How Raducanu, Gauff, Sabalenka and the top 10 prepared for Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, kick off later this month and the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu will be aiming for glory.
With 2024 winner Barbora Krejcikova down at No 17, it is looking likely that a different name will be etched onto the trophy in SW19 this year.
Here’s how the top 10 seeds prepared for the tournament as well as a look at British hopeful Raducanu.
No 10 – Paula Badosa
Spaniard Paula Badosa disappointed in Roland Garros, reaching only the third round, and followed that up with a quarter-final exit in Berlin.
That came due to an injury and is a concern following a stress fracture in her back last year.
Her race now is to be fit in time for The Championships.
No 9 – Emma Navarro
A quarter-finalist in 2024, Emma Navarro is hoping to improve on her Wimbledon record this year and has prepared by playing in Queen’s, Berlin and Nottingham.
In the London venue, she reached the quarter final before a Round of 16 exit in Berlin. In Nottingham, she defeated Marta Kostyuk to progress to the Round of 16 on Tuesday.
No 8 – Iga Swiatek
The former dominant No 1 Iga Swiatek is attempting to rediscover some of her form ahead of a Slam which she has yet to win.
The Polish player made it to the semi-finals in Roland Garros but will start her grass season in Nottingham this week.
No 7 – Mirra Andreeva
After exiting the Berlin Open in the round of 32, Mirra Andreeva headed for Nottingham and the Bad Homburg Open.
The Russian will begin her tournament in the Round of 16, kicking off on Tuesday.
No 6 – Madison Keys
Madison Keys has been getting plenty of grass practice in having played at Queen’s and Berlin.
It was in London that she fared better, reaching the semi-final before losing to Tatjana Maria, but her appearance in Germany lasted just one match.
No 5 – Zheng Qinwen
Zheng Qinwen reached the semi-final at Queen’s, having knocked out Raducanu on the way, but she lost to No. 8 seed Amanda Anisimova.
She was due to play in Berlin but withdrew.
Wimbledon has traditionally been a tough tournament for Zheng, having never made it past the third round.
No 4 – Jasmine Paolini
A fourth-round appearance at the French Open was followed by the German Open but Jasmine Paolini lost her opening match against Ons Jabeur.
The 29-year-old’s best Wimbledon appearance came last year with Paolini reaching the final.
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No 3 – Jessica Pegula
Having exited Roland Garros in the Round of 16, American Jessica Pegula moved to the grass of Berlin but again could not make it past that stage.
The 31-year-old lost to Liudmila Samsonova but will hope that she has at least adapted to grass ahead of Wimbledon.
No 2 – Coco Gauff
Fresh off a first French Open win, Gauff is looking to add a maiden Wimbledon title to her cabinet.
In preparation, Gauff played in the German Open but lost her opening match against Wang Xinyu.
No 1 – Aryna Sabalenka
After losing the French Open final to Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka began her grass-court season in Berlin.
The Belarusian made it to the semi-final but lost to the unseeded Marketa Vondrousova.
At Wimbledon, Sabalenka has twice reached the semi-final, but it remains her poorest Slam.
Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu may be the 38th seed for the tournament but the 2021 US Open winner is always a big draw in Wimbledon.
Ahead of this year’s tournament, Raducanu took part in the returning women’s tournament at Queen’s.
In London, Raducanu made it to the quarter-final where she lost in straight sets to a dominant Zheng.
Next up she will take part in Eastbourne with her first match coming on Tuesday.
At the All England Club, Raducanu’s best result is the fourth round having reached that stage on two occasions.
