In the past seven years, six women have claimed their first Wimbledon title, signaling a new era of opportunities in women’s tennis following Serena Williams’ dominance. This year’s tournament features three former champions: last year’s winner Marketa Vondrousova, 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, and 2018 champion Angelique Kerber. However, there’s a strong sense that a new name could emerge as the 2024 champion.
Iga Swiatek: The Favorite with a Challenge
Leading the list of contenders is Iga Swiatek, the 23-year-old Pole who has dominated the women’s tour since Ash Barty’s unexpected retirement in early 2022. Swiatek recently won her fourth Roland Garros title, marking her fifth Grand Slam victory. Despite her prowess on clay, grass remains a challenging surface for her, with her best Wimbledon performance being a quarter-final appearance last year.
Swiatek is working on adjusting her game to grass, especially focusing on improving her serve to secure more free points—a crucial factor on this surface. “It’s hard for me to be considered as an underdog anywhere now, but I really need to focus on just the process of being a better player here and learning how to play the best kind of tennis and not really on the rankings or the expectations that come with my ranking,” Swiatek said.
Fitness Concerns for Top Rivals
Two of Swiatek’s main rivals, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, are facing fitness issues. Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, is dealing with a shoulder injury that hampers her serving ability. Despite this, she is determined to compete: “We’re doing everything we can with my team to make sure I’ll be able to play my first match here.”
Rybakina has struggled with illness, leading to several withdrawals from recent tournaments, including Eastbourne. She enters Wimbledon without much match play, raising questions about her readiness.
Rising Contenders
Coco Gauff, who reached world No. 2 after her semi-final run at the French Open, is another strong contender. She notes the openness of the field as a confidence booster: “It gives you confidence obviously when you see that the field isn’t stacked, in the way where there’s one player dominating or three players dominating.”
Sentimental Favorite: Ons Jabeur
Ons Jabeur, a finalist for the past two years, remains a crowd favorite. The Tunisian has been candid about her dream of winning a Grand Slam and starting a family, adding a poignant layer to her quest for the title. Despite a knee injury, Jabeur is optimistic: “I am just going one match at a time, trying to enjoy it… I can see myself winning this beautiful tournament, hopefully.”