HOW THE LEADING WOMEN'S CONTENDERS SHAPE UP FOR WIMBLEDON STARTING ON MONDAY:
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ASH BARTY (AUS)
Age: 25
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US18,798,304
Career titles: 11
Grand slam titles: 1 (French Open 2019)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 5-4
Best Wimbledon result: fourth round 2019
Top seed for her second straight tilt at the Wimbledon title but underdone and under a fitness cloud after withdrawing from the French Open with a hip injury. The grasscourt event is surprisingly the big Aussie hope's least successful slam to date.
ARYNA SABALENKA (BLR)
Age: 23
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US8,040,162
Career titles: 10
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 1-3
Best Wimbledon result: second round 2017
The big-hitting Belarusian has enjoyed a storming season with two titles and 27 match wins but has yet to prove she can handle the grand slam pressure cooker, never reaching the last eight in 14 majors.
SERENA WILLIAMS (USA)
Age: 39
Ranking: 8
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US94,453,854
Career titles: 73
Grand slam titles: 23 (Australian Open 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017; French Open 2002, 2013, 2015; Wimbledon 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016; US Open 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 98-12
Best Wimbledon results: champion 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016
Like fellow 39-year-old Roger Federer, the American is an 11-times finalist on the London lawns but didn't win a set in losing the past two title deciders in nervy fashion as she continues her obsessive pursuit of Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 grand slam singles crowns.
IGA SWIATEK (POL)
Age: 20
Ranking: 9
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US3,958,153
Career titles: 3
Grand slam titles: 1 (French Open 2020)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 0-1
Best Wimbledon result: first round 2019
The 20-year-old is a different proposition since suffering a first-round defeat on her Wimbledon debut two years ago and, like Barty, is a former junior champion at The All England Club so her grasscourt pedigree can't be questioned.
PETRA KVITOVA (CZE)
Age: 31
Ranking: 12
Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US33,009,585
Career titles: 28
Grand slam titles: 2 (Wimbledon 2011, 2014)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 33-10
Best Wimbledon results: champion 2011, 2014
The veteran hasn't been a factor since winning her second Wimbledon crown seven years ago but can not be discounted, especially with her deadly left-handed serve that has caused untold damage on the grass of SW19.
BEST OUTSIDER
COCO GAUFF (USA)
Age: 17
Ranking: 23
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US1,795,214
Career titles: 2
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 3-1
Best Wimbledon result: fourth round 2019
Who could forget the teenager's memorable victory over Venus Williams en route to the last 16 two years ago in her maiden appearance on tennis's grandest stage. A quarter-finalist at Roland Garros earlier this month and boasts 27 wins in 2021, second only to Barty's 28.
Australian Associated Press
