French Open 2016 Men's Final: Early Predictions for Winner at Wimbledon

Following Novak Djokovic's French Open final triumph over Andy Murray on Sunday, there are now just three weeks to go until the start of Wimbledon 2016.

The Serbian World No.1 will enter The Championships hunting for his third consecutive Wimbledon title on the back of lifting six of the previous eight Grand Slam trophies, winning four in succession. 

The draw for the event is yet to be made—scheduled to take place three days prior to the tournament start—but predictions for the outcome of the men’s championship can still be analysed ahead of the sport’s most majestic two weeks.

Read on for a rundown of the favourites and a prediction for the 2016 Wimbledon crown.

David Vincent/Associated Press

Djokovic will head to SW19 in search of further glory, aiming to become just the fourth man—after Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer—to win three successive Wimbledon championships.

The world’s best tennis player is in the form of his life following his 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 final success over Murray at Roland Garros and is the favourite to win his 13th Grand Slam title, per OddsChecker. 

The official French Open social media account provided footage of Djokovic's match-winning point:

The 29-year-old’s slender physique masks his unrivalled fitness and stamina. His ability to outlast his opponent in long-lasting contests remains the Serbian’s key attributes, and a strength he relies upon when he infrequently loses the first set of the match as he did this weekend.

Three-time Wimbledon winner Djokovic is threatening to become the second player since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete a calendar slam, winning all four major tournaments, and is known to be fond of the grass surface event.

Per the BBC (h/t Simon Cambers of the Guardian), Djokovic said after his 2014 triumph over Federer: “This is a tournament I always dreamed of winning, so it never gets boring winning Wimbledon that’s for sure. Winning in 2011 was the highlight of my career, but this win over Roger is probably the best Grand Slam final I have ever played in my life.”

Murray was gracious in defeat on Sunday afternoon and acknowledged Djokovic's achievements in recent times, per ATP World Tour:

Djokovic’s two most recent Wimbledon titles have come at the expense of 17-time Grand Slam winner Federer. The iconic Swiss shares the all-time record of seven wins at the All England club with Sampras. 

Per SNY, Federer recently claimed he was intent on adding to his trophy cabinet haul and could think of no better location to do so than his most successful tournament:

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"I don't know if Wimbledon is my best chance [at No. 18], it might be. It would be my favourite choice. If I had a choice right now, I would love to win Wimbledon. I think it's possible and I think if I win Wimbledon, it's more cool for me personally and my team, Swiss people and my fans."

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Federer will challenge for the top honour at Wimbledon alongside the usual top-four suspects, although Rafael Nadal is suffering from fitness concerns. Great Britain’s Murray, winner of the 2013 Championship and World No. 2, will have the advantage of home support when he enters the draw for this year’s tournament; however, Federer is also given a rapturous and warm welcome whenever venturing onto centre court.

Following the French Open, two-time Slam winner Murray has now reached 10 major finals, facing either Djokovic or Federer on each occasion. He has significant exposure of competing on the main stage yet has come up against players in the form of their lives on most occasions.

Michel Euler/Associated Press

Meanwhile for Nadal, tendonitis in his knees saw his withdraw from competition at his beloved Roland Garros, and the Spaniard has also decided not to enter Queen's Club as a warm-up tournament to Wimbledon, per Raz Mirza of Sky Sports.

The 30-year-old, who won Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010, vowed in a press conference that his latest injury setback would not mark the end of his career.

Per Mirza, Nadal was quoted as telling Sky: "It's not broken, but if I continue to play it will be 100 per cent broken in a few days. To win the tournament [French Open], I need five more matches, and the doctor says that's 100 per cent impossible. This is a very bad position, but that's life."

Statistician Mohandas Menon revealed how the French Open title had been long-awaited for the World No. 1 due to Nadal's overwhelming dominance on the clay surface: 

On Sunday, Djokovic once more proved his ball-striking ability, dogged determination and on-court strengths both in defence and attack. Athletically superior to almost any player on the circuit, the Serb's racquet prowess can often be overlooked such is his physical capability.

A third-straight Wimbledon crown is in his sights this summer and after successive Slam titles this year, Djokovic will continue his hunt for supremacy in three weeks time as the tournament favourite.