The Top 10 Storylines Ahead of Wimbledon 2016
The world's top players are set to descend upon London for tennis' ultimate prize: Wimbledon.
It's more than just a tournament. From the lush green lawns to the all-white clothing, strawberries and cream and even Rufus the Hawk prowling overhead, history and tradition intertwine at SW19.
There's no event in the sport as revered as this one.
Looking to etch their names on the trophies (again) will be Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams. Though Djokovic is at the peak of his powers, it's Williams who's struggling to fight off her competitors.
Those women include French Open champion Garbine Muguruza and Angelique Kerber, both of whom took out Williams in Grand Slam finals this year. They'll try to continue that theme at the All England Club, with others eager to join them.
On the men's side, Djokovic is aiming for his third-straight title. But he'll have to contend with a couple dangerous challengers and their superstar coaches who want to take his throne.
Beyond Djokovic and Williams' bid to keep their titles, there are so many other important plot points that will shape the action. So to help prepare you for the upcoming fortnight, here's a deeper look at 10 key things to watch for at Wimbledon 2016.
Will the Next Generation of Men's Stars Fly High in England?
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The future looks bright in men's tennis.
For years, we've wondered who'll pick up the slack as the Big Four age. No longer is there a dearth of viable candidates.
Looking specifically at players under the age of 25, two talents who stand out are Nick Kyrgios, 21, and Alexander Zverev, 19. Both of them are tall, have powerful games and don't lack when it comes to swagger.
The volatile Kyrgios owns 13 victories over top-10 players, including one over Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2014 and Roger Federer at the ATP Mutua Madrid Open in 2015. He's not afraid of anyone, and he certainly loves the spotlight that a place like the All England Club offers.
Two years his junior, teen sensation Zverev is on a rapid ascent. He began the season at No. 83 in the world. Today, he's surged to No. 28. The German should probably start making room for that Most Improved Player of the Year trophy.
Like Kyrgios, Zverev is more than comfortable on grass. Just last week in Halle, he took down lawn wizard Federer for the biggest win of his life. There's no turning back now.
While they may not have enough to stop the likes of Djokovic or Murray at Wimbledon this year, these two young stars are offering us a glimpse of the future.
Petra Kvitova Must Channel Past Wimbledon Magic Amid Struggles
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Is "tailspin" too strong of a word to describe Petra Kvitova in 2016?
Probably not. She hasn't really offered much hope this season. Without a title since last August's Connecticut Open, the Czech star has fallen to No. 11 in the rankings.
Parting ways with coach David Kotyza after a second-round loss in Melbourne hasn't steered her back on course. If anything, she looks more rudder-less than ever.
Her highlights this year include a quarterfinal showing in Indian Wells and a semifinal run in Stuttgart. But those results are outliers, with Kvitova essentially doing nothing at the other 11 events she's entered.
Just 15-14 after a loss this week to Johanna Konta in Eastbourne, England, two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova likely lacks confidence as she hits London. She's in a funk, and it's tough to see her finding the answers in time to win a third crown.
The Supersonic Rise of Dominic Thiem
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If a week goes by where Dominic Thiem doesn't play a match, did that week even happen at all?
Seriously. Including Davis Cup action, the well-traveled Austrian already has 17 events under his belt this season. And it's only June.
But the more he plays, the more he wins.
Thiem has climbed from No. 22 at the start of the year all the way to No. 8. His 47-12 record (anchored by his semifinal run at Roland Garros) puts him at fourth in the Race to London standings. Pretty soon he'll be knocking on the door of the Top 5.
Athletic and rock solid from both wings, the 22-year-old won four titles this year—Buenos Aires, Acapulco, Nice and Stuttgart—on all three surfaces no less.
Most impressively, he's now on a two-match win streak against Federer after taking down the third-ranked Swiss in Rome and Stuttgart. Those results must have his confidence soaring.
"It feels absolutely unreal because I came here without any expectations basically, and I'm pretty sure that it's the most special title for me,” Thiem said after winning Stuttgart, per ATPWorldTour.com.
