Wimbledon Watch

By Morgan Payne

Wimbledon is the quintessential tournament in all of tennis, perhaps the entirety of sports. The history, the aura, the caliber of play makes it the ultimate in viewer pleasure. This year’s crop of talent and far reaching implications are sure to make the 2011 version one of the best in recent years. Here are this year’s favorites.

We are in a Golden Age of tennis with potentially the two greatest players of all time in our midst. At one end stands Roger Federer, the standard bearer of grace and poise for the past decade. On the other, the physically imposing, number one ranked Rafael Nadal, a 10-time Majors champion in his own right. The outright dominance of the two cannot be overstated. That is precisely why they have the best odds of hoisting the hardware at Centre Court this year.

Two paragraphs in and still no mention of the brash Serbian having one of the greatest starts to a season in history. That’s how talented this year’s field is. Novak Djokovic will look to redeem a semifinals loss to Federer in last month’s French Open. He is still as hot as anyone right now and anything other than a finals appearance will be a disappointment for him.

Nearly all prognosticators have two of the Big Three in the Finals and it will probably work out that way. But here are a few other names to look out for. These aren’t necessarily the guys with the best shot to advance deep into the tournament, it’s just a list of some interesting players that will entertain.

Andy Murray – I begrudgingly list the arrogant Scot first because he actually deserves it. (Damn, that sentence was tough to type). His lack of heart, icy relationship with the fans and overall malaise on the court are truly off-putting. (That’s more like it). Yet, Murray is most capable of knocking out one of the elite competitors en route to claiming his first major title. His defensive style is not as fun to watch as some of the other competitors, but it gets the job done. The most polarizing big name in the game will have the support of the crowd in just about every match he plays. The country is so desperate for a champion they will even root for a Scot who famously quipped he would root for “anyone but England” in the World Cup. And England is still behind him after that sacrilegious remark? Bollocks.

Richard Gasquet – A bit of personal bias here, but it is my list. My favorite player is on his redemption march after being suspended for a positive cocaine test in 2009. But he was reinstated after serving only two months of a two year ban. And how did he get off you ask? He told the International Tennis Federation that he kissed a girl in a club and that she must have been using cocaine earlier that night. That’s the oldest trick in the liar’s handbook and he got away with it. So, yeah, he’s pretty smooth. The 17 seed loves the tournament and actually has a relatively easy draw. With the best backhand in the business I fully expect him to make a deep run. His effortless style and shot making ability should aid in that run while simultaneously winning over more fans. Don’t put a championship past him either. He can do anything.

Gael Monfils – Wow, this guy is fun to watch. More NFL receiver than tennis pro, Monfils possesses un-paralleled athleticism and a panache that would make Ochocinco blush. His motor simply does not stop, and neither does his array of imaginative shots. If he starts to get things rolling and advances into the second week, watch out. I certainly wouldn’t mind watching him knock off a few favorites.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – If Monfils is a receiver than his countryman Tsonga is a linebacker. He is a beast in every sense of the word. Perhaps the most physically intimidating hulk in the sport, he backs up his 140 mph serves with a surprisingly fluid style. Tennis buffs expected more from him after his incredible run to the 2008 Australian Open, but he has never been able to duplicate that brilliance. Hopefully, his recent solid play is an indicator of success in this tournament.

Mardy Fish – It’s kind of sad when a guy named Mardy Fish may be America’s best hope. That’s the tennis landscape we now find ourselves in as Andy Roddick, the perpetual underachiever, looks to be on the tail-end of a disappointing career. Okay, so maybe that’s a bit harsh, but let’s face it, an American is not going to win.

Ivo Karlovic – He may not be in the tournament long, but if you get a chance, watch one of his matches. His 6’10” frame is able to serve a tennis ball faster than any human being. Ever. He routinely hits 150 mph and must be one of the scariest players to face. All those aces sure are fun to watch.

John Isner/Nicolas Mahut – Probably the most talked about first round matchup ever. The two actually cancelled a practice match scheduled before the draw was announced. Looks like they are preparing for another days (yes that is “days”, like plural) long battle. Of course it won’t happen and one of them will probably win a three-set snooze-fest because that’s just how sports works. At least their pairing gives ESPN an excuse to show replays of last year’s truly epic dogfight.

Nikolay Davydenko – Beware the betting lines.

Whichever of the 128 all-white-clad gentlemen wins it all, entertainment is bound to ensue. For the next two weeks we have the opportunity to witness an all-time great nearing the end of an illustrious career, his rival at the height of his prime, a youngster at the start of his and a swarm of other captivating players hungry to make history of their own. It’s not too often one tennis tournament plays host to so much intrigue, so enjoy.