-bouncing courts should make her an intimidating presence for any opponent.
Keys is no stranger to success on the turf, winning her first career title last June at Eastbourne. Now, she'll return to the spot of that memory and try to defend her crown.
Currently ranked No. 18 in the world, Keys is on the fast track to the Top 10. That journey should kick into overdrive during the next few weeks.
A Recharged Simona Halep Leads the Field in Birmingham
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Simona Halep was expected to be a serious contender at the French Open after her runner-up appearance last year. Instead, she crashed out in the second round.
Pushed around the court by 33-year-old Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, the Romanian couldn't get into a rhythm and looked out of sorts. Her hopes of winning a maiden Grand Slam title had been put firmly on hold.
Since her victory at Indian Wells this March, Halep has been inconsistent at best. A string of defeats on clay has further tempered her momentum.
But that early exit from Roland Garros, although a bitter pill to swallow, gave Halep extra time for reflection.
"I lost in Paris in the second round, so that really took the pressure off," she told WTATennis.com. "I just want to stay relaxed on court and play the tennis that I know I'm capable of."
Admitting she put too much pressure on herself to play outside her boundaries, a refocused Halep will travel to Birmingham to further iron out any kinks in her game.
A semifinalist at Wimbledon in 2014, she will be eager to get back on course and rekindle her winning formula.
The Continuing Misadventures of Eugenie Bouchard
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What a difference a year makes. And not in a good way.
The breakout star of 2014, Eugenie Bouchard's game, results and confidence have gone haywire this season. She's just 7-11, with only three wins since her run to the Australian Open quarterfinals.
How bad is it for her right now? Bouchard has opening-round losses in six of the 10 events she's played, including the French Open. Yikes!
Even the most loyal members of the Genie Army have to be questioning what's up with their commander. The Canadian doesn't seem like the same spunky player who stole the attention of many fans in the not so distant past.
Her coaching split from Nick Saviano seems to have backfired, and she's likely dealing with the strain and expectations of her newfound fame. Bouchard, 21, may also simply be going through the growing pains common to so many young players.
To prove her mettle, she'll have to use all these disappointing losses as fuel. When her skid ends is anyone's guess, but Bouchard will try again this week in Birmingham.
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Milos Raonic's Return from Injury
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The torment of watching from the sidelines likely exceeded any physical pain Milos Raonic has endured lately.
Being forced to skip the French Open and Italian Open to undergo foot surgery couldn't have been easy for the insanely competitive Canadian. Finally back after his sabbatical, Raonic will have to quickly shake off any rust with Wimbledon fast approaching.
On the slippery grass, Raonic needs to be extra cautious not to reaggravate his injury. Never the most limber or subtle mover to begin with, he's worked hard to improve that aspect of his game in the last year. What long-term role, if any, that right foot plays will be something to watch.
Tested in his first match back at Queen's Club, Raonic needed three sets to outlast James Ward. Yet he picked up steam as the proceedings went along, raining aces from the sky. Even when he's not 100 percent, that deadly serve gives him a huge advantage—especially on grass.
At last year's Wimbledon, Raonic made the third round of the tournament for the first time. And then he kept going, eventually reaching his first semifinal at a major. The specter of returning to the All England Club should be enough to put that extra pep back in his step.
Stan Wawrinka Tries to Keep His Momentum Going
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"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."
Those words, penned by Samuel Beckett, are blotted in black ink upon Stan Wawrinka's muscular left forearm. What an apt motto for a player whose story has taken such a dramatic turn.
Few expected Wawrinka to win a second major title. But that's exactly what he did at the French Open, hitting his way past Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga before foiling Novak Djokovic's hopes of a career Slam.
He battered the field with his overwhelming power, which he'll try to adapt to the grass. With a matchup against fellow big-hitter Nick Kyrgios awaiting him in the first round at Queen's Club, the Stanimal will have to quickly unleash his fury again.
Despite his run to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2014, Wawrinka is just 21-20 in his career on the lawns. Equipped with a venomous backhand and ever-improving forehand, it's a wonder he hasn't done better on the surface.
Queen's Club will be a telling litmus test to see if he can avoid any hangover from Roland Garros and mount a serious charge at the Channel Slam.
Andy Murray Looks to Build Momentum at Queen's Club
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Andy Murray never seemed quite right in 2014.
Returning from back surgery he underwent the previous fall, the Scot lacked that extra juice for much of last year. He still put up consistent results, but Murray came up short far too often against his peers.
This season has been a different story. His 36-6 record and a pair of clay-court titles (Munich, Madrid) represent a return to form for the world No. 3. He is brimming with confidence again and playing better than he has in quite some time.
Though his semifinal run at the French Open ended thanks to his old nemesis Novak Djokovic, Murray is confident his peak tennis is on the horizon. What better place to cement his resurgence than at the spot of his greatest achievements?
The All England Club is where Murray captured the 2013 Wimbledon title and singles gold at the 2012 Olympics. It's the place he's most comfortable, with the raucous British crowds cheering him on from Henman Hill to Centre Court.
His game has always been well-tailored to lawn tennis, and he'll be eager to start his campaign at Queen's Club, where he's a three-time champion (2009, 2011, 2013).
Should Murray continue playing the way he has recently, he may soon add more hardware to his collection.
Rafael Nadal Fights to Regain His Footing on Grass
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Rafael Nadal earned more than a trophy and a flashy new Mercedes in Stuttgart: He also found some much-needed swagger.
By winning the Mercedes Cup, Nadal erased his five-year drought on grass. Not since Wimbledon in 2011 had he even made a final on the surface. Yet he withstood tough three-set matches against Marcos Baghdatis and Bernard Tomic before rolling past Gael Monfils in the semifinals.
He saved his best for last, dispatching Viktor Troicki for just his second title in the past year. That victory could pay huge psychological dividends.
Struggling with his game throughout 2015, Nadal’s prospects at Wimbledon—where he’s lost before the quarterfinals three straight times—looked grim before last week. But he gained invaluable preparation in Stuttgart.
Coupled with his participation at Queen’s Club this week, the Spaniard will head to the All England Club with enough matches under his belt to feel comfortable on the turf.
"I feel I’m doing things better on court, playing more relaxed, enjoying a little bit more,” Nadal told Tennis.com’s Matt Cronin.
A revitalized Nadal is a scary proposition for the rest of the ATP World Tour.
Roger Federer Aims for 8th Title in Halle
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Closing in fast on his 34th birthday, Roger Federer is running out of time to add to his Grand Slam haul.
But luckily for the Swiss legend, he’s back on his favorite surface. At 132-19 and with 14 titles (seven apiece at Wimbledon and Halle), Federer’s sparkling resume on grass speaks for itself.
Yet his heartbreaking defeat to Novak Djokovic in last year’s Wimbledon final snatched away a prime opportunity to further pad his legacy. Does he have enough left to make perhaps one final run at that golden trophy?
We’ll soon find out. In the meantime, Federer will be perfecting those biting slices, twisting kick serves and sharply angled volleys at the Gerry Weber Open, where he’s seeking a third straight title.
He had to work hard just to survive his first match against Philipp Kohlschreiber, but clutch serving carried him through. With a loaded draw also featuring Tomas Berdych and Kei Nishikori, Halle should provide the training battleground he needs to launch another assault at the Wimbledon title.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com and WTATennis.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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