On the heels of that accomplishment and his success at the French Open, Thiem is poised to become a new mainstay at Grand Slams.
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Madison Keys Ascending After Birmingham Title
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We just witnessed 22-year-old Garbine Muguruza's breakthrough at the French Open. It felt somewhat like a changing of the guard.
Can Madison Keys, 21, follow in her peer's footsteps and join the Grand Slam club at Wimbledon?
Cracking the top 10 for the first time in her career, Keys is riding high after winning the Aegon Classic in Birmingham, England—her first title in two years. Not coincidentally, both of her tournament victories came on grass courts.
Last year, Keys made the Wimbledon quarterfinals, pushing veteran Agnieszka Radwanska in a tight three-set loss. That deep run reconfirmed her potential as a future champion at the All England Club.
One of the biggest hitters in women's tennis, her game is equipped to do damage on this surface. She can play bully ball and pound winners from every inch of the baseline, a formula that's worked well for the woman she's trying to emulate: Serena Williams.
Her stock on the rise, Keys is on the shortlist of legitimate contenders for the Wimbledon trophy.
Milos Raonic Eyes Grand Slam Breakthrough
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To aid in his quest for a first Grand Slam title, Milos Raonic is turning to John McEnroe for guidance this grass-court season. That move is paying early dividends.
At Queen’s Club, the 25-year-old stormed to the final and had Andy Murray on the ropes before relinquishing his set-and-a-break lead. Though he couldn’t finish the job in that match, the week otherwise proved a positive debut for the Raonic and McEnroe tandem.
Playing aggressively and coming to the net more frequently seems to be the centerpiece of their masterplan. The Canadian already has a huge serve at his command, but he’s working on supplementing it with additional tactics.
"Most of the time [the talk] is about positioning on the volleys, where to be, especially when you see a guy maybe sort of off-balance or which angles to cover," Raonic told the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "We have also worked a lot on being quick to realize opportunities to move forward or be aggressive earlier in points."
If he puts all those elements together, Raonic can be a dangerous opponent on faster courts like those at Wimbledon. He made the semifinals there in 2014, which is something he can look back on for inspiration this time around.
With the wisdom and enthusiasm of superstar coach McEnroe in his corner, Raonic is a force to be reckoned with during the next two weeks.
Can Garbine Muguruza Avoid French Open Hangover?
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In a performance for the ages, Garbine Muguruza thoroughly outplayed defending champion Serena Williams for the title at Roland Garros, the first Grand Slam victory of her budding career.
All the pieces came together on that magical Saturday. Not only did she match wits with Williams from the baseline, but she also aced the mental battle and held off a late push from her foe. Assured and resilient, the 22-year-old had the look of someone ready to unleash the floodgates.
Whether or not she can complete a Channel Slam and win Wimbledon is another question. It's always tough to predict how players will respond emotionally after scaling the mountain top for the first time. Some keep climbing, others hit a few crags that alter their course.
Her post-French Open honeymoon period ended with a flat opening-match loss to Kirsten Flipkens on the grass of Mallorca. Still basking in her accomplishment, Muguruza suffered a predictable letdown.
The good news is that she has experience going far at Wimbledon. After all, she finished as runner-up to Williams at last year's event. But to successfully defend those points, the powerful Muguruza needs to compartmentalize her victory in Paris and stay laser-focused on the task at hand.
The Precarious State of Roger Federer's Health and Form
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Roger Federer’s resume on grass is impeccable, with the hallowed grounds of SW19 his personal palace.
Yet the seven-time champion is on shaky ground as he chases an unprecedented eighth title at Wimbledon. Injuries to his knee and back have left the 34-year-old short on matches this season, and he finds himself scrambling to build a rhythm and maintain good health.
After missing the French Open, Federer returned in Stuttgart, but his stay there ended with his second loss to Dominic Thiem in as many months. Rust certainly proved to be a factor because of that layoff.
