For the first time since the 2004 Wimbledon Championships, both the top seed and defending champion in the men’s draw at the All England Club will be under the age of 23.
Jannik Sinner, 22, will be the top seed at a major for the first time while Carlos Alcaraz, 21, is looking to defend a major title for the first time in his career.
Not since Roger Federer was both top seed and defending champion in 2004 were the favourites this young.
With all that in mind, will one of those two youngsters be lifting the pineapple-adorned gold cup in just over a fortnight? The National Bank Open Power Rankings dives into the men’s field at Wimbledon.
(Brackets indicate change in position since the last edition of the Power Rankings from before Roland-Garros)
1. Jannik Sinner (+4)
- Actual Ranking: 1
- 2024 Record: 38-3
- Notable Recent Results: Halle Champion
- Best Wimbledon Result: Semifinal (2023)
What a season it’s been for Jannik Sinner. The 21-year-old recently became the first Italian player ever to hold the No. 1 spot in the rankings and with good reason.
Last year’s National Bank Open champion leads the tour with a 38-3 record and four titles, recently claiming his first on grass by winning in Halle.
Sinner has proven himself to be an all-surface threat and his clean groundstrokes, impeccable balance, and the ability to slide on the grass make him a top contender to win at Wimbledon.
- Ben
2. Carlos Alcaraz (-1)
- Actual Ranking: 3
- 2024 Record: 26-6
- Notable Recent Results: Roland-Garros Champion
- Best Wimbledon Result: Champion (2023)
Carlos Alcaraz returns to the All England Club as defending champion. The 22-year-old’s greatness is not confined to any particular surface, making him dangerous at any event he enters.
Last year, he met seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic in the final and it was the Spaniard who emerged triumphant in a tight five-set affair. This year, he comes in as the recent French Open winner and, despite a loss to Brit Jack Draper at the Queen’s Club, is a major threat to repeat as champion in SW19.
- Mike
3. Alexander Zverev (-1)
- Actual Ranking: 4
- 2024 Record: 37-11
- Notable Recent Results: Halle SF
- Best Wimbledon Result: Fourth round (twice)
Few players have been in as good form as Alexander Zverev over recent months. The German has reached the semifinals or better at his last three events, including a second major final at Roland-Garros and a final-four appearance on grass in Halle.
Read also: Milos Raonic Holds All the Aces
Wimbledon is the only major where Zverev has never made it past the last sixteen, but his uber-consistent first serve and big groundstrokes give him a chance to dominate on the slick surface. He has reached a pair of 500-level finals on grass in his career.
- Pete
4. Novak Djokovic (-1)
- Actual Ranking: 2
- 2024 Record: 18-6
- Notable Recent Results: Roland-Garros QF
- Best Wimbledon Result: Champion (Seven Times)
It’s rare that we are past the mid-point of the tennis calendar and Novak Djokovic is without a title. In fact, the 24-time Grand Slam champion is currently enduring his longest drought without a trophy since 2018.
Read also: WTA Power Rankings - More Surprises Coming at Wimbledon?
He was recently forced to pull out at Roland-Garros after reaching the quarter-finals due to a knee injury. After undergoing a non-invasive surgery, he’s in a race against the clock to be fit to play.
If Djokovic is feeling well, he’s a force at the All England Club, where he's reached five straight finals.
- Ben
5. Hubert Hurkacz (New)
- Actual Ranking: 7
- 2024 Record: 33-13
- Notable Recent Results: Halle Runner-up
- Best Wimbledon Result: Semifinal (2021)
The big-serving Pole may be one of the few players on tour who is genuinely comfortable on a grass court. He’s reached two finals on the surface, both in Halle, including this year, and had his best result at a major at Wimbledon in 2021, the same year he defeated Roger Federer in the Swiss’ final professional singles match.
Hurkacz owns the highest-rated serve on the ATP Tour, averages the most aces per match, and holds serve more than anyone except Jannik Sinner. That makes him an immediate threat on grass.
- Pete
6. Tommy Paul (New)
- Actual Ranking: 12
- 2024 Record: 27-10
- Notable Recent Results: Queen’s Club Champion
- Best Wimbledon Result: Fourth round (2022)
The new American No. 1 is peaking at the perfect time ahead of the Championships. Paul just won the biggest title of his career, and first on grass, at the Queen’s Club which allowed him to hop over Taylor Fritz and become his nation’s top men’s player.
