By Chris Oddo | Saturday July 1, 2017
1. Andy Murray has never successfully defended a major title
Murray is also aiming to successfully defend a Grand Slam title for the first time and become the first British player – man or woman – to defend a Grand Slam title since the legendary Fred Perry, who won the title here from 1934-36. Murray has lost in the quarterfinals on both of his previous attempts to defend a Grand Slam title – to Stan Wawrinka at the 2013 US Open and to Grigor Dimitrov at 2014 Wimbledon.
2. Five of the top 16 seeds on the women’s side have losing records at Wimbledon.
They are: No.3-seeded Karolina Pliskova (4-5), No.4-seeded Elina Svitolina (2-4), No.6-seeded Johanna Konta (1-5), No.12-seeded Kristina Mladenovic (2-5) and No.13-seeded Jelena Ostapenko (1-2).
3. Four players have a shot at No.1 on the men’s side
Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic all have a shot to finish the fortnight at No.1. Nadal is closing in on Murray and has by far the best shot to overtake the Scotsman. Here are the point scenarios, round-by-round:
4. 5 players could end the fortnight at No.1 on the women’s side.
Angelique Kerber’s 33rd and 34th weeks at No1 could be her last. Karolina Pliskova, Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki and Elina Svitolina all have a shot to overtake her at Wimbledon.
5. Why do men defend Wimbledon titles better than any other Slam?
Hard to say, and you’d think that Nadal and Borg’s work in Paris would have given the French Open a leg up, but Wimbledon is the most defended major title in the Open Era for the men. There have been 18 successful men’s singles title defenses, compared to 16 at Roland Garros and 12 at the Australian and U.S. Open.
6. Jelena Jankovic’s Grand Slam Streak Continues
The Serb will play her 55th consecutive major next week at Wimbledon. Jankovic is now just seven shy of the all-time record for consecutive majors played, which is held by Ai Sugiyama (62).
7. Feliciano Lopez closing in on Roger Federer
Feliciano Lopez will play in his 62nd consecutive major, which leads all ATP players. Roger Federer (65) holds the all-time record, which Lopez can break next year at Wimbledon.
8. Angelique Kerber became the 5th woman to lose in the opening round of a major as the top seed at Roland Garros.
It has never happened twice in a row. Kerber will face Irina Falconi in her first-round match at Wimbledon.
9. Federer ties a record just by showing up
Seven-time champion Roger Federer is playing in his 70th Grand Slam, which ties him with Fabrice Santoro on the all-time list for most majors played. Tommy Haas is playing his 60th major—the German becomes the 7th ATP player to hit 60 majors played.
10. Federer can break the all-time Wimbledon win record with a first-round victory
Roger Federer (84-11) will take sole ownership of the Wimbledon Open Era match wins record by defeating Alexandr Dolgopolov in the first round. The Swiss is currently tied with Jimmy Connors (84-18) with 84 wins.