Last summer, Ash Barty was wiping away the tears of joy as newly crowned Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles Champion.
Since then the Australian has hung up her racket and a new champion will be hailed in SW19.
Who will step up and lift the Venus Rosewater Dish in a fortnight’s time on Centre Court? Here are the key contenders.
There is nowhere else to start. World No.1 Iga Swiatek arrives in London on a 35-match winning streak, off the back of a scintillating run of form.
So many of those matches have seen the Pole swat aside opponents with consummate ease. On the occasions where she's been pushed she has found another gear and continues to raise eyebrows with her remarkable all-court shot making.
A fourth round appearance in 2021, as well as picking up the Junior Wimbledon title in 2018, shows a player who is more than comfortable on grass.
It’s going to take something very special to topple the top seed.
Tunisian trailblazer Ons Jabeur was the player who halted Swiatek at Wimbledon 12 months ago.
That quarter-final run enchanted the crowds and the world No.2 will be intent on shrugging off a first round exit at Roland-Garros.
Victories over the likes of Coco Gauff and Belinda Bencic en route to the Berlin title earlier this month indicate Jabeur is primed for a shot at glory in south-west London.
Her feelgood factor was boosted by featuring in doubles alongside Serena Williams at the Eastbourne International.
In form at the right time
Joining Jabeur as champions this grass court campaign are Petra Kvitova and Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Kvitova had a beaming smile holding the trophy on the south coast at Eastbourne. The Czech ruled Wimbledon in 2011 then 2014 and when in the groove has the perfect game to dismantle all rivals.
A world ranking of No.26 is deceptive: if Kvitova navigates the opening couple of rounds, expect a deep run towards the finals weekend.
Over to Nottingham and Birmingham: Brazil’s Haddad Maia swept to both titles, compiling 12 successive victories, prior to a captivating Eastbourne semi-final showdown with Kvitova.
Two tricky and confidence-rich left-handers, no-one will want to meet Kvitova or Haddad Maia over the net.
Track record to the top
No one can wear the T-shirt ‘been there, done that’ quite like Serena Williams.
The seven-time singles champion is back in action following pretty much a year on the sidelines.
Asked about her goals and expectations for The Championships, the American star retorted, “You know the answer to that… C’mon now.”
Serena in the draw has everybody talking.
Recent Wimbledon champions Garbiñe Muguruza (2017), Angelique Kerber (2018) and Simona Halep (2019) also fully deserve a contenders tag.
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