Things didn’t magically click either the next week in Halle, where he’s won eight titles, when he was upended by teen sensation Alexander Zverev in a thrilling semifinal.
Although he served well during both tournaments, his baseline game lacked the same crispness we're accustomed to seeing. It’s an area he’ll have to focus on during practice if he hopes to reach another championship Sunday in England.
Andy Murray Rekindling Chemistry with Ivan Lendl
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When Andy Murray hired Ivan Lendl at the end of 2011, he found a coach that offered both a calming presence and could relate to his own frustrations.
Lendl knows what it's like to chase that maiden Grand Slam victory and fail the first four tries—the exact scenario Murray found himself in after a loss to Federer in the 2012 Wimbledon final.
From there, the partnership blossomed. The Scot took on more of the demeanor of his coach, toning down his on-court tantrums (well, at least to a degree) while making a concerted effort to become more aggressive with his offense and stronger at the mental side of the game.
Weeks after that defeat to Federer, Murray exacted revenge at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, topping his Swiss rival for the gold medal. The biggest win of his career to that point emboldened his sense of belief.
He got over the Grand Slam barrier at the subsequent U.S. Open with a takedown of Novak Djokovic, a feat he replicated with a historic win at Wimbledon in 2013. In an 11-month span, Lendl helped Murray conquer three of the most prestigious events in the world.
But they'd split up in 2014 when Lendl couldn't commit full-time any longer. As Murray latched on with Amelie Mauresmo, he just didn't find that same spark.
Two years later, they've reunited. And they've wasted no time finding their old rapport.
"I had my best results with him, the most successful period of my career was working with him, and hopefully it goes well again," an enthusiastic Murray told BBC Sport's Piers Newbery.
Murray stormed to his fifth Queen's Club title with an impressive comeback over Raonic in the final. Now the two have a grander idea in mind: taking down Djokovic at Wimbledon.
Novak Djokovic Continues to Chase Records
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The pressure will be squarely on Novak Djokovic’s shoulders at Wimbledon.
Not only is the top seed an overwhelming favorite to win his third-straight title, but he’s also searching for some unprecedented history.
After conquering the French Open and becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four majors, Djokovic is halfway to a rare calendar Grand Slam. Everything’s on the table for him now.
While he’s clearly head and shoulders ahead of his rivals, the burden of expectations is an element the 29-year-old has to contend with on a daily basis. Fair or not, failing to defend his crown at the All England Club would be considered a disappointment, no matter how far he advances.
There’s a massive target on his back, with guys like Murray, Federer and Raonic hungry to take him down. As long as he keeps his foot on the pedal, Djokovic is the man to beat.
But with a stacked field full of worthy contenders and the record books weighing on his mind, the challenge this year could be tougher than ever for Djokovic.
Serena Williams Tries Again to Match Steffi Graf
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For an athlete who exudes an aura of dominance like Serena Williams, lately she's looked surprisingly vulnerable.
Not too often during the course of her career could you say that about the American. We're used to seeing near perfection from her at majors, especially throughout 2015.
Since last year's U.S. Open, she's found only heartbreak. Upset by enormous underdog Roberta Vinci in the semifinals there, Williams missed a chance to win a calendar Grand Slam and tie Steffi Graf for the most singles titles (22) in the Open era.
By now, most expected Williams to already be past Graf in the record books, but getting to that magic number hasn't happened.
Williams' losses this year at the Australian Open and French Open to Angelique Kerber and Garbine Muguruza, respectively, mark the first time she's ever dropped two-straight major finals. At 34, she's likely realizing just how much tougher she has to fight for everything.
Wimbledon is the most likely spot for this mini drought to end. The defending champion, Williams owns six singles titles at the All England Club (to go along with five doubles victories). Playing on grass suits her powerful game well. The friendly confines of Centre Court are her home away from home.
Motivated to finally match Graf's mark and conquer her recent on-court demons, the Williams locomotive is ready to leave the station full steam ahead.
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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