Paul had a great start to the year with semifinals in Indian Wells and Rome and has made a deep major run before at the Australian Open. He is an all-surface threat who will arrive in London in good form and full of confidence.
- Pete
7. Daniil Medvedev (+1)
- Actual Ranking: 5
- 2024 Record: 28-9
- Notable Recent Results: Halle R2
- Best Wimbledon Result: Semifinal (2023)
Daniil Medvedev is a bit of a mystery on grass. On the one hand, he has never truly replicated his hard-court success on the natural surface. On the other, he has still reached three finals, winning one in 2021, and he reached the semifinals at Wimbledon last year.
Read also: The Wonders of Grass-Court Tennis
Theoretically, the former world No. 1 has a game that should be effective on grass. He has a very effective serve and his flat groundstrokes can skid away from opponents on the low-bouncing surface. In five appearances at the All England Club, he has never performed worse than the previous year.
- Pete
8. Alex de Minaur (New)
- Actual Ranking: 9
- 2024 Record: 33-12
- Notable Recent Results: s-Hertogenbosch Champion
- Best Wimbledon Result: Fourth Round (2022)
The 25-year-old, who finished runner-up last season at the National Bank Open, continues to reach new heights in 2024.
De Minaur has won two titles this year, including the Libema Open just over a week ago, has five Top 10 wins on the year, and reached a new career-high ranking of No. 7.
The Aussie is a prolific counterpuncher with some of the best footwork and speed in the sport. With his ability to cover so much ground on the grass, a deep run at Wimbledon is certainly possible.
- Ben
9. Andrey Rublev (-2)
- Actual Ranking: 6
- 2024 Record: 24-11
- Notable Recent Results: Halle R1
- Best Wimbledon Result: Quarter-final (2023)
Andrey Rublev is perhaps being a bit underappreciated given his success on grass over the years. While none of his 16 career ATP titles have come on the surface, he did make the finals of Halle in both 2021 and 2023.
Read also: Canada's Paris 2024 Tennis Team Unveiled
He also made it to the final eight at Wimbledon a year ago and has made ten quarter-finals at the majors overall but has still yet to take that next step. If he can keep his emotions in check, perhaps this will be the year he has his Slam breakthrough.
- Mike
10. Grigor Dimitrov (New)
- Actual Ranking: 10
- 2024 Record: 29-10
- Notable Recent Results: Queen’s Club R2
- Best Wimbledon Result: Semifinal (20140
It has been exactly a decade since Grigor Dimitrov posted his best major result to-date, reaching his first semifinal at Wimbledon. He has since reached two other major semis but has never gotten through to the final.
2024 has been a renaissance year for the Bulgarian, who climbed back into the Top 10 and just completed his Grand Slam quarter-final set at Roland-Garros. A former champion at the Queen’s Club, Dimitrov is a proven player on all surfaces.
- Pete
The National Bank Open Power Rankings are a group collaboration by the Power Rankings Panel which includes:
- Pete Borkowski – Content Editor, Tennis Canada
- Melissa Boyd – Content Writer, Tennis Canada
- Sarah-Jade Champagne – Content Specialist, Tennis Canada
- Edward Lee – Content Contributor, Tennis Canada
- Ben Lewis – Host, Match Point Canada
- Hugues Leger – Producer, Podcast Sur La Ligne
- Mike McIntyre – Host, Match Point Canada
- Abraham Santerre – Content Creator, Podcast Sur La Ligne
- Patrick Steski - Content Contributor, Tennis Canada
Wimbledon 2024 Predictions
Champion:
- Pete: Jannik Sinner
- Mel: Jannik Sinner
- Ben: Jannik Sinner
- Hugues: Jannik Sinner
- Abraham: Jannik Sinner
- Sarah-Jade: Jannik Sinner
- Pat: Jannik Sinner
Dark Horse:
- Pete: Ben Shelton
- Mel: Sebastian Korda
- Ben: Ugo Humbert
- Hugues: Jack Draper
- Abraham: Jack Draper
- Pat: Sebastian Korda
Bold Prediction:
- Pete: A Brit will make the round of 16
- Mel: Jack Draper will reach the second week for the first time in his career
- Ben: Alex de Minaur will reach his first major semifinal
- Pat: There will be an American finalist for the first time since 2009
The ATP's best return to Montreal this summer for the National Bank Open August 3 to 12, 2024 at IGA Stadium. 2024 Tickets are on sale. Get your tickets today!
Feature Photo : Eurosport
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