Venus, Kvitova, Azarenka: 5 Women to Watch Out For at Wimbledon

Without Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, French Open lacks star power this year.

With Serena Williams preparing for the birth of her first child and Maria Sharapova sidelined by a thigh injury, the race to be crowned Wimbledon champion in the ladies singles draw is the most wide open in a generation.

Having stepped away from the court as she waits to become a mother in September, Williams, who won Wimbledon in 2015 and 2016, has created a power vacuum at the top that Sharapova was expected to fill when the Russian returned from her doping suspension.

Instead, Sharapova lasted just three tournaments before a muscle injury in Rome forced the five-time major winner to withdraw from the Wimbledon qualifying tournament.

But the flip side is the opportunity for the sport's less heralded names to seize the spotlight, as Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko showed with her unexpected breakthrough triumph at the French Open this year.

Here’s a look at the five women to watch out for at Wimbledon.

1. Karolina Pliskova

Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova leads WTA in aces this season (her twin sister, Kristyna, ranks second).

The 25-year-old has a terrific serve and if she carries on her confidence from winning the title at Eastbourne International (grass-court tournament), she could be ready for a strong showing at Wimbledon.

Pliskova has impressed in the past with a victory over Serena Williams in the US Open semi-finals last year. She has the chance of reaching the world number one ranking for the first time in her career.

Seed: 3; 2017 W/L Record: 36-9; 2017 Singles Titles: 3;
Grand Slam Titles: 0

2. Venus Williams

Tennis legend Venus Williams has a lot of off-court issues carrying on at the moment. She was sued on Friday by the estate of a Florida man who died after a car crash. A day earlier, police released a report saying Williams caused the 9 June crash that left the man with a fractured spine and numerous internal injuries. He died on 22 June.

Coming back to tennis, Williams showed she has still got game by reaching semi-finals at All England Club last year for first time since 2008 and then reaching the Australian Open final in January.

Seed: 10; 2017 W/L Record: 20-7; 2017 Singles Titles: 0;
Grand Slam Titles: 7

3. Petra Kvitova

Wimbledon will be Petra Kvitova’s third tournament after her comeback from seriously getting cut by a knife-wielding intruder at her home in December last year.

Many consider her the favorite for what would be her third Wimbledon title. Best news, though, is simply that she is back in competition.

The two-time Wimbledon champion is going into this tournament after clinching the grass-court tournament in Birmingham.

Seed: 11; 2017 W/L Record: 6-1; 2017 Singles Titles: 1;
Grand Slam Titles: 2

4. Jelena Ostapenko

Jelena Ostapenko surprised everyone, including herself, by winning her first career tour-level title at French Open this year. Going into this tournament, she can take some confidence from her win in the 2014 junior Wimbledon.

With big strokes and confidence to spare, there is no reason she can't go far. After all, grass – not clay – is her favorite surface.

Seed: 13; 2017 W/L Record: 30-12; 2017 Singles Titles: 1;
Grand Slam Titles: 1

5. Victoria Azarenka

Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka has recently returned to the tour after giving birth to a son. Wimbledon will be her second tournament after making a comeback and first Grand Slam event in more than a year. She has entered Wimbledon via a protected ranking.

She has twice made the semi-finals at Wimbledon and has the muscle memory of two runs to Grand Slam titles – Australian Open (2012 and 2013).

The 27-year-old has missed the last four majors, which implies that there is accumulated rust.

However on Saturday, Azarenka said that she thinks she eventually can play better than she ever did before.

If she manages to bring her best to the All England Club, the former world number one will definitely be the player to beat.

Seed: 13; 2017 W/L Record: 30-12; 2017 Singles Titles: 1;
Grand Slam Titles: 1

(With inputs from AP and PTI.)

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