The 2024 Wimbledon Championships, the third Grand Slam of the year, is set to take place from July 1 to 14 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) in London, England. This year’s tournament holds a special significance as two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray prepares to compete at the AELTC for the final time. The 37-year-old Scot, known for his grit and determination, has three major championships to his name: the US Open in 2012, and Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016. His 2013 victory made him the first British man to win the singles trophy at the All England Club in 77 years.
Despite a recent back surgery and a series of injuries, Murray is determined to leave his mark on the tournament. He is set to face Czechia’s Tomas Machac in the opening round. However, his chances of winning a third Wimbledon title are uncertain given his recent health struggles.
The men’s field at Wimbledon is more open than it has been in over two decades. Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since the French Open, remains a wildcard. The first two Majors of the year have been won by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the latter being the defending Wimbledon champion. Sinner, seeded first, and Alcaraz, seeded third, are projected to meet in the semifinals, potentially leading to a surprise finalist from the other side of the draw if Djokovic is not at his best.
The women’s singles title is equally unpredictable, as the last six editions have seen a new champion crowned. The trend began with Garbine Muguruza’s win in 2017 and continued with Marketa Vondrousova’s unexpected victory last year. While World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and World No. 2 Coco Gauff are considered favorites, neither player has achieved significant success on grass courts.
Wimbledon 2024 also presents an opportunity for Indian players to make their mark. Sumit Nagal is set to become the first Indian man since Prajnesh Gunneswaran in 2019 to feature in the main draw of men’s singles at Wimbledon. Nagal has enjoyed a breakout season, achieving a ranking of 72 and qualifying for the Paris Olympics. He faces Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic in his debut main-draw match at The Championships. Nagal will also compete in the men’s doubles alongside Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic. Other Indian players participating in the men’s doubles category include Rohan Bopanna (with Australia’s Matthew Ebden), N. Sriram Balaji (with Britain’s Luke Johnson), and Yuki Bhambri (with Frenchman Albano Olivetti).
Last year’s Wimbledon saw Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz make history by defeating Novak Djokovic to win his maiden Wimbledon title and second overall Grand Slam title. Djokovic was aiming to equal Roger Federer’s all-time men’s record of eight singles titles at the Grass Major. However, Alcaraz emerged victorious after a thrilling four-hour and 42-minute match on the Centre Court, becoming Wimbledon’s third youngest men’s champion.
On the women’s side, Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur experienced another heartbreak, losing in the final for the second consecutive year. She fell to Marketa Vondrousova, who became the fourth Czech-born player to win the title in the professional era and the first-ever unseeded champion.
Wimbledon 2024 promises to be a memorable event with a blend of established stars, promising newcomers, and intriguing storylines. As the tournament unfolds, the world will watch with anticipation to see who will rise to the occasion and etch their names in the annals of Wimbledon history.
