The Week Before Wimbledon: Preview

It’s Wimbledon qualifying week, and that means there’s a heap of tennis happening, in preparation for the start of the main draw. Here are a few storylines/players that might be worth keeping an eye on this week:

ATP Tour:

ATP Mallorca 250

Can Ben Shelton find some form on grass? I feel as though with a serve like his, he should cruise through the early rounds of Wimbledon, but I’m yet to be convinced that will happen.

The Aussies, Jordan Thompson and Rinky Hijikata found their own form last week at Queens. If they can win a few matches here, the Australian Wimbledon hopes are looking up!

Speaking of finding form…Adrian Mannerino… Any chance he can win some matches?

Defending champion Christopher Eubanks is about to play the most important few weeks of his career. Could potentially find himself dropping 100 or so places in the rankings, which would be disastrous for him. Needs to win matches. Is only 4-12 this year.

Gael Monfils v Dominic Thiem in round one, will be a match to watch. Although Monfils has been in much better form, there’s always the hope that the Austrian will turn it on one last time.

ATP Eastbourne 250

Top seed, Taylor Fritz would be hoping to work his way into some grass court form this week. Has a quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon in 2022, but other than that, and this years QF at the AO, he’s yet to really perform at the majors.

His compatriot Tommy Paul is coming off a title at Queens, and was runner-up here last year. Looks to have a pretty decent draw here, so might get a few more wins under the belt.

Francisco Cerundolo wouldn’t be the first name you’d think of when discussing grass court tennis, yet here he is, as defending champion. He’s only won two ATP titles, and one of them was here, 12 months ago, where he defeated Tommy Paul in the final. Could he do it again?

34 year old Kei Nishikori is playing his first grass court match in nearly three years, and only his fourth match of the year. Has made a couple of quarter-finals at Wimbledon, so it’d be fantastic to see him win some matches.

WTA Tour

WTA Bad Homburg 500

Why there are mandatory 500 events in the week before Wimbledon is still a mystery to me, but here we are with two of them.

Anna Kalinskaya is continuing her great season, coming off a final in Berlin. She hasn’t played much grass court tennis at all in the last few years, so I’m curious to see if she can continue her form this week.

Top seeded Maria Sakkari is probably already looking forward to the hard court season, but I hope we get the Badosa v Sakkari round two match up. Elisabetta Cocciaretto won’t be an easy first up assignment for the Greek star though.

We could also get Angelique Kerber taking on Mirra Andreeva in the second round. There’s a 19 year age gap between them. Kerber, along with Wozniacki, go into this week knowing their Wimbledon entry is assured thanks to a Wildcard. Will be interesting if that gives them a bit more freedom to play. We know they have done some damage in their early days. Would love to see a throwback to those glory years.

Yulia Putintseva doesn’t come to mind during this time of year, having never made it past the second round of Wimbledon. However, taking out the Birmingham title might give her a real confidence boost.

WTA Eastbourne 500

Big questions remain around the fitness of Elena Rybakina. The bye in the first round might help her, but she’ll be on everyone’s watchlist this week.

Speaking of byes, why does Eastbourne have them, but Bad Homburg doesn’t? Another oddity on the WTA tour.

Jess Pegula looks in great form on the grass, taking out Berlin last week. Curious to see how hard she goes the week before Wimbledon. With a few question marks around the top players at the moment, Wimbledon could open up a little for her.

Emma Raducanu and Sloane Stephens will be an intriguing match up in round one, with the winner to play Pegula. Both players should get a decent read on where their form is at.

Katie Boulter will be hoping for more success on home turf, after taking out the Nottingham title. It feels like the Brits don’t feel the same pressure in the lead up events to Wimbledon, as they do when the main event starts. Perhaps she can take advantage of that, and sneak another title.

Madison Keys is a two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist, but is playing her first grass event this year here. It always makes me a little nervous if a player goes out early in their one and only warm up event. I’ve always thought she should be a major winner, but she’s running out of time.

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